Page 7 of Falling for Her

I’m good with cakes, but pastries—well, I’m still a little finicky with them. Getting this choux bun right is the one thing stopping me from taking a summer course in Europe.

“I swear if you burn, I’m going to stab my knife into you…” I mutter, eyeing as it begins to turn golden.

Now, I did set the timer, but sometimes you just need to watch with your eye to get the pastry perfect. Every time I have used the timer and not watched them, they’ve burned, so this is the best option or at least I hope it is.

This batch is my eighth. Mom and Daddy are away for a romantic weekend, and the judge will be here in two hours, so I’m running out of time. I can’t do the chocolate swirl cream until the buns are ready and cooling down, otherwise, the cream will split.

I groan and plop my butt on the cold floor, my eyes on the oven.

It’s not like I want to spend time away from my parents, but going to Europe is an adventure. The fact that I gain experience from the top bakers means I can take my mom’s bakery to the next level, the bakery I’m apparently going to be taking over after school.

“Hmmm,” I mumble as I gently scratch my head as I watch the pastry and bite my bottom lip. Although the timer indicates that there are still five minutes remaining, they appear to be ready.

“To open, or not to open….” I hum to myself but screech and jump as I twist on the floor when a voice behind me says, “If your gut is telling you they’re ready, then you need to pull them out, sweetheart.”

I nearly fall backward on the floor, my hand to my chest, as a woman wearing a leather cut with long dark blonde hair grins my way. Then she nods to the oven and says, “Take them out before they burn.”

I gasp, remembering the buns, and quickly turn, grabbing the oven mitts. I open the door and step back for a moment as steam nearly hits my face then carefully, I pull the tray out and sigh, seeing they are golden brown and perfect. I quickly put them on the counter and turn the fan on low as I shut the oven door with my foot.

Blowing out a breath, I turn and look at the woman who smiles.

“I did ring the bell, but there was no answer. I didn’t mean to frighten you,” she says, and I give her a small smile.

“That’s okay. We’re not actually open right now.” I say, and she smiles back.

“I know, Trish said if no one answered, I could use the spare key above the door. I placed an order under Honey,” she replies.

Ah crap, Mom mentioned a woman called Honey will be picking her order up today and to make sure I answer the door.

I nod and quickly walk over to the fridge, grab the two boxes full of light blue iced cupcakes I baked early this morning, and place them on the table before grabbing the large cake Mom and I made yesterday.

“I’ll help you bring these to your car,” I say from behind the box.

The woman chuckles lightly before she takes the box from me then she shouts, “Devin, Acid,” and two men wearing leather walk in, looking scary I might add.

Double crap.

I swallow hard and I take a step back out of the instant.

A guy with black hair and green eyes puts his hands up and says, “Sorry to frighten you. I’m Acid, and we come in absolute peace and, hopefully, cake…”

I smile instantly not able to keep it in as he eyes the cake and admit, “That’s fine,” as I grab one of the boxes on the counter and hand it to him as the other guy takes the big cake box off the woman.

“Devin, do not drop that cake otherwise, you won’t be getting any!” she says sternly, and I grin. His eyes widen, and he looks at her like the scariest person in his life, which is hilarious considering he’s a good four inches taller than her.

Acid chuckles and asks, “Honey, you got the last box?”

She nods and confirms, “Yeah, Acid, head on out.”

He nods my way, and I smile back before looking at the woman and confirming, “You already paid, didn’t you?”

She nods. “Yeah, I did. You’re Esmerelda, Trish’s daughter?” she confirms, and I smile and nod. She hums, “Thought so, you look exactly like your mother. She says you’re an amazing baker and should be going to Europe for the summer.”

I scrunch my nose and look at the cooling buns, mumbling, "Yeah, if these buns came out right.”

She snorts and admits, “From what your mother has said, you’ll do it.” I look at her and give her a grateful smile. She smiles back, then says, “I’ll lock the door again for you, sweetheart. See you soon?”

I nod and she grins wide then leaves me alone and I sigh and look back at the buns.

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