Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 694(@200wpm)___ 556(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 694(@200wpm)___ 556(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
“Yeah,” Theo says evenly, making it clear being the money isn’t a bad thing. “But you also have a dream. A similar one.” He flashes his Have we got a deal? smile. “Experience plus money. Plus, let’s not forget the raspberry lemon ricotta cupcakes you two concocted for my B-day. They were—” He makes a chef’s kiss gesture. “Seems to me like you two would make a good team.”
As he pops one more piece of monkey bread into his mouth, Theo lets that word hang importantly in the air between us. Team. He makes some good arguments. But still…now? Today? I blow out a breath, shoving my hand through my messy hair. “This is a lot.”
“I get it. You’re worried Mabel won’t think you’re as good as she is in the kitchen,” Theo says, stirring the fucking pot.
I pull a face. “Not my worry.”
“But just to assuage those concerns,” he says, closing the distance to Mabel and holding the tinfoil with a small bite left in it, “here you go.”
She plucks it out with polished nails, gives it an inquisitive look, then brings it to her nose and sniffs. I go both tense and hopeful all at once. Sure, we’ve baked together before, but there’s always that held-breath moment when someone tries your cooking for the first time.
She pops the piece between her lips and chews thoughtfully. I watch her like I’m a plaintiff waiting for a verdict to be read in court. She hums, then says, “Ten out of ten.”
I scoff. She’s just buttering me up. “Right.”
“Seriously. It’s really good, Corbin.” She holds my gaze, making it clear she means it. “So good, I’m a little annoyed all I got was one tiny little bite.”
Theo holds his hands out wide like he’s saying, Problem solved. He turns to me. “There. You passed the taste test. Now, is it a yes?”
“Take your time,” Mabel says, her voice kind as she gives me an out. “I’ve been ready to open a bakery for what feels like forever, but it might not be right for you right now.”
That’s awfully thoughtful of her.
But is this idea hers or Theo’s? She seemed just as surprised as I was by Theo’s go-into-business suggestion, but she warmed to it in no time. I try to read her, to figure her out. Her eyes are rimmed with anticipation. Her hands are clasped. She nibbles on the corner of her lips for a second. This is what she wants.
“I don’t know,” I say, but it’s not a no, like it was a minute ago. Damn, Theo and his arguments.
He strides over to me, claps my back. “I know you’re busy with hockey and raising a kid. But you can pitch in when you’re free. And listen, I get it, man. This feels like I sprang it on you, but sometimes life happens that way. If it’s not you, it’ll be someone else, and then when you’re ready to open a bakery here in a few years, you’ll be facing stiff competition.”
Are you kidding? He played the competition card? But of course he did. He negotiates like he breathes.
“Heard,” I acknowledge, but that’s all. I’ve been pivoting a lot in the last few years, in big ways and small ones. I’m not sure I’m ready to pivot again.
Mabel offers a warm smile. “I didn’t know I had inherited a firehouse with a kitchen until thirty minutes ago,” she says. I don’t know if that’s meant to reassure me or show me that I should just jump too. “And, like I said, I didn’t exactly plan on coming back to Cozy Valley after the way I took off. I mean, I’m not even sure they have pickleball courts here.”
I huff out a laugh. “We have pickleball courts here. And Wi-Fi.”
Theo glances at his Rolex. “I’ve got a meeting with an agent. I’ll leave you two to work out the details, and I look forward to hearing about the new Cozy Valley bakery later.”
He takes a few steps toward his shiny electric sports car, then stops and turns, lasering me with his sharp stare. “And listen, this is a great opportunity. You should take it. You really should. But whatever you do—do not hurt my sister.”
I jerk my head back. “Dude,” I say, meaning, Of course I won’t hurt her.
But I’m pretty sure he also means, Do not touch her.
And I won’t. In my head, I add, Ever again. Out loud, I say, “I would never do that.”
“Good,” he says.
Mabel sighs, but it’s full of affection for her older sibling. “Theo, I can take care of myself.”
“True, but I will take care of anyone who hurts you.”
He strides off with the confidence of a man who got what he wanted, leaving me to stare stupidly at his sister as I try to figure out if I should seriously go into business with a woman who, seven years ago, I wanted to date, and yesterday kissed madly. And in the years between, I never really fell hard for anyone else.