“No, because I don’t want to get fired. This is a longstanding contract we have. If we break it, that’s a few thousand dollars of loss profits a quarter. Not even I’m worth that much.”
He smacks a kiss on my lips, making me smile. “You’re priceless, baby. Let me wash you, then we can go to your job. I’d like to see you work.”
“Why are you doing that?”Cade asks as I flour the steel island in front of me.
“So the dough doesn’t stick,” I tell him as I grab the risen dough from the bowl. “It also makes the dough easier to knead. Come on, try.”
I had Cade wash his hands when we came to the kitchen, just in case he wanted to assist. Grady said he’s glad a studentwanted to get hands-on training and suggested that he should try to handle the dough to see if he liked the job.
So far, Cade has been professional, asking good questions and actually paying attention to the answers. The other chefs have also been explaining things to him, and I love how his face glows when he’s absorbing knowledge.
He’s also shown me just how much he’s learned on the way over, pointing out things that are mundane to me, but a revelation to him.
I had to tell him to tone it down when someone boarded by us on an electric skateboard and he almost chased them down to ask how it worked.
I’m happy for him and the progress he’s made so far. He’s itching to get a job, but I told him to take as long as he needed to get himself acclimated to a new century. We also haven’t solved the issue of him not having any paperwork for the hiring process. I’ve been doing research, and it says he can get a replacement, but I think someone will ask questions if he’s trying to renew a license from decades past.
Especially because he looks the exact same as when he got his license in 1976.
One day at a time, I’ve constantly told him.
My heart patters in my chest, thinking that one day at a time will be spent withme. How did I get so fucking lucky? If I’m not careful, I’ll end up falling in love with him.
Or have I already? I think my heart was his as soon as he turned into a recliner for me. He’s so sweet and special. The perfect man that was sent to me when I needed him the most. Either way, my heart belongs to him, just like I do.
That’s news I’ll keep to myself for now, though. I don’t want to scare him away. It’s one thing to be his fated mate, but falling for him in a week? That’s weird, right? It took so long for me totell Walt I loved him, even after he confessed to me on our third date. Maybe I’m not thinking clearly.
Or something.
I tune back in when he nudges my arm and asks, “How’s that?”
I look down at the lump in front of him and fight to keep the grimace to myself. It’s a mess and doesn’t look anything like cheese Danish. “Uh…” My voice trails off as I rearrange the dough into a more pleasing form. “It’s not bad for a first time.”
Cade throws his head back and laughs. “Just tell me it looks like shit. I can take it.”
“It doesn’t look like shit. It’s just…unrefined. But I think I did worse my first time. You’re doing great.”
I show Cade how the Danish should look and he replicates it almost perfectly. He picks things up so quickly, he’ll have no issue learning all he needs to know so he can work or go to school.
When he’s done and we pop them in the oven, I ask, “How did you like working with the dough? Think you’d want to be a chef one day?”
He shakes his head and wraps his arm around my shoulder. “Nah. I’d like to learn all the things that you know, but I will leave the baking up to you.”
“You’re a good cook,” I mention as we go back over to my station to clean up.
“I don’t think I’d like cooking as a job. It’s fun when I don’t have anyone breathing down my neck or sending orders back if they’re fucked up.”
“True.”
We finish cleaning, and once the pastries come out of the oven, we pack up the boxes for our orders. When we’re all finished, we bid everyone goodbye and leave for the day.
He puts his arm around my shoulder, tucking me firmly into his side, and we make our way home. “That guy has AirPods,” Cade says as we walk past an older gentleman moving briskly down the street. “That would be me if I didn’t fuck up.”
“No need to live in the past, baby. We’re moving forward, remember?”
He smiles down at me, then kisses the top of my head. “I remember. I’m glad I have you.”
“You know,” I say, turning to awkwardly kiss his chest, “I am too. I’m glad I was the one fate made for you. You’re perfect, you know that?”
