Gabe’s eyes met hers and his smile went all the way up his face. “Peach pie doughnuts?”
Charlotte crossed the room to grab the rolling pin that was by Gabe. “Yes.” She could smell his subtle cologne as she reached for the rolling pin.
“You’re going to reveal your secret recipe?”
Charlotte met his dancing eyes and smiled. “I trust you.” She turned on the fryer. “Plus I already made the filling this afternoon.” She sent him another smile as she opened the pantry door.
Gabe gave an exaggerated look of disapproval. “Tease.”
Charlotte’s smile grew as she fished out what she needed. She loaded up her arms, carefully balancing everything.
Gabe went over to help Charlotte. As he took the powdered sugar from her, his hand brushed hers. He felt a rush of warmth at her touch. By the smile on her lips and the faint pink in her cheeks, he surmised that she must have felt something as well.
Charlotte sprinkled some flour out on the counter, then took the rolling pin and rolled out the dough. She pinched off a piece and offered it to Gabe before taking some for herself.
He held her gaze for a moment, then took the dough. He popped it in his mouth. He closed his eyes while he savored it. “I’ve never tasted better doughnuts.”
Charlotte smiled. “Really? And they're not even cooked yet.”
He returned her smile. “Really.”
“Thank you.” Charlotte lowered her gaze. She rubbed a circular cookie cutter in flour. “Here,” she said, handing it to Gabe. “Have at it.”
Gabe smiled and accepted the cookie cutter. He pushed it into the soft dough. The dough bulged up around the edges as he made perfectly circular shapes.
“Am I doing this right?”
She watched as he carefully cut out the doughnuts.
“Yep. Nothing to it.”
“You don’t have a more efficient method?”
“Well.” Charlotte shrugged.
Gabe handed Charlotte the cutter. She quickly stamped out several doughnuts, barely leaving any scraps of dough between them. Gabe raised his eyebrows, impressed. It would have taken Gabe an hour to do what Charlotte did in a couple of minutes. Charlotte dropped a few doughnuts into the fryer.
“Would you like to try some of this?” Charlotte asked, dipping a spoon in the peach pie filling, and holding it out to Gabe.
“What do you think?” she asked softly, watching the way his jaw moved as he tasted the filling.
“Like an Alabama summer afternoon.”
“Miserably humid and hot enough to cook a steak on the road?”
Gabe laughed. “I was thinking more along the lines of a fresh piece of pie after a barbecue.”
Charlotte took a bite herself. “That does sound more appealing.” The fruity, cinnamon-spiced flavor filled her mouth. It did taste like a fresh slice of pie.
Gabe and Charlotte looked at each other. Gabe’s eyes dropped to Charlotte’s mouth. Charlotte felt her heart skip a beat.
A beeping noise filled the kitchen.
Charlotte cleared her throat. “That would be the fryer. The first batch is ready.” She eased away from Gabe and crossed the room to remove the doughnuts from the fryer. She set the basket up so that the grease could drain away, leaving the puffy pastries glistening in the light.
When Charlotte turned around, Gabe was right behind her. His eyes intent, he reached out and slid his arm around her waist, pulling her close. Charlotte’s heart skipped another beat as she closed her eyes. A moment later, Gabe’s lips were on hers, kissing her. Her heart pounded, and the muscles in her torso tightened.
The bell on the front door chimed, and Charlotte pulled herself from Gabe’s arms. They both turned towards the front expectantly as they heard someone shut the door.
Mary Ellen came into the back, her mouth forming a perfect O as her hands sprang open in front of her in surprise.
“Mary Ellen…” Charlotte gasped.
Mary Ellen found her voice. “I was just… I forgot something.” She eyed them, doing her best to disguise the knowing look in her eyes.
“Well,” Charlotte said, looking around at the scattered doughnuts before them. She briefly glanced at Gabe. “We were just about to clean up.”
A smile twitched on Mary Ellen’s face as she moved toward the back of the kitchen. “I’ll bet you were.”
As she left the room, Charlotte caught a glimpse of Gabe’s face. He grinned and Charlotte smiled back. Then she lowered her eyes as she quickly began to clean up. Gabe fell in beside her to help.
Part of Charlotte wanted to wait until Mary Ellen was gone and pick up where they left off. But the momentum of the evening was gone, and she wondered if it might be best to slow down. It had been a long time since Charlotte had let someone into her life.
Chapter 7
Charlotte squeezed the filling into the last of a dozen peach pie doughnuts. She intended to cut them up and give them out as free samples to gauge interest. The morning had dragged by. Charlotte was so distracted by thoughts of Gabe that she'd made up a to-do list and taped it to the shelf by the flour to keep herself on task. It had only been hours since they’d kissed in the kitchen and Charlotte couldn’t stop thinking about it.
She turned around to search for a knife and serving platter and let out a small yelp as Mary Ellen’s smiling face startled her. Mary Ellen’s heavily lidded eyes were sparkling.
“Good morning,” Mary Ellen said slowly.
Charlotte blew a wisp of hair from her face. “Morning, Mary Ellen.”
“So.”
Charlotte tried to hide the smile that threatened to incriminate her. She felt Mary Ellen’s eyes glaring into the side of her face. When she couldn’t evade the pressure anymore, she glanced at Mary Ellen and was at once unable to maintain a neutral expression. She felt her cheeks flush pink.
“Ha! I knew it,” Mary Ellen said victoriously. She bounced on the balls of her feet as she walked closer, sweet tea in hand. “I want details.”
Charlotte carefully cut each doughnut into even cubes. She gave a small shrug. “It was a good night,” she said noncommittally.
“I said details,” Mary Ellen prodded. “Where’d he take you? What’d you order? Did he… kiss you?” She leaned in closer to Charlotte, watching her every move.
Charlotte cleared her throat. “We picked out our dinner at the fish market.”
“Oh, how fun.”
“Yes,” Charlotte said slowly as she continued. “We took it to Bella’s, and they cooked it for us.”
“That cute little place by the water?” Mary Ellen asked, her eyes shining, voice delighted.
“Yes,” Charlotte said again, the smile on her face widening. “And we both got snapper with rice pilaf and steamed vegetables.” She kept her eyes on the task in front of her, poking each doughnut cube with a toothpick.
“And?” Mary Ellen asked.
Charlotte waited a second. “And yes, he kissed me.”
Mary Ellen squealed with glee. “What was it like, is he a good kisser?” she gushed.
Charlotte stayed silent, but her cheeks pinked again as her smile still grew.
“Oh, he is,” Mary Ellen exclaimed.
Charlotte sighed. “He is.”
“What were y’all doing here at the bakery?”
“I brought him back to make some of the peach pie doughnuts with me.”
Mary Ellen looked down at the picturesque silver tray filled with doughnut cubes as if she was seeing them for the first time. She plucked up a cube and put it in her mouth. She shut her eyes as she savored the morsel.
“Good gravy,” she said with the delicate pastry in her mouth. “These are amazing.”
She went to collect another sample, but Charlotte slapped her hand. “Thank you,” she said over her shoulder as she carried the tray up front.
Joel immediately snatched up a cube.
Charlotte pointed a finger in his face. “Just one.”
He gave her his usual salute.
Charlotte smirked. “Tell me if we run out, and I’ll make more.” She was just about to go into the back when the door opened, and the bell chimed. Charlotte looked to see who it was, expecting to see a regular. Instead, she saw a woman who was probably a few years younger than herself striding into the bakery. Charlotte couldn’t put her finger on it, but she looked familiar. Something about her eyes and the way she carried herself. The woman looked at Charlotte. She studied her before finally approaching the counter.
“I’m looking for Charles Northfield’s daughter,” the woman announced.
Charlotte gave the young woman a once over, noting the sunburst tattoo that peeked out of the top of her shirt. She was wearing a burgundy leather jacket and clutched a motorcycle helmet.
“I’m Charlotte, Charlie’s daughter.”
The woman smiled a wide smile and looked over Charlotte appraisingly. She held out her hand. “I’m Jasmine. I’m your half-sister.”
Charlotte’s chin dropped. “My what?”
“My mother is Nellie Brown.”
Charlotte recognized her mother’s maiden name. “You’re…” her voice trailed off as she pointed at the girl. She saw it then, the roundness of the woman’s eyes and the way she carried herself gracefully, like a dancer.
“Your sister,” Jasmine finished for her, her smile twitching larger. “I’m so glad I found you.”
Charlotte finally returned her smile, hoping it didn’t look too forced. Her mother had left her and her father when she was only four. She felt a rush of betrayal she hadn’t felt in years simmer up in her chest. Her mother had another daughter? And she presumably didn’t leave this one behind.
Charlotte realized she was hesitating a bit too long and then remembered her manners. “Come on in,” she said, waving her back. "I take it we have a lot to discuss."
Jasmine, relief touching her features, shifted the motorcycle helmet to rest under her other arm as she moved back behind the counter.
Joel held out the sample tray with a smile. “Free sample?”
Jasmine grinned and took one.
“Would you like something to eat?” Charlotte asked.
“Mmm,” Jasmine said as she ate the cube of peach pie doughnut. “I’d love a doughnut. I’m famished. I didn’t have breakfast.”
Charlotte, still feeling the shocked and a bit confused, got Jasmine a doughnut and coffee. Jasmine settled in the back on a stool next to the large island counter. Mary Ellen was nowhere to be seen. Charlotte assumed that she was probably in the office.
Jasmine sat contentedly eating her doughnut one enormous bite at a time. “Can I have another?” she asked around a mouthful.
“Sure,” Charlotte said, taking a deep breath. She went out to the front, grabbed another doughnut, and delivered it.
“Thanks,” Jasmine said, still chewing. She put a hand up to her mouth. “I don’t mean to be an inconvenience, but I’ll cut to the chase. I drove here from Florida and… I’m low on funds. I don’t know anyone out here, so I don’t have anywhere to stay.”
“I see,” Charlotte said, surprised at how quick Jasmine was to make herself at home. As she watched Jasmine, she noticed another tattoo of a dove behind her ear. Her long blond hair covered most of it.
Jasmine looked up to her, tension wrinkling her forehead. “Is it… ok if I stay with you?”
“I'm sorry, why are you here exactly?” Charlotte said immediately.
"Isn't that part obvious?" Jasmine answered. "I had to meet you. Sorry, I can find a hotel or sleep in my car I guess."
How could Charlotte turn her away? Jasmine did look a lot like the pictures she'd seen of her mother as a young woman. Charlotte's eyes found the to-do list tacked up on the shelf. She glanced at the clock. She was meeting Coco again in a couple of hours to finalize her cake decisions, and between chatting with Mary Ellen and processing the surprise visit from her supposed half-sister, she was falling behind.
Charlotte made an impulsive decision. “Let me go get my keys for you. You can get settled at my place, and I’ll see you when I get home.” Charlotte didn’t wait for Jasmine to answer as she went to back for her keys.
Charlotte strode into the other room, startling Mary Ellen into a sheepish expression that reeked of guilt.
Charlotte paused, wondering what was going on.
Mary Ellen’s eyes shifted from one side to the other, and then she eased into a forced, but relaxed posture. “Can I get you something?”
Charlotte sighed, knowing she didn’t have the time to deal with whatever Mary Ellen had gotten herself into. “Yes, just these,” she answered, snatching her keys off the hook on the wall. She wheeled back around and left to find Jasmine.
“Here.” Charlotte pressed her house key into Jasmine’s hand. “And here’s the address.” She scrawled it across a scrap of paper.
“Thanks,” Jasmine said. She wiped the powdered sugar from her mouth with the back of her hand, then downed her coffee.
Charlotte’s eyebrows rose as she watched Jasmine shotgun the coffee.
“When do you get home?”
“About six forty-five.”
“Okay, then.” Jasmine scrunched up her shoulders as she smiled excitedly. She quickly pulled Charlotte in for a hug.
Charlotte pat Jasmine’s back politely.
“I’ve wanted to meet you for so long.” Jasmine sniffled.
I didn’t even know you existed, Charlotte thought. She made sure she was smiling when Jasmine pulled away, hoping that she wasn’t making a big mistake letting the woman stay with her.
“Well. I’d better get to work,” Charlotte said, trying to dismiss herself.
“Oh, right,” Jasmine answered. She held up the key with a smile, then turned to leave.
Charlotte, her mind in shambles, put her hand to her head as if she could steady her churning brain. Her eyes focused on the to-do list. She crossed the room and just before she began to read, Joel poked his head in the back.
“There’s a man here to see you. Gabe?”
Charlotte’s heart did a dip. She didn’t even give the to-do list a second glance as she went out front. She felt the tension leaving her neck as she took in his face. His eyes lit up when they found hers.
“Can you ask Mary Ellen to hold the fort down in the back while I’m gone?” Charlotte asked Joel as she took off her apron. She leaned into the back just long enough to hang the garment neatly on its hook.
“You’re leaving?” Joel asked incredulously. “In the middle of the day?”
Charlotte didn’t answer. Instead, she walked out beyond the counter to accept Gabe’s hand, practically bouncing as she did so. He opened the door for her as they left the bakery.
“Just thought I’d stop in to say hi," Gabe said. "I’m taking a break from writing.”
Charlotte took a deep breath of the humid, salty air. “I’m glad you did.”
They exchanged smiles.
“Want to take a walk on the beach?” Gabe asked.
“I’d love to,” Charlotte answered.
Moments later they were strolling lazily down the sand, shoes forgotten back at the car, drenched in Alabama sun. Though it was scorching hot outside, a strong breeze blew in from the water, cooling them considerably.
“How’s your morning been?” Gabe asked.
Charlotte delighted in the feeling of warm, wet sand beneath her feet. “It took a strange twist.”
“Oh?”
“Yes.” Charlotte looked at Gabe. “My half-sister showed up. It was like staring at a portrait of my mother.”
“You don’t get along?” Gabe inquired.
“I didn’t even know I had a sister.”
Gabe’s eyebrows rose. “Oh.”
“Yes,” Charlotte said, looking out over the water. “Oh.”
“That’s quite a shock.”
“It is. And she’s going to stay at my place. Apparently, she has nowhere else to go.”
“That was kind of you to offer,” Gabe replied.
“Well.” Charlotte looked at Gabe out of the corner of her eye. “Technically I didn’t. She asked, and I couldn’t say no.”
Gabe’s eyebrows rose again. “At least you’ll get to know each other.”
Charlotte chuckled. “There’s that I suppose.” She felt the stress of an uncertain morning beginning to melt away. It was good to have someone to talk to. When was the last time she’d confided in someone? There was Mary Ellen, but she had to censor herself too much. Mary Ellen loved to gossip.
She turned to Gabe as they walked. “So how was your morning?”
Gabe inhaled, then let his breath out slowly. “Spent my time writing. Or trying to.” He looked at her, then looked back down at his feet. “I’d say I spent more time thinking about last night.”
Charlotte’s face broke into a smile and her cheeks, already tinted by the sun, flushed. “I had to write up a to-do list to keep myself on task. I was so scatterbrained.”
Gabe laughed, then looked at her and pulled her easily to a stop. “I had a lot of fun yesterday.”
“Me too.” Charlotte's smile grew when she saw the now familiar intensity glow in his eyes.
Gabe tugged her closer to him and kissed her as the gulf breeze tussled their hair. She smiled against his lips, enjoying the subtle hint of salt from the air on his mouth, all of her worries melting away in the hot sun.
As they walked back to the car, Charlotte began to think of what was looming in front of her. She had the lunch rush to get through, Coco’s cake finalizing that was sure to induce hair-pulling, and then there was Jasmine to sort out. If one could really sort something like that out.
“Can I see you tonight?” Gabe asked, interrupting her thoughts.
Charlotte felt her face break into a smile. “Yes.”
Gabe returned her smile, the hints of nervous tension fading quickly from his face.
Chapter 8
That walk with Gabe was exactly what Charlotte had needed. She felt odd, though, returning to the bakery. Ever since she took over the bakery, and even beforehand, people had been telling her to slow down and stop working so much. She’d always answered that working made her happy. Charlotte was competitive with herself and with others. She wanted to make the bakery thrive even beyond where it was. Every year that she succeeded in taking the business further breaking a sales record, finding a new popular flavor, even winning an award; it didn’t satiate her desire. It only made Charlotte look for yet another goal to meet and then overcome.
Her Sweet Affair: The Brides Of Sugar Cove Page 3
