Chapter 7

Seven

MARIA

L ia is contemplating the carrot cake on the end of her fork like it holds all the answers to the universe. We both know she's more of a chocolate person, but if I'm asked to do a cake testing, I'm going to do a cake testing. Wedding cake isn't my normal cup of tea. Too much pressure, and too many bridezillas out there for me. But I refuse to let Lia end up with anything but the best for her engagement party or her wedding.

In honor of the fake engagement Nate and Lia entered into, and the very real engagement they have now, the two are celebrating with a party just after New Year's. I'm grateful they didn't pick December as I'm exhausted by the holiday orders coming in. January is slower, and I'll have extra time to make their cake.

Nate is currently grinning as he watches Penelope take a bite of each of the cakes on her plate and makes notes on the paper next to it like a judge at a bake-off. I gave each of them a paper so they could rate flavor, texture, and notes against each other. Makes my job easier if they come to a consensus without me playing mediator. The three of them told me after Lou left that the goal is to find a cake they all agree on.

"What's the verdict?" I ask her.

Penelope straightens and picks up her paper. "The red velvet is nice, the carrot is gross but I like the frosting. Chocolate and vanilla are tied."

Nate nods. "The vanilla is really good. What's your secret?"

I smile, "If I told you..."

Lia rolls her eyes. "She makes her own vanilla extract. It's amazing."

"Have you considered selling it?" Nate asks.

"And give the competition an edge?" I ask him. "Never."

Picking up the water pitcher I move to refill cups.

"Do you know what I need to try to really make a decision?" Lia asks me. "There's a flavor missing."

I look at her aghast. "Missing? What flavor could possibly be missing?"

"Lemon. With our wedding date booked for August, a lemon flavor could be just the thing." She turns to look at Nate. "Right Honey?"

He shakes his head. "I'm staying out of this."

Lia frowns. "He's our friend."

"I'm your friend." I remind her. "But if you really want a lemon cake. I can make you a lemon cake."

Penelope pipes up. "I don't want lemon."

I smile at Lia, knowing that they won't pick a flavor Penelope doesn't agree with. "Looks like lemon is out."

Lia rolls her eyes. "We all know lemon isn't what I want. I just wanted to figure out why you've taken every lemon thing off your menu."

"I have not."

"You don't even make lemon poppyseed muffins anymore." She points to the far display.

"I'm not having this conversation." I turn to Nate. "How about you?"

"I think it would really help the team out if you started making lemon bars again," He says.

"Not you too." I groan. "It's bad enough I get it from all the book club ladies, and the daily asks from the other guys on the team coming in here. Not to mention Lou."

Nate uses his most diplomatic voice as he tells me. "I don't think you understand how badly he needs those lemon bars."

Thinking of when Lou came in earlier I frown. He looked tired, and stressed. Surely it was all an act to continue driving me insane.

Straightening my shoulders, I ask, "Are you sure he didn't just hit his head on the ice too hard?"

Nate's face turns very serious. "Maria, don't even joke about it."

He looks over at Penelope. "Now Penelope and I are going to get hot chocolate while you and Lia talk about Lou."

Penelope lets out an excited "Yes!"

Nate leans over and kisses Lia on the cheek. "Call me when you're done and I'll pick you up."

She smiles and the moment reminds me so much of the book I've been reading for book club that I don't want to disturb it. Instead, I walk to the back room to give them more privacy to talk. I start wiping up the back room, even though I'd already cleaned it earlier. Cleaning as I go was the best way to keep my kitchen going and in order.

Still irritated that my best friend would ask that I make a lemon cake, I made sure to cover the lemon loaves I left out to cool enough for icing.

Lia stepped into the back with a blush still on her cheeks, and carrying the now-empty cake-tasting dishes. "We'll take the chocolate cake, but if you can do a second tier of vanilla that would be fantastic. It was a really close call."

"For how many people you've invited. You'll need a second tier." I'm happy for her happiness and everything it took for her and Nate to get it.

"Well, that's what happens when you marry into a hockey team."

I laugh. "That's a lot of brothers."

She nods dead serious. "And then there are the hockey wives."

"Any drama there?" I ask. Curious if it's anything like the TV shows I've watched.

"So far it's not bad. Hannah and Penelope prepared me for the worst of it. Some of them are like Nate's ex, and we stay as far from them as we can, but the others are kind enough. I wish Alexis could sit with us at the games, but it's kind of hard to when she works for the team. You'll meet her at the engagement party."

"Does she like to read?" I ask.

"She does, and she's really liked the books I've given her to read."

"You should invite her to book club."

"I would, but book club has been when the team is traveling for away games. I thought about asking last time we got together, but then I totally forgot."

"I'll text Sofie and see if she's open to changing the night we meet." I pull my phone out to send the text while I'm thinking about it.

"Perfect." Lia grins. "Let me know when I can invite Alexis."

"What does she do for the team?"

"Something medical. She helped Nate out when he sprained his ankle last season. She's the favorite trainer for most guys on the team when they need to rehab. She even helped Lou after his bad game."

"The one when he scored on Dan?" I ask. "I felt so bad for him."

"Bad enough to make lemon bars again?" Lia asks.

"Give it a rest," I tell her.

"Can you at least tell me why?"

"I am going to tell you that it's been great to see you, and that we should get together soon. So unless you want to discuss something other than my irritating neighbor, call that handsome fiancé of yours back to pick you up."

"Fine." she relents. "I'll say one last thing and drop it. You'd have cute babies with him."

I pick up my rag and toss it at her. "I cannot believe you just said that."

She laughs as she catches the rag and sets it aside. "It's true. You're giving me Elizabeth Bennet energy."

"I am not." I protest. "He definitely is not Mr. Darcy. If anything he's a Wickham."

"Oh please. Do I need to get Hannah on the phone?"

"You said you'd drop it."

She mimes zipping her lips, and lets me change the subject back to her cake for the engagement party. Using a notebook from my office, and images from the internet for ideas, I sketch out a design she likes. By the time Nate comes to pick her up, Penelope in tow with a raspberry hot chocolate, we have a final design and he approves it. A chocolate and vanilla layered cake with multiple tiers. A cream cheese frosting alternated with a raspberry filling between the layers to break up all the richness. The design will be a test run for the wedding cake which will have slightly different decorations and fondant. The engagement cake will have a blue fondant, whereas the wedding cake will be white.

They leave happy, and I take my notebook into my office. I go through my email really quick since the bakery will be closed tomorrow. There are junk emails that I trash right away, and then one from the Glacier Bay PR Team makes me pause. Orders from the arena aren't unusual, but my eyes go big as I read what they're asking for. An opportunity like this could be big for my business. I quickly reply back that I'm available and ask for more details.

Just before I turn off the lights I take a look around. My eyes naturally fall on the board once more with the house, and then to that scorecard. It still stings. I pick up my purse and keys and flip the switch, leaving it behind.

W hen I get home, I have my evening all planned out: order a pizza, take a long shower, and curl up on the couch with my book. The bakery is closed tomorrow, so it's my one day to sleep in. Perfect.

But the sight of lemons sitting by my door puts a dent in my plans. I sigh, looking at the bags where they lean against each other. Months without a lemon bar, and yet Lou's still at it with these deliveries. You'd think he'd give up by now, but no.

Instead of ignoring them like I usually do, I march straight to Lou's apartment and knock on the door. A flurry of excited barks erupts from inside, followed by Lou's deep voice trying to shush the dog. When the door opens, just a crack, a black nose pokes through, followed by loud sniffing and a soft whine.

"Oh!" My heart melts, and I drop to a crouch to try and get a better look. "Who's this?"

The door opens a little wider, revealing an adorable dog the color of cinnamon and cloves, with big floppy ears. She's straining against the leash, clearly wanting to lunge for me, but Lou keeps a firm grip so I'm not bowled over.

"Cinnamon, down," Lou commands gently.

The dog's butt hits the ground, but her tail wags furiously. Lou's smile is warm, and he rewards Cinnamon with a treat from a little bag clipped to his belt. "Good girl," he says softly. "Such a good girl."

"Can I pet her?" I ask, unable to resist.

Lou's smile widens. "Sure."

I extend my hand, and Cinnamon sniffs it eagerly before licking my fingers. The ticklish sensation makes me laugh, a sound I hadn't expected to make around Lou.

"Sorry," Lou says, rubbing the back of his neck. "We're working on her manners."

"Is she the dog that was barking all night a year ago?" I ask, remembering how I'd been ready to complain to building management until the barking suddenly stopped. In hindsight, the dog was probably barking when Lou was gone at a game and wasn't home to do anything about it.

Lou looks puzzled for a moment before shaking his head. "No, that was a foster. It wasn't a good fit."

"Bachelor pad wasn't it?" I tease, trying to imagine Lou with a pack of dogs.

"Rex needed a home with more of a pack," he says with a shrug. "Cinnamon here… well, she's just temporary."

I glance up at him, surprised by the sadness in his voice. "Temporary?"

"Yeah," he says, his tone quieter now. "I'm just fostering her for a few weeks until she finds a permanent home."

"Oh." My heart aches a little for both him and the dog. "Well, if you need someone to watch her during your games, I volunteer."

Lou's eyes widen in shock, as if I've just offered to move mountains. "Really?"

I nod, feeling a little shy under his intense gaze. "My heart isn't made of stone, you know."

"I didn't think it was," he says, still looking at me like I've done something completely unexpected. "I'm just surprised you'd offer… considering."

"Considering what?"

"Considering you hate me," he says, almost like it's a fact we both agreed on long ago.

I hesitate, then shrug. "I've always wanted a dog, but bakery life doesn't exactly suit one."

"Why's that?" he asks, his curiosity genuine.

"I'm gone for long periods and work super early," I explain, stroking Cinnamon's soft fur. Her eyes are warm, reminding me of brown sugar and everything comforting about baking.

"That's how I feel," he admits. "Only it's late nights after games."

"How long is she staying with you?"

"A couple more weeks," he says, his voice tinged with regret. "Then I've got away games, and she'll go back to the rescue if she's not adopted."

"To a kennel?" The thought horrifies me, and I instinctively hug Cinnamon closer. "That's awful."

Lou looks at me, his eyes softening. "I was just about to take her for a walk. Want to join? I can tell you more about it."

"Yes," I say without hesitation. Before he can say anything else, I snatch the leash from his hand and start walking down the hallway, Cinnamon happily leading the way.

Lou catches up to us, glancing at the bag of lemons still by my door. "Want me to take care of those first?"

"They'll be fine until we get back," I reply, brushing it off.

The cold evening air bites at my skin, and snow threatens to fall, but Cinnamon doesn't seem to mind. She sniffs along the sidewalk, pulling me forward with surprising strength. When she pulls too hard, I nearly lose my grip on the leash, but Lou is quick, lunging forward and grabbing it. His large hands cover mine, warm and steady, as we hold the leash together.

The closeness makes my breath hitch. He smells faintly of lemons, of all things, which throws me. I always imagined Lou smelling like something rugged, like pine or cloves, but citrus? It doesn't fit him at all.

"Easy," he murmurs.

I'm not sure if he's talking to me or Cinnamon, but the moment breaks, and Cinnamon stops pulling, looking back at us as if waiting for a decision.

I loosen my hold on the leash and hand it over to him. "Thanks. I thought she was going to pull me off my feet."

Lou chuckles, his eyes warm as he takes the leash. "She gets excited sometimes. Needs to be reminded to dial it back."

"Don't we all?" I reply, a smile tugging at my lips.

My phone chirps and I pull it out to look. Sofie responded that she's happy to reschedule book club for a night that will work for everyone including new members. I quickly send a message to Lia with the good news.

"What's that?" he asks.

"Book club stuff," I tell him. "Lia was asking about bringing someone new, but they work for the team so it has to be on a night when there isn't a game."

He smiles wide. "Anyone I know?"

"Maybe. Alexis?"

"Dan's wife?" he asks and I nod to confirm. "She's great. Don't tell Dan, but everyone likes her better than him."

He's teasing, and it brings a smile to my face as I ask. "Why's that."

"She knows her stuff and if you listen to her things get a lot better, faster."

"Do you get hurt a lot?" I ask.

"It's hockey."

He says it like that's all there is to it, and maybe that's really all there is.

"And you?" He says. "Do you get hurt a lot with baking?"

"Only when I'm too impatient and grab the hot pans." I pull the sleeve of my jacket to the side to show a burn on my wrist.

"Can I confess something?" Lou asks.

"Absolutely," I say, grateful for the distraction he's offering.

"I hate lemons."

My jaw drops. "But you love lemon bars?"

"We're in a love-hate relationship," he rubs the back of his neck with his free hand. "That's something I learned from a romance novel."

"Explain."

"I like reading." He wiggles his eyebrows. "I even joined a book club."

"Good for you." My mind is still stuck on the lemon thing. "What do you mean you hate lemons?"

"I don't want to get into it right now."

"Fine." I begrudgingly agree. He doesn't really owe me more, it's not like we're really friends or anything. "What fruit do you like then?"

"Raspberries."

As we continue walking, and talking about everything from work to Cinnamon and the rescue he helps with, the tension between us shifts, softening into something new. Something I definitely don't understand.