hadn’t been watching her, he wouldn’t have even noticed.
“We can probably make it through my whole breakfast and brunch rotation once before it’s over. But I have a lot of great recipes,” she said.
“Well, I wouldn’t want to divorce you before I’ve tasted them all,” Grant teased, trying to keep the moment light. “But I wouldn’t mind extending it to include this at least one more time.”
Her smile was definitely smaller, but she nodded. “I can slip it in again, I’m sure.”
She turned back to the stove and made him three more pieces, which, of course, he had to eat regardless of calories or fat content. Not that he minded.
She started doing the dishes as he ate.
“What are you eating?” he asked.
“I already had some toast and some berries,” she said. She glanced over her shoulder at him. “I’m fine. I’m feeling good today.”
“Okay. Good. I don’t want you skipping meals because you’re afraid it’s going to flare up though.”
She nodded, reaching for the dish towel. “I’ll admit it’s in the back of my mind, but I’ll be good. I can be careful for a few days.”
Grant studied her. She was so trim. Not a bit overweight. Yet she clearly loved food. “Working around sweets all day doesn’t make you crave them less? You don’t get sick of them?” he asked.
She laughed at that. “No way. I love everything about baking and cooking and decorating. I don’t think I’d be as good at it if I didn’t like eating it all too. How could I make the raspberry filling perfect or put the right amount of butterscotch chunks in something if I didn’t appreciate how delicious it all was and could be with just a few more chunks or just a little bit more vanilla or just a dash more of cinnamon?”
Grant lifted a brow. “Aiden said that Zoe is a stickler for following her grandmother’s recipes at the bakery. In fact, he’s been a little frustrated by how adamant she is about not changing things down there. That’s why you guys doing cake pops and pies in a jar are such a big deal, right? Because it’s a change.”
Jocelyn nodded, her eyes on the pan she was drying.
“Are you telling me that you sometimes change the recipes, Jocelyn?” Grant asked, teasing, but curious about this woman.
Her cheeks were pink, but she still didn’t meet his gaze. “I don’t change them. I might tweak them a bit.”
“But Zoe doesn’t know.”
Jocelyn looked up. “Zoe isn’t as… particular about her baking as I am.”
He couldn’t help it. He grinned. “What does that mean?”
“She follows the recipes to a T. And they’re awesome. So there’s nothing wrong with that,” Jocelyn said. “But she doesn’t sample everything, and she doesn’t pay that much attention. So she… doesn’t know when I tweak things.”
“And your tweaks make them better?”
She nodded. “They do.”
“Better than tried-and-true recipes that have been used and become famous in this area for half a century?” He wanted her to say yes. With confidence. He loved seeing her sure of herself and her talents and willing to defend them.
Jocelyn thought for a moment. Then she said, “Yes.” She hesitated. “But you can’t tell Zoe.”
“I’ve already promised to keep your secrets,” he told her. “I’m one hundred percent Team Jocelyn. I like that you know when to tweak something, when to lean on your talent and knowledge.”
She took a deep breath. Then gave him a small smile. “I’ve never told anyone that. No one knows that the butterscotch bars and the raspberry thumbprint cookies are so damned good because I actually changed the recipe slightly.”
“They give the credit to Zoe?”
“Well, to the family. Her grandmother, I guess, technically. Everyone knows that we use Letty’s recipes faithfully.” She shrugged. “Semi-faithfully.”
“Does it bother you that they don’t know it’s you behind the deliciousness?” he asked.
“Not really,” she said after a moment. “I consider Buttered Up my business too. Its success—or failure—impacts me directly. So I want it to do well. If people love the butterscotch bars, for whatever reason, it’s a good thing for all of us.”
He nodded. What she said had merit, of course. He just wasn’t used to people not wanting to be acknowledged and applauded.
“Is that also partly why you liked having the business on the side?” he asked. “Because then you can make whatever you want however you want to?”
She nodded. “Yeah. It really didn’t start that way. It really started as a way to help the people out who needed that