Page 57 of One More Yule Log
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Ben lefthis lawyer’s office with a spring in his step. He had a plan. It wasn’t an immediate plan, but it was a plan and he was excited about it.
He grabbed his phone and called the bakery, just in case Gray could go to a late lunch. An early supper. Liv was staying overnight tonight with Emily and Rachel, and he was in a surprisingly good humor.
“Piece of Cake bakery.” That was Alice, who was such a hoot. He really liked her.
“Hey, Miss Alice. Is the boss man busy?”
“Just a minute. He’s just flooding cookies. I can trade with him.” There was a clunk as she set down the phone, and he heard, “Switch!” shouted out.
“Hey, babe. What’s up?” Gray sounded breathless with laughter.
“Hey, I’m at loose ends until tomorrow morning, and I was wondering if you needed any help.” That way they could spend time together, right?
“Oh my God. Really?” Gray hooted. “Come on. I have a 500-cookie order to box up and one more tray to flood for tomorrow. Then we can run.”
“I’ll be there in five. I’m a champion cookie boxer from way back when.”
“You’re my hero. See you soon. Love you.” Gray hung up, but he wasn’t upset. He’d learned that royal icing was a dicey thing. If you didn’t let it dry overnight it could be a mess, but it set pretty fast on the surface, and would end up even more a mess if you walked away in the middle of a project.
Hell, he’d learned a ton about baking, up to and including that he wasn’t good at decorating, but he understood a recipe just fine.
And he kinda loved the giant stand mixer.
He pulled into the lot at the bakery a few minutes later, and Alice met him at the door with a latte. “You’re a rock star.”
“Good afternoon, lady. Good to see you too.” He kissed her cheek and shrugged off his coat and hat before he took his coffee. “Point me and shoot me. I’m here to help.”
“I will! Come on back.” She led the way to the big back area, which was a cookie assembly line.
“Hey, babe. Come kiss me. I’ve got more trees to do.”
“Ho ho ho, merry Christmas!” He took a sweet, happy kiss. “Let me wash my hands, get an apron, and glove up.”
“Good deal. There are all the Santa ones and the sleds.” Gray was covered with flour and icing, his Christmas sweater bearing tiny reindeer.
“They’re adorable.” He packaged them up while Gray decorated and Alice worked the counter. It was pleasant, a good way to spend the afternoon, with Christmas carols and laughter and amazing coffee.
Alice could sing. Gray was… well, he wasn’t awful, which Ben knew from the tree lighting. And at one point between icing and storing on the drying racks, Gray danced him around to “Jingle Bell Rock.”
He hadn’t laughed so hard in ages, and when Alice asked how on earth he’d ended up in real estate, Ben shrugged.
“It was my husband. He loved real estate, and I did his books and parties and events and all when Liv was little, then he got partners and things got big. He helped me get my license when he got sick so I could help out, and then he died.”
“Oh, hon. That sounds like hell.” She hugged him when Gray had to let go to change racks in the dehydrator.
“I don’t love it. I—I just don’t. You know?” He wasn’t a go-getter.
“I can see that. You’re so good at stuff like dealing with Liv and helping us here. You’re a homebody, you know?” She patted his arm. “Now, the boss has been here since five. Take him away.”
“With pleasure. Would you like to get some food, lover? Together?”
“Oh, Alice? Do I need to—”
“Boss, they’re all boxed except for the trees and stars, and Miss Guerrero is coming in about an hour to pick up the order we boxed. No delivery required. Helen will get the hats and sleighs tomorrow, and all we have to do after that is Jimmy Blaine’s birthday cake.”
“Then let’s motor.” Gray looked down at himself. “After I clean up. I’m a mess.”
