“Don’t forget the bags and the hot pies …” Melissa brings me back to the present, forcing me to peel my eyes from the brooding man with the dainty vanilla cakes looking comically small in his large hands.
“I’ll grab them now. More pies are ready too.” I rush around, running out the back around the kitchen, to the front and all around the bakery. I walk the line of customers, offering samples and tastings of the cinnamon buns while they wait, thanking everyone for coming to opening day. I’m then behind the register, fumbling my way through as Melissa takes a break, the adrenaline surging through me as I see my stock dwindling down, my fresh breads and rolls already sold out.
“Here.” Griffin emerges again, carrying a full tray of perfectly iced cupcakes. Perfect. I don’t know how he did that with hands that could probably snap a rolling pin in half.
He slides the tray into the cabinet as the next rush hits.
“You need me to do anything else?” He scans the room for the next task.
Before I can answer, Sawyer and Sutton step up to the counter, both staring at Griffin like he’s sprouted wings.
“Oh, this has made my day,” Sawyer mutters.
“You ordering?” Griffin grumbles, crossing his arms, which only makes the frilly apron look even more absurd. And somehow… adorable.
“Depends.” Sutton smirks. “Do the cupcakes come with a side of midlife crisis?”
He snaps a photo, and Griffin’s jaw tics. I bite back a laugh, rolling my lips to tame the grin.
“Charge these assholes double, sweetness.” His hand brushes my lower back as he moves past me, and the touch is so gentle, so unexpected, my breath catches. His head lowers then, his lips brushing the hair near my ear.
“I’ll go clean up. Then I’ve got to run. I’ll be back later,” he murmurs for only me to hear. And I shouldn’t want that. I shouldn’t want him here, in my space, in my day, in my thoughts.
But I do.
More than I should.
All I can do is nod, not trusting myself to say another word to him, before he walks away.
“Two cupcakes?” I bring my attention back to the two men, who are still grinning as I try to get my head back on work. While they look over their options, I look past them at the line and notice the customers in the store all looking at Sutton and whispering. It dawns on me then that he’s more than Griffin’s friend and neighbor. He’s a Hollywood movie star, and I freeze a little. I’ve met him before, at the kids’ party, but that was just briefly, and I didn’t think too hard about it.
“Better make it a dozen. My kids will eat them all, and I need to save one for Annabelle; otherwise, she’ll bury my body in her vegetable garden…” Sawyer says, and I roll my lips again, loving the banter these guys have.
“A pretty dozen coming right up.” I get busy sorting the box of cupcakes and look up, noticing Sutton filming around the store.
“You don’t mind, do you? Thought I’d put it out on my socials. These cupcakes look awesome…”
“Ahh, um… no, that’s great!” Seriously. Am I in a dream right now? Sutton Silvers is in my bakery, filming my cupcakes for his social media. His following is into the millions. One post from him and my little bakery will be put on the map!
“I have these ones.” I point out a smaller batch off to the side that have yellow frosting and a small fondant bumble bee on them. Given he makes honey, he might appreciate those the most.
“Oh yeah. They’re awesome!” He grins, takes a photo, and orders a dozen yellow ones too.
I wrap the order quickly, offer them my thanks, and move on to the next customer and then the next.
But every time I glance at the kitchen door, I half expect Griffin to walk back through it.
Every time I catch a whiff of cedar and soap, my heart jumps.
Every time I see the hook where the frilly apron usually hangs, I smile like an idiot.
By the time we lock the door, I’m exhausted, aching, and nearly floating.
“We did it,” I breathe.
“You did it,” Melissa says. “This place is going to be huge.”
I rub my belly, feeling the baby shift. Feeling the weight of everything I’ve built. Everything I’m still trying to build.
