Baker's Bob (River's End Ranch #16)

by Kirsten Osbourne

Miranda gaped at Bob, looking at him fully for the first time since they’d kissed in the kitchen. “Are you kidding me? You tell me I need more chocolate chips all the time!”

  “That’s different. That’s one professional to another. This is a lay person messing up my food!” Bob shocked Miranda by winking at her.

  She looked down at her plate and continued eating in silence. It was seasoned perfectly, but she reached for Kelsi’s seasoning and sprinkled a tiny bit onto her food. She couldn’t handle much more, but she wasn’t about to tell him that. “You’re right, Kelsi. It does need a little something.”

  Bob watched Miranda do her best to eat the meal without a drink of root beer between every bite. He couldn’t believe she was so stubborn that she would torture herself just to bug him. “Do you need a little more?” he asked.

  “No, I think it’s good now.”

  After dinner, Bob and Miranda did the dishes, while Kelsi sat with Shane. “You need to behave yourself,” Miranda hissed at Bob. “Kelsi should be able to add as much seasoning as she wants to her food. She’s pregnant!”

  “I work with the woman every day. Trust me—I know what she’s capable of.” He sighed. “Let’s call a truce for the night. We’ll just enjoy playing cards and no arguing about chocolate chips.”

  She looked at him, her eyes meeting his nervously. “Truce.”

  He smiled, squeezing her hand as he loaded the dishwasher. “I’m going to follow you home tonight.”

  She shook her head. “You don’t have to do that. I’m just a couple of blocks over. It’s a quiet town.”

  “I don’t care how quiet it is. I’m going to watch out for you. We need to talk anyway.”

  She shrugged, putting the last plate into the dishwasher and reaching for the dish soap under the sink. She added it and started the dishwasher, heading into the dining room where Shane and Kelsi were waiting for them. Shane had a thin deck of cards in his hand, beside him a pile of cards he’d sorted out of the deck.

  He explained the game carefully as he dealt. She and Kelsi were a team and Shane played with Bob. “After you two figure out how to play, we’ll switch up. I like playing with Kelsi best,” Shane told them, grinning at his pretty wife.

  Kelsi blew him a kiss, patting her baby bump. “She’s kicking.” She looked at Miranda. “Zsa Zsa always starts kicking when she hears Shane’s voice. He’s her favorite person. Her mama’s favorite person too.”

  Shane grinned at her, instructing everyone to pick up the cards he’d dealt. He talked about the right and left bowers, explaining their purpose in a good hand. The first hand they played with the cards face up, so they could be helped.

  When it was time for the second hand, Kelsi took a piece of the cheesecake, groaning a little as she took a bite. “Miranda, you should call this cake Sin. There’s no better name for it. Now we’re playing a game for real. This is war.”

  Miranda grinned, not at all surprised. Kelsi wasn’t the type to do anything halfway, even if it was playing a confusing card game. “We’ll wipe the floor with them, Kelsi.”

  Kelsi grinned. “That’s what I need to hear.”

  The women did take the first game, and then Shane and Miranda switched places, so Miranda was across the table from Bob, and Shane was across from Kelsi. Miranda surprised herself with how nervous she was playing with Bob. This morning, he was just a big bozo who yelled at her about cookies. Now—she didn’t know what he was now, but he was more. So much more than just a cook who didn’t like her cookies. She didn’t know where they were going, or why they were suddenly on this road to that place…but she was pleased.

  Bob watched Miranda as she took her turn to deal. She was careful as she dealt the cards in twos and threes as Shane had shown them, and she was careful not to look straight at him. Did he have little Miranda running scared? He hoped so. Would be so much more fun when he caught her.

  Chapter Two

  Miranda was very aware of Bob’s Jeep behind her VW as she drove through the quiet streets of Riston a couple of hours later. She hated to see the night end, because there had been a lot of laughter and fun, but she had to be at the bakery at three to get everything ready for her day.

  When she pulled into the driveway of the small house she rented, she expected Bob to drive off. She was surprised when he got out and walked to her car, opening her door. He’d said they needed to talk, but she didn’t believe he’d actually follow through with it. “I’m good now. Thanks for following me home.”

  He took her hand and pulled her along toward the front door. “A gentleman always escorts his lady to the door.”

  “Since when were you a gentleman? And how long have I been your lady? Have you lost it, Bob?”

  He stopped on her doorstep and cupped her face in his hands, looking deeply into her big brown eyes. “I’ve wanted you to be mine since the first moment I saw you. Does that count?”

  “Bob—I’m not sure what’s gotten into you today, but I suspect it’s albino brain chiggers. You’re going to regret this tomorrow!”

  Bob slowly lowered his head until his lips brushed against hers. “No albino brain chiggers here!”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck, eager to find out if the tingles she’d felt earlier when he’d kissed her would return. She’d been kissed before, of course. What twenty-four-year-old woman hadn’t? But for some reason, Bob’s kisses were special. Maybe she was the one with albino brain chiggers. Someone had them. Of that she was certain!

  Bob broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers. “I’m not going to regret this at all, Miranda. My biggest regret is that I didn’t kiss you before tonight.”

  “You hate me! You pick fights with me every day. The world doesn’t make sense to me if you’re kissing me!”

  Bob sighed. “Picking fights is my way of telling you that I like you. I was flirting with you.”

  She sighed. “Someone needs to give you lessons in how to treat a woman you’re interested in, Bob Blakely. I thought you hated me and I was waiting for my house to be torched some night, because I didn’t have enough chocolate chips in my cookies.”

  “Well I didn’t even think about burning down your house. I did think about serenading you once, but I decided that wasn’t my brightest idea.”

  Miranda blinked, thinking about how her elderly neighbors would have felt about the singing. “Probably a good choice. Can you sing?”

  “My heart sings when you’re near. Does that count?”

  “Now you’re just being creepy.”

  Bob grinned, pulling her into a hug. “That’s what’s so special about you. You’re not afraid to say exactly what’s on your mind.”

  “Bob? Are you playing some kind of game with me? Because…this is just weird.”

  “I’m not playing a game with you. I want you to go out with me. What are you doing tomorrow night?”

  Miranda frowned at him. “Sleeping?”

  “I started to say, ‘Well, you could sleep with me,’ but that would be highly inappropriate. How about we do something together that doesn’t involve sleeping. We could go for dinner at the restaurant.”

  “You only eat your own cooking,” she said with a frown.

  “I could make an exception for you.” His hand pushed a bit of her blond hair away from her face. “Spend time with me. Let me prove to you I’m not an absolute ogre.”

  Miranda was more confused than she’d been in a long time. “Bob? Am I dreaming?”

  “Well, I’d pinch you, but…I don’t want to hurt you.” He kissed her again, pulling her body against his.

  After a moment, she pulled back, her cheeks flushed, but not from the cold. “I don’t know if this is a good idea.”

  “Spending a little time with me? How could that possibly be a bad idea?”

  She sighed. “I guess we can go to the restaurant tomorrow night. But I need you to be on your best behavior.”

  “You’ll find me a new Bob.”

  She laughed softly. “You reall
y are scaring me a little here, Bob.”

  “Then we’ll take things slow. I’m not in any kind of hurry.” He kissed her softly once more. “But I’m going to be kissing you a lot. Make sure you keep Chapstick handy. Cherry is my favorite.”

  She watched him run back to his Jeep before she went inside. Her dog, Cinnamon, was whining at the door, and she unlocked it immediately, rushing to the back door to let her out. She’d stopped on her way to supper to put on some “real clothes” but Cinnamon was used to having her human with her more often than not.

  As the dog hurriedly did her business, Miranda stood outside waiting, her mind on Bob. His kisses made her melt into a little teeny tiny puddle, but…where was the Bob she knew? The Bob she’d been with all evening was very confusing. And could she still make the cookies she planned to make for the diner the next day if he was going to be taking her out? Was he her boyfriend? Or just some random man who couldn’t seem to quit kissing her?

  She changed into her pajamas and brushed her teeth, her mind still perplexed. Bob liked her? Bob Blakely?

  *****

  Bob hummed as he drove the short distance to his home. Everything was close in Riston. The town was barely a dot on the map. His apartment was really just half of a house. After he was inside, he sank onto the couch, burying his face in his hands. He couldn’t believe he’d actually asked Miranda out. Miranda. The girl of his dreams. There was something so special about her. Now if he could just act human around her, they could be together forever. He could act human consistently, couldn’t he?

  He sighed. For Miranda, he could. He would do anything for Miranda. Anything but let her know how very much she meant to him.

  *****

  When Miranda arrived at the café with cookies the next morning, her eyes were twinkling with laughter. Kelsi took the box from her and thanked her. “Are you staying for breakfast?”

  Miranda nodded. She wanted to see Bob’s face when he saw what she’d done. “Yeah, I want pancakes and sausage this morning.”

  “Bob! Got a pancakes and sausage order!”

  Bob grumbled. “We’re not open for another twenty minutes!” He stuck his head out of the kitchen, swallowing hard. “Oh, it’s you. I’m on it.” A short time later, Bob brought her plate out to her himself. “You bring cookies?”

  “I always do, don’t I?”

  “You put fifteen chocolate chips in them for a change?”

  “Just one,” she said with a grin.

  “One? You can’t have a decent cookie with only one!” Bob glared at her, opening the bakery box. He stared. “What exactly are those things?”

  “They’re called peanut butter blossoms. They’re a peanut butter cookie with a Hershey’s Kiss on top. I made double, because they’re smaller, and you can sell them in pairs for the same amount.” The look on his face was priceless, and Miranda did her best to hide her smirk.

  Bob grinned. He reached in and took one, passed it to Kelsi, and then he grabbed another for himself. “Good solution.” He bit into it, sighing with contentment. “These are good. You should make them more often.”

  “I think of them as a Christmas cookie,” Miranda said. “I’ll make them a few times in December. I think I’m going to change up what I bring you guys. I’m tired of fighting about chocolate chips.”

  “You’d rather fight about Hershey’s Kisses?” Bob asked her.

  She shrugged. “I’d rather not fight with you at all.”

  “But then why would we need to kiss and make up?” He pushed the syrup at her as he walked back into the kitchen, leaving Miranda staring after him.

  She looked at Kelsi. “I swear that man confuses me just a little bit more every day.”

  Kelsi bit into her cookie. “Bob’s a mystery all right.” The laughter in her eyes told Miranda that she wasn’t nearly as surprised by the turn of events.

  “He’s taking me to the restaurant tonight,” Miranda said softly.

  “Sounds like fun. Bob’s a good guy. You need to give him a chance.”

  Miranda nodded, devoting herself to her pancakes. He could cook. He had that in his favor.

  *****

  Bob was at her house at the promised time a few hours later. It was a very early dinner, but with the hours they kept, it really had to be. She opened the door, trying to calm poor Cinnamon who was excited to see a new person. She scooped the dog up in one arm to meet Bob. “I hope you like dogs.”

  Bob smiled, reaching out and petting the dog. “Love them. And their owners.”

  Miranda shook her head. He was going to make her lose her mind with comments like that. “Stop.” She put the dog down. “Be good, baby girl.”

  He watched her shrug into her coat. “Baby girl?”

  Miranda said nothing as she preceded him out the door. “Do you want me to just follow you?”

  He caught her arm. “I thought I made it clear how I feel about you. Why would I want you to follow me? I want to drive you home and kiss you goodnight.”

  She sighed. “You can’t keep saying things like that to me, Bob.”

  “Why not? No one’s listening.”

  “You’re making my brain melt. That’s worse than albino brain chiggers!”

  “What is it about albino brain chiggers that fascinate you so much? If I kiss you, will that knock them out of your brain for the next few hours so you can concentrate on me and not them?”

  She climbed into his Jeep and buckled up. “Just feed me, Bob.”

  “I could take you to my house and cook for you,” he offered.

  “I don’t think I’m ready to be that alone with you. Let’s just do the restaurant tonight. Maybe another time.”

  Bob shrugged, driving toward the ranch where they both worked. River’s End Ranch was a huge destination ranch that offered a little bit of everything. In the winter, there was skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, sleigh rides, and so much more. The ranch was run by the Weston family, of which Kelsi was the youngest sibling. “I’m sure you’ve been to the restaurant a bunch of times, but I’ve actually never been. Do you believe?”

  She smiled. “I’ve never been either! Don’t tell any of the Westons though.”

  “I wouldn’t! You’d tell on me!”

  “You liked the cookies today?” she asked, wondering what he thought of her sassy solution to the chocolate chip problem.

  “I loved them. Absolutely perfect.”

  “Good. I had decided if you complained about them, I was going to shove one up your nose.”

  He laughed. “You know, Miranda, you’re a violent little thing.”

  “Only where you’re concerned. Even my brother never made me want to strangle anyone as much as I want to strangle you at times.”

  “You have a brother? Older or younger?”

  “He’s two years younger. His name is Jason.”

  “Is your family near?”

  She shrugged. “Not super close, but not super far. They’re in Boise. I miss them, but I love the ranch so much. What about you?”

  “I have an older sister. Her name is Annette. She and her daughter Heather are supposed to come visit for Christmas.”

  “This is the best place to be for Christmas. I started working here in early December of last year.”

  “Do you like working in the Old West town? Seems like a lot of fun to me. Are people ever surprised to come in and see a working bakery?”

  Miranda thought about that. “Sometimes they are. Especially if they’ve never been to the ranch before. I have my regulars of course. Some people come from Riston at least once a week for my baked goods. And then there are people like Bridget who come every single morning.”

  He laughed. “Bridget’s a mess. I think she’s going to lead Pastor Kevin on a merry chase.”

  “Looks to me like he caught her,” Miranda said with a shrug.

  “Yeah, but she’s still running. That girl is a little bit nuts, and he never knows what to expect. Other than a love for Cinderella, of course.”
>
  “Well, of course, Cinderella. Who doesn’t love Cinderella?”

  He frowned. “You aren’t going to start forcing me to watch Disney Princess movies, are you? Cuz I’m not sure I could handle that. Kevin is a saint.”

  Miranda shook her head adamantly. “I might make you watch Lazy Love every Tuesday evening, but that’s my only addiction.”

  “What about tonight?” he asked, parking in front of the main house, where the restaurant was.

  “It doesn’t start ’til eight. If you have me out that late, we have a problem.”

  He smiled. “I don’t watch Lazy Love, but I’ve heard it’s good. Valerie Dobson and Jesse Savoy, right?”

  “Yeah. She’s due to have their baby any day.”

  “So you follow the actors? You don’t just watch the show?”

  Miranda shrugged. “From what I can tell it’s impossible to just watch the show. You have to follow the stars and tweet with them during the first run episodes. Makes it more fun.”

  “Sounds kind of compulsive…”

  “This from the man who insists on fifteen chocolate chips per cookie? Really?”

  He laughed, walking around the Jeep and taking her hand. “Let’s go eat.”

  The restaurant was still quiet. It was only four-thirty, so she’d expected it, but she was glad they were open. This was her supper time. Only on Lazy Love nights was she up past eight-thirty anyway.

  Once they were seated, Miranda studied her menu. She had no idea what she wanted. She cooked simply for herself at home, and she usually had at least one meal per day cooked at the diner. “Any idea what’s good here?”

  “Nope! My first time too,” Bob reminded her. “We could get a couple of different things and share them.”

  She shrugged. “Yeah, that sounds good.” She read down the menu. “They have lasagna. That sounds good.”

  “We’ll stick with the Italian-theme then. They have fettucine alfredo. I’m sure it’s not as good as mine, but what can I say? I’m a master chef.”

  “No wonder Joni says your head won’t fit in the kitchen before too long.”

  He sighed. “I’m not conceited. I just know my skills, and I’m very good at what I do.”