Page 7 of Wild Desire

"Night, Noelle." I hated that I was injured, and my agent had sent me home to recuperate. I didn't want or need a babysitter, but I suspected I'd enjoy spending time with Noelle. I had a feeling I never knew the real Noelle, not even when we were teens. She was a mystery. One I wanted to solve.

3

NOELLE

Ipreheated the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Then I whisked the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in one bowl, and the buttermilk and melted butter in a second. I was only half paying attention to my task. I'd done it so many times; I could do it in my sleep. When they were done, I'd drop off at Cal's deli downtown.

I added the dry ingredients to the wet and stirred. Once the dough was rolled into the proper shape, I placed the dough into the oil, frying both sides. Afterward, I moved the donuts to a rack to drain. Once fully cooled, I'd add the icing, which was my favorite part.

I wanted to be known for the taste and the unusual designs. Chocolate icing and glazed were a staple each week. I added sprinkles or colors depending on the holidays, and then I worked on specialty flavors, like maple, s'mores, and cinnamon sugar.

It wasn't uncommon for the store to sell out of five hundred donuts by eleven on a weekend. Weekdays were a little slower. I wiped the sweat from my brow as I watched the next batch of donuts fry. I could do this so much faster with an industrial kitchen, but for now, all I had was my tiny apartment kitchen.

The only good thing about this location was that I lived here alone. I'd stayed with my mom until I was twenty-four, when she told me it was time to live independently. I was there to help with my siblings, and I hated moving away from them. But now that I was here, I reveled in the quiet, clean space.

Now, I had to make time to stop over at Mom's to check on them a few days a week. There was always something that needed to be paid: field trips, computer fees, school lunches, or even groceries. I preferred to find the bills and pay them before my mom ever saw them.

It was a system that worked. If Mom didn't know about the field trip, then she didn't need to worry about it. Besides, all I had to pay for was the rent and utilities on this place. I didn't allow myself other luxuries. I had businesses to run and build. A family to support. I took care of myself. Mostly.

As usual, I let my mind wander while I was baking. I wanted my mom not to worry about money. I wanted my family to live in a nice house, one that I bought for them. My gaze drifted to the second-hand couch in the living room and the TV screen. I wanted time to relax on the couch. I couldn't remember the last time I watched TV.

I was always running from one thing to the other, and when I was home, I was working. I could make my dreams come true. I just had to focus on the end result and take one step at a time.

I repeated the process until I had trays of five different flavors of donuts. The trays with lids were a necessary business expense. I needed a way to transport my donuts. I carried the trays one by one into the store. The deli was popular in the morning for its breakfast sandwiches.

I placed the first trays of donuts in the display cases and left the rest of them in the kitchen.

"Thanks for dropping those by. The customers love them," Danny said.

"That's so good to hear." I constantly worried that what I had to offer wasn't good enough. But when I picked up the empty trays later today, I'd get a sense of satisfaction.

"We really need more. We've been selling out more and more quickly."

The space between my shoulders was tight from leaning over the stove and counter for hours in the morning. I wasn't sure I could make more. Not without sacrificing necessary sleep. "That would be great."

"I think Cal wanted to talk to you about it."

I swiped the hair that had fallen out of my ponytail off my face. "I have a few minutes."

He nodded down the hallway in the direction of the office. "He's in there."

"Thanks, Danny."

"You make chocolate icing? I'm supposed to take a few home to the kids," Danny called out to me.

"I always make chocolate, Danny. You know that." I grinned at him before I walked toward Cal's office. I knocked on the door.

He looked up from his computer, then gestured for me to sit in one of the chairs across from him. I sat gingerly on the cushion that had seen better days. Cal was more interested in quality ingredients and food then the decor.

"Danny said you needed more donuts?" I wasn't sure how I'd manage to make more donuts, but more sales meant more money for me. I'd make it work.

"Customers are complaining about the cost."

I frowned. "I don't think three dollars a donut is unreasonable. They're larger than what is sold in other stores, and these are fresh."

"We could sell more if you lower the price."

I put up with a lot in my life, but undervaluing my work wasn't on the agenda for this morning. I still had to deal withKillian. "In this case, your customers are paying for donuts they can't get anywhere else." I continued before he could ask me to reduce my prices for a third time. "How many more do you want?"

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