Chapter Twelve

Snow

I was halfway through baking the twenty-five dozen decorated sugar cookies for Cheryl.

At this point, it honestly felt like the mountain of cookie dough was growing instead of shrinking. Every sheet tray I owned was already filled with cookies, which left me at a complete standstill until the next batch finished baking. So, I pulled a stool from under the packaging table, parked myself on it, and let out a sigh. I was determined to enjoy the rare ten minutes of downtime until the timer buzzed.

“Snow!” a voice called from outside. “Open the door.”

So much for downtime…

I jumped off the stool with my heart doing a little flip and dashed over. I threw the door open, and there stood Bones, balancing two drinks on top of each other and holding a brown sack in his other hand. He grinned at me like he’d just walked in with a winning lottery ticket.

“Where should I set this so it doesn’t mess with your baking?” he asked, giving me a small, considerate smile.

I was surprised. Most people would just dump it on the first open space they found, whether it was in the way or not.

“You can put it on that far table where the boxes and stuff are,” I replied, gesturing toward the table by the wall. “I’ve got a few minutes of peace before I need to switch trays around.”

He moved over to the table and set the drinks and the sack down with surprising care. I grabbed the other stool from under the table and sat down as I let out a breath. He pulled up his stool next to me, and his eyes darted around at the trays stacked high with cooling cookies on the rolling racks.

“I should have asked what you liked,” he said as he pulled out a greasy burger wrapped in paper from the sack. “But I figured everyone loves a juicy burger.”

I looked at him and kept a straight face. “I’m vegan.”

The burger froze in mid-air, and his eyes went wide with horror.

“I’m joking!” I burst out laughing and watched relief flood his face.

“Jesus Christ, Snow.” He sighed and shook his head as he let out a breath. “You had me thinking I really screwed up there.”

I shook my head with a smile lingering on my lips. “Everyone loves a burger from Vons. Thank you for thinking of me.” Vons was the local burger joint that made the best greasy burger in town. The French fries and milkshakes were top-notch, too.

“I told you I was going to bring you lunch, Sugar. Nothing to thank me for,” he said and slid a burger in front of me. He glanced over as he unwrapped his own. “You’re not gonna tell me you didn’t want it with everything on it, are you?”

I unwrapped the burger and inhaled the delicious aroma. “I’m good with everything,” I assured him and took a bite. The rich, savory flavor hit me all at once, and I practically melted on the spot. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until that first bite, and I savored every bit of it.

“The only thing that would make this better would be a vanilla milkshake and fries,” I said, half to myself. Not that I wasn’t already grateful for the burger, but hey—a girl could dream.

Bones wiped his mouth with a smirk playing on his lips as he set his burger down. “Oh, you mean like these?” He reached into the bag, pulled out a paper sack of fries, and set it beside my burger. Before I could say anything, he grabbed one of the cups he’d brought, popped a straw into the lid, and held it out with a grin. “And… a vanilla milkshake.”

I blinked and was pleasantly surprised. “It’s like you knew exactly what I like.” I grabbed the milkshake eagerly, took a long sip, and closed my eyes as I savored the first taste. It was just the right amount of sweet, creamy, and thick—the kind of milkshake that felt like a little slice of heaven. It tasted like real vanilla bean blended perfectly with the cold, creamy texture. Each sip was a treat.

Bones chuckled and watched me enjoy it. “I’d love to take credit for being a mind reader, but I just ordered you what I normally get.”

I arched an eyebrow, setting down the milkshake. “Well,” I drawled, “you have great taste.”

“Thanks, I do what I can,” he said and tipped his head as if he was tipping an invisible hat. “I figured this was a safe bet.”

“Sometimes a girl just needs a burger and fries to get her through the day.”

He nodded and watched me with an amused smile. “I’d say you’re more than halfway through at this point.” He gestured to the trays of cookies stacked around us. “I don’t know how you manage all this.”

“It’s mostly just doing the same thing over and over,” I admitted, gesturing to the cookies cooling on every available surface. “A lot of coffee, a bit of luck, and the occasional divine intervention in the form of a milkshake and fries,” I joked.

Bones snorted. “And here I thought you had some magical baking secret.” He took a fry and chewed it thoughtfully. “So, do you ever get tired of it? Baking for everyone else?”

“Sometimes,” I said honestly. “But I love it too much to walk away. There’s something about knowing I’m making people’s day just a little better. Seeing someone’s face light up over a cookie or cake… it’s kind of why I do it.”

His expression softened, his gaze lingering on me. “That’s why I keep working on bikes even though I’d rather spend my time in the garage and not trying to upsell customers.”

I took a bite of my burger and savored the flavor as I leaned back against the packaging table. “Yeah, I admit I much prefer being in the kitchen while Tom delivers everything. The less customer interaction, the better, which I know sounds horrible of me, but I really just want to bake.”

“What happened with him? And was it Kelsi?” he asked and his voice was low.

I sighed and set my burger down to talk. “They had to leave suddenly because Kelsi’s mom is sick. I can’t even be upset at her. It’s just that the timing is the worst. I keep telling myself I need to make it through the next couple of weeks, and I’ll be fine.”

Bones nodded and watched me like he could read every thought I wasn’t saying out loud. “You don’t have anyone else who can help you?”

I shook my head. “No.” The word tasted bitter, but it was the truth. I had no one. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust people to help me; it was just that I was used to doing everything myself—especially when it came to the bakery. Everyone else had their own lives, and I didn’t want to pull anyone else into mine.

I pasted a smile on my face and picked up my burger again. “I’ll be fine. I do have really amazing customers, and if it comes down to it, I know they’ll understand if I’m a day late getting their orders to them.”

Bones didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t argue.

I hadn’t really planned on taking anyone else’s help. I’d been thinking about it while mindlessly cutting out the cookies for Cheryl’s order. As long as I got everyone their orders in time before they needed them, I’d be good. I’d told a couple of customers I could get their orders to them a day earlier, but it might just be that they weren’t going to get them until right before they needed them.

Bones put his burger down, and his brow furrowed. “What if you don’t have to be a day late?”

I tipped my head, confused. “Well, I think the only way that’s going to happen is if I clone myself two times.”

“Or you find a few people that might not be as knowledgeable as you, but they can be your hands.”

I narrowed my eyes, and my brows knitted together. “What are you talking about?”

Before Bones could answer, there was a knock on the door. I turned to see Wick and Nut standing there with a man and woman I didn’t recognize. They looked like they belonged in a biker gang, their leather jackets and confident stances making them seem right at home, even at my front door.

“Why are you friends at my door?” I asked, my tone a mix of curiosity and concern.

Bones chuckled and stood. “May I present to you your hands.”

I blinked and was trying to process what he’d just said. “My... hands?”

Bones didn’t wait for me to ask any more questions. He moved to the door, opened it wide, and let everyone step in. They all stood there and looked at me expectantly like I was supposed to know exactly what they were doing here.

“This place is nice,” Nut said, his eyes scanning the kitchen. “Is that a convection oven?”

I nodded dumbly. How did Nut even know what a convection oven was? The man looked like he could barely cook two eggs without burning one. He stepped closer to the oven and eyed it like he was a professional chef.

I blinked again and tried to process the absurdity of the situation.

“Yeah, it’s a convection oven,” I said slowly. “But… what’s all this about? Why are they here?”

Bones grinned like a Cheshire cat, and my stomach tightened. “These are the people who are going to help you with the next couple of weeks.”

I looked from Bones to the newcomers, who all stood there like they were ready to get to work. There was Nut and Wick, a woman with tattoos covering both arms and a bearded guy who looked like he could kill a person with one hand. They were all sizing me up, and I wasn’t sure if I should be worried or flattered.

“Okay, hold up.” I raised my hands in the air, signaling for a pause. “I’m not sure what kind of joke you guys are trying to pull here, but I’m pretty sure you’re all pulling my leg.”

Bones held his hands up in mock surrender. “We’re not here to mess with you, Snow. Trust me. I’ve got a plan.”

I raised an eyebrow. “A plan? What kind of plan?”

The woman with tattoos, who I assumed was the one with the most experience in this crowd, stepped forward. She offered me a small smile. “We’re just here to help. We can’t bake like you, but we can get the trays in and out of the oven, frost the cookies, and do all the other stuff you’re behind on.”

The tall guy with the beard, who looked like he might bite someone if they gave him a reason, nodded in agreement. “Bonnie knows her way around a kitchen,” he said, his voice rough but confident. “Now me, well, I don’t know shit, but I can drive.”

“And you are?” I asked. He was the only one left whose name I didn’t know.

“Guns. Bonnie is my ol’ lady,” he explained.

I glanced over at Bones and was still trying to understand the absurdity of the situation. The four of them—Wick, Nut, Bonnie, and Guns—were all standing in my kitchen and looking at me like they’d been hired for the job. I was just about to say something when Bones gave me a grin that could only be described as smug.

“And Nut went to pastry school,” he offered.

I blinked and turned my gaze to Nut. Pastry school? That definitely explained how he knew what a convection oven was. I wasn’t sure whether to be impressed or baffled, though. He didn’t exactly look like the kind of guy who’d have gone to pastry school. This was a whole other level.

“Well, that explains it,” I said, trying to mask my disbelief. “Uh, wow. Where’d you go to school?” I asked, the question falling out before I could stop myself.

“Just a technical college back in Ohio,” Nut replied and rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s been a few years, but I figure this will be like riding a bicycle.”

I raised an eyebrow at him, not sure if that was meant to reassure me or make me question his judgment. Riding a bicycle? Seriously? Was I okay with my bakery being compared to a bike ride?

But then again, what other choice did I have? I wasn’t exactly in a position to be choosy.

Wick raised his hand like we were in a classroom and drew my attention. “I am a qualified taste tester,” he said, his chest puffed up like he was about to deliver a grand speech. “And also will be a driver.”

I couldn’t help it. I burst out laughing. “A qualified taste tester?” I repeated, looking at him skeptically. “Do you have a certificate for that?”

Wick smirked. “Well, no, but I’ve been eating food for a long time, and I know what’s good.”

“I’m sure you do,” I said and tried to hold back another laugh. “Okay, driver and taste tester, got it.”

I looked around at the group, feeling the weight of the situation settle in. They were all waiting for me to give the green light, and honestly? I wasn’t sure I had a choice.

I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I was going to work myself to the bone over the next couple of weeks. But, as ridiculous as this all was, these four people standing in front of me might be the answer to my impossible situation. If they could really help, maybe—just maybe—I wouldn’t be running on fumes by the end of it all.

The oven timer dinged and pulled me out of my thoughts.

I glanced at the oven. The batch of cookies was ready, and I had no time to waste on overthinking the weirdness of the situation. “Well, let’s get started, then,” I said, my voice more resigned than I wanted it to sound.

The four of them exchanged looks and nodded like they’d been given the official go-ahead. Bones raised his eyebrows at me, his grin widening.

And just like that, we were all in motion. The absurdity of the situation didn’t disappear, but the feeling of being completely overwhelmed slowly started to fade. With their help—strange as it was—I might just make it through the next couple of weeks.

The kitchen was full of movement and laughter as they each got into their roles. It wasn’t perfect, and I definitely didn’t think it was going to be a seamless operation, but it was more than I’d had in the last few days.

So, with a deep breath, I pressed forward. No turning back now.