Walker stares at me while he works out something in his head. “What if I could get you a commercial kitchen? Then would you do it?”
I roll my eyes. “Where would you find that?”
Walker smirks. “That’s not the question, Tally girl. If I get you a kitchen, will you do it?”
My stomach swoops, and this time, it’s not nerves. It’s excitement.
My mother reaches for both of my hands and squeezes, her brown eyes wide and hopeful. “Please? Everything you’ve made since you arrived has been heavenly. I’m sure you’ll make a better cake than this one.”
My heart pounds. I’ve never made a cake for such a high-profile couple, not to mention a couple whose original cakewas destroyed, but before I can get ahead of myself, I close my eyes and listen for my father. “Breathe Tally. You got this.”
I take a deep breath, then turn to them both and nod. “Okay. If you can get me a kitchen, I’m in.”
My mother beams and throws her arms around me, pulling me in for a hug. When she pulls back, she glances at Walker and her brows knit together. “Really, Walker, why don’t you put on some clothes?”
CHAPTER 41
Tally
“Do you trust me?” Walker asks as we park on Maple Street, right across from my sister’s store. My heart races when I realize we’re in front of Mabel’s Bakery.
“Of course I do,” I mumble, even as I try not to get my hopes up.
Walker rounds the truck, and when he opens my door, holding out a hand to help me down, he flashes one of his dimple-popping grins.
“Good.” He nods toward the bakery. “Welcome to your kitchen.”
Walker wraps his arms around me and settles his chin on my shoulder, forcing me to stare at the bakery I’ve loved since I was a child. “Just breathe with me for a minute, Wildflower. Take a look at the storefront, and breathe.”
My eyes flutter closed and I smile. “What did you do?”
“I just got the keys from Rayna so we can use the kitchen. Thought maybe you could test out making some cupcakes and see if everything is up to snuff. If it all works, then tomorrow it’s yours to make the wedding cake.”
“Can we really go in?”
He nods against my cheek, and I squeal when he drops the keys to the bakery over my shoulder and into my hands. I don’t wait even a second before I rush forward, dragging Walker with me.
The moment the key notches in the lock and the dooropens, something clicks into place. I forgot how bright it was in here. How, even in the evenings, the sun cuts in off the harbor, creating this golden hue that makes the whole space seem magical. Something blooms within my chest as a million memories race through my mind. Mabel’s was the spot where I fell in love with baking.
“What do you think?” Walker’s smooth voice breaks through my thoughts and I turn to look at him, at this man who’s captured my heart in such a way that sometimes it’s hard to breathe.
“It’s just as I remember.” I sigh as I walk toward him. “But can we really use the kitchen for this?”
Walker nods. “Got it approved by the owner.”
“You actuallytalkedto Rayna?” My jaw drops in mock surprise.
“I’d do anything for you, Wildflower.” Walker chuckles and thumbs toward the door.
“Get comfortable. I’m going to grab the ingredients from your sister. She picked them up for us earlier.”
I shake my head at Walker in wonder before allowing myself to focus on the bakery. Refamiliarizing myself with the space, I’m amazed at how everything is exactly as I remember. Mabel died more than two years ago, but it’s clear that Rayna has spent money to keep it in decent shape in hopes of renting it out, I suppose. It’s clean but dated. I look to the worn wooden counter where I used to take orders and ring up customers on the old-fashioned black register. I tap on it and it dings, the noise echoing through the tiny store. As I move to the back kitchen, I find six ovens and an eight-burner gas stove. I turn the dial to test if it still works and suck in an excited breath when a flame roars to life.
“So will it work?” Walker asks when he reappears, now holding two shopping bags. He sets them down, and I peer inside. Of course he’s got exactly what I need to make his favorite cupcakes.
“It’ll work.” I bite my lip as I lean against the counter. “Are you sure you want me to do this, though? What if I screw up the cake and ruin something else for the farm?”
The words are whispered. No one in my family has ever relied on me. At least not since I was in high school and my dad was asking me to help him out in the fields. Even then, there wasn’t much I could screw up. He was always by my side, guiding me if I needed it. But now it’s just me.
