Shades Of Chocolate (The Bakery Romance Series Book 2) Read online

  “Sure.” He touched her hand before he left the drug store.

  Chapter 8

  “Girl, are you out of your mind?” Sheila placed her hands on her slim hips, glaring at Toni. “This attractive man appears in Blue Spring and asks about working in your bakery, and you told him no?”

  Sitting on her bed, Toni sighed. She had to go to bed early tonight. She’d been wiped out, tired, all day, and all she needed was a good night’s rest. She hoped the pills she’d purchased helped her to fall asleep. Hopefully she’d sleep so soundly that she wouldn’t have nightmares about Brian kissing Gia. “I didn’t tell him no. I told him I’d think about it.”

  Sheila wore a cream-colored suit, all ready for the evening’s revival activities. She couldn’t help but wonder if Jason was planning to go to the revival. After all, like Sheila, he professed a faith in Jesus. The week-long church revival seemed like the perfect place for him to socialize and meet new people. Sheila pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. “You need to get over your issues.”

  “What issues?”

  “Your trust issues. You’re afraid if you hire Jason, he’ll steal your money and steal your recipes and try to profit from you in some way.”

  Toni shook her head. There was a shred of truth to Sheila’s words, but she didn’t have the energy to admit that her friend was right. “I’ve been working in this bakery off and on since I was a teenager. The only person who’s ever worked in Shades of Chocolate who was not a family member was Catherine, and she’s been there forever. It just feels weird having somebody else there. Jason would be a…foreign element in my bakery.”

  Sheila scrunched her brow as she plopped onto the bed beside Toni. “Foreign element? You really do sound crazy. Let me ask you this. If a woman had approached you about working in the bakery, would you have told her you’d think about it, or would you have hired her?”

  She shrugged. “What’s your point?”

  “My point is, I think part of your problem is that you don’t trust Jason simply because he’s a man, and he’s easy on the eyes. I ran into Mrs. Dukes at revival last night, and she told me that Jason is one of the nicest boarders she’s ever had. He opens doors for ladies, and she feels that he’s a good person. You told me yourself that Mrs. Dukes has a perfect sixth-sense when it comes to people.”

  Toni glanced at the clock. She’d heard enough talk about Jason. What she needed now was for Sheila to leave so that she could go to bed and get some rest. “Isn’t it time for you be heading out to revival?”

  “Oh, yes.” Sheila stood, gave Toni a quick hug and a peck on the cheek before trotting out the door. Toni followed Sheila downstairs, re-locked the door after Sheila had taken her exit. She finally trudged back upstairs, glanced at the clock again. It was almost seven. If she went to sleep now, she’d be able to get a solid eight hours of rest before her alarm went off at four. She went into her bathroom, opened the bottle of pills. She popped two into her mouth and swallowed them, chasing them with a few drinks of water.

  She got into the bed, pulling her quilt over her head, breathing deeply. Before she knew it, the blare of her alarm awakened her. Four a.m.! Forcing her eyes open, she slammed the alarm off, got out of bed. By four thirty, she’d made her way downstairs to the bakery. The streetlights shined on the sidewalk, and a dark figure stood at her window, his back facing the glass. She gasped when the figure turned, and Jason’s handsome face appeared, his eyes peering into the bakery.

  She rushed to the door, unlocked it. “Jason, you scared me half to death.”

  He shrugged. “Sorry. I figured if you needed help, you’d be awake about now getting the dough ready for the donuts and pastries.”

  Well, she really did need his help. No question about that. Finally making her decision, she pointed to the chair. “Have a seat.”

  “Shouldn’t we get started?”

  “In a minute.” She went into her office and returned with a sheet of paper. “Fill this out. It’s for your employment. I’ll need that information so that I can put you on the payroll.” It still felt weird hiring a stranger to work for her. But she’d have to do it sooner or later. Catherine wouldn’t be staying at the bakery indefinitely. Toni made a mental note to give Catherine a call later to see how her family was doing.

  Jason grinned, his cute dimples winking. “So, you’ve decided to hire me.”

  She returned his smile, already warming up to the idea of seeing him every day. “Yes, I sure did.”

  After he’d filled out his personal information, she handed him an apron and instructed him to wash his hands. He glanced at her empty display cases and then followed her back into the kitchen. His eyes rested on her walls, her ingredients, everything. He almost seemed like an eager sponge, just waiting to soak up some knowledge. He smiled, just a little. He seemed pleased that she’d allowed him into her kitchen.

  She took a lump of dough and placed it on the counter. “I’m getting ready to make the donuts.”

  He stared at the pale lump for a few seconds, silent, as though he was trying to think of the right thing to say. “Do you ever make cinnamon rolls for your breakfast crowd?”

  She shook her head as she pulled a huge rolling pin from the shelf and began rolling the dough. “No, I never have.”

  “Well, while I’m here, I’d like to make some for you. Maybe I could do that tomorrow. I’m assuming you’d want to sample some before offering them to your customers.”

  She stopped rolling to focus on him. “You’re trying to come in here and change things?”

  He held his hands up and took a few steps back. “No, I’m just here to help you out. It was just a suggestion. Take it for what it’s worth.”

  She rolled the dough, glanced over at Jason, her heart skipping. Questions about Jason again populated her mind. He’d said he’d worked in his mom’s bakery, but she had to wonder what that meant exactly. Had he worked there for several years? She still didn’t know that much about him and wondered whether she should’ve asked him more questions before allowing him to work here.

  She eyed him while he selected his rolling pin and scooped out a glob of dough on the adjoining counter, expertly rolled it out. The muscles in his brown arms flexed while he did it. Once the dough was rolled, he took the donut cutter and began cutting circles. He could roll and cut dough faster than she could! He gave her a sideways glance and caught her staring.

  She tried to swallow, but her mouth suddenly felt dry and tight. She took a deep breath, again realizing she needed to ignore her attraction to Jason. He was her employee now, and she just needed to concentrate on getting these donuts ready for her customers. She cleared her throat, gesturing toward the back wall. “My baking sheets are over there on the bottom shelf.”

  She sniffed and the woodsy scent of his cologne filled her nose. The wonderful scent mingled with the smell of raw dough. He placed the donuts onto the tray, placed the tray into the hot oven, and set the timer. He didn’t even ask how long the donuts needed to bake. It was almost as if he’d been working for her for years. He started another tray of donuts. She continued by cutting her donuts into round disks. Soon she’d finished a tray and when his came out, she placed hers into the oven.

  They worked quietly for a while until Jason broke their silence. “So, Toni, how’d you come up with the idea of focusing on chocolate desserts in your bakery?”

  “I inherited this place from my aunt and uncle.” She shrugged. “I’ve always loved chocolate. When I took ownership of the bakery, it just seemed like a good idea to specialize in chocolate desserts.”

  He stopped working the dough, and his eyes pierced into hers. Her insides warmed. “So, after you inherited the bakery, you decided to make some changes?”

  She nodded, her face heating. Why did he find that information so interesting? She was about to ask him, but he beat her to it with his own question. “What happened to your aunt and uncle?”

  She glanced over at him. A smudge of flour marred his cheek,
and she resisted the urge to rub it off. “My uncle died of a heart attack six years ago, and my aunt died a year later. My mom said that my aunt found it hard to adjust to life after my uncle died.” She took a deep breath, pressing her hands together. Her aunt and uncle had been dead for years now, and talking about them was still hard. “I still miss them.”

  “I’m sorry.” Jason dipped his head, the light shining on his stylishly shaved head.

  She returned his nod.

  He placed another tray of donuts into the oven. “So, sounds to me like your aunt and uncle treated you like a daughter.”

  “I guess you could say that.” She mentioned her cousin, Eva, and about the shaky relationship she’d had with her deceased parents. “My aunt and uncle adopted Eva when she was twelve. I haven’t seen her in a long time. Last time we spoke, she was still bitter about my inheriting the bakery. Seeing her makes me miserable.”

  “Does she live in Blue Spring?”

  Toni shrugged. “I’m not sure where she lives, but I’m pretty sure she doesn’t live in Blue Spring. She and her husband, Hank, won a lottery jackpot a few years back. I haven’t heard from them since.”

  She studied Jason. Although he continued with his chore, he really listened to her. For some weird reason, she felt he wanted to make things better for her. With an internal sigh, she realized how much she liked the way Jason really listened to her. Brian only listened to her occasionally. It was disheartening when she told him about things, things that she’d wish he’d offer an opinion, but he often didn’t even remember what she’d said.

  Once she’d been complaining about a difficult customer. They’d gone to Pedro’s Pizzeria for dinner. She’d caught Brian ogling another woman instead of listening to her problems.

  Why had she not dumped him then? She’d playfully slapped him on the head, asking him to take his mind out of the gutter. Sheila’s warnings and her mom’s disapproval of Brian rang in her head like an unwanted warning bell.

  The clang of the baking sheet against the wire grate of the oven reverberated throughout the room. Toni snapped out of her reverie, eyeing Jason as he closed the oven. He approached her, placed his hand on her shoulder. “Hey, you okay?”

  She turned away. How in the world could she tell him that she didn’t think she’d be okay for a long time?

  Chapter 9

  Toni studied Jason, who was hurrying across the street. It was the end of his first day of employment, and he’d thrived in the kitchen. Two women stared when he unlocked his car. He was certainly a striking man with his bald head and expensive BMW. She pursed her lips, her eyes still fixed on the two ladies. One thing she didn't like about living in a small town was the lack of privacy.

  Several customers had watched Jason with open curiosity. She hadn’t yet figured out how she was going to explain his presence to the members of this tight-knit community. In the past, vague answers and silence had been her two best weapons when people asked questions she didn’t want to answer. Everyone already knew that, except for Cathy, she had never hired anybody to work in her bakery. Since Cathy’s emergency, she figured most people knew why Jason was working for her. But she had to wonder why he was in Blue Spring. He’d mentioned a leave of absence from his job, but who took leave to spend time in Blue Spring? She had a feeling others had already asked him that, and she wondered how he’d responded to the questions that were being raised by the town’s residents.

  Jason drove away, and the two young ladies had made their way down the sidewalk. Toni stared at the rosebushes blooming in front of her bakery, again recalling the unwanted flowers Brian had sent to her. Brian. She needed to stop thinking about him. She had other things on her mind, and she needed to remain focused on running her bakery, stop thinking about how things would have been had she stayed with Brian.

  She pushed the unwelcomed thoughts from her mind. She placed the CLOSED sign on her door and covered the leftover food with plastic wrap, ready to be sold the next day at half price. She had often considered keeping her bakery open in the evenings, but simple fatigue discouraged her from making the attempt. Even with Cathy’s help, part of the morning and all of the lunch hour were extremely busy. By the time the middle of the afternoon arrived, she was ready for a change of pace. She sighed and pulled the cleaning supplies from the broom closet. After cleaning the tables, chairs, and floor, she attacked the dirty tables.

  About an hour later, she tossed a garbage bag in the Dumpster, locked the back door, and scanned her bakery one last time before ending her day. She had to be sure everything was in place. Tired as usual, she yawned and stretched before turning off the lights and walking up the stairs to her small apartment. Unlocking the door, she crossed into the living room to open the blinds. So nice to return to her cheerful home after a hard day of work.

  The cream-colored walls were decorated with pictures of the ocean. Fluffy carpet matched her walls and set off the light lavender couch and overstuffed chair, which were positioned to take best advantage of the television, and her iPod and speakers. Beside the television stood a bookcase that held her collection of cookbooks. She also had a wooden CD case full of classical and jazz disks. She placed a recording of Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” into her player and turned it on. Soft notes filled the air and soothed her tired body.

  Kicking off her shoes, she walked into the kitchen, surprised her stomach grumbled again for food. Throwing together a Caesar salad and grabbing a glass of lemonade, she collapsed into the living-room chair and enjoyed a quiet meal.

  Maybe if she took a short nap, she’d have enough energy to go for a run. Exercise had been a daily part of her life since she’d been in high school. She’d been the star runner on her high school track team, and when she’d gone exercising recently, she’d been stunned to run into Jason at Henderson’s lunch counter.

  She glanced at her empty plate, replaying the conversation they’d had. She still found it weird that she’d never told Jason that he could work for her, yet he’d shown up anyway. He must’ve realized how much she needed his help. He seemed to understand how she struggled with her decision of hiring him, but somehow he knew she wouldn’t turn him away. What really got her was…well, why did he want to work here so badly?

  Why was he so pressed to go back into her kitchen and help her make chocolate donuts and pastries? Did he want to work with her because her bakery reminded him of his mother?

  Goodness, the man sure was easy on the eyes. She’d caught him staring at her, too, so she had to wonder if he was working for her because he was attracted to her.

  She sighed. She needed to stop thinking about Jason so much. He dominated her mind, and she needed to think about something else. She glanced at the clock, fatigue still weighing upon her. She’d take a short nap before she went for her run. That’s what she’d do.

  Putting on her pajamas, she slid into the bed, closed her eyes and fell asleep.

  When she woke up, bright sunlight spilled into the room. She glanced at the clock. Had she only been asleep for fifteen minutes? The land line phone rang, and she answered it, still half asleep.

  “Hello.”

  “Toni!”

  Good grief, it was Brian. She should’ve checked the caller ID before picking up.

  “Don’t hang up on me.”

  She clutched the phone, emotions swirling through her gut like hot glue. His voice soothed and sickened her at the same time. She had not spoken to him since Valentine’s Day. “Brian…”

  “Did you like the roses?”

  “I threw them into the trash.” No sense in giving him false hope.

  “What?”

  She knew what he was thinking of the money he’d wasted on the flowers, not about how his actions affected her. “Brian, I caught you kissing Gia. You’re acting like I should pretend the whole thing didn’t happen just because you chose to send me flowers.”

  “It’s not like that.”

  “Then what’s it like?”

  “I’m s
eeking forgiveness. Can’t we put the past behind us and move on?”

  The nerve! Unable to listen to him anymore, she slammed the phone down and rolled out of bed. Her head crawled with pain, so she opened her medicine cabinet and took a few aspirins, willing herself to calm down. She pulled a clean set of jogging clothes from her drawer. When her headache subsided, she’d take a long, run outside. The exercise would make her feel better.

  In the living room, she searched for her iPod. Where had she put it? She needed her music for her run. She found it on the side table when she sat down to put on her running shoes. Outside, she placed her key into her small running satchel, placed her earbuds into her ears and began running. The music made her feel a bit better as she dashed through the streets of Blue Spring. She passed Henderson’s Drug Store, and later, she passed Mrs. Dukes’s boarding house.

  She rounded the corner down the street from Mrs. Dukes’s and spotted a For Sale sign in front of a quaint, two-story home. Winded, she stopped running and paced in front of the house. A profusion of flowers had burst into bloom near the front porch of the egg-shell white house. She stopped pacing and stared at the home.

  She took a deep breath, finding a bit of comfort in seeing the large porch swing and the big oak tree in the front yard. When she’d taken her first post-college job as an international financial analyst, she’d often thought of owning her own house. However, it was beyond the meager expenses from her first job. After she’d been laid off from her job, she’d inherited the bakery and had been working there for the last few years. Now that Brian was out of the picture, should she still pursue her dream of getting her own house?

  The thought of coming home to a house each night after work filled her with…she shook her head. It still would seem weird to own a home with no husband. But having her own house did sound appealing. Perhaps being in a new environment would help her to feel better. Maybe she should take Sheila’s advice and research purchasing her own property.