Page 12 of Bear in a Bakery
“It’s up to you Marybeth. I’m happy to make as many as you like.”
“Yes, well. I’ve already checked prices at Bella Blu. Perhaps you’ll want to price match?”
Allie’s chest moved with a tight breath. “I’m afraid I can’t go any lower on the price. But I will need you to decide today. I need to get started immediately to fill an order that big in time.”
Without taking her eyes off the woman, Allie reached below the counter and produced a black coffee mug. She popped the top off the paper coffee cup and slowly poured steaming brew into the other mug. White lettering on the side said, ‘Tears of my enemies.’ She lifted the mug with the words clearly visible to her customer while she took a sip.
Dax grinned.
The woman shifted her weight and sighed again. “Can you even complete my order in this disaster?” She waved a hand around the room. “Is it even sanitary?”
Pinkie didn’t wait for a response as she took a slip of paper from her purse, slapped it on the counter and eyed Allie’s mug. “I swear Allie Mae; your manners are the reason you can’t get man.Thisis the final list. You need to come down price. Come on now, I know you need the money. Take my damn business. I’m doing you a massive favor.”
Dax narrowed his eyes. Who was this bitch? It didn’t matter. He was putting an end to this right now. He flung the service door open, startling both women. Without preamble, he moved behind the counter and stood beside Allie. The woman looked him up... way up, and then back down, her eyes staying on his chest a little too long. Allie’s lips parted but she didn’t say anything.
“I’ve an order to place. Two hundred of whatever she ordered, at full price. And lots of maple sticky buns. We’ll figure out how many.”
He whipped out a checkbook and put it on the counter directly in front of the woman, who was now gaped mouth to the extent the powder on her face cracked into little lines around her lips.
“What on earth would you need with lemon lavender cupcakes, young man?”
Dax snorted, then grinned when the woman made a disgusted face. “Lemon lavender? No thanks. I was thinking... you know, dark chocolate...with...”
“Bacon.” Allie said, crossing her arms. “You want chocolate stout cupcakes, filled with salted caramel cream, and topped with dark chocolate and bacon-dotted frosting.”
Hell yeah, he did.
He looked at Allie. Hunger rolled through him, deep and insistent, but not for food. “Can I have one right now? Make it two. Three.” He’d take a bite in between luscious nibbles and kisses over her delicate skin.
The corner of her mouth twitched, and her eyes lit up like stars. “Sorry, big guy.”
“You said bacon, right?”
“Yes.”
“Is it like smoked bacon, or thick cut, or Applewood, or —? “
She grinned and his heart jumped to see it.
“It’s just bacon.’
‘It’s neverjustbacon.”
She grinned. “Whatever you want.”
Was it just his imagination, or did her eyes darken when she said that? If only she knew what he wanted. “Sold.” Dax leaned in a little closer and caught a whiff of coconut and flowers. “Let’s make a test batch. We’ll have a private tasting later.”
If he had his way, he’d be tasting her over every inch of her curvy body.
Allie’s lips moved as if she was going to reply, but a loud crack coming from the other side of the counter made them both look. The crazy lady had stomped her foot and was giving them both a death glare while she drummed those fucking nails like she was trying to break the glass.
“Allie are you going to take my order or not?”
Naw, forget this. Dax leaned on his elbows over the counter and gently put a hand over Pinkie’s and pressed down until her fingers splayed out like candy-tipped spider legs and flattened beneath his palm. Her mouth made a perfect ‘O’, but she didn’t pull back.
“Lady, it depends on if you’re paying full price or not. She doesn’t have time to make two batches, one for half the price.”
The woman tipped her chin up and straightened her spine. Her breasts pushed out against the expensive-looking fabric of her pink button down. She was attractive for her age, Dax had to give her that. Considering how nicely she was groomed and the stylish clothes, she was used to being impeccable and, in her youth, probably drew a lot of male attention. She was also spoiled and used to getting her way.
