“My parents are fine, but Nick Baxter never discussed working with us at the summer fair. I didn’t know they were using our design until Wednesday night, which is why I changed our theme.” Taryn kept her voice steady, but her insides shook, twisting and turning over how badly the guy had used Brecken. “Nick isn’t out to help us. He wants to destroy Lawson’s Bakery and has been trying to take our business away.”
“But he’s a good guy.” Brecken raised his right foot. “I told you he got me these shoes.”
She glanced at Garrett and mouthedhelp.
“He did, and they are cool shoes,” Garrett agreed. “But he was trying to get on your good side.”
“My good side?”
“He was using you.”
Brecken shook his head. “He was helping us. Who would drop a phone into a lake on purpose? Sure, it was old, but it worked fine. I didn’t need a fancy new one.”
He sounded confused. Taryn didn’t blame him. She found it hard to believe Nick would do this. And based on what he’d said the other night and what Brecken had told her, the vendetta had more to do with Brandt than Lawson’s Bakery.
She needed to tell him the rest of what had happened. “Whatever Nick might have told you, he gave the recipes he recorded to Summit Ridge Bakery. They are selling our products, cutting the prices, and taking away our customers.”
Brecken’s forehead creased. “But Nick said he wants to help us.”
“He lied to you.”
Brecken tilted his head before opening his mouth. “He wasn’t trying to help?”
“No,” Taryn said softly. “He wanted to hurt us.”
Garrett nodded. “Nick didn’t talk to Taryn, nor did Summit Ridge. They took the designs you shared with Nick and claimed them as their own.”
Brecken inhaled sharply. “No one like him ever gave my family or me the time of day. I thought… I thought Mr. Baxter was my friend, but he…wasn’t.”
“No, he wasn’t.”
Brecken hung his head. “All the trouble the bakery has been having with fewer customers coming in. It’s my fault.”
“Hey.” Taryn reached out and touched Brecken’s hand. “You didn’t know.”
“I didn’t.” Brecken’s eyes gleamed. “I really didn’t. I thought he was legit a good guy. He bought me fancy stuff. Paid twenty bucks an hour for the babysitting so that I could help my family more.” Brecken sniffled. “I love working at Lawson’s and baking. I’m finally good at something. And you and Jayden always send me home with extra for my family. More than you give Carl and Finley.”
Seeing Brecken so upset hurt Taryn’s heart. She patted his hand. “I don’t blame you. Nick’s the one at fault.”
“You trusted someone who took advantage of you.” Garrett’s deep voice must resonate in a courtroom. “He used you, but now that Taryn knows how Summit Ridge got hold of the recipes and designs, it’ll stop.”
Brecken glanced up before his face crumpled. Tears fell. “What if it’s too late?”
“I’m not giving up.” She only hoped her father gave her the chance to turn things around. “No one at Lawson’s is. That includes you.”
Brecken groaned again. “This is like real-life spy stuff. I can’t go to jail. I’m supposed to start community college in the fall, and I would never hurt…”
“I know you wouldn’t.” Taryn didn’t hesitate to answer.
“No one is going to jail,” Garrett said in a matter-of-fact tone. “We just need to figure out what to do next.”
“And we will,” Taryn assured Brecken. “It’ll be okay.”
“But it’s not okay now. And it might not be okay. I ruined everything.” Brecken wiped his face with his arm. “I should have known it was too good to be true. Are you firing me?”
“No.” Taryn didn’t hesitate to answer. Brecken was a hardworking employee. He might have been naïve, but his reaction told her he wouldn’t do this again. “Lawson’s needs you.”
More tears fell. “Even after what I did?”
