I knew what they both liked and how they had their coffee, so there was no need to ask. And since I was planning on giving them a selection of a few things, they’d find something they were in the mood for either way.
Once I was back behind the counter, my eyes kept drifting to their table. I was so distracted, I spilled coffee and dropped a muffin and a chocolate chip cookie.
“Pretty boy already got legal issues?” Willa startled me, causing me to drop the macaron I’d been transferring onto a plate.
“He’s meeting with Lester to talk about joining him. Or taking over. I’m not sure.”
Willa choked and wheezed. “He’s a lawyer?”
“He was top of his class.”
“I hope he likes to get paid in pies and goats.”
I choked out a laugh that died quickly at the thought that this might not be enough for him. Because Willa wasn’t wrong. He wouldn’t be making even a fraction of the money he used to earn.
I finally finished putting together a tray of food, not dropping anything else. “Did you deliver the cake?”
“Of course I did.” Willa grabbed a cupcake and stuffed nearly the whole thing in her mouth. “And they were overjoyed.” Her voice came out muffled by the large cupcake that should not have fit into her mouth.
I stepped back to avoid the spray of crumbs and delivered first the coffee, then the food.
Grayson grinned at me. “Thank you, this looks great.”
There was a steady stream of customers coming through the door, redirecting my attention and not allowing me to linger at their table.
Willa and I worked side by side, and she was as interested at what was going on as I was. “That’s the first time Lester has even considered someone to take over.”
I packed up a box of donuts and put them on the counter. “He’s not getting any younger. Being picky is no longer an option, I guess.”
“Ha. You know that’s not why. He’ll keep going until he drops dead. But looks to me like he’s taken a liking to your boyfriend.”
A glance up confirmed her statement. The two men were deep in conversation, papers strewn all over the table.
“Maisie,” Willa exclaimed, rushing around the counter and to her friend’s side, putting her arm around her middle. “Should you be out of bed?”
Maisie used to be another regular at my bakery, but since she’d moved to live in a chalet in the mountains, I hadn’t seen much of her.
“Do you have any lemony thingies left?” Maisie asked, shooing Willa away, who tried to direct her to a chair.
I grabbed the last few pastries and put them in a bag. “You’re in luck. We have three left.”
“Oh, and what about red velvet cupcakes? And brownies. Definitely brownies.”
A glance at the display case confirmed what I already suspected. We were out of brownies. They were popular and rarely lasted past the lunch rush. “Yes to the cupcakes, no to the brownies.” Maisie’s face fell, and I was pretty sure she was about to cry. “But I can make a batch for you,” I rushed to reassure her. “Give me twenty minutes.”
Brownies were easy to make and quick to bake, so whipping up a batch wasn’t a problem. And I wouldn’t dare come between a pregnant woman and her cravings.
“What are you doing in town?” Willa was still trying to get Maisie to sit down. “Where is Oliver?”
Maisie swatted at her and leaned against the counter instead. “He’s at his office. I snuck out the back.” She put up her hand, halting Willa’s response. “I needed a break. And brownies.”
That was my cue to move my butt, and I ducked into the kitchen and mixed the dough together. I slid the pan into the oven and set the timer, returning to the bakery.
Maisie was now sitting in a chair, her bag filled with pastries perched on her giant belly.
“You need anything else?” I called out to her, noticing Willa was suspiciously absent. “I changed the supplier for our hot chocolates, and the new one tastes like liquid heaven.”
“That sounds great. I’d love a cup.”
