Page 10 of Sweet Dreams

Beth smiled, responding:

Beth:"Let's just say... things are heating up. And not just the ovens."

As she tied on her apron, Beth looked forward to more than just baking for the first time in days. She had a video call to prepare for, after all. And maybe, just maybe, a whole new recipe for happiness to discover.

Four

Beth's fingers flew across her phone screen, a smile playing on her lips as she typed:

Beth:"So, Mr. International, what's on your agenda today? More vodka-fueled serenades, or are you planning to single-handedly revive the Soviet disco scene?"

She hit send, then returned her attention to the mountain of dough before her. The kitchen of Sweet Dreams was a whirlwind of activity, the air thick with the scent of cinnamon and vanilla. Christmas was three weeks away, and the orders were piling up faster than snow in a blizzard.

Her phone pinged. Beth wiped her hands on her apron and reached for it, her heart skipping a little.

Yuri:"Alas, my disco days are behind me. My bell bottoms tragically shrunk in the wash. Today, I'm drowning my sorrows in paperwork. Exciting, da?"

Beth chuckled, quickly typing back:

Beth:"Ooh, paperwork. Sexy. Don't let all that power go to your head, now."

"Beth? Earth to Beth!" Reese's voice cut through her Yuri-induced haze. "The timer's been going off for, like, a full minute. Unless you're aiming for 'Charcoal Chic' as our new flavor..."

"Shit!" Beth yelped, dropping her phone and rushing to the oven. She yanked it open, a plume of smoke escaping. Coughing, she pulled out a tray of what were once perfectly formed gingerbread men, now resembling tiny, burned corpses.

"Well," Reese said, peering over her shoulder, "look on the bright side. If the whole 'Christmas Baking Spectacular' thing doesn't work out, we could always pivot to Halloween treats."

Beth groaned, dumping the charred cookies into the trash. "Hilarious. God, what is wrong with me lately? I never burn things."

Reese's eyes twinkled knowingly. "Uh-huh. And I'm sure it has nothing to do with a certain international man of mystery you've been texting non-stop for the past week."

Beth felt her cheeks heat up. "I don't know what you're talking about," she mumbled, busying herself with preparing a new batch of dough.

"Oh please," Reese scoffed. "You've been walking around with this goofy grin on your face, checking your phone every two seconds. Spill, boss lady. Who is he?"

Beth sighed, knowing resistance was futile. "His name is Yuri. He's from Belarus. We met on that dating site Kelly signed me up for."

Reese's eyebrows shot up. "Belarus? Isn't that like, Dracula territory?"

"That's Transylvania," Beth corrected, rolling her eyes. "Belarus is... actually, I'm not entirely sure where it is. Near Russia, I think?"

"Ooh, mysterious," Reese waggled her eyebrows. "So, what's he like? Is he dreamy? Does he have an accent? Tell me everything!"

Beth couldn't help but smile. "He's... different. Funny, smart. He used to run this amazing nightclub in Minsk. And yes, he has an accent. It's... kind of incredible."

"Sounds like someone's got a crush," Reese sing songed. "When are you going to meet him in person?"

The smile slipped from Beth's face. "I don't know if we will. He's there, I'm here. It's just... fun. For now."

Reese attempted to respond, but the chime of the bakery door interrupted her. Zack from The Daily Grind walked in with a tray of coffee cups.

"Ladies," he greeted with a grin. "I come bearing gifts. Thought you might need a caffeine boost."

"You're a lifesaver, Zack," Beth said, gratefully accepting a cup. She took a sip and frowned. "This isn't your usual blend."

Zack's eyes lit up. "Good catch! It's a new holiday special I'm working on. Peppermint mocha with a hint of... can you guess?"

Beth took another sip, considering. "Cinnamon?"

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