I join the line, uncomfortable—like maybe I shouldn’t be here when it’s so busy.
But I’ll buy something. Shopkeepers can be patrons, too.
Feeling better, I clutch my flyers to my chest and take in the cute shop. The tables are white, and the wooden chairs have sage green cushions. Potted plants line the bay window. They’re happy—and they makemehappy.
Three glass cases make up the front counter. One is filled with bread—baguettes, big hearty loaves, buns, and various kinds of rolls. The middle case holds cakes, pies, and an assortment of doughnuts and danishes. Cookies occupy the final case, many of them too pretty to eat.
When I finally reach the front of the line, Ryder gives me a smoldering smile and leans his arm on the counter. “Hey, Kit.”
If I didn’t know better, I might think he was trying to get me to sparkle. But wait…Idon’tknow better. That’s probably exactly what he’s trying to do, the wicked elf.
“I’d like a piece of whatever smells so amazing,” I tell him.
“Arista just pulled several lemon loaves out of the oven,” he says. “But they won’t be ready to slice for another thirty minutes. How about I give you a piece of coffee cake now, and I’ll bring you a slice of lemon loaf when the shop closes?”
I can feel the curious stares boring into the back of my head.
“That would be great,” I answer. “I need to talk to you about something anyway.”
The elf lifts his eyebrows. “Color me intrigued. It’s a date.”
“It’s not a date.”
“Right,” he says, lowering his voice and giving me an exaggerated wink. “Not a date.”
I laugh, shaking my head as he turns toward the case to pull out my coffee cake.
His emerald eyes sparkle at me as he hands me my order. “It’s on the house.”
“You can’t just give it to me for free.”
He nods toward the flyer that I casually slid onto the counter for him. “Looks like you’re offering free stuff, too.”
“That’s just because I need practice before I open to the public.”
The weight of the stares is getting heavier. I need to get out of here.
I accept the coffee cake. “I appreciate it. I’ll see you in a few hours? The bakery closes at two, right?”
He nods. “Looking forward to it.”
I press my lips into a flat line to control my grin before I turn around, so thankful I’m not glittering for the man, even if the humans wouldn’t be able to see it.
Hidden in the leaves, Rowan looks at me from a branch of an oak, tufts lowered against his head. “Why do you need to talk to Ryder?”
I pull my phone out of my pocket and pretend someone just called. There are too many people around to carry on a conversation with a tree.
“How did you hear that?” I ask.
“Owls have exceptional hearing.”
“You can hear through closed doors? With all the foot traffic on the street?”
“At this range? Yes.”
That’s good to know.
“I’m going to ask him to help us,” I say, finally answering his question.
