Page 4 of Ride or Die
“Nothing to be sorry about. I was in the zone. It happens more often than not.” I shoot Emma a pointed look and she shrugs at me.
“It happens more when those cakes are involved,” she whispers.
“I’m not having this discussion with you today,” I tell her as the bell above the door rings, signaling customers coming in.
“Good morning!” Chloe greets them. I glance up and see a couple of my favorite new regulars.
“Minx! Rivet! How are you, ladies?” I ask them. They stumbled into the shop back in August searching for some books to read. I recommended a couple of my favorites and suggested they try our daily special. They’ve been back at least once a week, usually more, ever since. They try to come on different days as they’ve enjoyed trying each different daily special. Her papa is president of the Savage Menaces MC and her, as she calls him, ol’ man is a patched member too. Rivet doesn’t have an ol’ man, but she acts as though her heart may be taken.
“We’re cravin’ some of that fantastic apple cake you only make on Thursdays,” Minx laughs out.
“You’re in luck! We still have quite a bit left.” I wink at her. Most of our daily specials don’t sell out until the late afternoon unless it’s a Saturday or Sunday. We switch our daily specials every month and whensharlotkais a special on either of those days, we make more and still manage to sell out pretty quick.
“Would it be possible to buy a whole cake?” Rivet asks shocking me. The Russian specials have been popular, but I’ve never had anyone ask to buy a whole cake or a large quantity of any other Russian pastries. We’ve only ever gotten custom cake and cupcake orders. Every once in a while, someone will order a couple of dozen cookies, but cakes are more popular.
“Yeah! Of course. Is it for a special occasion? If you need it for a certain day, I can bake a fresh one the day you need it and you can come by and get it,” I suggest.
“That would be great! Some of the brothers finally got moved into a house, so they’re having a housewarming BBQ and bonfire tomorrow. I can swing by and grab it around three, if that works for you?” Minx tells me. I haven’t been to a bonfire since . . . nevermind that thought. I won’t go there.
“That’s perfect. Would you both like a piece for today?” I grin, already knowing the answer.
“Yes, please.” Minx smiles. “Can we also each have a cafe au lait, please?”
“With french vanilla syrup?” They tried a cafe au lait with french vanilla when they came in last week. It was a chilly morning. Minx had told me she wanted to try something new and asked me to surprise her. Both she and Rivet ended up loving it.
“Of course! Thanks for getting me hooked on this. I might come in every day for one once it’s chilly enough.” Minx laughs.
“And what about him?” I nudge my head in Mouse’s direction. From what Minx told me, he’s what they call a prospect for the MC. He does whatever patched-in members ask of him. He has come with Minx and Rivet every time they come to A Novel Bunch, acting as their bodyguard.
Minx acts frustrated about it most of the time, but I can tell by the gleam in her eyes she’s thankful to have him around. I don’t know what happened to her for her to need a bodyguard, but I can understand her frustration. I have one of my own who sits in my office, watching security cameras while I work.
My papa is Pakhan of the Bratva. For years now, he’s traveled between the states and Russia. He always makes sure my mama and I are well protected while he’s in Russia. He stays for two weeks and then will stay here in Texas for anywhere from two weeks to a month. Ever since I graduated, Mama has been traveling with him more and more. Leaving me under the watchful eyes of my brothers, Viktor and Gleb, and my bodyguard, Yury.
“Black coffee for Mouse. He said he didn’t want anything to eat,” Rivet tells me. I ring up their order and take their payment while Emma makes their drinks. I make a note to make asharlotkafor them tomorrow and to have it ready by two. I get slices ofsharlotkafor them to have now. Emma gives them their drinks, and I walk around the counter with their cakes, following them to a table close to the romance books.
“Enjoy yoursharlotka, ladies.” I set them on the table.
“Thanks, Cali!” Minx says. “Hey, you should come to our BBQ tomorrow. You could bring Emma too.”
“That sounds fantastic, but we already made plans for a girls' night out. She talked me into going dancing.”
“I would definitely rather go dancing,” Rivet sighs and Minx rolls her eyes at her. I chuckle at them.
“Well, maybe one weekend the four of us can go dancing together,” I tell her and she beams.
“Now,thatsounds fantastic,” Rivet exclaims.
“Well, I better get back to work. I have some cupcakes to make for a Halloween themed birthday party. We’ll plan something soon!”
We say our farewells and I go back into the kitchen to bake two dozen cupcakes.
3
Buster
Shadeand I found a house to rent about a month ago and moved in last weekend. It’s a four-bedroom, three-bathroom house on a couple of acres, and it’s about five minutes from the clubhouse. It’s not that we don’t like staying at the clubhouse, but we needed a space of our own. A place to go and unwind with a little more privacy. Clutch and Diesel wanted to stay at the clubhouse. Easier access to the cut bunnies. But we got a house big enough in case they change their minds. We still spend half our time at the clubhouse anyway.
In honor of us finding a house, we chose to have a BBQ and bonfire. It’s getting to be the perfect time of year for bonfires. My favorite time of year. I somehow drew the short straw and am the lucky bastard who gets to do the grocery shopping. Minx was kind enough to make a list for me. Her and Rivet offered to make all the sides for tonight. They said they would be at our house at four o’clock sharp. Shade and I spent all morning cleaning the backyard and preparing wood for the bonfire.
