revise every thought he had previously.
Because it was the best damn chocolate chip cookie he’d ever had in his life.
And that was saying something. Especially nowadays. He didn’t really eat for pleasure. Didn’t do much of anything for pleasure. He ate to not die, he drank to not feel.
Dessert? Unless it was a convenience, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d had something sweet.
And maybe that was coloring his perception on these cookies. But there was something about them that was almost painful. A window into something domestic that he didn’t have anymore.
A look at another life.
Who knew that butter and chocolate could accomplish such a thing?
“It’s good, right?” she asked.
And the strangest thing was he knew that she was just confirming. Because she knew it was good. And there wasn’t a hell of a lot else that made her interesting. But her confidence did. That flat-out assurance that she had something here that was better than average. That she was better than good. And she had come all the way up the mountain to make sure he knew it.
Spare few things intrigued him, but that did.
He picked up another cookie off the plate, and her grin became that of a satisfied cat.
“I told you,” she said.
“I’m a soft target,” he said, “I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I’ve had a cookie.”
“I don’t have a lot of money,” she said. “A little bit that I have saved up from...things. And, what I’m anticipating I’ll make on the bakery. But by and large, the start-up is going to be pretty cost prohibitive.” She took a deep breath. “If I could do some things for you around the house, or bring you things...”
“Are you suggesting we should barter?”
“Yes. That is exactly what I’m suggesting. I’ll bring you food. I’m going to be making dinners anyway, and I’m going to be making baked goods. I’ll cook for you.”
“How do you know I need someone to cook for me?”
She looked past him, at the decrepit cabin. “Just a hunch,” she said.
“What makes you think I want that?”
“I don’t know. But I’ll trade you. Domestic services. And the percentage of my profits. And if after twelve months it’s not worth it to you, then it’s done. But it’s just empty right now, and I guarantee you that very few people in town are going to be able to make that rent. Even if they do, it’s going to be some fool who came up from California—no offense—and thinks that they know how to run a business here. They’re going to think they know better what people here want. They’re going to aim to please tourists, ignoring the fact that you have to give something to the locals as well. I know this town. I know these people. Like I said, my sister is the police. My brother is one of the most well-respected men in town. My cooking is something people know about.” She straightened, lifting her chin. “I’m something of a legend.”
“Are you?”
“Yes.”
“You’re very small for a legend.”
“And you’re awfully talkative for a mountain. But here we are.”
And he didn’t know what to say to her. Mostly because he had no reason to argue with her. Not really. He could give her what she was asking for. The only thing he needed money for these days was the equine facility down in Santa Barbara. And most of his previous investments handled that.
And yeah, there was the house. And it had to be finished. A promise was a promise. It had just taken him a while to get here. And then, taken a while to get to where he could think about starting. But in the meantime, he didn’t need exorbitant rent money. And if he had someone bringing him food, he could leave the house less often. He could actually get a decent start on building.
And yeah, doing it by himself was something a little bit past foolish, but he’d gotten to where it was possible. And anyway, it was about the only thing he could do to occupy himself.
“Come on in,” he said, jerking his head toward the door.
Likely, when she saw the place, she would run.
He kept a close eye on her as they entered, trying to gauge her response.
And at this point, he wasn’t sure whether he hoped she would go, or hoped that she would stay.
He looked around the dilapidated cabin, trying to see what she was seeing. It was... Well, it was a mess.
The furniture