“Thanks!” the girl jumped up and down.
“Have you been drinking double espressos like that all day?”
Victoria shook her head up and down at me. “Yes. Delicious. Didn’t get sleepy once.” She continued to talk at the speed of light and I felt bad for the poor girl. It would probably be days before she felt sleepy again.
Echoing my thoughts, Sam stood and looped arms with Victoria. “I think it is time for a cup of chamomile tea. Come on, I’ll make you my favorite blend.”
I left them to it and pushed through the swinging door into the café part of the bakery. “Hey Millie,” I greeted the girl as she turned from wiping down the counter.
“Hi! I didn’t know you guys were coming tonight. How did it go?”
“Fairly well,” I hedged. “How did things go here?” I looked out past the counter to the cluster of people at tables and my jaw dropped.
No more white table tops met my eyes. Instead, an astounding array of colorful cookies and cupcakes showed on every surface. Speechless, I walked around the counter and touched the closest table, feeling of the paint, convinced that my eyes must have deceived me.
“Thanks so much for letting me use the bakery for my art project,” Millie joined me and blushed. “I couldn’t believe it when Gladys told me you said yes. What do you think?”
What I thought is that Gladys and I really have to have a talk about clear communication. Millie didn’t need to do her homework in the bakery as I believed; no, she transformed the bakery through her homework.
I said the only thing I could say. “It’s…magnificent.” And it was. Millie had talent and she had turned plain tables into true works of art. Cookies danced the conga, cupcakes sported frosting of every shade, and sprinkles spiraled around and throughout it all, a veritable dessert celebration. I wandered slowly around, taking them all in. Not a single table sported the same scene.
“I’m so glad you like it. I’ve been worried. If you want me to take it off or paint over them, please, just tell me.”
“I love them! How in the world did you get all of these painted in a single weekend?” I asked her.
Millie only ducked her head and smiled. “I love to paint,” she shrugged her shoulders.
Looking around, I noticed something missing. “Where is Gladys?”
“She left early for her cooking lesson.”
“Cooking lesson? Why would she need a cooking lesson?”
“Who’s having a cooking lesson?” Sam asked as she and Victoria joined us, large cups of steaming chamomile tea in their hands.
“Gladys. She’s been going to lessons at the place that has classes for seniors.”
Sam raised her eyebrow at me and I shook my head. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why Gladys would be at a cooking lesson.
Chapter 31
“Haven’t we done enough sneaking around this weekend?” Sam asked me half an hour later. The girls insisted they could handle cleanup and closing up shop which left the two of us free to go see about this cooking lesson of Gladys’s.
“We are not sneaking around,” I lowered my voice as we opened the doors to the Senior Citizen’s Center. “We are simply checking out a new class in our community and letting our friend know we are home safe.”
“Do you expect me to believe that?”
“Of course not, now come on.” Turning down a hall to the right, we followed the sounds and smells of food, and of course, the well-marked signs reading Fab-ulous Foods
in large print, to the kitchen.
“Oh. My. Gosh.” Sam whispered.
I could only nod. We had solved the mystery of the cooking class. Gladys, decked out in cocktail dress, zebra-print apron, and heels, stood next to none other than Chef Fabio as he extolled on about the fine art to a souffle in his magnificent French accent.
Backing slowly away from the door, Sam and I made an inconspicuous exit. “Should we tell her we know?” I asked as we re-entered the foyer.
Sam quirked her lips up to the side, thinking. “Hmm. Maybe not just yet.”
“You know, this explains the fine French dining she created for dinner the other night.”
“True. Since you still have to drive me home, why don’t you just crash at my place tonight?”
“Deal.” Exhausted, I didn’t look forward to the drive out to Sam’s much less turning around and driving back into town to my apartment. Stifling a yawn, I chuckled. “I sure hope some of that espresso wore off for Victoria by now.”
“No kidding. When it does, she’ll probably sleep a full eighteen hours. I think it is good we are giving them a few days off before asking if they want to be part-timers.” Sam said. She and I had discussed the situation at length on the drive back to Seashell Bay today. The girls would be fun to have around for the rest of the summer if they said yes. I smiled, thinking of Millie’s art project tables; there might be more decorating in the Ooey Gooey Bakery’s future.
Silence encompassed us for most of the trip to Sam’s condo. The garage on Griff’s side was shut when we arrived and I wasn’t about to go peeking in windows to see if he was home. Hauling Sam’s bags up the stairs and into the living room, we dropped them in the middle of the floor and left them.
“Night,” I called to Sam as I carried my toiletry bag into the guest bathroom. She waved and disappeared into her bedroom. After a quick shower, I snuggled under the cool sheets, eyelids drifting shut. Dancing cookies filled my dreams and sleep was sweet.
Chapter 32
The alarm went off an extra hour early the next morning. I rolled over and swiped the button to silence the cuckoo bird melody on my phone. Dressing in a flash, I tiptoed to the kitchen and made two cups of green tea. Moments later, Sam joined me.
“You’ve had enough jeans and tees, I see.” I smirked at my friend. A bright smile greeted me in return as she strolled over to the counter and picked up her tea glass. Dressed in a fashionable white and black dress, she looked more suited to the dreaded dinner party next month than to a day at the bakery.
“Have to make a good impression on our customers; we’ve been gone a lot recently, after all.”
“Right,” heavy sarcasm made the word roll slowly from my mouth. “Whatever you say. I’m heading in to see if we have to make new dough or if Victoria left some ready to bake yesterday.” Getting up, I strode to the couch and sat down to slide on my sneakers.
“I’m right behind you,” Sam said.
Taking the stairs two at a time, I jogged to my truck and took off for work. Excitement bubbled inside of me and a goofy grin split my face, surprising me at how much I had missed the bakery in only two days.
I pulled up in the back lot to find Griff’s truck parked next to the back door. He stepped away from the building where he leaned against the wall and waited for me. The goofy grin grew.
“Hey stranger,” I smiled, unlocking the back door. Griff followed me inside. “If you make a habit of showing up this early, I’m going to assume you want a job,” I joked.
“Maybe I’m just taking my responsibilities as official taste-tester more seriously.”
“Then you will be disappointed to learn we hired a replacement for you just last week.”
He arched an eyebrow at me. “Oh really?”
“Yep,” I nodded as I slipped an apron over my head. “Gladys.”
Griff laughed out loud. “I guess I’ll have to apply for a new job then. The one I’m thinking of has everything to do with you and very little to do with this bakery though.” He grew serious.
“And just what would this job involve?” I pursed my lips, tapping a finger on my chin, the perfect picture of contemplation.
“It’s going to be a tough one, very demanding,” he said with a mock frown.
“Is that so?” I narrowed my eyes at him.
He nodded. “Yep. I have to be funny enough to make you laugh,” he ticked off on his fingers. “Kind enough to help you in everything you need.”
I made a
show of looking in the walk-in fridge, hoping to cool the heat rising to my cheeks.
“Persistent enough to gain your attention more than these cookies,” he added pointedly. I turned and stuck my tongue out, but continued listening. “Sneaky enough to catch you by surprise. And honest enough to make you realize how amazing you are.”
I swallowed. “You might be in luck,” I told him. “I think there is a position open for that kind of job.”
Griff scooped me up and spun me around. Laughing, I held on tightly.
As he sat me on my feet again, Griff led me to a stool and we sat down. “There’s one more thing,” he said.
My pulse picked up as I waited.
“I’m going out with Kendra tonight.”
Like a giant bubble that floated into a tree limb, my excitement popped and died. I leaned back and shook my head, trying to clear it of what I just heard.
“You’re agreement with Deidra?”
Griff squeezed my hand. “Yes. Mother insisted I agree to take Kendra to dinner and I did. She even gave me an entire checklist including buying flowers, ordering wine, and other nonsense. I wanted to come here and tell you that I plan to take her out tonight, fulfill my debt to Mother and be done with it.”
It made sense in a painfully twisted way. “What about Kendra?” I asked. I supposed I should feel sorry for the woman. I probably shouldn’t feel hurt and jealous; try telling either of those things to my heart though.
“I’ll explain everything to Kendra at dinner. Don’t worry, I will not let her get the wrong impression. Not when you are the one who is right for me.”
“Okay.” I took a deep breath. It would be fine. “Griff, thank you for telling me.”
“I’m only sorry I have to go at all,” he said.
I stood and got to work scooping cookie dough onto sheets before a realization dawned. I turned and grinned at Griff.
“What?” he smiled back, reclining one elbow on the work table and looking at me.
“Did we just have a completely uninterrupted conversation about something important?”
He laughed, making me laugh as well.
Griff grabbed my hand, leaning toward me. I moved a step closer, gazing up at him. My eyes fluttered closed.
The back door opened, startling us apart, as Sam strode in. “What did I miss?” she asked, swinging her head back and forth between the two of us, which only made us double over and laugh more. So much for uninterrupted.
“Okay then,” Sam rolled her eyes. “I’ll just start some new cookie dough and pretend I’m not sharing my workspace with a couple laughing hyenas.”
Chapter 33
“I guess I should go get Kendra’s flowers.” Griff wiped his chocolate-coated fingers on a napkin.
“Flowers for Kendra?” Sam asked sharply, frowning at her brother.
“You should take some cookies, too. Wait, I’ll go with you to Flo’s to pick some out.” I tossed our trash into the can by the counter. “I just had a cool idea that I want to run by her to help her summer business pick up.”
“Cookies? For Kendra?” Sam waved her arms at us. “What are you two talking about?”
I laughed. “It’s a long story. Watch the counter while I’m gone?”
“Sure,” she grumbled. “I want to hear this idea for Flo’s business when you get back though. And then when my big brother here stops loafing in our bakery and goes to work, you and I are going to talk.” She put her hands on her hips and tried for a stern expression.
“Yes, ma’am.” I saluted and she dissolved into smiles again. Walking to the door, I saw a now-familiar figure coming down the sidewalk. “I think this next customer is for you.” I winked at Sam and headed next door with Griff. We smiled at Landon as he walked by, but continued forward on our mission.
Chapter 1
“I guess I should go get Kendra’s flowers.” Griff wiped his chocolate-coated fingers on a napkin. He moved to stand up from his stool at the large stainless-steel island in the kitchen.
“Flowers for Kendra?” Sam asked sharply, frowning at her brother.
“Wait, I’ll go with you to Flo’s to pick some out.” Flo, a sweet lady in her early thirties, owned the flower shop next door to the bakery. “You should take some cookies, too.” I tossed our trash into the can by the counter. “That’s it!” I snapped my fingers together I just had a great idea that I want to run by Flo to help her summer business pick up.”
“Cookies? For Kendra?” Sam waved her arms at us. “What are you two talking about?”
I laughed. “It’s a long story. Watch the counter while I’m gone?”
“Sure,” she grumbled. “I want to hear this idea for Flo’s business when you get back though. And then when my big brother here stops loafing in our bakery and goes to work, you and I are going to talk.” She put her hands on her hips and tried for a stern expression.
“Yes, ma’am.” I saluted and she dissolved into smiles again. Walking to the door, I saw a now-familiar figure coming down the sidewalk. “I think this next customer is for you.” I winked at Sam and headed next door with Griff. We smiled at Landon as he walked by, but continued forward on our mission.
“Piper! Griff! Hello,” Flo smiled, but her eyes remained tired. “What brings you two by?” she asked.
“How are you, Flo?” Griff began. I had told him some of Flo’s worries about her business.
“Getting by,” Flo shrugged, her auburn bangs falling into her eyes. She pushed them back. “I shouldn’t complain. Only this morning, in fact, I had some beautiful new daisies bloom.”
“That’s great,” my enthusiasm may have been scaled up a bit much; Flo shot an odd half-smile my way. “Listen, we’re actually here for two reasons,” I told her. “Griff needs to buy some flowers and I wanted to talk to you about an idea of mine.”
Flo lit up like a chandelier. “Flowers! Don’t tell me this man finally asked you on a date and brought you to pick out your own flowers. Well, I’ve got some gorgeous roses right in this corner, follow me.”
Really, has the whole town been waiting for Griff and I to date or what?
For such a petite woman, several inches shorter than me, Flo moved with the speed of a Nascar driver. Griff and I hurried to catch up.
“I don’t think roses are what I need,” Griff told her, as she held up a large vase filled with red and pink roses, sprigs of greenery, and some delicate white, twirly accent stems.
“They aren’t for me,” I added. “Griff needs something pretty, but not romantic.”
Flo turned a quizzical frown our direction. “So, these flowers aren’t for a date then?”
“They are,” Griff trailed off into an awkward silence, rubbing a hand behind his neck. “But they aren’t for Piper.”
Flo’s eyes bounced between us. I took pity on her and filled in the gaps. “So, you see,” I said after explaining the situation the best I could, “Griff doesn’t want to lead Kendra on just because he agreed to his mother’s terms of going out to dinner with her. That’s why he has to bring her flowers. Except,” I tapped my finger on my chin, thinking, “except they need to be more like break-up flowers than first date flowers.”
Flo nodded.
“And I’m going to stick some cookies into the bouquet.”
Flo stopped nodding so fast that it looked like someone hit the pause button. “Cookies?” she cocked her head.
“That’s right, cookies. Chocolate will ease the sting.”
Her expression cleared as understanding dawned. “Good idea,” Flo agreed. “Alright then, break-up flowers…let’s see what I can do.”
Griff and I milled about the front of the shop, admiring several pre-arranged bouquets, while Flo collected several cut flowers and carried them to her workroom in the back of the building.
“Which is your favorite?” Griff waved his hand at the room full of beautiful blooms.
“There are so many beautiful ones,” I bent to sniff a bouquet of pink roses. “But I don’t se
e my very favorite flower in here.”
“No?”
I shook my head. “No. I love bell flowers. Bluebells, purple bells, orange bells – I can’t place my finger on why, but they have always seemed stunning to me.”
Flo rejoined us with a bright smile. “Never in all my years have I been asked for an order of break-up flowers. Here, what do you think of these?”
Griff looked to me; Flo’s gaze followed as they awaited judgment.
Five bright yellow sunflowers were interspersed with smaller white mums and a few sprigs of green. The arrangement was not too large but still would fill a vase nicely. “Perfect,” I smiled at Flo. The stems were tied with a loopy yellow ribbon. “There will be plenty of room to put maybe three cookies on long sticks and slide them into the ribbon as well.”
Griff pulled out his wallet. “How much?” After settling the bill with Flo, Griff pulled me into a swift hug and left to go to work, leaving the flowers with me so that I could add some cookies to the arrangement for him. My stomach tightened at the thought of him going out with Kendra.
“You said you wanted to talk about an idea for my business?” Flo asked.
Grateful for the distraction, I bobbed my head. “If you have time,” I watched her lock up and then followed her to the back room when she agreed.
“Okay.” I thought about where I wanted to start as we sat down. “I actually had a couple of ideas, but you won’t hurt my feelings if you don’t like them.”
“Girl, if it gets buyers in this door, I’ll love them. What have you got?” Flo had a pen and paper out and a no-nonsense look. My desire to help her out doubled, buoyed by seeing that she hadn’t decided to give up on her business by a long shot.
“Every place that I’ve seen does only flower bouquets or only cookie bouquets,” I started. “I think we can team up to make a beautiful mixed bouquet of both live and cookie flowers. The cookies don’t even have to be flower shaped, but they could, depending on what the customer needs the bouquet for.”
Ooey Gooey Bakery Mystery Box Set Page 30
