Page 70 of A Very Merry Enemy
“You’re lucky,” I tell her, happy for a conversation change. “Need to make you a shirt that says, ‘Risking It All for RawCookie Dough.’”
She bursts into laughter. “For real.”
As soon as we unlock the door, we’re thrown into a rush. But every customer has the same curious look when their eyes meet mine. It’s different from before. I glance out the window and see the line is winding down the sidewalk, but I don’t know how far back it goes.
I swallow hard.
“Take this, Bella,” I say, handing her the tongs in my hand, along with a box.
I move outside, and my eyes widen. There are at least one hundred people waiting for my cookies. When the crowd cheers for me like I’m some sort of celebrity, my face goes bright red.
Word quickly spread around town, and I’d bet anything people came here for a glimpse of the drama. But I smile, knowing every single person in this line will fall in love with my desserts.
I walk inside, knowing I won’t have enough cookies for everyone unless I start a buying limit. This isn’t something I’d planned to do until next month. But at the speed and quantities Bella is boxing dozens, there is no way we’ll make it through half the waiting customers. I do some quick math and shove my shaky hands into my pockets, coming up with a solution. I smile, knowing it’s my decision. One I get to make without permission from anyone.
“Hi! Good morning, everyone. Due to the overwhelming number of customers outside, I’m going to limit sales to one dozen max,” I announce.
Suddenly, a guy in line loses his entire shit. “What the fuck? That’s not fair! We’ve been waiting in line since seven!”
I move from behind the counter, closer to him, so I won’t have to raise my voice. “Sir, I know you’re really upset, and I will happily let?—”
“Upset? Upset!? You have no fuck?—”
Moments later, the man is being dragged out by the back of his shirt, and that’s when I see Lucas. Customers move out ofthe way, allowing him access to the door. I steal glances out the window.
Lucas places his hand on the guy’s shoulder and keeps his voice low and controlled. Lucas says something, then points to the Jolly that’s embroidered into his jacket. A moment later, Lucas nods toward the exit, and I know he’s kicking him off the farm.
Lucas returns and I stare at him. Dominic never took up for me when I was being yelled at. He let me be his scapegoat for irate customers.
“Now, does anyone else want to be rude? It’s the ho-ho-holidays. We can do better than that guy. I won’t tolerate disrespectful behavior anywhere on the farm. Understood?” He looks around the room, giving them a cheeky smile. It’s boyish, cute, and kind. And real. I see his dimple. Then his eyes land on mine and time freezes. “Have a good day.”
“You too.” My voice cracks, and I’m in shock. I swallow hard. When Lucas leaves, it’s dead quiet inside the bakery, and I can feel the vibe is off.
“I’m so sorry that happened, everyone. If anyone else is especially upset, please let me know. I’ll happily let everyone inside this building who can hear my voice get more than one dozen just because. I’m not prepared for the line today, which is my fault. Tomorrow, I’ll give each of you a free dozen if you come back.”
“Deal!” someone screams from the doorway, and another person laughs.
“We’re patient. We’d rather have a dozen cookies than none,” another woman tells me. “We heard your cookies were better than anything in the fancy bakery you worked at in Paris.”
“You did?” I ask. “Who said that?”
“Someone outside.” They shrug.
Like that narrows it down.
“Wow. Well, thank you all so much for understanding. Seriously, thankyou,” I say. “Give everyone half off, up to and including the lady in the red sweater,” I tell Wendy, loud enough for them all to hear.
Bella and Wendy look at me with heart emojis in their eyes.
“Lucas to the rescue. That was interesting,” Bella whispers.
“So broody,” Wendy adds, waggling her brows.
“Hush,” I say with a laugh, but they’re right. It was hot. I have to admit that.
Between customers, I keep catching glimpses of Lucas through the bakery windows. At one point, he’s loading trees onto a minivan and lifts one of those massive trees like it weighs absolutely nothing. Every single time I glance up, he’s already looking at me and shaking his head.
I can’t do this with him.
