by Zoe York
“This is the office,” Evan said. His voice held a hint of humor.
“Wow. The whole room and everything in it is mine?” she asked.
“Yep.” Evan grinned at her. “But don’t get your hopes up for that file cabinet. The top drawer has about every fifth receipt and invoice in it that it should and maybe some pens, and the bottom drawer has a broken phone in it and a stapler.”
Cori lifted her hand to rub her forehead, but stopped just short of exactly mimicking Ava. “I probably need to make a trip to the bank.”
Evan nodded. “I have all of his account information and the paperwork you need to access it.”
“Great.” She glanced back at the closet. She stepped to the file cabinet and opened the top drawer. “Well, the stapler is in here.” She pulled it out, along with a box of paperclips and two folders. Yes, just two folders. She bent to open the bottom drawer. “You’re right about the phone. And—” She reached in and pulled out the only other thing in the drawer. “Measuring cups. No pens in here though.”
“I’ll check the oven for them,” Ava said dryly.
“I assume I can take this stuff home?” Cori asked Evan. “I can’t work in here.”
“Sure. As long as you’re the one taking care of it,” Evan said agreeably.
“Uh, guys?” Brynn came into the kitchen, holding a piece of paper. A plain white sheet of paper with words printed on it in black marker. In Rudy’s handwriting. Cori recognized that immediately.
“Is this the menu?” Brynn held it up to Evan.
He nodded without even looking at it. “Yep.”
Brynn lifted an eyebrow. “There are four things on it. And one is coffee.”
“Simple. Basic,” Evan said.
Cori gritted her teeth. He was hot and funny, but that was getting damned annoying.
Brynn turned the page to look at it and read, “Cherry pie. Apple pie. Peach pie, parentheses sometimes. Coffee.” She looked up again. “Seriously? This was all he served?”
Ava grabbed the page from Brynn. “Three kinds of pie?”
“Sometimes only two,” Evan said.
Ava looked at him. “How is this a pie shop?”
“He served pie,” Evan said with a shrug. “Look, I get it. It was—”
“I swear to God, if you say ‘simple’ or ‘basic’ again, I will smack you,” Cori told him.
He cleared his throat. “Rudy wasn’t in the pie business to make a lot of money. He liked pie and he felt that there were things about business that he wanted to learn up close and personal. He wanted to do things with his own two hands. He wanted a place that was all his own.” Evan looked at all three of them. “All of the things he wants you all to learn and experience now. So, he kept it…” Evan trailed off and glanced at Cori. “Easy,” he finally said. “Straightforward.”
She rolled her eyes at him to let him know that the synonyms weren’t much better. But then she focused on her sisters. “Well, I guess there’s less for you to learn to make this way,” she told Ava.
“It’s ridiculous to build a business on three products, one of which is only available sometimes,” Ava said. “I suppose that could create some kind of demand for the peach since it’s not available all the time. But having only two other kinds of pie? I don’t even like pie, and I can name off at least five others that are so commonly known that it should be assumed that a pie shop would have them.”
Cori almost laughed. Almost. But seeing Ava riled up about pies was funny. Her sister was officially in CEO mode one hundred percent of the time. Which meant that Cori was going to have to split her time between the books for Blissfully Baked and making sure Ava remembered how to not think in terms of profit margins and investment strategies twenty-four-seven. Which meant keeping Ava away from those books and in this kitchen.
Maybe Rudy had gotten this right. The thought occurred to her and it didn’t make her flinch. Maybe giving his girls a simple and basic business to work on together would teach them all something. Maybe it wasn’t about the business at all. Maybe it was about letting go of their ideas about how they wanted their world to work. Ava was used to running everything and making money. Now she would be making pies. And that’s all she’d be doing. Brynn was used to being able to hole herself up and not interact with anyone for days at a time. Now she had to make sure that the shop was inviting to the public. And Cori didn’t like to be tied down, not by a job or a relationship or even a lease. Now she co-owned a business and had to stay in this town for a year. Yeah, this had to be about more than the actual business of pies. Besides, the trust said simply that the business had to be profitable after the year. That meant, as long as they had one dollar in the bank after expenses, they’d made it.
Piece of cake. Or pie, as the case may be.
“Are there recipes in here somewhere?” Brynn asked, looking around the kitchen.
“There’s hardly anything in here,” Ava groused. “I need to get on the computer and start ordering supplies.”
“How do you know what to order without a recipe?” Brynn wanted to know.
Ava frowned at her, as if bringing up that point was irritating. “Well, I’m guessing I need flour. And sugar. And…”
Now Cori did laugh. “Good guesses,” she said, as Ava trailed off. “I can help you come up with a list. And we can look around the house too. Maybe some of the stuff, like recipes, is there.”
“I don’t think he had recipes,” Evan said. “He was trying to make pies that tasted like the pie his grandmother made when he was a kid. He was never able to track down a recipe and he tried over and over to replicate it. I think he threw all recipes out after they disappointed him.”
“There has to be a starting point at least,” Ava said. “And how am I going to know if they taste like his grandmother’s pies?”
“You won’t,” Evan agreed. “You’ll have to make them your own. Customize your recipes for Blissfully Baked.”
Ava tipped her head back and groaned. “I have no idea how to do that.” She looked at Evan again. “And can we change the shop name? Does it say in the trust that it has to stay the same?”
“It doesn’t,” Evan said. “But I wouldn’t do that.”
“No?”
“At least not right away,” he said. “Everyone in town is happy to have you here, but also…hesitant.”
“Hesitant?” Ava repeated.
“You’re new. You’re from New York. In the five years your father lived here, you never came to visit. People are just not sure how you’ll fit in and how this will all go. I wouldn’t come in and start changing a lot of things up, if I were you,” Evan said with a shrug. “It is your shop now, but you’ll be dependent on these people to support you and come spend money here.”
Ava nodded. “Okay, fair enough.”
“And you shouldn’t order the groceries. Go to the store here and spend your money in town.”
Ava sighed, but she didn’t argue that. She did tip her head to the side, regarding Evan. “Though I am dating one of the town’s favorite sons. That has to help me some.”
He flashed her a grin, and Cori felt her gut clench at the sight.
“You are, at that,” he said. “And it will help them give you the benefit of the doubt, bring them in the door at first. But if they don’t like the pie, you might be in trouble. And I’ll hear all about it. So, you probably need to learn more about pie than the fact that it requires flour.”
Ugh. That wasn’t even flirtatious and yet, hearing Evan and Ava talk about dating—even pretend dating—and seeing them grinning at each other was officially Cori’s least favorite part of this day. She should have brought the bottle of champagne in with her.
And then it got worse because Ava laughed lightly and said, “Well, I know there’s sugar involved too.”
That actually was a little flirtatious. For Ava, anyway.
“I can help,” Cori interjected, wanting to say anything that would keep Evan from making any kind of comment
about sugar and Ava. “I can name all of the ingredients that go into a cherry and an apple pie.”
That succeeded in getting Ava’s eyes off of Evan. “I was hoping you’d say that,” she told Cori.
“But the baking is supposed to be your thing,” Evan said. “The trust is very specific. Don’t forget that.”
“Of course,” Ava said. “But it also doesn’t say anything about me not getting help.”
“It doesn’t?” Cori asked.
“No. As long as I’m in charge of the pie, that doesn’t mean that someone else can’t help,” Ava said. “Isn’t that right, Mr. Stone?”
Cori had no doubt Ava had scoured the trust for every detail…and loophole. And she was back to calling him Mr. Stone. The kind-of flirting was over. Thank God.
“That is correct,” Evan said carefully. “You can get help. As long as you’re still the primary baker. But we, you, need to be careful not to interpret things too loosely. It does say that Cori isn’t supposed to be baking. Your father had a very specific intent behind his provisions. In your case, it was for you to be hands-on with your product.”
“Of course,” Ava said, soothingly. “I’m perfectly fine staying inside the legal boundaries of the trust.”
Evan frowned and Cori had to admit that it didn’t sound like Ava was overly concerned with their father’s intentions. But as long as she abided by the trust, everything would be fine. Supposedly.
“You’re not going to be here with us every day, are you, Mr. Stone?” Ava asked. “I assume that you have other clients and obligations?”
Evan’s eyes narrowed but he nodded. “I do have other obligations. And no, I didn’t intend to be here every day. Though,” he added, as an afterthought, “since we are dating, you should probably plan to see a lot of me.”
Ava gave him a smile that seemed less than sincere. “Wonderful.”
“And if you’re thinking about having Cori baking the pies because no one is going to know anyway, you need to be careful,” he said. “I am dedicated to fulfilling all the terms of the trust as your father intended them to be fulfilled. And I’m not the only one aware of the provisions.”
Cori really did like when he got firm like that. She had the impression that Evan was easygoing and fun-loving a lot of the time. But when it came to her father, his friend, and this stupid trust, he was resolute.
“I can promise you that I will touch every single pie that this pie shop makes,” Ava said.
Evan shook his head. “I understand that your reputation as a tough negotiator is well-earned, Miss Carmichael.”
Yeah, Cori liked when he called Ava Miss Carmichael way more than when he talked about her being his girlfriend.
“But,” Evan went on, “this isn’t something to negotiate. This is your father’s trust. And your future. Your sisters’ future.”
“I’m aware,” Ava said coolly. “And I also assure you that if anyone but me bakes these pies…” She lifted a brow. “…you will never know it.”
“But I will.”
They all swung to look at the owner of the new male voice.
There was a tall guy with dark hair and a deep scowl standing by the back door of the shop. In spite of the scowl and the way he had his arms folded, which made his biceps look big and firm, he was definitely good-looking.
“And that’s not happening,” he said.
“And who are you?” Ava asked, her chin going up and her chilly CEO voice firmly in place.
“Parker Blake.”
Ava just lifted a brow. “I’m sorry, Mr. Blake, but I’m not sure how this is any of your concern.”
“Oh, it’s my concern all right, sweetheart. You are not fucking this up. Read a cookbook, look at a few online videos, take a cooking class. But you’re making those pies and if I have to come over here every day to babysit you while you do it, I will.”
Whoa. Cori turned wide eyes to Brynn. Nobody talked to Ava like that. Or if they did, they had their balls in her pocket when they left her office.
“Wha—you must be—there is no way—” Ava spluttered.
“Okay, Parker,” Evan said, holding a hand up. “Take it easy.”
“I’m just saying,” Parker told Evan.
“I know.”
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Ava demanded.
“I’m the guy who’s taking this place over after you go back to New York,” he said. “I’m also the guy who owns the diner right next door, so I can pop over and check on you any time I want. And I am the guy who does not want to have anything to do with Carmichael Enterprises. So, you will figure this pie thing out, sweetheart, and you’re going to have me watching every move you make while you do it.”
Ava seemed to have finally regained her composure, at least slightly, because she said, “What the hell would you have to do with Carmichael Enterprises?”
Huh, that was a good question. Whereas Cori was thinking that there were worse things in the world than having Parker Blake watching every move she made.
Parker glanced at Evan. Evan shook his head. Parker rolled his eyes. And suddenly Cori really wanted to know what that was all about.
“If you girls don’t fulfill the provisions of the trust, or if you fuck it up,” Parker said, “we take over Carmichael Enterprises.”
Ava’s eyebrows were nearly to her hairline. “Excuse me? Who is ‘we’?”
“Me, Evan, and Noah.”
“Hey.” Another guy stepped into the room from behind Parker. “Am I late?”
“Noah Bradley,” Evan said, “Meet Ava, Brynn, and Cori Carmichael. Ladies, Noah Bradley. And you now know the jackass, Parker Blake.”
Noah lifted a hand in greeting, though he looked chagrined. His gaze lingered on Brynn, and Cori caught her sister’s shy smile before she averted her eyes. Okay, Noah was going on the list of guys Brynn needed to date.
“You all take over the business if we don’t fulfill the trust?” Ava asked.
“That’s right. I’m going to be on your ass the whole time you’re here,” Parker said.
Ava gave him a very unimpressed look and Cori was impressed by that. How did she not have a few stray dirty thoughts going through her head when a guy that looked like Parker and had that firm, dominant air about him, said something about being on her ass?
“You are going to get your hands dirty,” Parker told Ava. “So, you might want to cut your nails and take off the polish.”
“I will handle my nails, my hands, and my pie business all on my own, thank you very much, Mr. Blake,” Ava said.
Parker shook his head. “No. You won’t. Because your sisters are supposed to help.”
Ava blew out a frustrated breath. “Yes, of course. I meant without you. And if you ever set foot in my kitchen again, I’ll have you…arrested for trespassing.”
Cori choked on a laugh. That was so over-the-top that it was clear that Parker was rattling Ava.
Parker got a sly smile on his face and unfolded his arms, tucking his hands into his front pockets. “You want to tell her or should I?” he asked, his eyes on Ava.
Who was he talking to?
But then Evan sighed. “Actually,” Evan said, looking almost like he already regretted what he was about to say. “Parker is the official manager for Blissfully Baked. It’s allowed him to continue paying the bills and for the business to go to him when the year is over. He actually has the right to be here. Whenever he wants to, really.”
It didn’t take long for Ava to process that. And what it meant. “You’re my employee then,” Ava said to Parker.
His smug smile faded slightly. “I wouldn’t really call it that.”
Ava glanced at Evan. “Would you call it that?”
“He works for you and Cori and Brynn,” Evan confirmed, looking amused suddenly as he glanced at his friend.
“So I can fire him,” Ava said.
“Actually, no,” Evan answered. “It’s also in the trust that Parker stay in his position. He can’t be fir
ed. The only way for him to be removed would be if he was in prison. Or died.”
“I see.” Ava’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll keep those options in mind.”
And to Cori’s shock, Parker gave Ava a slow grin. “How about you just use all the brilliant brain power and determination that your dad never shut up about and learn the pretty basic skill of making a pie?”
And it seemed that Parker Blake had already figured Ava out. He’d just issued a challenge to her intelligence and drive. There was no way she was backing down from that.
“How about you get out of my kitchen and I won’t make you do all the dishes that I’m going to be getting dirty.”
Parker gave a small smile at that. “Sure thing, Boss.”
The word boss had never sounded more sarcastic.
Parker turned for the door. “But if you need any help figuring out how to actually do dishes, I’ll be right next door.” Then he was gone.
“I, uh, just wanted to say hi,” Noah said. “Guess I’ll be going too.” He grabbed the knob, but then turned back. “Oh, and Elvira’s right out front.” He tossed a set of keys in Cori’s direction and she caught them without thought.
“Elvira?” she asked.
“Your dad’s Caddy.” Noah’s smile was full of affection. “She’s clean and filled up and should run for at least a couple of months, but if you have any trouble, just bring her down.”
Her dad’s Caddy. That was named Elvira. That Noah had kept for them. “Just a couple of months?” Cori asked.
“She’s an old lady,” Noah said. “But she’s tough. Just needs a little loving nudge once in a while to keep going.”
Cori nodded and smiled at him. “Well, thanks.”
Then he disappeared through the door too.
“We have a Cadillac,” she said to her sisters.
“And an employee,” Brynn added.
Ava ignored the subject of Parker entirely. “Guess we can send the limo home then.” She seemed disappointed.
Cori laughed. “I’m guessing our commute from the house to here isn’t long enough for a conference call anyway.”
