Humming as she went into the front to give the display cases a look over, she flicked the lights on and walked around in front of them.Empty right now, but soon to be filled with all the delicious treats she was going to sell.Her heart felt like it was going to pound right out of her chest with happiness.
Something on the outside of the front door caught her eye as she turned around, looking everything over.Frowning, she walked over and unlocked it.A piece of paper had been taped on the outside of the door, right over her logo.
Opening the door, she quickly pulled it off and let the door shut again as she stared at the message that had been left.
GET OUT.
It wasn’t written; whoever had left it had used magazines and newspapers to cut out the large letters, like something from an old movie or TV show.The message was simple enough, but it also made no sense.
Maybe this was someone’s idea of a practical joke?
Maybe it wasn’t for her, though.Maybe it was for Alexis.Or Ashley.But that didn’t make sense, either.
Maybe I’m making something out of nothing because my brother works for a security firm, and it’s made me paranoid.
It was probably just kids or something.Maybe being silly on a dare.She didn’t have a security camera up on the front door, only the back one and the one inside the bakery.She’d ask David about putting one on the front door later today.Not because of the note, but because the note made her think it was a smart thing to do.
“Hey, A-Team in the house!”Ashley’s voice echoed in the kitchen, full of bright cheer.She was way earlier than she needed to be, too.
Audrey laughed as she shoved the note into her apron pocket.It seemed like they were all excited this morning, which took her spirits right back up to where they had been before she’d seen the note.
Quickly locking the front door again, Audrey headed back to the kitchen, where Ashley was already perched on a stool, watching Alexis as she was putting ingredients together for the cinnamon buns they were starting the morning with.
“Good morning,” Audrey said as Ashley turned to look at her.
“Good morning, bakery owner!”Ashley grinned.“It’s a beautiful day to open a bakery!”
Both Audrey and Alexis laughed, and Audrey went over to give the other woman a hug.Like Audrey, Ashley was dressed up in a cute blouse and skirt combo.She wasn’t wearing tennis shoes, but she did have comfortable flats.
“I told you that you didn’t have to dress up just to run the counter,” Audrey said.
“Look who’s talking.”Ashley gave her a pointed up and down look.
“It’s just for today.”
“Well, so is this.Tomorrow, I’ll be in jeans, I promise.”
Alexis chuckled quietly.
“And this is why I work in the back,” she said.“I got to wear jeanstoday.”
“One day, I’m going to get to see what you look like in a dress,” Ashley threatened.
“Maybe one day.”Alexis shook her head, smiling as she concentrated on what she was doing.
“So, what are you doing here so early?”Audrey asked Ashley.“Couldn’t sleep?”
“Pretty much.I’m too excited.Mind if I make a pot of coffee to start us off?”
“Go for it.”Audrey was too buzzed for any extra caffeine right now.If she had anything with caffeine, she’d probably go through the roof.
“Great.Also, you left the club way too early last night and missed all the juicy stuff.Mason and Yasmine broke up.”Ashley announced the news like it was no big deal.
Audrey froze, hands on the bag of flour she’d been about to pick up.Emotions she was not proud of ran through her.Relief.Happiness.Hope.And guilt.Immediate crushing guilt because she was a horrible person.
“They’re the ones with the arranged marriage… or engagement, I guess?”Alexis asked.Though she’d hidden in the back during the soft opening yesterday, she’d heard a lot about all the team from Ashley and Audrey’s conversations.
“Yup, although not anymore.”Ashley was busy getting the coffee pot filled with water and pouring it into the machine, so she thankfully didn’t notice the way Audrey had frozen.
