Page 26 of The Wrong Husband
“Cheers.” She raises the cake in my direction. I mirror her action.
We bite into our pastries in unison.
It’s light and fluffy, and not too sweet, at all. It’s so good.
Harper moans. So do I.
The woman laughs. "That’s my version of a lemon tart."
"It’s so good." I finish off the rest and lick my fingertips.
"I call it Zest Friends." The woman nods and smiles at the crumbs on my plate which, by the way, I'm seriously considering devouring. “I’m so happy you enjoyed it.”
A shiver runs up my spine. Goosebumps pepper my forearms. A feeling like I’m being watched, once more, assails me. I glance around the warm, cozy bakery and dismiss it. Just my imagination, working overtime again.
"Skylar, meet Phoenix. Phoenix, Skylar." Zoey introduces us.
I shake Skylar’s hand and smile. "Is this your place?"
She nods, her smile broadening.
"It’s amazing."
"I’m glad you could join us." Skylar drops into a chair. "The girls kept telling me you were coming to try the sweets. I'm so glad you could finally make it.”
"Me too.” I smile back.
"You work in the ER over at Archway Hospital, don’t you?"
"Guilty," I say lightly.
I don’t like talking about my job. Not because I don’t like what I do, but the opposite. I’m dedicated to my job. When I’m there, I give it one hundred percent. I dissociate from the world for the hours I’m there.
Which is why, when thoughts of the devil with sapphire eyes distracted me at work, I was taken aback.
I shove those thoughts aside and focus on the cakes and pastries on the tray in front of me.
"Skylar’s baking skills are unrivaled. Within six months of opening the first branch of the coffee shop in the East End, she opened this one," Harper enthuses.
"Help yourself." Skylar pushes a square-shaped, chocolate-topped concoction in my direction. "I’m trying out a few new recipes."
I reach for the treat. It looks like a brownie but when I bite into it, something gooey and filled with caramel and cherry and an overlay of mint explodes on my tongue.
"Oh my God," I exclaim with my mouth full, so it comes out as ‘Aw-mah-ghod!' I chew, swallow. Take another bite. Don’t stop until I’ve consumed the entire slab. My mouth, my stomach and everything in between feels like it’s going to explode with happiness. "Pretty sure I’m presenting with rapid-onset cardio-excitability."
Skylar laughs. "Glad you like it."
"I love it." I look at the woman with new eyes. Anyone who can bake like that is truly a domestic goddess. Especially since, I’m rubbish when it comes to cooking. Sadly, my skills as a doctor don’t seem to stretch to interpreting recipes.
"I think I’ll call this oneHeart Stopper," she says with a smug smile.
Harper laughs. "That’s so apt."
"I do love the names of your other desserts, too." I noticed a C!itasaurus, a Honey Pot, a Moist Goodness, and a Sweet Bits in the display cases.
She chuckles. "I wanted to differentiate my offerings. And since I love reading spicy romance novels, I couldn’t resist."
I’m so taken in by her joie de vivre. Her spirit. The happiness flowing off her in waves. I’d give anything to feel that way again.
