Setting them on the counter with a clatter, he brushed a stray lock of hair from his face, his eyes immediately settling on the cookies in progress. The mischievous glint in his eyes was unmistakable, a clear sign Shiloh was up to something.
“Those look amazing, Ezra! It’s good to see you’re in the groove today,” he remarked, beaming. Then, with a sly smirk, he added, “Carson Langsford might drop by later to discuss a big order for an event.”
I shivered at the mention of his name. Carson was a frequent customer at the shop, and he was drop-dead gorgeous. There was something endearing about seeing a man as burly as Carson melt at the sight of a display case filled with cookies and other pastries. I silently squealed every time he picked one of my creations, watching him carefully to see how he reacted when he took the first bite.
My brush slipped, creating a slight smear on the cookie. Quickly correcting it, I glanced up at Shiloh, attempting to conceal the surprise his words had elicited. “Carson? He doesn’t strike me as the Christmas party type.”
Shiloh leaned against the counter, his amusement evident. “Well, it seems our dear Carson is full of surprises. From what I’ve gathered, Anson had the idea of hosting a special event for the kids at Harmony House. He wants it to be memorable, and Carson is apparently in charge of handling the menu for the party.”
I frowned slightly, still trying to piece together the information. “But why would Carson be involved? I can think of a million things better suited to his personality.”
Shiloh shrugged, his lips twitching into a playful grin. “Probably, but all the Langsford men have a soft spot for the kids who hang out at Harmony House. Did you know the three oldest boys started it after Danny moved away? They were worried he hadn’t felt like he could be himself here, and they wanted to make sure no one else ever felt that way. And really, can you think of anyone better to help create a dessert table filled with Christmas magic than you? It’s a no-brainer, really. He gets to put on a great event, and you’ll have free rein to create a story with your desserts.”
My cheeks warmed, and I busied myself with organizing the icing bags to avoid Shiloh’s teasing gaze. It was surreal how Shiloh was constantly urging me to explore my baking creativity inhisbakery. I’d expected him to scoff the day I casually mentioned learning about icing cookies, as if it were no big deal to someone like him. But apparently, that had been right about the time he’d been desperately trying to find someone else to come in and take a bit of the load off his shoulders.
And the thought of Carson Langsford coming into the bakery, especially to see me, sent a flurry of butterflies through my stomach. The two of us had only exchanged a few words in the past, and he always seemed so…serious. The idea that he might be interested in my ideas was hard to fathom.
Lacey, who had been arranging a display at the front, returned to the kitchen, a smirk on her lips. She had clearly caught the tail end of our conversation and was thoroughly enjoying the newfound tension in the room.
“Well, looks like it’s going to be an interesting day at the bakery,” she quipped, shooting me a knowing look.
I shot her a mock glare. “Don’t you start,” I muttered, but there was no real bite to my words. Lacey didn’t miss a thing, including the way my brain shut off any time Carson was around. It wasn’t my fault, not really. He was gorgeous, and I was…me. It wasn’t easy to think straight when he came in all lumberjacky, like he’d been pulled straight out of the porn I’d watch if watching porn wasn’t embarrassing to me.
She simply laughed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I just find it fascinating how the universe works. All these coincidences are lining up. But don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me.” She winked conspiratorially.
“There’s no secret,” I huffed, though I could feel my cheeks burning even more.
Shiloh chuckled, patting my shoulder gently. “Relax, Ez. Whether it’s a secret or not, just be yourself. Carson might be coming for the cookies, but he’ll stay for the company.”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t suppress the grin that tugged at the corner of my mouth. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Lacey leaned in, her voice dropping to a dramatic whisper. “The tall, dark, and brooding Carson Langsford, making a special trip just for our little bakery? There’s more to that story, I bet.”
Shiloh laughed, joining in on the teasing. “Oh, definitely, and we have front-row seats to the unfolding drama.”
The two of them were impossible. Before Lacey had met her boyfriend, her playful teasing had been about my lack of social life. But for the past month, she’d been walking around with hearts in her eyes, and she and Shiloh were determined to find me a man.
I sighed dramatically, feigning exasperation. “You two are impossible. Is he even gay? There’s nothing more pathetic than pining after someone you don’t stand a chance of being with. Seriously, what are the odds three of the four brothers are interested in men? Not good, I’ll tell you that.”
Lacey winked, stepping back and motioning to the door leading to the storefront. “Just remember, if he does come in, try not to drop any cookies in surprise.”
I mock-gasped. “I would never! These are my masterpieces.”
The three of us shared a good-natured laugh, the momentary tension from earlier dissipating into the warm atmosphere of the bakery. As I returned to my work, I couldn’t help but feel a strange mix of anticipation and nerves. The idea of Carson, of all people, coming to see my work was both exciting and nerve-wracking.
The hours seemed to blur together as the bakery continued its daily hustle and bustle. Lacey and Shiloh moved between the kitchen and the storefront, managing orders and assisting customers. Meanwhile, I remained engrossed in my work, meticulously finishing each cookie.
Every chime of the front door’s bell made my heart race a little more, half-expecting to see Carson walk in. But as the afternoon waned, there was still no sign of him.
Lacey popped her head into the kitchen, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “No sign of Mr. Tall Dark and Broody yet,” she teased, earning an exaggerated groan from me.
But as the minutes turned into hours and the old clock crept closer to closing time, I slowly let go of the anticipation. Maybe he’d changed his mind, or perhaps I was right, and he’d chosen someone else to plan the menu for their event. Regardless, I found solace in my work, taking pride in the beautiful creations that lay before me.
Shiloh approached, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. “It’s been a long day, Ezra. Why don’t you call it a night? You’ve done more than enough, and these cookies look phenomenal.”
I nodded, appreciating his kind words. “Thanks, Shiloh. I just got carried away, I guess.”
He gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “There’s always tomorrow. And who knows, maybe Carson will make an appearance then. He sounded excited about setting something up, so I’m sure he just had a work emergency or something.”
