Hers to Love: Sisters of Springfield 3

by Ellis, Eliza

“I thought I was meeting with Ms. Kaye,” Kady said. She hadn’t spotted the owner, but she was about fifteen minutes early. Kady strained her neck to get a better look at the people at the far end of the shop, where it was the most crowded. None of the women looked like the picture Kady had seen on Katrina’s website.

  “Right. Kat apologizes for not being here, but she had a last-minute taping of her show and won’t be able to make it. I’m Olivia, the assistant manager slash sometimes baker. I’ll be conducting the interview.” She quickly typed on the tablet as a customer rattled off her order of cupcakes and assorted pastries. Olivia swiped the woman’s card, handed her a receipt and hurried back past two swinging double doors that Kady guessed led to the kitchen.

  No Katrina Kaye.

  Kady had also read Katrina—who was called Kat by her friends and family—also hosted a hugely popular local cooking show broadcasted nationally and on Youtube. She frequently had a world renown French chef as a guest, who was credited as having discovered Kat’s talent for uniquely blending ingredients to create explosive flavors that had her shop filled to capacity with people clawing to receive her goods.

  A fairytale story if Kady had ever read one.

  That, and Kat married her long-time best friend and war hero, Drew Callaghan after he returned from war engaged to Kat’s best friend. Kady had laughed as she read the bio. It was as sickeningly sweet as the smell in the bakery and just as unbelievable.

  No one had happy endings like that.

  Maybe on some countdown to whatever holiday on a television channel producing sweet and wholesome shows, but in the real world? In the real world, people lied, cheated, and shirked responsibility. If it wasn’t for personal gain or protection, then it wasn’t important.

  Like me.

  Kady shoved the invading thought to the back of her mind and concentrated on the mission. She was here to get the job. Not screw it up with personal problems diverting her attention and focus. Olivia expected her to prove herself.

  And that’s exactly what Kady was going to do.

  Olivia reappeared then with an open box that had a couple of cupcakes in it, which she passed to another helper.

  “Can I help?” Kady shouted over the ever-increasing volume of noise from the patrons.

  Olivia’s shoulders slouched. “Bless you! Yes, a trial by fire is probably the best test of your skills.” She motioned Kady to follow her to the other end of the counter where she lifted part of the countertop, allowing Kady to separate herself from the guests. “I know you’re interviewing for the register position, but as you can see”—she spread a hand out wide for Kady to look around—“we’ll need you to do a little more than punch in orders. All of us help out in every position.”

  Kady swallowed, her eyes going to the double doors. “You mean, you’ll want me to bake?”

  She couldn’t cook a thing. Boil water, sure, but pity the eggs she put in the pot. Her mother hated cooking and had refused to teach her daughter anything about it.

  “You don’t need to cook now. Men want stripper bodies and for you to have your own money. Who needs to learn to cook when you can order take out?”

  Olivia laughed heartily. “Not today, no. But if you want, Kat would be thrilled to give you a few lessons and have you help in the kitchen. That way, we can cover for anyone who has an emergency or gets swamped, like right now. We have plenty baked to handle this crowd so I help out front.”

  Kady nodded her understanding. Olivia took her satchel and handed her an apron. After thoroughly washing her hands, securing a bonnet over her hair, and slipping on serving gloves, Olivia quickly went through the process for pickup orders.

  “If you can handle checking numbers and handing out orders, then you’re well on your way.” Olivia smiled brightly.

  Kady thought she read something sinister behind the smile, like Olivia was expecting her to fail grandly. That’s just you. Focus on getting the job. You need this.

  After successfully passing out five orders, Kady’s nerves settled. This she could handle. The more she blocked the noise, the less distracted she was, allowing her to easily function behind the counter.

  The number of pickup orders was staggering. Kady could only imagine the hours Olivia had spent in the kitchen the night before and this morning. Not to mention the vast variety of pastries and other food items they sold. There was probably someone on staff twenty-four hours a day. Not only did this bakery specialize in sweets, but during the hours of eleven and one, a lunch menu was offered. Soups paired with specialty breads, sandwiches, dips, and an array of fruit.

  A child shrieked, causing Kady to jump. The box in her hand tumbled to the ground. Oh, no!

  She thought she was getting ahead by moving a few of the early orders out front to be within hands reach.

  And now one was on the ground.

  She gingerly picked up the box and looked at the order number scribbled in the top righthand corner. Although the shop was equipped with the latest technology to handle orders, Kady thought it was a nice touch that they had the number and a couple of hearts doodled on the boxes. It gave a sense that the goods were made and packaged with care.

  Care she completely demolished with the shout of a child likely experiencing the ecstasy of a well-made cupcake.

  “Number thirteen,” she breathed.

  “That’s unlucky.”

  Kady raised her eyes to find the man to whom the deep voice belonged. Despite the array of noises in the shop, his voice struck her clear, the other sounds fading in the distance.

  Her line of sight trailed up a body clothed in jeans and a black polo shirt with a company label on it. Her eyes then found a square jaw, followed by a straight nose, and the most beautiful pair of golden-brown eyes she’d ever seen.

  “I think that was my order.”

  Kady’s tongued moved awkwardly around her mouth, like a baby trying to speak for the first time. “I…”

  The man smiled easily, further transfixing her. “You?”

  Someone bumped her from behind, sending her into the counter in front. Warm hands gripped her upper arms, steadying her. Now she was inches from his mouth. It moved, but Kady didn’t hear a thing. In the next moment, it smiled, relaxing Kady.

  She could stare at his mouth forever.

  But then she couldn’t stop the kid who just ran under the countertop.

  Continue reading Hers to Hold

  Who is Daemon Knight and what’s his mission in Bendola? Or who is his mission? Start reading Her Special Forces Billionaire to find out!

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  Time to write another romance!

  Eliza