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The smoke alarm's ear-splitting wail jolted Ashley out of her office. She tore into the kitchen. Smoke billowed out of an open stove, and the choking fog filled the cheerful yellow room. Her sister stood below the alarm, fanning the air with an olive green oven mitt.
Wincing at the deafening chirp, Ashley clambered onto a nearby stool and yanked the batteries from the device. Quiet surged into the room. She peered down at her sister and accepted a hand as she hopped to the floor. "Katie? What's going on? You're supposed to be operating the register."
Katie pushed the bakery's heavy back door open and gulped breaths of fresh air. "There's been a lull for hours, and since the bells hanging on the door will alert us to customers anyway, I came back here. I wanted to surprise you with a new recipe."
Nothing smelled as bad as burnt cookies. Ashley squinted at the charred circles lining the baking sheets. "You succeeded in scaring five years off my life."
Her sister's brown eyes rounded as she studied the mess. "Looks like the jam in the centers ran out of the cookies and dripped onto the oven's coils."
Swallowing a sigh was easier than swallowing her frustration. Of course, this would happen right after she'd finished cleaning the ovens earlier in the week, and right as she was in the middle of trying to pay bills with a dwindling bank account. Stress on top of stress on top of stress. "Fabulous. Scrubbing away this mess will absolutely make my day."
Katie rolled her eyes and then waved Ashley away from the oven. "Relax. I'll do it. I'm the one who didn't keep an eye on the cookies. You need to leave soon anyway."
The reminder shifted Ashley's focus away from the burned bits and worries of needing to purchase new baking sheets. "Did you finish boxing up the cake?"
A nod, followed by a smile, and two thumbs up. "Boxed, bagged, and ready to go. I think the senior center's baking club will appreciate all the sugar flowers. You did a great job."
The image of the baking club elevated her mood. "I love visiting them for deliveries and demonstrations, it's an entire room of instant grandmas."
The phone's ringing interrupted the quiet and set her stomach on edge. The ring used to signify excited customers, but the past few months, it rang less and less, all thanks to the brand new bakery that opened two blocks away. But the finalists for Cakes Against Cancer were due to be announced any day now. If she could get in... and win... she could save her mother's legacy. She raised her brows at Katie and dove for the phone.
But her sister was closer and snatched the receiver. "Bliss Bakery... Hi, Mrs. Somerton. Have you decided on an idea for Chrissy's sweet sixteen party? Yes, I understand... I hope we'll be able to help you out next time. I know you've got a big anniversary coming up... I see... Goodbye."
Ashley clutched the counter. Their customers were dropping faster than a hot pot from an uncovered hand. "Seriously? She's been talking about having us make Chrissy's sweet sixteen cake for years."
Katie sighed and set the receiver down. "All of Chrissy's classmates are using Blackstone's Bakery for their parties, so Chrissy wants them too. Why did they have to put their shop so close to ours?"
"Being on that reality show gave them a big publicity push. But yeah, I hate that they're so close by. Our little corner of South Philly doesn't need two bakeries within two blocks of each other." Ashley crossed to the mixer, her mother's mixer. No matter what she tried, they couldn't seem to compete against the bigger bakery in the next block. She'd lowered prices, ran specials, and tucked extra samples into orders. What hadn't they tried? The worry had sucked all the life out of her creativity.
Biting her lip, Katie wandered closer. "I've been thinking. I can leave school and move back here."
"No." Ashley shook her head. "You need to finish. You promised Mom that you would."
"But I don't want you feeling like you have to handle this all on your own." Concern darkened her sister's gaze. "You had to let your assistants go, and you're on your own. It doesn't seem fair."
"We'll be fine. I promise." Ashley forced a smile for Katie's sake, but the ball of uneasiness in her stomach wouldn't dissolve.
Katie gripped the oven mitt, her expression worried and unsure. "I wish Mom were here, she'd know what to do."
Losing the bakery would be like losing their mom a second time. Ashley hugged her sister. Without her mother, Katie was all the family she had left.
They'd endured much drama together during the last two years, during their mother's illness and... afterward. Her sister didn't need anything new to worry about. Ashley kept the knowledge of the loan application to herself. "We'll figure it out. Mom worked so hard to make the bakery successful. We'll find a way to keep it going. For now, you get started on cleaning the oven. I need to get over to the senior center."
She picked up the bag containing the cake box and grabbed a second bag that held her supplies for the baking demonstration.
With a wave goodbye, she stepped outside. Air warmed by springtime greeted her. She lifted her face to the sunlight and inhaled the sweet smell of hyacinth wafting from the large pot outside the bakery door.
Bliss Bakery wouldn't fail. Not on her watch.
The lunchtime rush crowded the busy South Philadelphia streets. Ashley stood with her face lifted to the sky, wishing she could walk the ten blocks to the senior center instead of drive. She could really use the time to calm down and think about what to do to save the bakery, away from Katie's worried eyes. They'd already sold the artwork, and furniture Mom had left them. Ashley refused to part with the few pieces of jewelry she had left. That bank loan had to come through...
Turning from the store, she froze. A large Rottweiler bounded down the street, heading straight for her, its red leash trailing in the wind. Pulse racing, she shifted closer to the building, but the dog altered its path and jumped. Large paws hit her shoulders and knocked her backward onto the sidewalk.
She lost her grip on her bags. Everything fell to the ground with a loud smack. Her rolling pin spilled out of the bag and spun into the street. The dog nosed the glossy yellow cake box. Its lid popped open, filling the air with the sweet scent of buttercream and vanilla. Broken pieces of cake and demolished sugar flowers stuck to the insides of the box. Smeared icing clung to the lid amid crumbled remains of the carefully crafted flowers.
"No!" Panic and despair covered common sense, and Ashley reached her fingers inches from the dog's mouth and grabbed the cake box. She held it out toward her other side but the dog lunged across her body, and his face landed on the crushed cake.
"Rocky! No! Come here!" A deep, rich voice yelled over the sound of sneakers smacking the pavement. The man attached to the voice grabbed hold of the dog's collar and tugged Rocky's body off of her. His other hand held a ragged half of the dog's leash. Tucking the leash into his pocket, he knelt beside her. "I'm so sorry. His leash snapped. Are you okay?"
"I don't think anything's broken." Tearing her gaze from the straining dog, Ashley accepted his owner's outstretched hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet.
She pushed her hair out of her eyes. The baking supplies lay scattered on the cement.
Wanting to scream or cry in frustration, she turned back to the stranger. Her gaze traveled up his long, jeans-clad legs, over the broad T-shirt encased torso, to rest on his attractive face. Eyes the color of green jade looked into hers. Goosebumps pebbled her skin as recognition dawned. He looked familiar. Her mind raced, trying to place him.
He glanced at the remains of the cake in the box. Then at the logo on the box, then at the matching logo on her bag and jacket. "Oh no. Wait... Bliss Bakery? Please tell me you're not Ashley."
She narrowed her eyes. "I am."
He rubbed his hand over his face. "I'm Xavier Brennan. I play football for the Philadelphia Frenzy."
Now she knew who he was. But how did he know who she was? "I didn't recognize you right away. Not out of uniform and away from the field. I'm sorry, have we met?"
A winning smile lit up his face. "I'm here to officially let you know that you're one of the finalists in Cakes Against Cancer."
Elation exploded like a firecracker. She nearly hugged him. "Oh my goodness. That's amazing. I can't believe it."
"I just came from meeting with my team owner. The team is working with Food TV. He thought this would be a cool way for us to meet." He dipped his head, almost shy. "Since I'll be your partner."
"Partner?" She blinked. There hadn't been anything listed about having a partner. Certainly not a member of the city's pro football team. Nor one who had made headlines with his off-season antics.
"The team owner's daughter works for the network. I'm guessing that's how pairing up with players happened. You and I will be teammates. The grand prize for the bakery is still fifty grand, so you don't have to worry about having to split that. I'm playing for my foundation. An additional fifty grand will go to the winning player's foundation or preferred charity."
The dog barked twice and banged its head against her legs. She stepped back, unprepared for its strength.
His forehead crinkled. "I'm really sorry. I'm guessing it's a delivery and not just you taking home some extras?"
"It was a special order, and it was due to be delivered in twenty minutes." She squared her shoulders, fighting against the tears threatening to push their way into her eyes. Tears didn't solve anything.
Xavier retrieved wayward items and began stuffing them into the bag she held. Muscles flexed in his arms and back. He fit the build of an athlete, all toned and tight. "Rolling pin, whisk, bowls... Do you always travel with baking utensils?"
"Only when absolutely necessary. And always when I'm doing a baking demonstration." Murmuring her thanks, she took a few steps toward the safety of the store. "I need to get back inside and find some replacements."
Xavier pulled the door open for her. She ducked under his arm. He and the dog followed her inside, and he set her box on the counter.
Katie came out of the kitchen. She glanced at Ashley, and then the man and dog, and her eyes grew wide. "What the heck happened to you?"
"I had a mishap with the cake." An understatement to say the least.
"I'd guess so. You're wearing it."
She winced as she caught sight of her reflection in the window. "Can you grab the lemon pound cake, the gingerbread loaf, and the vanilla cream cake from the display case and load them into the car while I change clothes?"
Her sister hurried to the cakes. "Sure, sis."
Imagining dollar signs going down the drain, Ashley rubbed her temples. She couldn't deliver the ordered cake, but the replacements would be free of charge. She wouldn't charge them for the baking demonstration either if they complained.
Xavier cleared his throat. "You won't charge the client if you can't deliver their order. How much was the cake? I'll pay."
She took in his scuffed sneakers, jeans worn white at the creases, and threadbare t-shirt. Even if he was a pro athlete, she'd never make assumptions about his financial situation, not when she knew how fast money could disappear when life changed unexpectedly. Her heart softened at his apologetic smile. "No, it's all right. Rocky getting loose and hitting me was an accident."
The dog barked and she glanced down. He tilted his head, looking at her. Who could stay mad at that face? "No worries."
She could feel her sister's gaze, but when she glanced at the counter, Katie smiled and lifted the bags with the cakes and then headed out of the room.
"Here." Xavier spun the wooden rolling pin then handed it to her.
She repacked the pin and smiled up at him. The pin had been her mother's. She always brought it to baking demonstrations, for good luck. "Well, thank you for helping me clean up out there."
His smile warmed even more as he took her hand and held it in his. "I really am sorry about everything."
"Accidents happen." Her skin tingled from his touch. The dog barked again and drew her gaze down once more. He whined and pulled against Xavier's hold. "I think Rocky is ready to go."
Xavier stooped and adjusted his grip on the dog's collar. Hair, the color of black coffee, curled out from beneath his cap. "I'm really sorry he ran you down. He thinks he's a lap dog and forgets his size and his manners."
Ashley chuckled. Gorgeous was one thing, but gorgeous and a sense of humor, was irresistible. But not right now. She needed to focus on her cake delivery, not some man with soul-stirring eyes and a voice that washed over her like rich cream. "We need to get together to talk about the competition. This isn't a good time, but soon."
His long, enigmatic stare pulled at something primitive, private, and deep within her. "Since you won't let me buy the cake, can I take you to dinner?"
Her mind spun like a mixer on high speed. "Right now, I can't think past getting to my appointment and starting my baking demonstration."
He reached for one of the store's business cards from the stack on the counter and tucked it into his back pocket. Then took another, along with a pen from the register, and scrawled his name and number on the back and pressed it into her hand. "Then I'll give you a call, or you call me, and we figure out a better time."
Ashley nodded as her fingers closed around the cardboard.
Xavier quickly glanced at the dog and shifted it away from the display case. "Nice to meet you, Ashley. Rocky thinks so, too." His eyes crinkled at the corners as his smile deepened. With a wave, he and his wayward dog exited the store.
She hurried up to the apartment to change clothes. She set the business card with Xavier's information on her dresser and took a second to trace her finger over the bold, black script. Nerves tingled her stomach as she remembered the feel of his strong hand holding hers. They would need to get together soon. The competition was a month away. The fact that the network had chosen her was huge. Celebration was in order. She couldn't wait to tell her sister.
But facing the music at the gardening club came first.
Hopefully, those instant grandmas would be understanding and not use the mishap as a sign to start patronizing Blackstone's Bakery.
