Page 24 of The Sweetest Ingredient

He rocked back in his chair. “What did you have in mind?”

“What if we make a cake and film it, then upload it onto social media? To show the town the truth and that Maxwell’s underhanded tactics don’t intimidate us.”

“It won’t stop the rumors, but it will cheer me up.” The hard lines of his face softened and his mouth opened slightly, and I couldn’t look away from those full lips. “Thank you, Kenzi. Not just for the cake idea, but for the support.”

“Now, let’s go record you baking a cake to show Maxwell Turner, who’s the real king of sweetness in this town.”

Back in the kitchen, I set up my phone to record us, and then started taking out ingredients. “Flour, sugar, eggs…what kind of cake should we make?”

Bishop grabbed the container of sugar. “A red velvet cake?”

“Ohhh, I like your style.” I winked at him. “Red like the blood of our enemies.”

We started measuring and mixing ingredients. The balminess from the oven and the sweet perfume of sugar floated in the air as we poured the batter into cake pans and then put them into the oven. While we waited for it to bake, we tidied up the kitchen.

“Okay, now for the icing.” I took out the pans from the oven and set them on racks to cool.

He whipped up a batch of black-colored buttercream frosting and talked to the camera as he worked.

When the pans had cooled, I removed the cakes. Spreading a generous coating of black glaze between the cakes, Bishop then added another layer over the entire masterpiece.

I stepped back to admire our handiwork and smiled. “Looks pretty good.”

“We need to add red roses.” Bishop went to the cupboard, telling the camera what he was doing.

My cute boss fed the piping bag with icing, and then, with a steady hand, he created beautiful roses across the top of the cake. When he finished, he lifted his head. “What do you think?”

“Perfect,” I declared, admiring the cake, then shutting off the recording.

“Don’t move…” He lifted his hand and brushed a strand of hair from my face, his touch lingering on my skin, igniting warmth where his fingers had been.

Frozen in place, the gesture felt intimate and tender. A hint of desire sparkled in his eyes before he turned away. Bishop was my boss and off-limits, and yet, the tiniest flicker of romantic hope still burned within me—a stubborn ember refusing to be extinguished, especially after that smoldering look.

“How about we send Maxwell a slice of this cake?” I said. “We can attach a note from you, saying his shady tactics to tarnish the bakery’s reputation haven’t phased you in the slightest. Let’s kill him with kindness—and cake.”

“I like that idea.”

As he boxed up the slice of cake, I reflected on our newfound camaraderie. Bishop and I had become more than just friends—we were partners in crime, united by a common goal. He wiped a stray smear of icing from his cheek, and my heart swelled with affection for the gorgeous baker.

Bishop scribbled a note and taped it to the box. “Now who’s gonna deliver it?”

Oh, sneaky man, giving me those soft looks, but it wouldn’t work on me. I wouldn’t be so easily swayed. Nope, I was immune to his charm…

Ah, who was I kidding? I was a sucker for those dark, soulful eyes.

“Me, I guess?”

His lips twitched. “Well, it was your idea.”

Chapter Ten

The sun glared down on me as I pedaled through Serenity Falls toward the home of Maxwell Turner. I had called his bakery before heading out and they had told me he had the day off.

The pretty scenery was almost enough to make me forget I had a boxed piece of cake balanced precariously in my bike’s basket. I biked past the majestic waterfall that frothed and bubbled down the jagged rocks of the embankment, its soothing roar filling the air like nature’s own white noise machine—only free and with fewer buttons.

Zipping past residents engrossed in their daily routines, a couple strolled arm-in-arm, while families enjoyed picnics under the comforting shade of oak trees in the park.

“Watch out!”

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