Page 6 of The Sweetest Ingredient

My mouth went slack. I replayed the conversation in my head. He wasn’t flirting; he was hiring. This was a job interview, not a date. The realization struck me like plot twist, leaving me as bewildered as Elizabeth Bennet upon discovering Mr. Darcy’s true character.

Bishop drummed the fingers of one hand on the table. “What do you think?”

What did I think? That I was almost destitute, I had no design jobs lined up, and I’d dreamed of perfecting my late grandma’s recipes. Maybe Doughy Desires was the ideal place to give them a whirl.

“That I’m your new baker.”

Chapter Three

The moment I stepped into my apartment, the unmistakable sound of Chantel’s laughter bounced off the walls. “Kenzie! You’re home.”

Despite the age difference, Chantel and Bree had always gotten along, forming a bond since my parents died in a car accident six years ago, and I had to finish raising Bree.

My sister sat cross-legged on the other side of Chantel. “Back so soon?”

I squeezed in next to my bestie on the sofa. Mochi lounged beside Bree, her fluffy white and tan coat contrasting starkly against the dark fabric. She lifted her head and wagged her tail.

“Yep.” I stretched out my legs.

Chantel sat up straighter. “Give us all the juicy details. How was the date?”

“Yeah, was it fun?” Bree paused the show.

“It wasn’t much of a date because I never actually met the guy.”

Bree’s mouth dropped open. “For reals?”

“Instead, I ended up with a job as an assistant baker.”

“That’s so random!” Chantel blurted. “How did that even happen?”

“I’m not entirely sure. I thought he was my date, and the owner of the Bakery, Bishop Caine, assumed I was there for a job interview.” I sighed at the memory of the gruff baker—his strong jawline, beautiful brown eyes, and oh-so-serious demeanor.

Chantel frowned. “But you don’t have any real baking experience.”

True. I was an expert at creating logo designs, marketing ads, crafting websites, and designing signage and graphics for businesses. As a freelancer, I’d worked with a diverse range of clients, from small businesses and startups to larger corporations and non-profit organizations. But lately? The design world had been playing hard to get. Over the past four months, my online work had dwindled. I’d applied for in-house positions, but hadn’t secured any job offers. And accepting one meant buying a car or hopping on several buses to the nearest major city.

I’d even resorted to checking the community bulletin board daily at the town hall, hoping a small business was in desperate need of a social media manager or someone to walk dogs. At this point, I was ready to stand on the sidewalk dressed as a giant hot dog if it meant a steady paycheck. But not even the two fast-food joints in town would hire me. Apparently, my Liberal Arts degree didn’t translate to efficient drive-thru window operation.

Who knew adulting could be such a challenge?

I shrugged. “I’ve watched enough baking shows to get by. Plus, I can learn as I go.”

Bree frowned. “Are you crazy? They’ll notice you don’t know anything and then you’ll get fired.”

“Hey, a girl’s got to pay her bills.” I settled into the cushions. “My graphic design work has been nonexistent, and this opportunity will give me a chance to pay up the overdue rent. It’s a win-win, if you ask me.”

Bree bit her lower lip, her eyebrows drawn together. Next to her, Chantel’s shoulders tensed and she frowned.

“There’s no need for those worry faces. I’ll either end up covered in flour and regret, or become a master imposter baker,” I said. “I couldn’t say no. I need the income. You know how hard it’s been for me to find jobs. And who knows? Maybe I’ll discover a hidden talent for baking.”

Bree shook her head. “You’ll never be able to pull this off.”

I scowled at my little sister. “Hey, I’ve got some skills.”

The rational part of me agreed I was way out of my depth, but a small voice whispered I just might be able to do this.

“Sure you do. If you mean reading the instructions on a box.” Bree lifted the remote in her hand and hit ‘play’ on the next episode.

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