Page 65 of Returning to Everton

“Oh shut up and get over here Hudson Hopkins!” When I don’t move fast enough for her, she comes to me and wraps her arms around me. I squeeze her tight and kiss the top of her head.

“Well, come on inside. As you can tell, I still need to get dressed. Who the hell wakes up this early?” she grumbles as we walk inside.

Declan and I sit on the couch while we wait for Rowe to get dressed. It’s not long before she comes walking back into the room and does a little spin showing off her outfit.

“Is this okay for work Hudson?”

She’s wearing a pair of skintight jeans that do amazing things to her ass, and a royal blue shirt with a v cut and a tiny, completely useless pocket on her left breast. All it does is draws my attention to her chest, that the neckline is doing all on its own. Damn, I’m going to have to look atthatall day? This day is going to be torture. I can’t seem to find words to answer her question, so I just nod my head.

“Okay then, I’m ready,” Rowen states with her hands on her hips.

“Yeah. Okay. Let’s go,” I stumble over my words.

“Good luck man,” Declan whispers to me when I go to stand up.

Thanks. I’m gonna need it.I think back to him.

“Make yourself at home Declan. I mean, that shouldn’t be too hard since itisyour home,” she chuckles. “Violet should stay asleep until at least seven if not eight. She’ll be fine playing in her room or her playhouse. There’s some food in the kitchen, she might try to convince you to cook her breakfast, but don’t feel obligated. She’ll be okay with just a bowl of cereal.”

“I’m sure we’ll manage. I do know a thing or two about taking care of children, you know,” he smirks at her.

She huffs, “Yeah I guess you do. But you have a boy, and girls are a whole different ball game.”

“We’ll be finea mhuirnín.Now go. Enjoy your first day of work. Don’t let Hudson work you too hard,” he tells her and I roll my eyes.

I walk Rowe to my car with my hand on the small of her back, and open her door. Once she’s settled, I close her door and walk around to get in myself. We drive in companionable silence. When we get to the bakery, I park in the back and show her into the kitchen.

“This is where the magic happens,” I spread my arms to encompass the entire room. Rowe laughs at my stupid pun. I grab my apron off the hook and put it on, then offer my spare to Rowen. She gratefully accepts it, and I’m struck speechless by how she looks. Standing in my kitchen, wearing my apron. She’s stunning. She looks like she belongs here, and she does.

“So what are we baking today?”

“You’re getting ahead of yourself again Rowe,” I chuckle. “First, let me show you around.”

We walk around the kitchen and I show her where everything is and make sure she knows how to use everything before we get started. I show her where I keep all of my recipes in my office. I think she’s most excited about that.

“Do you always use the same magic in the recipes?” she asks.

“Not always. It really depends on how I’m feeling that day, or if I have any special orders. Some things I actually don’t bake with the magic. I wait until someone orders it and add it then, like I do with most drinks. Of course, I have a drink menu that has suggested additives, and most people just order it that way. Some people though, like a certain drink and want different magic in it depending on their mood that day.

“Say for example a tired mom comes in and orders a smoothie because she doesn’t like coffee, but the suggested magic for a smoothie is a clear mind. She doesn’t want a clear mind as much as she wants extra energy, so she gets that instead.”

“Okay, that makes sense. Why don’t you do that to everything then? Why bake the magic in?”

“Well, I’ve found a few spells that just work better when they’re baked. I can always add another spell when it’s ordered, but I like to start off with a base already in the goods. It’s usually a health spell, because it works well and who couldn’t use a little boost to their health?”

“That’s really smart Hudson. I love how you take care of your customers like that. That’s something everyone could use and most people wouldn’t ask for it. Like me, I’d be much more apt to ask for energy than health.”

“Exactly. Which is why energy is my most requested spell. Luckily, I’m pretty good at that one. So, what do you want to start baking first? Muffins? Cinnamon rolls? Coffee Cake?”

“We should probably leave the coffee cake for last if you want to actually sell any today,” she giggles. She’s right, I have no doubt she would eat it all before we even open.

“Alright, muffins it is. I know it’s been a while since you’ve really used your magic. How are you with health spells?”

She scrunches her little nose up. “I don’t know. I tried using some in Harris’s tea when he was sick, but it didn’t really work. So, either I suck, or his health was just so bad my spells couldn’t help. I’d really like to try Hud, but I don’t want to ruin your baked goods if my magic doesn’t work.” Her shoulders slump and it kills me that she has no confidence in her magic.

This girl used to be able to do anything. Even things people said were impossible, she wouldn’t listen. Now, she’s constantly second-guessing herself. I’m gonna have to work with her on her magic, so she can get that self-confidence I love back.

“Alright how ‘bout this, I haven’t eaten yet and I’m sure you haven’t since you just rolled out of bed.” I grin at her and she rolls her eyes. “So, you can make a coffee cake just for us and practice your magic with that. We can be your guinea pigs.”

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