Page 4 of One More Yule Log
He would have to interrogate her later. For now, he had a falafel burger to procure, and time to spend with the most important person in his life.
That superseded everything else.
2
Saturday mornings were always super busy for Piece of Cake. Birthday cake pickups, people with events and birthdays grabbed their cookies and cupcakes, and between now and New Year’s, there would be holiday parties on rush.
Gray wiped down the two tables that had just left, the croissant crumbs and coffee rings making him happy. They were evidence of a job well done, that he’d had satisfied customers. He loved it when people moaned like these guys had, when they licked their fingers.
The bell over the door jingled, so Gray glanced up with his business smile, which widened into a real grin when he saw Olivia Nightingale. “Hey, Olivia! How are you this morning?”
“Good. It’s cold, but the sun is so nice!” She held the hand of a tall, handsome man with light brown hair streaked with blond and intense blue eyes.
“Where’s Fran?”
Olivia swung the man’s hand back and forth. “She’s home with her feet up, reading. This is my daddy. He wanted to have a date with me.”
“Oh, that sounds nice. Uh, hi. I’m Gray Carrol. Pleased to meet you.”
“Ben Nightingale. Olivia was telling me you had chocolate croissants—the best in the whole world. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that she loves cupcakes.”
“Not one bit, though she does. Strawberry, right, kiddo?” Gray smiled at her when she bounced. “But I’m guessing you like that chocolate croissant and… peppermint mocha?”
Ben’s eyes lit up and the polite expression morphed into something that made his belly flip-flop. What a handsome man. “Close. White chocolate peppermint mocha.”
“Hey, go me! Go on and have a seat. I’ll bring out the goodies.” Damn. Olivia’s dad was high on the hotness factor, front and back. He liked a chocolate croissant. That was Gray’s favorite too. Gray brewed the mocha, then took a little extra care with plating the pastry and the cupcake. He knew from their first cake lesson that Olivia liked a nice decaf hot tea.
Such a grown-up drink for a little girl. Of course, she’d lost one of her dads. She had a reason to be a little mommy, and she was just bossy enough to fit the bill. Adorable, but super exacting.
It was a little weird, how much he knew about Olivia and her dad after working with her for just two hours. He took out the order, putting it on the table with a little flourish. “Ta-da! Enjoy, folks.”
“Oh, look at that. Thank you.” Ben looked like he might actually drool, tongue dragging over his full bottom lip.
Gray’s body went “hello!” and he cleared his throat. “Holler if you need anything else.” He walked away reluctantly, because he had this crazy urge to grab an Americano and another croissant and join them, but that wasn’t in his job description.
Olivia talked to her dad, jabbering away, the sun through the front window making her dark hair shine. Ben seemed to be completely focused on her, smiling and talking to her like she was fascinating. How freaking cute was that? And how stalkery was he, watching them from behind the counter?Weirdo. Get back to work.
Gray sold a couple of phone orders, handed over some Marvel universe cupcakes, and cleaned the counters. When Ben brought him the empty dishes, Gray was really disappointed that they were done.
“Thank you so much. That was the best croissant I’ve ever had.”
“You’re very welcome.” There. That was the reaction that made all the four a.m. mornings and all the time studying in France worth it. “I’m glad it lived up to Olivia’s praise. Liv, are you coming in Monday for your next lesson?”
One eyebrow winged up, Ben glancing back and forth between them. “Lesson?”
“Gray! No!” Olivia’s eyes went wide, and she stamped her little foot, her lower lip poking out.
“Oh, oops.” He bit his lip, making the universal sorry motion with his spread hands.
“What are you learning from Gray, missy?” Ben stared down at Liv, and now he felt bad for giving her away.
“It’s a surprise, Daddy. I’m going to make you a Yule log for Christmas!” She slapped her hands over her mouth as if she could scoop the words back in.
“What?” Ben blinked, looking gobsmacked. “Oh, wow, kiddo. I—you give Yule log lessons?” He directed that at Gray.
“I do when someone as amazing as Olivia asks me.” Gray winked at Olivia, because her expression spoke loud of frustration.
Ben’s face went soft, and he knelt to her. “A Yule log, huh? That’s amazing.”
