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Almost.

Margo’s staring at me, dreamy-eyed, but she snaps to attention when Gabe clears his throat.

She claps her hands together. “Okay. Let’s get started.”

I blink at her.

“I have to admit I’m hopeless in the kitchen.” I give her a measured smile. “My ex-wife was the chef.”

I blink again, at myself, this time. Why did I bring up Belle?

Gabe looks at me, quirking an eyebrow.

Margo’s eyes widen.

“You were married?”

“For a while,” I say easily. “Wasn’t for me.”

Belle left you, not the other way around.

Shut up. Doesn’t matter.

As I argue with myself, Gabe clears his throat again.

“I can cook the fillings while you make the dough,” he suggests. “Cole can be our… assistant.”

Code for mostly useless, but that’s okay with me. I’m just here to make sure Gabe or Marcus doesn’t corner Margo again.

“Your wish is my command,” I drawl, looking at Margo with a slight smirk.

She rolls her eyes but I note the slight flush on her cheeks.

Gabe starts pulling pans and pots out of the cupboard and Margo measures ingredients to put in a bowl for the dough.

I just stand there, hovering over both of them until I’m given a task.

As Margo barks orders at Gabe, I watch her, the corner of my mouth twisting. She’s cute, all bossy like this.

Especially since I know how good she can be.

By the time Marcus returns, there are twenty pastries in the oven and I’m nearly salivating at the scent wafting all through the kitchen.

“Do we get to taste test them?” I ask, attempting to stick a finger in one of the bowls of filling cooling on the counter.

Margo smacks my hand and I mock-yelp.

“Yes, but not until they’re finished and I take pictures.”

“Pictures?” Gabe asks as Marcus comes through the door, holding a big box. He places it on the floor.

“Sí,” Margo answers. “I like to take pictures and put them up on the website.”

“Smart,” Marcus murmurs and Margo beams at him.

I frown, but then Margo puts me to work lining the cupcake pans with baking liners as the first batch of pastries bakes. I painstakingly fill each one halfway with batter like she instructs.

She assigns Marcus to measure out the ingredients for the next batch while she supervises us.