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One of the morning classes had let out when I arrived. A dozen young women clattered down the stairs, their voices bright and their laughter ringing out in the stillness of the morning. I waited on the car park until they left, and then made my way up.
Tane leaned over the reception desk, tapping something into the PC, while a teenage girl stacked a pile of clean towels. She said something, and Tane chuckled, before pretending to smack her around the head. She ducked and retreated to a safe distance, then looked up and saw me.
“Can I help you?” When she faced me, I saw the resemblance to Tane, who turned around at her words.
“Caitlin.” He stepped forward and took my hand. “Welcome. This imp”—he gestured to the girl—“is my little sister, God help me. I must have been evil in a previous life, to land up with this one.”
“I have a name.” She rolled her eyes. “You’re the cake maker, aye? I’m Rose. I slave here part time before school. Work my fingers to the bone.”
Tane huffed a sigh. “And get paid handsomely for the privilege.” He grinned at me. “You can adopt her if you’d like. I tried to palm her off onto Jas, but he refused. C’mon, Caitlin. Help a guy out?”
His cheery mood was infectious, and I couldn’t help laughing, even more so at Rose’s outraged expression.
“I am not a stray dog.” She elbowed Tane.
“Tell me about it. You’d be better trained if you were. Now, shoo. Those towels won’t put themselves away.” He picked up something from the counter and held it out to me. “Here’s an access card. We’re open from six until eight but this will give you out-of-hours entry.”
“Thank you.” I took the slim plastic card and tucked it into my back pocket. “You have all been so kind.”
He waved away my words. “I’m salivating at the idea of gluten-free brownies. They’re top of your list, right?”
He walked with me into the kitchen, and then paused in the doorway. “You known Jas long?”
“Just a few days. Why?”
Tane shrugged. “He never mentioned you before, and we’ve been tight for years. Are you one of Holly’s friends?”
“No.” I tried a smile, though I was unsure where the interrogation was heading. “You could class me as one of Jasper’s strays, I guess.”
“Sweet. It’s all go, around here. We have a celebrity coming in today. Lucinda Redd. The actress?”
The name sounded familiar, and I shrugged.
“Eh, you’ll recognize her. She’s the next big star to come out of Wellington. She was in that zombie flick last year, and the hospital drama. Jas says she’s in training for her next role and needs his help to bulk up.”
Hang on. “You mean Cindy? His ex?”
“Yeah. You know her?”
“We’ve met.” Her visit to Jasper made sense now. She needed him, and he couldn’t refuse. Despite what he said, he was probably still in love with her. I wanted to bring this conversation to a close, and I pulled my phone from my bag. “I need to make some calls. I promise you’ll be the first to know when I have baking ready to test.”
“Awesome. You rock.” He bounded off, his energy reminding me of one of Jasper’s dogs.
I needed to call Deanna, to confirm with my suppliers, and set up a mail re-direct for any post that went to my old address, but I did none of those. I walked to the window and gazed out, while I collected my thoughts. I didn’t want to bump into Cindy again. I’d had enough doses of inadequacy over the weekend. It wasn’t a taste I liked.
This was stupid, and I wasn’t normally so dumb. Mentally giving myself a slap, I straightened my back and blew out a calming breath. Jasper was my personal trainer. Sure, we’d bumped uglies, but it wasn’t going anywhere, and obsessing over him was a surefire path to disappointment. I had a brilliant new kitchen to bake in and another week of a gorgeous beachside cottage to enjoy.
On cue, the gym’s audio system kicked up a notch, playing “I Want To Break Free,” an old Queen track I loved and hadn’t heard in ages. It lifted my mood, and I hummed along.
This would be good. I’d make sure of it.
*
Two hours later, I’d crossed several items off my To Do List and had two batches of cakes fresh from the oven. Both were experimental. I’d adapted the gluten-free brownie to include cranberries, and then made another batch studded with white-chocolate chips. They smelled divine, and I wondered how far the fragrance would carry.
When Tane stuck his head around the door and sniffed the air, I had my answer. “Please tell me they’re ready to eat. I’ve got six hungry women asking if they can sample your baking,” he said.
“Give me a few minutes. They need to cool a fraction before I cut them.” I nodded toward the blender on the counter. “I can whip up some fruit smoothies too, if you’d like.”
He advanced toward me and held his arms wide. “If I’d like? I’d definitely like. I’m ready to marry you.”
I laughed, but he wasn’t done yet.
Dropping to his knees, he gazed up at me. “Caitlin, you are everything I want in a wife. Please marry me this instant and feed me yummy snacks for the rest of our lives.”
His clowning was adorable and the perfect balm for my wounded soul. “Hmm... I don’t know. What do I get in return?”
“The lifelong pleasure I can bring?”
I pretended to think about it. “Umm...”
He squinted. “Eternal happiness? The chance to ride in a cool truck? I’ll even let you drive sometimes. Maybe.”
“I don’t know. It’s tempting.”
“Best offer you’ve had this week?”
“Am I interrupting?”
Jasper stood in the doorway, a scowl cutting across his forehead. My heart flipped, and butterflies careered through my stomach. Even after the serious talk I had with myself, one look at him, and I was gone.
“Dude, I’m in lurve.” Tane seemed blissfully unaware of Jasper’s filthy mood. “How about you help me persuade her?”
“How about you get back in the studio? Caitlin’s trying to run a business here.”
Jasper’s sour tone rankled, and I glared at him. “He came to collect some cake samples for your clients. Didn’t you, Tane?”
“God yes.” He stood. “But I have to try them first. It’s my civic duty.”
“I’ll bring them out soon. I promise.”
“Okay.” Tane clapped Jasper’s shoulder as he left the kitchen. “Bringing Caitlin here? Best decision ever, bro.”
There was a stilted pause, while Jasper and I stared at each other.
“He’s not bothering you, is he?” Jasper’s tone was gruff.
“Not at all. He’s fun.”
“He flirts with everyone, you know.”
I wasn’t that stupid, to think I was special, but it stung to have Jasper call it out. “Wow. Way to burst my bubble.”
“Sorry.” He blew out a breath. “That came out wrong.”
There were many things I should say. That it was none of his business who I flirted with. That I didn’t like his attitude. That, if all he wanted to do was piss me off, he was going the right way.
I turned around and picked up a serrated-edge knife, and then tackled the first batch of brownies, pausing to glance over my shoulder. “If you don’t mind, I’m busy.”
I didn’t hear him leave.