Lord of Rain (The Dragon Demigods #5) - Charlene Hartnady Page 0,92
wasn’t so difficult, now was it?”
He shakes his head, kisses me one more time, and then pulls out. “About that food…Miss Shaw.” He throws me a sexy half-smile.
I shake my head and laugh softly. Not having to sign the NDA. Him trusting me like this. Bringing me here…although I’m not sure that counts since I kind of forced him. It’s a big step in a direction. A step I know he’s afraid to take. I’m excited. I’m also afraid. I’m falling for Bolt. I’m falling so hard, and so fast my head is spinning. I have this little voice telling me to proceed with caution. I shove that little voice aside. I know it’s probably stupid of me, but I do it anyway. Sometimes a person has to jump. I’m jumping!
27
The next day…
Ashley
I arrive at the bakery mid-morning. I’m wearing the clothes Trevor bought for me. What can I say, the guy has fabulous taste. I’m in a long summer dress. It’s paired with a cute denim jacket and gorgeous tan sandals with flowers around the toe area. I look great. Sex works for me. Let me correct that. Fantastic sex with Bolt works for me. My face is glowing. I feel fresh and revitalized. I’m a little sore. We’ve had a lot of sex since yesterday afternoon. A lot! I’m here to fetch my spare set of keys and some sweet treats, and then I’m headed back to Bolt for the afternoon.
He told me he wants cupcakes. More importantly, he wants frosting. He told me in detail where he plans to put the frosting and how he plans on licking it off. I can’t wait.
I feel my good spirits dampen as I walk into the bakery. It should be crazy busy on a Sunday morning. Especially on a gorgeous day like today. People are out walking their dogs, they’re jogging and biking.
“Hi, Mom,” I say as I walk in.
“Honey!” My mom smiles broadly. “So good to see you.”
“How are things?” I ask.
I see her smile falter for a few seconds, but then she plasters it back on. “All good. Your plaited loaves sold very well.”
“Oh, that’s fantastic.” I notice that there is a whole pile of the things on the shelf.
“They did at first,” she adds.
“It’s important to rotate. Don’t make the same novelty breads. Have a Bread of the Day, or maybe every other day.” I shrug. We need to feel it out. It’s on days like this I wish I was here to help out.
She shakes her head. “Your dad doesn’t like the idea. You know how he struggles with change.”
I nod. “I do. I recommended a few things. Did he tell you?”
Her face falls. “He said you left because you felt Buns and Breads was failing. You didn’t want to be part of a sinking ship.”
I swallow down my emotions. “I hope you don’t believe that, Mom.”
“Oh, hon’, I don’t. I don’t know what to do. We’ve always done okay. I wish that blasted bakery hadn’t opened its doors.”
“It’s here, Mom, and it’s here to stay. It’s we who need to change if we want to compete. If we don’t…” I shake my head.
“How? It all seems so… I don’t know…impossible.”
“I know it seems that way, but it is possible…I swear. Little things, at first.” I outline everything I told Dad. A coffee machine, a couple of chairs and tables on the pavement outside. A Bread of the Day. A couple of sandwiches. “All easy changes,” I tell her.
“I don’t know… Your father won’t like it.”
The frustration is eating at me, but I try not to show it. “I’ll talk to him again. Is he in the office?”
She nods. “Yes. Go easy on him. Don’t overwhelm him. He’s feeling stressed.”
I hate that they’re in this situation. My dad is a proud man. “I want to order a couple of things to take with me when I go.” I look into the cupcake display, and my eyes go wide. “Are those new flavored cupcakes?” I know exactly what they are, namely, my chili cupcakes. The ones I made for Bolt.
“They’re pretty hot.” She smiles. “Simon invented them. Those aren’t sprinkles, they’re popping candy.” She laughs. “He called them ‘Hot Lips’. Isn’t that cute?”
I nod.
“They’re selling really well.”
“See, Mom. A little change goes a long way.”
She gives me a stern look. “A new flavor of cupcake is very different from a coffee station and tables and chairs. Who’ll serve the customers outside?”