“Well, cooking and baking are not the same things really. Baking is very much chemical. Cream of tartar adds a light, airy feeling and helps cookies rise. Flour contains gluten and if you’re making something gluten-free you need to use the right ingredients to simulate that or the recipe doesn’t work. Different reactions for different ingredients. Baking is more exact.”
“Cooking on the other hand, I know some people that literally never pull out a measuring cup or spoon in their kitchen and yet they’re amazing cooks. They can taste the dish and just tell, a little more of this, a dash more of that. But it’s more instinct and palate. Less exact science.”
“Ah, I see.” She grins at Casey. “So your dad is a terrible cook than. Because he must be an awesome baker to work here.”
Casey lights up like a Christmas tree. She does love to brag about her old man. “Actually, my dad is a unicorn among guys. He can cook and bake.”
Her brows lift and she juts her chin out at me. “Oh, really? Breaking your own rules, huh?”
Casey laughs. “We have to eat.”
“Doesn’t your mom cook?”
“Umm,” Casey glances over at me.
“You forgot. All of us here are single dads. My ex actually took off when Casey was really small. We’ve been alone a long time. But we make it work, don’t we, kiddo?”
Snorting, Casey grins and rolls her eyes. “Yeah, Dad.”
“Why don’t you go make sure everyone’s got their recipes out and they’re looking them over. I’ll be back in a minute, as soon as I get Lily settled.”
Casey salutes and I growl, “Smarty Pants.”
She giggles and runs off and I turn back to Lily, crossing my arms over my chest and almost fist bumping when the goddess in front of me follows the movement, her heated gaze catching on the gun show I’m sporting.
“If you have any questions, just let me know and I’ll be happy to answer them.”
Lily smiles again but there’s something about it that looks off, pulled tight. It’s bothering me.
“I will do that.” And then she salutes me too and I growl under my breath, wondering if I should offer to spank her ass since she’s being a naughty, damn girl.
But I keep that to myself. Soon. If I have my way it’s going to be damn soon.
“Alright,guys. You are free to go. Study those papers and decide if you’re going to try one of the substitutions we went over or if you’re going to try your own. Write it down. Because I’ll quiz you on it as soon as we start class next week. And then we’ll put your ideas into practice.”
The kids charge out the doors, chattering a mile a minute and holding their precious cargo, the delicious scones they all made tonight.
Every single one of them turned out beautifully and I couldn’t be prouder if they were my own kids.
A chair screeches behind me and I turn to look at the straggler.
Lily.
Lord, she’s pretty. I couldn’t keep from looking at her every chance I got. She lights up any room she’s in, I’m sure.
But as time went on, her eyes and lips started to get a strained look to them and I’m almost sure she’s got a headache but she’s a bit stubborn. I can tell.
She wasn’t willing to let her work suffer for it so she never said a word.
I stand in front of her as she gathers up her notebook and camera, along with her keys and a purse that looks like a little pale green backpack.
It’s just as cute as she is.
But as soon as she stands, I realize that there’s something really wrong here.
Her eyes seem to go blank and she blinks dazedly at me.
I growl and run my hand up her arm, trying to get her attention, but nothing happens. She doesn’t even blink.
