“Ganache needs to be redone. It broke yesterday.”
He grimaces at my words. “Who made it?”
I give him a look.
Becauseheprepped the ganache yesterday morning.
He pauses. “…I’m going to fix it.”
“Good call.”
He takes over the stove, melting chocolate with the kind of intensity that used to intimidate me. Now, it just makes me shake my head. A year and a half ago, I’d never criticize Alex’s technique, but I’m much more confident now than I was back then.
“You’re overheating it,” I say, watching over his shoulder.
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I’m literally not.”
“You literally are, though,” I repeat, reaching over to adjust the heat slightly. “You’re treating it like a reduction. It’s chocolate, not a sauce.”
He glances at me, unimpressed. “I know what it is.”
“Do you?”
Without a word, he dips a spoon into the mixture and holds it out toward me. “Try it.”
“If this is bad, I’m firing you.” I narrow my eyes at him.
“You don’t have that authority.”
“Julian and I can vote you out at any time, buddy.”
His eyes glint with amusement as I take the spoon.
The second the chocolate hits my tongue, my eyes flutter closed and I moan softly at the smooth, rich flavor. Alex’s heated gaze snaps to mine.
“Okay,” I admit reluctantly. “That’s actually really good.”
“I know.” He winks, patting my hip to scoot me away from the stove so he can continue without interruption.
I bump my shoulder lightly into his. “Don’t get cocky, this isn’t the same quality you produced yesterday. Very inconsistent, Alexander Harrington. You’re better than that.”
Kara makes another noise from behind us. “This is unbearable. Truly. I’m surrounded by insufferable talent and sexual tension that somehow still exists even after a year. Gross.”
“There’s no tension,” I say automatically, tucking a stray curl behind my ear. Alex raises a brow, glancing at me and heat immediately creeps up my neck.
“…okay, maybe a little,” I amend.
“Unreal,” Kara mutters, hopping down from the counter with another one of her famous eyerolls. “I’m gonna go do actual work while you two flirt over chocolate.”
“You love it,” I call after her. Alex just laughs.
“I tolerate it,” she corrects, disappearing into the front.
After the morning rush of customers, things slow down before lunch. While we focus on delicious desserts, we also offer a coffee bar and simple café items, like mini quiches and artisanal sandwiches.
