The Cupcake Diaries: Sweet On You

by Darlene Panzera

  Andi drew closer.

  “Don’t do anything impulsive,” Rachel warned.

  “Think before you speak,” Kim added. “Take your time, don’t rush.”

  Andi didn’t rush; she just always did everything at a faster, more accelerated pace than everyone else. If her decisions got her into trouble in the past, it was because she didn’t really know what she wanted. Now she did. She wanted to save her business . . . and she wanted a relationship with Jake.

  “I think these are the other three owners coming in now,” said Logan McGuire, directing his comment to the photographer.

  Jake turned his head and looked straight at her. “I’ve been to your house and all over looking for you.”

  Andi glanced at the flash of the camera which took their picture. “You have?”

  “My sister witnessed Pat Silverthorn’s deliberate fall last night and came and told me right away. It wasn’t Creative Cupcakes’ fault.”

  “Why is she here?” Andi asked and motioned to Pat, whose eyes were red and swollen.

  “I’m sorry, Andi,” Pat said, her usual smug expression absent from her face. “My mother died from a lifetime of unhealthy eating habits. The last thing she ate was a big sugary cupcake. I . . . I’m sorry I took out my anger on your shop and for my behavior last night. What I did was very wrong.”

  “I would say so.” Rachel glared at her. “You think you can get off the hook for what you did by apologizing? Is that what this is all about? Andi, we should sue her!”

  “No,” Andi said, setting her jaw. “We’re not going to sue.”

  “Why not?” Rachel demanded.

  “Because that’s not who we are.”

  Rachel was quiet a moment and then said, “You’re right.”

  Pat bowed her head in shame. “I haven’t handled my mother’s death very well. She was all I had, and I miss her.”

  Andi missed Jake. She watched him walk toward the open side door of the van and when he returned he handed her an enormous bouquet of—yellow lilies! She brought them to her nose and closed her eyes as she breathed in their strong sweet scent. Then Jake showed her the article the Astoria Sun had printed: “Zumba Instructor Caught Staging Cupcake Disaster.”

  “CREATIVE CUPCAKES HAS been selling like crazy,” Jake said, putting his arm around her shoulders and giving her a squeeze. “We can hardly serve fast enough.”

  “All these people are here to buy cupcakes?” Andi asked, glancing around.

  Mia turned toward her, grinning, and pointed to the money threatening to spill out of her overstuffed apron pocket.

  “Let’s open the door,” Andi announced.

  Rachel and Kim hurried after her as they ran to grab their aprons, wash their hands, and pull on disposable food handler’s gloves. Andi began to take orders and noticed her father pulling gloves on his hands as well.

  He turned, and she caught his eye. What did he think he was doing?

  Her father gave her a wary look. “Andi, you’re going to need more cupcakes.”

  As he served the next customer, she broke into a smile. “Thanks, Dad.”

  Pat Silverthorn also offered to help, which put an even larger twist on the current news story.

  Logan McGuire tasted one of their cupcakes and asked, “What do you think of the new French bakery opening up on the other side of town?”

  Andi gave him a broad grin. “As long as we get along, everything will be fine.”

  Rachel took a box from under the counter and pulled out a large gold-plated cake knife with CREATIVE CUPCAKES engraved on the handle. “A symbol of our success.”

  “The victory cupcake cutter!” Andi said, waving it high in the air.

  “Makes me believe we can do almost anything,” Rachel confided and began to sing a sultry rendition of Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole’s version of the song classic “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” She finished with the line “Dreams really do come true.”

  Andi clapped and laughed. Then Kim pulled her T-shirt down over her left shoulder to reveal a tattoo of a flying squirrel.

  “Kim, you didn’t!”

  “I did,” Kim said proudly.

  “Did what?” their father asked.

  Kim slid her shirt back into place and grinned. “Nothing, Dad. Just talking about the freedom to fly with your dreams.”

  “Did Dad tell you about the house?” Andi asked.

  “Yeah, so . . . is it all right if I stay with you until I find my own apartment?”

  Andi hesitated, and as fate would have it, Rachel pointed to a late arrival waiting by the cupcake counter. “It’s your landlord.”

  Andi looked over at Jake. “Is there enough money?”

  Jake opened the cash register, pulled out several large bills, and directed his attention to her landlord. “How much does she owe you?”

  “Eight hundred for last month. Another eight hundred if she wants to keep the cottage,” the man informed him.

  Jake shot Andi a questioning gaze, and she nodded.

  “Yes, I want to stay.”

  “Good luck,” the landlord told her, taking the money. Then he hesitated, turned back, and pointed at the triple chocolate cupcakes inside the display case. “I’ll take one of those.”

  BY THE END of the day, Creative Cupcakes had sold more than they had all month, and after a late-night dinner, Jake took Andi out on the covered platform at the end of the pier.

  Dim lights cast a golden glow over the waterfront docks, and sea lions barked harmoniously back and forth to each other from beneath the pilings. The air was warmer than usual for early spring, the sky clear and sprinkled with stars.

  “I’m sorry I ran out and didn’t return your calls,” Andi said, sitting on the bench beside him. “When Pat slipped and fell, I saw your face, and after promising to make Creative Cupcakes a success, I couldn’t stand to see you disappointed.”

  Jake took her hand in his. “I wasn’t disappointed in you. I was disappointed for you.”

  “You cringed.”

  “Of course I cringed. Pat came up to me at Mia’s birthday party and wanted to know if the newspaper was going to cover the grand opening. I regret to say I told her yes. Then when she fell, I knew my newspaper would have to print the story, and I knew how much it would hurt you. I couldn’t stand to see you hurt, Andi. I cringed because I didn’t want to fail you.”

  “Someone as sweet as you could never fail me, Jake.”

  He took her in his arms and gazed directly into her eyes. “You haven’t found anything about me to scare you off yet?”

  Andi shook her head, her face inches away from his. “No, not yet.”

  “Maybe it’s the way I kiss,” he teased, his breath warm against her skin. “It could be detestable.”

  There was no way Jake’s kiss could be detestable, but since he was joking, she decided to play along.

  “Yes, it could be.”

  He brushed a strand of her long blond hair back behind her ear and tilted her chin up. “Only one way to find out.”

  “I suppose.” Andi caught her breath, the anticipation nearly killing her.

  Then Jake brushed his mouth across hers in a tender, whisper-soft kiss that made her heart soar and her insides sing a melodious sweet-scented love song.

  “Scared?” he asked, drawing back.

  Andi smiled and shook her head. “Not yet. Keep trying.”

  Jake lowered his mouth to kiss her again, then halted halfway and grinned. “Does this mean we can finally go on a real date?”

  “What if I told you I’d love to go on as many dates with you as I can?”

  “What if I told you,” he said, his voice husky as he played along, “I’d like every date on the calendar?”

  “I’d say they’re yours,” Andi said, locking her gaze with his, “but you know we do have a cupcake shop to run.”

  “Yes, we do,” he agreed and tipped his mouth toward hers again with all the tenderness of a white cloud cupcake with sweet heavenly frosting.
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  Recipe for

  PAUL HANSON’S CARROT CAKE

  From the author’s great-uncle, Paul Hanson

  In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients:

  2 cups sifted flour

  1 tsp. baking powder

  1 tsp. baking soda

  1 tsp. cinnamon

  1/4 tsp. salt

  In another bowl mix:

  1 1/2 cups salad oil

  2 cups sugar

  Add 4 beaten eggs, one at a time, and mix well after adding each egg. Gradually fold in 2 cups of finely grated carrots. Add dry ingredients. Mix well.

  Bake 50 to 60 minutes at 350° (less time for cupcakes).

  Icing:

  1/2 cup butter or margarine

  1 (8oz.) pkg. cream cheese

  Beat until light and fluffy, gradually adding:

  3 3/4 cup powdered sugar

  1 tsp. vanilla

  (1 cup chopped pecans - optional)

  Keep reading for a sneak peek at the next two books in The Cupcake Diaries,

  RECIPE FOR LOVE

  and

  TASTE OF ROMANCE,

  available from Avon Impulse May 14, 2013, and May 21, 2013!

  An Excerpt from

  THE CUPCAKE DIARIES: RECIPE FOR LOVE

  Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.

  —Ernestine Ulmer

  RACHEL PUSHED THROUGH the double doors of the kitchen, took one look at the masked man at the counter, and dropped the fresh baked tray of cupcakes on the floor.

  Did he plan to rob Creative Cupcakes, demand she hand over the money from the cash register? Her eyes darted around the frilly pink-and-white shop. The loud clang of the metal bakery pan hitting the tile had caused several customers sitting at the tables to glance in her direction. Would the masked man threaten the other people as well? How could she protect them?

  She stepped over the white frosted chocolate mess by her feet, tried to judge the distance to the telephone on the wall, and turned her attention back to the masked man before her. Maybe he wasn���t a robber but someone dressed for a costume party or play. The man with the black masquerade mask covering the upper half of his face also wore a black cape.

  “If this is a hold-up, you picked the wrong place, Zorro.” She tossed her fiery red curls over her shoulder with false bravado and laid a protective hand across the old bell-ringing register. “We don’t have any money.”

  His hazel eyes sparkled through the holes in the mask, and he flashed her a disarming smile. “Maybe I can help with that.”

  He turned his hand to show an empty palm, and relief flooded over her. No gun. Then he closed his fingers and swung his fist around in the air three times. When he opened his palm again, he held a quarter, which he tossed in her direction.

  Rachel caught the coin and laughed. “You’re a magician.”

  “Mike the Magnificent,” he said, extending his cape wide with one arm and taking a bow. “I’m here for the Lockwell party.”

  Rachel pointed to the door leading to the back party room. The space had originally been a tattoo shop, but the tattoo artist relocated to the rental next door. “The Lockwells aren’t here yet. The party doesn’t start until three.”

  “I came early to set up before the kids arrive,” Mike told her. “Can’t have them discovering my secrets.”

  “No, I guess not,” Rachel agreed. “If they did, Mike the magician might not be so magnificent.”

  “Magnificence is hard to maintain.” His lips twitched, as if suppressing a grin. “Are you Andi?”

  She shook her head. “Rachel, Creative Cupcakes’ stupendous co-owner, baker, and promoter.”

  This time a grin did escape his mouth, which led her to notice his strong, masculine jawline.

  “Tell me, Rachel, what is it that makes you so stupendous?”

  She gave him her most flirtatious smile. “Sorry, I can’t reveal my secrets, either.”

  “Afraid if I found out the truth I might not think you’re so impressively great?”

  Rachel froze, fearing Mike the magician might be a mind reader as well. Careful to keep her smile intact, she forced herself to laugh off his comment.

  “I just don’t think it’s nice to brag,” she responded playfully.

  “Chicken,” he taunted in an equally playful tone as he made his way toward the party room door.

  Despite the uneasy feeling he’d discovered more about her in three minutes than most men did in three years, she wished he’d stayed to chat a few minutes more.

  Andi Burke, wearing one of the new, hot-pink Creative Cupcakes bibbed aprons, came in from the kitchen and stared at the cupcake mess on the floor. “What happened here?”

  “Zorro came in, gave me a panic attack, and the tray slipped out of my hands.” Rachel grabbed a couple of paper towels and squatted down to scoop up the crumpled cake and splattered frosting before her OCD kitchen safety friend could comment further. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of the mess.”

  “I should have told you Officer Lockwell hired a magician for his daughter’s birthday party.” Andi bent to help her, and when they stood back up, she asked, “Did you speak to Mike?”

  Rachel nodded, her gaze on the connecting door to the party room as it opened, and Mike reappeared. Tipping his head as he strolled past them, he said, “Good afternoon, ladies.”

  Mike went out the front door and Rachel hurried around the display case of cupcakes and crossed over to the shop’s square, six-foot-high, street-side window. She leaned her head toward the glass and watched him take four three-by-three-foot black painted boxes out of the back of a van.

  “You should go after him,” Andi teased, her voice filled with amusement. “He’s very handsome.”

  “How can you tell?” Rachel drew away from the window, afraid Mike might catch her spying on him. “He’s got a black mask covering the upper half of his face. He could have sunken eyes, shaved eyebrows, and facial tattoos.”

  Andi laughed. “He doesn’t, and I know you like guys with dark hair. He’s not as tall as my Jake, but he’s still got a great build.”

  “Better not let Jake hear you say that,” Rachel retorted. “And how do you know he has a great build? The guy’s wrapped in a cape.”

  “I’ve seen him before,” Andi said. “Without the cape.”

  “Where?”

  “His photo was in the newspaper two weeks ago,” Andi confided. “The senior editor at the Astoria Sun assigned Jake to write an article on Mike Palmer’s set models.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Mike Palmer created the miniature model replica of the medieval city of Hilltop for the movie Battle for Warrior Mountain and worked on set pieces for The Goonies, Kindergarten Cop, and many of the other movies filmed around Astoria. His structural designs are so intricate that when the camera zooms in close, it looks real.”

  Mike returned through the front door, wheeling in the black boxes on an orange dolly. Rachel caught her breath as he looked her way before proceeding toward the party room with his equipment. Did the masked man find her as intriguing as she found him?

  Andi’s younger sister, Kim, came in from the kitchen with a large tray of red velvet cupcakes with cherry cream cheese frosting. The three of them together, with Andi’s boyfriend, Jake Hartman, as their financial partner, had managed to open Creative Cupcakes a month and a half earlier.

  “Who’s he?” Kim asked. She placed the cupcakes on the marble counter and pointed toward the billowing black cape of the magician.

  “Mike the Magnificent,” Rachel said, dreamily.

  OFFICER IAN LOCKWELL, his wife, son, and daughter entered the shop a short while later. The first time Rachel had met him, he’d written her a parking ticket. Since then, he had helped chase off a group of fanatical Zumba dancers who were trying to shut down Creative Cupcakes and had become one of their biggest supporters. Both were good reasons for her to reverse her original harsh feelings toward the blond, square-jawed man.

/>   “Happy Birthday, Caitlin,” Rachel greeted his six-year-old daughter. “Ready for the magic show?”

  “I hope he pulls a rabbit out of his hat,” Caitlin said, her eyes sparkling. “I asked for a rabbit for my birthday.”

  “She wanted one last month for Easter,” Officer Lockwell confided. “But I told her the bunnies were busy delivering eggs.”

  “There are always more rabbits in April,” Andi told Caitlin and winked conspiratorially at her father. “Isn’t there?”

  Officer Lockwell shifted his gaze to the ceiling.

  “Should we go to the party room?” Rachel asked, leading the way.

  “Here’s two more,” Jake Hartman said, ushering his little girl, Taylor, and Andi’s daughter, Mia, into the shop. Both five-year-olds attended the same kindergarten class as Caitlin at Astor Elementary.

  Andi stepped forward and gave Jake a kiss before he had to head back to work at the newspaper office.

  “Is he a real magician, Mom?” Mia asked Andi, hugging her legs as Mike the Magnificent came out to welcome them.

  “As real as they get,” Andi assured her.

  Rachel exchanged a look with Andi above Mia’s head and smiled. “I wonder if he needs an assistant.”

  IN THE PRIVACY of the kitchen, Andi pulled the pink bandana off Rachel’s hair. “That’s better. Now primp your curls.”

  “And don’t forget to swing your hips as you serve the cupcakes,” Kim added. “Maybe Magic Mike will wave his wand and whisk you under his cape for a kiss.”

  “I can hope,” Rachel said. “I haven’t had a date in two weeks.”

  “Is that a new record?” Andi teased.

  “Almost.”

  “Maybe if you kept one guy around long enough, you wouldn’t have to worry about finding a date,” Kim said, arching one of her delicate dark brows.

  “Oh, no!” Rachel shook her head. “Rule number one. Never date the same man three times in a row. First dates are fabulous, second dates fun, but third dates? That’s when guys start to think they freaking know you, and the relationship fails. Better to stick with two dates and forget the rest.”