Page 9 of Baking Spirits Bright

"I'm looking forward to it." She checks her watch. "I gotta go," she says as she takes her apron off and hangs it up. "I'm still in culinary school," she explains. "This is a paid internship that I'm eternally grateful for."

"Have a good rest of your day." I wave after her before going back to work on packing the order, and trying to decide what I want to do for the case.

Six hours later, I'm tired, but in a great way. There wasn't an undercurrent of worry while I worked today. I could let my creativity run, and made things. Although I'm tired, I'm also feeling better than I have in a while.

Walking up to the case, I stand behind it, glancing at everything that sold. All the cookies, the small amount of donuts, and the three cakes I decorated are gone.

"As usual, you're a hit," Lincoln bumps my shoulder with his as we stand, watching the lobby.

It's clearing out since there's only twenty minutes until closing. "I wouldn't say that, but today has felt good. I'm excited to come back tomorrow."

He laughs. "That's more than you would've said last year, huh?"

He's got a point. I was burned out, and sick to death of him. It felt like he was telling me what to do, which he was. He was my boss. But it was my attitude that drove a wedge between us. I'm not prepared to look too deeply into why, but I'm going to do my best to be honest with myself this time. "Very much so, but that was more me than you, Lincoln."

He hooks his fingers into his jeans and turns to face me. "Do you wanna tell me why that is? I thought a long time about how I could've changed what happened between us. We were good friends before I became a manager and moved to purchase the bakery. Whatever happened seems to have done so after I took a position of authority over her.

Pulling my bottom lip between my teeth, I sigh. "Are we going to do this right now?"

"I'd like to. If we're going to work together, I'd like to get this all out of the way," he says, walking over to the door to the bakery and locking it. He takes his time, flipping the open sign over toclosed. "At one point, we worked really well together, and I'd like for us to go back to that, Lyla."

Inhaling deeply, I shake my head. I never expected to be here with him. "We started together, ya know? I had the same sort of dreams as you, and watching you succeed was great." I shrug, trying to make light of it. "But I wanted more for myself, and I was jealous," I admit, hating it. Hating that I'm the type of person who lets those emotions get the better of me. "Jealous that you could make it work for you. Marlon," I mention theowner of the bakery before Lincoln. "Was willing to work with you on it. I was mad. I wasn't the one who thought about making the deal with him. None of that was you. It was all me."

"Well, I didn't make it any better when I started having you stand up front and capitalize on your last name. We were both part of the problem, Lyla. What I would like is for us to also both be part of the solution. While you had issues keeping Holly Jolly going, my sales are down too, because I haven't had someone as innovative as you. There's no one here who can basically look into my brain and know what I want. You've always been able to do that."

He's right, I have. It's something I've prided myself on. I wanted him to always count on me, because I wanted him to see me as an equal. "We've had that uncanny ability with one another. Regardless of what happens, I'm glad I'm back, Lincoln. Running a business isn't all it's cracked up to be, and I learned the hard way I'm much better at this." I point to the case. "Even though you pissed me off using my last name, it was an ingenious marketing tactic."

With a gasp, he grabs his chest. "Oh my God, did you just give me a compliment?"

"I did, and surprisingly, I wasn't struck by lightning."

"Which means you weren't lying."

I wasn't, and I try not to. "Thanks for the good day of work. I'll be back tomorrow, for sure."

He gives me a grin. "Glad I didn't chase you off."

"No chance..."

And as I leave, I have a smile on my face. The first one I've genuinely felt in a long time.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Lincoln

I'm dragging ass two hours later when I trudge up the steps to my apartment. Coming home is sometimes my favorite part of the day, depending on how busy the bakery is. Today, I'm smacked in the chest with how quiet it is.

For the last year, I've worked my fingers to the bone, and the longest hours of my life. It's all to make sure I've put myself in the best position to succeed. The loan I took out to pay for Sugar and Spice isn't going to pay for itself.

It's been lonely though. I haven't had time to date, and it's only been recently that I've joined an online dating app. This one is for entrepreneurs in Colorado, and I'm hoping that I'll find someone who understands the demands on my time.

I've gone through a couple of different matches, but no one has piqued my interest like the one I'm talking to now does. When I log into the app, I notice she's active. I smile as I settle back into my couch for a long night of texting.

Decorator Babeis online

Bossman: How was your day?

The username I chose for myself always makes me feel a little skeevy, but it was available and it explains who and what I am.

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