Page 62 of Noel
“You should be commending me.It was hard as hell trying not to punch anyone.But no promises next time.”
That almost gets a smile.
We pull up toLet Them Eat Cake—a warm, buttery-lit boutique bakery on the corner of 54th and Park, sandwiched between a vintage bookshop and an upscale pet spa.
The window display is full of miniature Yule logs, marzipan ornaments, and a cake shaped like a snow globe.
Inside smells like vanilla, citrus zest, and melted sugar.
So basically, it’s heaven.
Holly pauses just inside the door, breathing it in.
“It’ll be ten minutes.”
“Fifteen,” I say, holding the door open.“You need time to taste properly.”
She rolls her eyes, but a little color comes back to her cheeks.
“Since when are you an expert on dessert?”
“Since I saw you lick frosting off your lip last time you ate something sweet.”
Her breath hitches.I give her a wink.
She swats me, blushing.
“Roxie!”she calls as we head toward the back counter.
A curvy, petite woman in a black apron and a messy topknot pops her head around the display case.
“There she is!And—whoa.Hello, handsome.”
I lift a brow.
“This is Noel,” Holly says quickly.“He’s my, uh…”
“Tall, dark, and security detail delicious.Got it.”Roxie grins.“I’m Roxie, and I’m about to blow your taste buds away.”
She gestures us toward a small marble-topped table near the window.
Three stunning plated desserts are already waiting—each prettier than the last.
Gold flakes.Candied citrus.Spun sugar shaped like snowflakes.
“Three finalists for the centerpiece,” Roxie says, setting down tiny forks.“Pick one.Or don’t.I’ll cry.But quietly.”
Holly laughs, the sound like sleigh bells in my chest.She slides into the chair, professional again, but there’s a sparkle in her eye that wasn’t there twenty minutes ago.
I lean against the wall, arms crossed, watching her taste.
She’s in her element now.Focused.Confident.Asking smart questions.Making notes.
Suggesting a minor switch to the sauce-to-sponge ratio with this calm authority that has Roxie nodding furiously and taking her own notes.
Next, it’s cookie time.
And holy fuck, the assortment is amazing.
