“Kitchen-sink cookie?” Kyle’s voice held doubt. But he was interacting, which was my goal. “Sounds like something only a kid could love.”
“Does, doesn’t it?” Falkan said. “What is in it?”
The place was only a couple of blocks away, so I answered as I parked in front, lucky to get the spot. “That’s the magic of the kitchen-sink cookie. It’s never identical twice. It’s always the same size—huge. But it’s only available in the afternoon when all the baking is done and they see what they have left hanging around. Usually chocolate chips, but different nuts and dried fruits. Sometimes peanut butter. Spices. Occasionally oatmeal sneaks in. Rumor has it, they actually mix the leftover doughs, but I’m not positive of that. Only that it’s delicious.”
“Only in the afternoon, though? So we can’t get that now?”
“No. We’ll have to have those another time.” Hint…when we saw him again. Not beyond bribing with future cookies, I opened the car door and stepped out. “But they have the best muffins on the planet.”
I headed for the door and opened it for the others. The scents of baking bread and coffee, the sweetness of cinnamon buns, were irresistible, for me, at least. And I hoped my mates. The one who acknowledged the connection as well as the one who had not yet. “Welcome to my version of heaven on earth.”
To my delight, instead of getting takeout, we naturally gravitated to one of the little outdoor tables with our lattes and pastries. The hidden patio in the rear was the best kind of secret garden. Potted trees and flowers. A splashing water feature in the far corner whose sound, along with the birds in the trees, covered the last bit of street noise.
“I can’t eat this whole cinnamon bun,” Falkan said. “I hope someone will share with me.” Nothing this bakery created could be described as small.
“I will.” I picked up the knife on my muffin plate and held it up. “Who wants a piece of my blueberry muffin?”
“I do.” Kyle held out his plate. “I can share my breakfast croissant?” Of all of us, he’d gotten the only savory item. Smoked bacon, gruyere cheese, and a farm-fresh egg.
“Let’s share it all.” Falkan’s delight in this idea showed in his bright grin. “I never know what to get at a bakery because I want everything. Three of us really ups our taking quotient.” As did the plate of samples the baker brought out to us, saying they were new items he wanted feedback on.
We sat there for over an hour before reluctantly leaving the haven and driving Kyle to Animals where he’d left his car. He’d go back to his hotel to change before his meetings. The dragon got into the front seat and closed the door. Driving away was the hardest thing I’d ever done. “Do you think he’ll call us?”
Falkan nodded. “I don’t believe that Fate would have placed him in our lives if there wasn’t a good chance he’d want to stay there. Or at least spend enough time with us to know if he wants to accept what she offered us.”
“I hope so. I’d better get you to your hotel so you can change.”
“Thanks. I’d rather spend the day with you, but I have some appointments to take care of.”
“Is it wrong that I want to do more than just wait to see if Kyle calls us?” I drove away from Animals, leaving our mate behind to handle business. “I don’t want to be pushy or anything, but I would think Fate would expect us to at least do our part, show him who we are and what we can be together?”
Falkan shifted to face me. “I think you’re right. What did you have in mind?”
“How about sending something to his hotel? A snack basket maybe?”
“That would be nice. You are our local connection. What do you recommend?”
I considered. “Hmm. I’m not sure, no, wait, that’s a lie. There’s a cute little market not far from my house that has a lot of gorgeous local fruits and vegetables and flowers. I’m sure they can put together a basket for us.”
“Vegetables?” He wrinkled his nose.
“Maybe not in this, but I’ll fix you a meal at my house with their produce and you’ll be amazed at how good veggies can be.” Approaching the hotel drop-off, I slowed the car. “Do you hate them?”
“No.” He chuckled. “I was just trying to figure out how he’d deal with them in a hotel room. I accept your invitation to dinner whenever you want me to come.”
We hugged goodbye before he got out of the car and disappeared into the lobby. Then I drove straight to the storeand arranged for the basket, glad Kyle had mentioned where he was staying. At this time in late spring, there were so many options available, I texted the dragon at least a dozen times to get his opinion. Finally, I had the gift put together, and the owner of the store said he’d have his nephew deliver it in the early afternoon. If Kyle wasn’t in, the hotel would have it sent up to his room.
With that handled, I went home and resumed texting Falkan. It did occur to me that he was busy with work, but he answered every time and even started a few topics, so I assumed it was all right.
At some point, Falkan started a new thread, a group text, including Kyle.Genius!The wolf thanked us for the basket and said we saved him from starvation because he hadn’t had a chance to eat lunch.
My bear growled, demanding we take more food to him, but before I could respond at all, Falkan asked if he’d like to have dinner.
A long silence had me thinking up all the reasons he hadn’t responded right away. Maybe he was doing something work-related or went to the bathroom…but then a text came.
I’d like to have dinner, with both of you, but maybe we could start with one at a time so I’m not overwhelmed?
Absolutely,Falkan replied.
