“Oh? Heading to the bakery later, are you? Maybe hoping that the handsome doctor will show up?”
I rolled my eyes, wanting to smart back and say that Dr. Lucas hadn’t entered my mind since we left his appointment, but I didn’t. It would only lead to more unwanted, thinly veiled comments about my social life.
“Not a chance. More like I want to not feel guilty about having a full-fat, extra carby, pastry sprinkled with sugar and drizzled with icing.”
“Diabetes, you mean?” he deadpanned before running a hand through his hair and opening the sliding glass door. “That’s what you plan on catching this morning?”
“You say diabetes. I say a balanced meal, complete with grains and fruit.”
I followed him inside and rinsed my mug before doing the same with the pot so I could start a fresh one.
“Touché. Top me off, will you?”
“Sure, Dad,” I said, taking the skim milk from the fridge and pushing it to him across the counter. He sighed, then added some to his cup before scooting it back to me while we waited.
And for the first time in a while, the silence wasn’t suffocating.
I was becoming suspicious about the lack of drama in my life, but perhaps some higher power finally decided I had enough on my plate and could use the break. At least I knew if the calm wasn’t meant to last, the pastries I’d be devouring later would be delicious.
Chapter 19
“Welcome to SweeterThings. What can I get for you this morning?”
I smiled, breathing in the scent of freshly baked pastries and sweetened milk as I wrapped my arms around my chest and pondered the menu. Do I go healthy or delicious? Remembering the bran muffin with unsweetened coconut flakes I’d brought Dad the other week, I crinkled my nose, confident in my decision to stay away from anything that bragged about being unsweetened.
“Good morning. I’ll have an orange scone, butter croissant, and a vanilla chai tea, please.”
“Great choices,” the barista said, ringing up the items. “How about trying a new recipe our owner has created? It’s half off until it becomes a permanent item on the menu.” She gestured to a glass dome with artfully arranged slices of what looked like banana bread underneath. I leaned closer, spying nuts and chocolate chips.
“Oh?”
“Yep. It’s a white and dark chocolate chip, macadamia nut banana bread. Olivia made several fresh loaves this morning.” She grabbed a pair of tongs and clicked them together. “What do you say? Want to add one to your order?”
“Actually, I’ll take two slices, please. And what’s that one with the green thingies on top?”
I pointed to the bakery case, where several silver cupcake tins held an unknown something topped with cheese and… Were those green onions? My palate might not be sophisticated, but I couldn’t think of a pastry with that topping.
“That’s our egg cake.”
I furrowed my brows and pursed my lips, wondering what in the world an egg cake was.
“Yeah, the name needs work,” she said, opening the case and removing the concoction. “We line the tin with finely sliced potatoes, then add scrambled eggs, bacon, cheese, and greenpeppers before baking them. Once they’re out of the oven, it’s all topped with sour cream and chives.”
“Oh, wow,” I replied as she held the savory breakfast treat closer for me to inspect. “That sounds too good to pass up.”
“Right? You won’t regret it. Let me get this rung up for you while Bethany finishes your drink.”
“Thank you.” I reached into my purse and took out my wallet as she totaled the items, second guessing her addition skills until I remembered the new recipe banana bread was half off and the key ingredients for my treats were fairly inexpensive.
“Good morning. Please add a large mocha, nonfat latte, and the egg white on avocado toast to the order and put everything on my card.”
I furrowed my brows, scowling before turning so quickly, my hair whipped around and stuck to my lip gloss. Rolling my eyes, I blew out a quick breath, but it didn’t dislodge the strands as I took in the handsome features of Dad’s heart doctor.
Crap on a cracker.Did that infuriating man obtain some sort of telepathy from his surgery that allowed him to view glimpses of the future? Or had the universe heard my unspoken thought about the lack of current drama and decided to up the ante?
“Summer. What a pleasant surprise running into you this morning. I’d been hoping to catch you here since the last time we spoke.”
Fuck. Shit. Damn.My eyes darted between the barista holding my tea and the doctor, scrambling for my brain to catch up to the conversation.
