“Lucky for you, I was just about to get started on the first batch of desserts for the contest,” she smiled. She didn’t dare comment on how she had to pitch the first set because she’d let them set out too long while she had a little baking sidequest.
“I decided to make scones. I thought I’d name them Winter Hearth for their warmth and Christmas nostalgia. What do you think?”
His eyes lit up, matching her excitement. “I think that’s brilliant.”
“Good,” she said over her shoulder, already prepping for her next bake. “You can be my taste judge.”
“I’m honored,” he said, placing his hand dramatically to his chest. “You better have brought your A-game, Snow. I’m as picky about my sweets as I am about the houses I sell.”
“High standards, hm? You’re wearing the same flannel from two days ago,” she teased.
“I have the highest standards.” He looked at her, more intently now. “About the things that matter in life. Like scones and vintage rolling pins.”
Before she could say anything else, her phone buzzed again, reminding her of the several she received earlier. She finally checked them. They were all from Piper.
WHAT
oh God, we’re reaching the climax of the Hallmark movie. What did you fight about?
what did you say to make him leave?
are the cultural differences between the city slicker and the country boy too great?!
Eliza groaned, shaking her head. She set her phone down on the island just as the oven dinged. She pulled on the oven mitts to get the scones out. Another message buzzed.
Behind her, she heard Lachlan laugh. She turned, seeing him over the top of her phone. Lachlan looked shamelessly guilty, and Eliza raised a brow, color filling her cheeks. “Did you just read my texts?”
He held his hands up in innocence. “In my defense, it was literally right in front of me. It’s not like I grabbed it, unlocked it, and read.”
What did Piper say this time?
Eliza crossed the kitchen and snatched her phone. After double-tapping the screen, she read:
FR though… where did he go
Eliza sighed, partially relieved. Not that she wanted him to read any of her texts, especially between her and Piper. But if her privacy was going to be breached, she was glad it was the one he read.
He raised a brow, smugly leaning against the counter. “Does this mean that someone was concerned for me?”
Eliza ignored him and silently went to her iPhone settings and disabled her message previews. “There,” she muttered, tossing her phone down again. “Now your nosy self can mind your own business.”
Lachlan looked far too amused. “Are you at least going to reply? Tell her that I came back in one piece?”
“No, because I wasn’t talking aboutyou.”
“Oh, really? Who were you talking about then?” His voice lifted in skepticism.
“My ... cat,” she said, a beat too late.
“Your cat,” he repeated.
She nodded, doubling down. “Yeah. My friend lost him this morning.”
“What’s your cat’s name?”
“Fluffy.” She blurted out the first thing she could think of.
Puffcake and Lachlan exchanged a knowing look. “Creative,” he muttered.
