Garrett leaned closer to the teenager. “How did he help you?”
“I sent him a copy of the recipe, and he sent me recordings.” Brecken sounded so proud. “Pretty sweet, and I saved everyone all that time. Mr. Baxter called it a win-win.”
Taryn covered her mouth to keep from groaning. Brecken had no clue what he’d done. And in his defense, as Garrett would say, she’d never told Brecken not to share the recipes. Of course, she’d assumed the teenager would know not to do that.
She sighed.
Garrett’s face hardened. “Nick Baxter sounds like a real stand-up guy.”
Brecken nodded. “Mr. Baxter is. He always asks how Lawson’s is doing. Even though he works with the other bakery, he legit wants to help because Mr. Baxter grew up with Taryn, which is why he asked about our booth. He wanted the two bakeries to work together at the fair to help ours. Then you changed themes, but they stuck with it.”
Brecken might have graduated high school, but he was only eighteen. He’d led a sheltered life in the bubble known as Silver Falls. His family struggled financially, and Nick had used his wealth to take advantage of him. Flashing fancy items in front of a kid who’d lived in poverty his entire life was an abuse of power and circumstance.
She took a breath. “I need to tell you something.”
“What?” Brecken asked with the eagerness of a puppy.
So curious. So young. So naïve.
A vise clamped around her heart and tightened. “I don’t want to upset you, but you need to know…”
The teen’s face fell. “Are you okay? Or is it your mom and dad? Did something happen on their vacation?”
His concern was one hundred percent sincere, which made this more challenging.
Garrett touched her shoulder.
The simple gesture gave her strength. She took another breath.
“My parents are fine, but Nick Baxter never discussed working with us at the summer fair. I didn’t know they were using our design until Wednesday night, which is why I changed our theme.” Taryn kept her voice steady, but her insides shook, twisting and turning over how badly the guy had used Brecken. “Nick isn’t out to help us. He wants to destroy Lawson’s Bakery and has been trying to take our business away.”
“But he’s a good guy.” Brecken raised his right foot. “I told you he got me these shoes.”
She glanced at Garrett and mouthed help.
“He did, and they are cool shoes,” Garrett agreed. “But he was trying to get on your good side.”
“My good side?”
“He was using you.”
Brecken shook his head. “He was helping us. Who would drop a phone into a lake on purpose? Sure, it was old, but it worked fine. I didn’t need a fancy new one.”
He sounded confused. Taryn didn’t blame him. She found it hard to believe Nick would do this. And based on what he’d said the other night and what Brecken had told her, the vendetta had more to do with Brandt than Lawson’s Bakery.
She needed to tell him the rest of what had happened. “Whatever Nick might have told you, he gave the recipes he recorded to Summit Ridge Bakery. They are selling our products, cutting the prices, and taking away our customers.”
Brecken’s forehead creased. “But Nick said he wants to help us.”
“He lied to you.”
Brecken tilted his head before opening his mouth. “He wasn’t trying to help?”
“No,” Taryn said softly. “He wanted to hurt us.”
Garrett nodded. “Nick didn’t talk to Taryn, nor did Summit Ridge. They took the designs you shared with Nick and claimed them as their own.”
Brecken inhaled sharply. “No one like him ever gave my family or me the time of day. I thought… I thought Mr. Baxter was my friend, but he…wasn’t.”
“No, he wasn’t.”
Brecken hung his head. “All the trouble the bakery has been having with fewer customers coming in. It’s my fault.”
“Hey.” Taryn reached out and touched Brecken’s hand. “You didn’t know.”
“I didn’t.” Brecken’s eyes gleamed. “I really didn’t. I thought he was legit a good guy. He bought me fancy stuff. Paid twenty bucks an hour for the babysitting so that I could help my family more.” Brecken sniffled. “I love working at Lawson’s and baking. I’m finally good at something. And you and Jayden always send me home with extra for my family. More than you give Carl and Finley.”
Seeing Brecken so upset hurt Taryn’s heart. She patted his hand. “I don’t blame you. Nick’s the one at fault.”
“You trusted someone who took advantage of you.” Garrett’s deep voice must resonate in a courtroom. “He used you, but now that Taryn knows how Summit Ridge got hold of the recipes and designs, it’ll stop.”
Brecken glanced up before his face crumpled. Tears fell. “What if it’s too late?”
“I’m not giving up.” She only hoped her father gave her the chance to turn things around. “No one at Lawson’s is. That includes you.”
Brecken groaned again. “This is like real-life spy stuff. I can’t go to jail. I’m supposed to start community college in the fall, and I would never hurt…”
“I know you wouldn’t.” Taryn didn’t hesitate to answer.
“No one is going to jail,” Garrett said in a matter-of-fact tone. “We just need to figure out what to do next.”
“And we will,” Taryn assured Brecken. “It’ll be okay.”
“But it’s not okay now. And it might not be okay. I ruined everything.” Brecken wiped his face with his arm. “I should have known it was too good to be true. Are you firing me?”
“No.” Taryn didn’t hesitate to answer. Brecken was a hardworking employee. He might have been naïve, but his reaction told her he wouldn’t do this again. “Lawson’s needs you.”
More tears fell. “Even after what I did?”
She nodded.
Brecken glanced at Garrett. “You’re a lawyer, right?”
Garrett nodded.
“Are you sure they won’t arrest me for corporate spying or something?”
“I’m sure,” he replied.
“You’re safe,” she said firmly. “Nothing will happen to you. But I wish Nick would have to pay for what he’s done.”
“I’m sorry, Taryn.” Brecken’s shoulders shook. “So, so sorry.”
She tried to comfort him. “I know you are.”
“Everyone makes mistakes.” Empathy oozed from Garrett in waves. “I did when I was in college. All you can do is learn your lesson and move on from there.”
“My dad tells me that, but he also taught me to take responsibility for my mistakes. I need this job badly. My family can’t cover the rent without my paycheck, and I want you to trust me again.” His voice trembled. “I’ll fix this, Boss. I’ll make it better. I promise.”
Brecken took off running through the park in the opposite direction of First Avenue.
Taryn wiped her eyes. “It’s not his fault.”
Garrett blew out a breath. “I know.”
She had to make this right. “What do we do now?”
Chapter Sixteen
Sunday night, no one had heard from Brecken. Garrett sat in the bakery that was now closed. The staff cleaned up in the kitchen while Taryn spoke to Brecken’s mother on the phone.
Garrett hated the toll this was taking on Taryn. Worry etched into lines on her forehead and around her mouth. She kept moving as if stopping would mean something terrible would happen. The nervous energy had intensified the past two hours.
His family, Brandt’s family, and Callie’s and Margot’s employees were searching Silver Falls both in their cars and on foot for the missing teen. Not everyone had met Brecken, but a tall kid dressed in his white uniform shouldn’t be hard to spot.
But so far, no one had seen him.
Not good.
Garrett dragged his hand through his hair.
Taryn continued to pace in front of the display case. “Okay, thanks… I a
ppreciate that, and I’ll do the same… Talk to you soon. Bye.”
She disconnected from the call, lowered her phone, and slumped.
He stood. Jayden, Carl, and Finley came out of the kitchen. All three had changed out of their uniforms and wore shorts and T-shirts.
“Any word?” Jayden’s worry was apparent in those two words.
“None. His family has been reaching out to his friends, but no one has talked to Brecken.” Taryn rubbed her eyes. “It’s as if he’s disappeared. He wants to fix this, but I have no idea what he meant by that. Neither do his parents. I hope he’s okay.”
Jayden hugged her.
That should be Garrett’s job, but he was the outsider here. These people had worked with Brecken for two years and cared about him. While Garrett had seen him around the bakery, he’d only met the teenager today.
“Someone will find him.” Jayden raised Taryn’s chin with his finger. “I spoke to Rachelle. She’s getting the word out to first responders in Silver Falls and the surrounding areas. People are out looking for him.”
“Brecken’s a good kid,” Carl said. “He can get tunnel vision, whether that’s icing cupcakes or fixing what he did wrong. And he won’t come up for air until he’s finished.”
“That’s Brecken all right.” Finley’s smile, however, was fleeting. “I’ve been texting him, but he hasn’t replied. I’m guessing his phone is blowing up with people trying to contact him. His phone might be dead.”
“A dead battery would explain why no one can reach him.” Garrett was grasping at straws and not handling the situation with his usual calmness and emotional distance. He much preferred being on the sidelines. “We’ll find him.”
“We will.” But her tone lacked confidence. “There’s no reason for us to stay here. I’m sure if Brecken shows up anywhere, it’ll be his house. You’ve all worked so hard this weekend, and tomorrow’s another workday, so why doesn’t everyone go home? If anyone hears anything, let everybody know.”
“Good plan,” Jayden agreed. “And thanks for all the extra time you guys put in today.”
Taryn nodded. “We couldn’t have pulled off the summer fair without you, so thank you.”
Finley and Carl muttered you’re welcome.
Jayden pinned Garrett with a hard stare. “You staying with her?”
“I am.”
“Good.” Jayden hugged her again as if to get under Garrett’s skin—it was working. “Hang in there.”
She stared at the floor. “If I hadn’t mentioned Nick to him—”
“This isn’t your fault,” Garrett interrupted.
Taryn opened her mouth.
“Listen to the lawyer.” Jayden glanced his way. “He’s right for once.”
Garrett cocked a brow. “For once?”
Jayden’s jaw jutted forward, but amusement shone in his eyes. “You’ve scored a few points, but you need to earn more, attorney guy.”
Carl snickered.
Finley laughed.
Taryn rolled her eyes. “And with that, good night all. See you tomorrow.”
“See ya, Boss.” Finley headed to the door.
Carl followed. “In the morning, we’ll give Brecken a hard time and make him clean the bathroom.”
“Call me if you need anything,” Jayden said to Taryn before shooting him a take-care-of-her look.
Garrett intended to do that.
The door to the bakery opened, and the familiar ping filled the air. The three men left, and the sound repeated when the door closed.
He was more of an overprotective big brother, but he’d had a few high-maintenance clients, so caretaking wasn’t entirely outside his wheelhouse. “Let’s get something to eat.”
“You should be with your family.”
“They are looking for Brecken. And before you tell me you want to join in the search, that’s not happening.” He stepped toward her. “You’ve worked hard all weekend and need to rest.”
“But—”
Garrett silenced her with a kiss. He waited for her to pull away, but she pressed harder against his lips. As he soaked up the taste of her, he relished the feel of her.
He’d wanted to kiss her—hold her—since the other night, but the timing hadn’t been right with the fair. This might not be a perfect time, either, but they were together and alone. That was enough.
Garrett wrapped his arms around Taryn and pulled her even closer. He kissed her as if he’d never get the chance again, running his fingers through her hair.
Ding.
She stiffened before pulling away.
That was when he realized they weren’t alone.
“Brecken!” she yelled.
Garrett glanced at the door to see Brecken with Flynn and Keaton. Only yellow feathers were missing from his brothers’ canary-eating grins.
Taryn rushed toward the teenager and hugged him. “Are you okay?”
Brecken blushed. “I didn’t mean to make people worry.”
“Did you get in touch with your mom and dad?” she asked.
Garrett glanced at Flynn and Keaton. “Yeah.”
Something was going on, and it involved his brothers. He gave both his spill-now look.
“He used my phone,” Keaton said, not offering much.
Garrett prepared to go into cross-examination mode.
“Dial it back, Gar,” Flynn said. “Some kid mentioned seeing Brecken at the Summit Ridge Bakery, so we drove over there.”
“How did you get to Summit Ridge?” Taryn asked.
“I walked,” Brecken answered as if that would have only taken him ten minutes when it would have been an hour or two, depending on his pace. “I thought about hitching a ride, but my parents told me never to do that.”
“Never do that,” all three brothers said in unison.
Taryn appeared confused.
So was Garrett. “Can you start at the beginning?”
“Brecken?” she asked.
He inhaled deeply. “I told you I would fix things.”
“You did,” Taryn said.
“The only way for me to do that was to go to Summit Ridge, so I walked. I found a pawnshop. Did you know they’re open on Sundays?”
“No,” she said. “Go on.”
“Oh, well, first I headed to the drugstore and bought a pair of flip-flops and a bottle of water. I was sweating, and my mom always says to hydrate. Anyway, after that, I headed over to the Summit Ridge Bakery where I filmed videos of me telling what they did and put them online.”
“Not on one platform,” Keaton clarified. “Everywhere.”
“He made posts, too,” Flynn added. “With receipts from his emails with Nick Baxter.”
Brecken nodded. “Gotta keep the receipts.”
“Yes, you do.” Garrett didn’t like what had happened, but the kid’s actions to “fix things” impressed him. “What did you do after that?”
“I sold my phone and shoes at the pawnshop.”
“That’s why he needed the flip-flops,” Keaton, always the professor and filling in gaps, added.
“No shoes, no service.” Brecken pointed to the small sign on the bakery’s door. “Plus, walking home barefoot might have hurt.”
Garrett glanced at Brecken’s feet. Canvas sneakers had replaced the expensive pair he wore earlier. “Why did you sell your things?”
“I didn’t want them. Not knowing why Mr. Baxter gave them to me.” Brecken shuddered before pulling money from his pocket and handing it to Taryn. “This is from the pawnshop. I want Lawson’s to have it.”
She stared at the bills. “I don’t understand.”
He rubbed his hands on his white pants. “It’s not nearly as much as the bakery has lost because of what I gave Nick, but it’s all I have.”
Taryn’s eyes gleamed. “Thank you, but you need a cell phone and real shoes.”
Brecken’s grin brightened his face. “Keaton and Flynn took care of that. They each bought me shoes. Oh, and Flynn got me a phone.”
Keaton’s cheeks reddened. “It was the least we could do. A guy needs more than one pair of shoes, especially if he’s starting college in the fall.”
Flynn’s chest puffed. “And a cell phone.”
“I told them I didn’t need them.” Brecken shrugged. “But they insisted.”
“Of course, they did.” Pride over his brothers’ actions flowed through Garrett. He also saw what Taryn had meant about Brecken being a sweet kid. “As they should have.”
“Thank you.” She hugged Flynn and then Keaton. “For finding Brecken, buying him those things, and driving him to Silver Falls.”
A part of the story was missing. Garrett looked at Keaton. “How did you know where to find him?”
“I teach kids his age,” Keaton said in a matter-of-fact tone. “So we asked teenagers in town, and one mentioned seeing his video from the Summit Ridge Bakery.”
Brecken grinned. “It went viral.”
Flynn laughed. “I have a feeling that other bakery will spend all their profits on a PR person to put out the fires Brecken set on every social media platform.”
Brecken stood taller. “Told you I’d fix it.”
“You did. And I appreciate it.” Taryn smiled softly. “But you scared many people who care about you when you took off. Try to remember to tell someone where you’re going the next time, okay?”
He nodded. “My mom and dad were so happy when I called I don’t think I’ll be in that much trouble.”
Garrett forced himself to laugh. “That’s good, but just because you get away with something once doesn’t mean you do it again.”
“That’s right,” Keaton agreed. “Otherwise, you’ll end up needing to hire an overpriced attorney like my brother.”
Everyone laughed.
“We’ll take Brecken home and explain things to his parents,” Keaton said.
“You’ve both had a long day.” Flynn gave Taryn a once-over that made Garrett scoot closer to her. “Get food and then rest. Doctor’s orders.”
Keaton groaned. “There he goes with the doctor title again.”
“Come on, little brother.” Flynn opened the door, and the familiar ding sounded. “Let’s take Brecken home so these two can go back to what they were doing when we arrived.”
A Slice of Summer Page 15
