The whirring of the industrial mixer kept pace with the beat of her heart as Kim relived that morning again and again.
She tried to focus all her attention on her work but the trouble with being a baker was that once she'd done the tricky part of getting the exact amounts and ingredients right for each recipe, there wasn’t a lot of brainpower required. She had machinery that worked efficiently, timers to remind her when to move to the next step.
At least the cookies she’d designed gave her something else to think about besides how James’s mouth had felt on her sensitive skin, the expression in his eyes when he’d been deep inside her, the sounds he made. No. Stop!
James had told her there there was a boy and a girl, so she’d had fun with pink and blue icing. Every time she looked at them they made her smile. She’d chosen a very plain sugar cookie recipe, cut out rounds and then once they were baked to perfection she decorated each cookie half in blue icing, half in pink. The top part of the cookie said It's a Girl in the bottom part read It's a Boy.
She piped tiny rattles and baby buggy shapes onto each one.
As she had suspected, by the time she opened Sunflower, the news was already buzzing that Iris was a mom. Her very first customer was a teacher at Geoff’s school. She came up to the counter with a grin. "Good morning. I guess Iris and Geoff are going to be pretty busy now."
"I guess." She whipped up the woman’s cappuccino with practiced efficiency, and then pulled out the tray of her special cookies. "Have a cookie to celebrate the birth."
The teacher laughed. "Those are great. I'll happily take one, but you’d better let me buy some for the rest of the staff."
She had already anticipated that this might happen, so she had baked plenty and was soon packing a box of two dozen of her special celebration cookies. The teacher had barely left, the cardboard bakery box swinging from her fingers, when a trio of older ladies walked in.
They were regulars. She said, "Have you heard the news? Iris and Geoff had the twins!"
She had a cookie for each of them to go with their coffees and they settled at a table chatting happily. Group after group began to arrive and by eight in the morning the coffee shop was as packed as she'd ever seen it. It really was like a birthday party she thought as people laughed and giggled and back-slapped. Her cookies were a huge hit and, while not everyone bought extra cookies, it seemed that as soon as she gave something away they felt obliged to buy half a dozen muffins or a couple of lemon dream bars or some brownies to take home.
When James walked in around nine she glanced up and felt herself blush. She only hoped if any of the old busybodies noticed her red cheeks they would assume it was from the heat of the kitchen or the way she was rushing around trying do everything single-handedly.
Before James could reach her, Edna May Tittlebury came forward with a beautifully wrapped package. "I waited until I knew the sex of the babies. This is a little something I'd like you to give Iris for me."
"Sure. I'd be happy to." It was funny the way everyone assumed she and Iris were close friends. She added the package to the growing pile of cards and small gifts that had already accumulated. James greeted Edna May and after the older woman had left, she said, "And what can I get you?" Trying to be very cool and professional.
He sent her a glance that was anything but cool and professional and said, "What do you suggest?"
There was no denying the flirtation in his tone as he said the words. She pulled out the tray of cookies and said, "I recommend one of today's special cookies."
He laughed out loud when he saw them. "I wondered what you had in mind. These are great!" She handed him his cookie on a square of waxed paper and he said, "I guess I'll take an Americano to go with that."
"To go?"
He glanced around at the party atmosphere and said, "No. I’ll have it here. Oh, and here’s a picture." He handed her a glossy 8X10 of the babies in their tiny pink and blue caps.
"Oh, this is perfect.”
“I’ll go stick the picture up on the wall while I’m waiting for my coffee.”
“Coming right up," she said. Hank Goldberg, who kept bees on his property and sold honey from a roadside stand, sidled up with a brown bag and put it on the counter beside her. "This is a jar of my honey. I made a special label to commemorate the event.” He ducked his head shyly. “There’s a small jar in there for you, too.”
She was so touched. “Why, thank you.” She pulled the jar of honey from the bag and he’d designed a label that said, “It’s a BEEutiful day to be born,” and then the date. “You'll see she gets it?"
"Of course. I know she’ll appreciate it. And thanks for including me." He nodded, said, “Remind Iris that babies can’t have honey for a year. It’s for her and Geoff.”
“Of course.”
Hank didn’t order anything, refused a cookie, and headed out the way he came in. She said to James, "It's funny, people are bringing me things to take to Iris. They ask me questions as though we’re close friends."
He shook his head. "Everyone can see that you two like each other. That you’re friends."
His words warmed her. "I hope we are."
“And watch that Hank. He obviously has a crush on you.”
After their morning’s activities she couldn’t believe James would think so. “He does not.”
“Then why did he rush out of here when he saw me?
He thinks you are BEEutiful.”
“No!” She giggled like a schoolgirl.
“He does.” He lowered his tone. “And he’s right.”
She didn’t have to answer, as Eric the screenwriter came up to the counter. His computer bag hung from his shoulder. He said, “I heard the good news.”
“Yes, isn’t it exciting?” She was about to offer him a cookie, when he passed her an envelope, blushing rosily.
“I wrote Iris a poem. I don’t usually write poems, but I didn’t have time to finish the screenplay. The babies came too early.”
“I’m sure she’ll love your poem. Thank you.” Then she offered him a cookie.
“Hey, those are cool.” He glanced around. “But I don’t think I’m staying. It’s too crowded in here.” He did not look as though he approved of a busy, noisy coffee shop. “I need to work. Guess I’ll go to the library.”
She put one of the cookies in a bag. “Here. For when you take a break.”
“Thanks. Guess I might as well take a coffee to go.”
While she continued serving up coffees and teas and soy lattes and chai lattes and It's a Boy! and It's a Girl! cookies, along with all the usual products the coffee shop sold, she kept a casual eye on James. He might pretend to be simply a guy enjoying a coffee break, but she could see the way he worked the room.
Naturally, since he was Iris’s brother, he was pelted with questions and congratulations as he moved from group to group. He was very much a presence in this town and she wondered how far that went to deter crime.
Her whole life she'd been taught to run a mile if she saw a cop, but now, instead of wanting to run from James, she wanted to run to him.
She glanced up and suddenly realized the line of people waiting for her services was longer than any line she'd ever seen before at Sunflower. People stood chatting in twos and threes clear outside the door.
Dosana was busy with the other bakery, but had promised to come early and help with the extra baking for the next few days until the excitement over Iris’s twins died down. Which was great, but didn’t help her right now. She had part-time students arriving but not until school was over. A feeling very much like panic began to beat at her chest when, from the corner of her eye, she saw James come around the side of the bakery case, walk behind her and calmly pick up one of the Sunflower aprons and slip it on over his uniform.
"What are you doing?" She asked him in an urgent under voice.
"My civic duty," he said putting his mouth close to her ear. “I’ve helped Iris before. Don’t worry.” And then much louder he said, "What can I get for the next person in line?"
She discovered that James had hidden talents. Not only could he bag a muffin, which any fool could do, but he could run the cash register, and he was reasonably adept on the Barista machine. After five minutes of worrying that he was going to make her job harder, she began to relax knowing she could count on him. The cookies continued to be a huge hit and added to the party atmosphere.
Ralph from the stationary store arrived carrying a bouquet of pink and blue balloons, with two huge ones in the center that said Congratulations On The New Baby.
“Thought they’d be fun in here, and when you close up you can take them home to Iris,” he said.
She took the bouquet over to the table where the gifts sat and the balloons bobbed in joyous fashion every time someone new came into the bakery.
As busy as she was, she never lost her intense awareness of James. Close beside her, brushing past her, leaning across the counter to deliver an order—she felt him. Smelled him. All but quivered when he grew close. They touched inadvertently a few times and she felt as though he’d kissed the part he touched.
At one point, he leaned close and said, “I’m going to have to get to work, but how would it be if I call Marguerite in to help? She’s not as good as I am, but she’s an extra pair of hands.”
“Be great,” she answered, assuming he wouldn’t have suggested his sister if she didn’t have bakery experience.
He disappeared into the kitchen and a couple of minutes later emerged. “She’s on her way,” he said. Then much louder, “Morning, Loreen. What can I get you?”
She glanced up and saw Loreen Ludlow lean as close to James as the bakery counter would allow, and purr at him. “Don’t you look good enough to eat in that apron?”
Since she knew from Iris that James did not reciprocate Loreen’s obvious interest, she didn’t waste her time feeling jealous, but instead intervened to save him embarrassment. When had this started? This feeling that she wanted to make James’s life easier? She said, “Loreen, have a special cookie. I baked them myself. I’d love to have your opinion.” Then, to James, she said, “Could you get the next batch of muffins out of the oven? I think I heard the timer go off.”
He looked grateful as he headed for the kitchen.
Loreen and she both watched him go. “Doesn’t that man just make your insides hum?”
“Oh, yeah.”
While she prepared Loreen’s skinny latte, the other woman said, “You know, I’m working with the local TV station. I’d love to interview Iris about running a business while she’s busy with twin babies. Can you ask her to call me?” She handed Kim a business card.
“I sure will.” As Loreen turned away, Kim said, “You didn’t take a cookie.”
The woman smiled at her. “Can’t. The camera adds ten pounds.”
She didn't hear a click so much as sensed that she was being photographed. She glanced up in alarm and saw someone she didn't recognize rapidly snapping pictures of her behind the bakery counter. He was a heavyset man and he gave her a nod as he saw her staring at him in horror. Then he turned the camera and took random pictures around the coffee shop. She leaned towards James, who was busy packing a bag with blueberry bran muffins. She said, "James, who was that man? Why is he taking my picture?"
He glanced at her first in surprise and then scanned the place until he identified the photographer. "That's Charlie Mars. He's the Mayor."
"What is he going to do with those pictures?"
"I don't know.” He raised his voice, "Charlie, come over here and have one of the special cookies."
The large man obligingly bumbled over, and grinned hugely when he saw the cookies. He raised the camera and snapped a picture of them before she could move her face away. "Well, I don't mind if I do. You the young lady made these?" He held out his hand. "I don't think we've met. I'm Charlie."
She shook his hand and gave him a nervous smile. Beside her, James said, "What's with the photographs Charlie?"
"Thought I’d put a few on the town's Facebook page. Nobody ever seems to read about the town meetings or our new sewer project. I thought this might get some online media engagement."
James nodded. "Great idea. Just make sure you get photo releases for anyone who's appearing in public."
The mayor stared. "Photo releases for a Facebook page?"
She knew James was doing this for her and she was so grateful. He said, without looking at her, "I'm afraid it’s the law. If that's a public page, then you'll need photo releases."
"Crap.” He took a cookie. “Maybe I’ll put a picture of the cookies up, and a long shot of the coffee shop from outside, so you can’t identify anyone. That be okay?”
“I think that would be fine. And I’m sure Iris would love copies of the rest. Give her an idea of what she’s missing.”
When the mayor had left, holding a second cookie, she whispered, “Thanks.”
About a quarter of an hour later, Marguerite walked in, and with her was her fiancé, Alexei. While Marguerite got stopped by every other person who wanted to hear the latest on Iris and the twins, Alexei, the gorgeous Greek God of Food Trucks, came behind the counter and took James’s apron.
“Can you work the Barista machine?” Kim asked him.
He spread his hands. “Did the Greeks invent the Olympic games?”
“Is that a yes?”
He grinned at her and she thought he could serve anything he liked when he looked at a woman that way. “It’s a yes.”
While Alexei cheerfully served the next customer, James said, “Could I see you in the kitchen for a moment?”
“Of course.” Mystified, she followed him into the kitchen. “What is—“
He kissed her long and hard. “I’ve been thinking about doing that since I left your place this morning.”
She sighed, leaned into him for one more kiss. “Me, too.”
“Can I see you tonight?”
She hesitated. There was nothing she wanted more, but if she started seeing him regularly, where would it lead? “I…I’m going to visit Iris after we close. Then, I’m not sure.”
He looked as though he was going to say more, but Marguerite walked in at that moment. “Are there any more baby cookies?”
She busied herself with cookies, and James said, “I’ll see you both later,” sent her a look that said, as clear as words, ‘this is not over’ and let himself out the kitchen door.