But that is the someday plan. “I can’t open a bakery now, Theo. I’m busy. I have a kid. A J-O-B. You might recall it’s with the Golden State Foxes, the team you manage. I don’t have time to run a bakery now.”
Theo’s entirely unfazed by my argument. “Which is why Mabel’s offer is perfect for you.” He turns to his sister. “She has experience running a bakery. She has the time to run it. She even has, of all things, a firehouse with a kitchen.” He swings his gaze to me. “And you, man? You have the desire and the cash.”
This is all happening real fast, and I’m not so sureI’mthe logical conclusion to Theo’s arguments. After all, Mabel is a property owner now. I point to the structure she just inherited. “But if she has an asset, won’t that make getting a loan easier?”
Theo lifts a finger as if to say,Good point. “Sure, that’s an option.”
“And I can definitely do that,” Mabel says with a wince. “But I do have my regular orders to fulfill. Like this huge wedding cookie order. If I wait around for bank financing, which can take forever, I’ll be losing potential money.”
Ah, so she needs a friend with cash sitting around. “So I’m the money?” I ask, feeling a little like the dude everyone comes to in a heist flick to back a crazy plan.
“Yeah,” Theo says evenly, making it clear beingthe moneyisn’t a bad thing. “But you also have a dream. A similar one.” He flashes hisHave we got a deal?smile. “Experience plus money. Plus, let’s not forget the raspberry lemon ricotta cupcakes you two concocted for my B-day. They were—” He makes a chef’s kiss gesture. “Seems to me like you two would make a good team.”
As he pops one more piece of monkey bread into his mouth, Theo lets that word hang importantly in the air between us.Team.He makes some good arguments. But still…now? Today? I blow out a breath, shoving my hand through my messy hair. “This isa lot.”
“I get it. You’re worried Mabel won’t think you’re as good as she is in the kitchen,” Theo says, stirring the fucking pot.
I pull a face. “Not my worry.”
“But just to assuage those concerns,” he says, closing the distance to Mabel and holding the tinfoil with a small bite left in it, “here you go.”
She plucks it out with polished nails, gives it an inquisitive look, then brings it to her nose and sniffs. I go both tense and hopeful all at once. Sure, we’ve baked together before, but there’s always that held-breath moment when someone tries your cooking for the first time.
She pops the piece between her lips and chews thoughtfully. I watch her like I’m a plaintiff waiting for a verdict to be read in court. She hums, then says, “Ten out of ten.”
I scoff. She’s just buttering me up. “Right.”
“Seriously. It’s really good, Corbin.” She holds my gaze, making it clear she means it. “So good, I’m a little annoyed all I got was one tiny little bite.”
Theo holds his hands out wide like he’s saying,Problem solved. He turns to me. “There. You passed the taste test. Now, is it a yes?”
“Take your time,” Mabel says, her voice kind as she gives me an out. “I’ve been ready to open a bakery for what feels like forever, but it might not be right for you right now.”
That’s awfully thoughtful of her.
But is this idea hers or Theo’s? She seemed just as surprised as I was by Theo’s go-into-business suggestion, but she warmed to it in no time. I try to read her, to figure her out. Her eyes are rimmed with anticipation. Her hands are clasped. She nibbles on the corner of her lips for a second.Thisis what she wants.
“I don’t know,” I say, but it’s not ano, like it was a minute ago. Damn, Theo and his arguments.
He strides over to me, claps my back. “I know you’re busy with hockey and raising a kid. But you can pitch in when you’re free. And listen, I get it, man. This feels like I sprang it on you, but sometimes life happens that way. If it’s not you, it’ll be someone else, and then when you’re ready to open a bakery here in a few years, you’ll be facing stiff competition.”
Are you kidding? He played the competition card? But of course he did. He negotiates like he breathes.
“Heard,” I acknowledge, but that’s all. I’ve been pivoting a lot in the last few years, in big ways and small ones. I’m not sure I’m ready to pivot again.
Mabel offers a warm smile. “I didn’t know I had inherited a firehouse with a kitchen until thirty minutes ago,” she says. I don’t know if that’s meant to reassure me or show me that I should just jump too. “And, like I said, I didn’t exactly plan on coming back to Cozy Valley after the way I took off. I mean, I’m not even sure they have pickleball courts here.”
I huff out a laugh. “We have pickleball courts here. And Wi-Fi.”
Theo glances at his Rolex. “I’ve got a meeting with an agent. I’ll leave you two to work out the details, and I look forward to hearing about the new Cozy Valley bakery later.”
He takes a few steps toward his shiny electric sports car, then stops and turns, lasering me with his sharp stare. “And listen, this is a great opportunity. You should take it. You really should. But whatever you do—do not hurt my sister.”
I jerk my head back. “Dude,” I say, meaning,Of course I won’t hurt her.
But I’m pretty sure he also means,Do not touch her.
And I won’t. In my head, I add,Ever again. Out loud, I say, “I would never do that.”
