Page 18 of Hometown Hottie

9

NOVA

At four a.m., I was up and baking for the morning rush. Exhausted after staying up late helping with farm chores, I smelled the scent of burning sugar. Cursing, I raced to the oven, noticing the stream of smoke spilling out of it and realizing that I’d burned a tray of pastries. I clenched my jaw in an attempt to quell the rising tide of frustration.

With a deep breath, I grabbed an oven mitt, jerked the door open, and yanked the tray out. A scream lodged in my throat as I glared down at the pastries that were now little more than blackened heaps of charcoal.

They were completely unsalvageable and it was going to cost me at least an hour to start another batch all over again. I didn’t have a choice, though. My frangipane tartlets were a seasonal favorite and they’d been the first item we’d sold out of every day for the last couple months.

With a loud growl, I headed over to the freezer and pulled out some more of the homemade sweet shells. At least I’d made some extras in the hopes that I’d be able to whip up another batch of these to replenish the first once it sold out.

So much for planning ahead.

As I checked on everything else to make sure I wasn’t about to ruin any other goods in the meantime, I tried to get my head on straight. It wasn’t in the right place and it wasn’t just because I was tired.

Carson was distracting me just by being back in town and I was starting to feel pathetic for being so affected by the knowledge. No man should make me burn my tartlets just by being around. I should be stronger than that.

I usually was, and it was bugging me that I couldn’t force him out of my head. No matter what I tried, if I blinked, his face was there. It was probably worse because I wasn’t at all used to it. When he’d left this town, I’d thrown myself into finishing high school with the best grades possible. Then I’d thrown myself into college, then opened up my businesses on the ranch. Not to mention all the chores.

I hadn’t made time for guys and romance, and I hadn’t wanted to. But now Carson was back and all those idle, girly daydreams I’d had when I’d scribbled “Mrs. Nova Drake” all over my notebooks were back in full force.

And yes, I did do that in high school. Thank you very much. I had to make up for never doing it in middle school, after all. Every girl deserves a crush that makes her doodle. Even if she is a late bloomer.

Shoving a mental middle finger up at the part of my mind that still judged me for those actions, I poured all the negative emotions into remaking the tartlets. By the time I was done with those and had caught up with all the other baking I’d had to do, it was seven a.m. and Cassidy had shown up.

As soon as she walked into the kitchen, her brow furrowed and her face fell. “Are you alright? What the hell happened? I can practically see the thunderclouds over your head.”

“I’m fine. Just tired and frustrated.” I forced a deep breath and followed it up with a tight smile. “I burnt some of the frangipanes, so you’re going to have to pull the new batch out of the oven when they’re done.”

“You got it,” she said, concern darkening her eyes as she stared into mine. “You burnt them? That’s a first.”

I groaned. “I know. I guess I just wasn’t focusing.”

Cassidy inhaled deeply, shut the door behind her, and strode over to the pantry. “I’ll get started on a new batch of shells for tomorrow morning, but you need a break, girl. No one can do it all, not all the time. I’ve been saying this for months now, but take a damn break. Get some proper sleep and don’t even think about the bakery for the rest of the day.”

“No can do.” I checked my watch and headed for the door to switch on the lights in the coffee shop and start the machines. “I’ve got the read-aloud in less than two hours and I don’t want to miss it. I look forward to them too much.”

She sighed, laughed softly, and made a weird squealing sound at the back of her throat. “You know what you are? Incorrigible. I’m sure Mrs. Norris would forgive you for missing one session. She knows how hard you work.”

“We’re a whole town full of hard-working folk who like to be kept busy, Cass. Mrs. Norris herself is the librarian by day and church volunteer at night. Or, I mean, not at night. Just whenever she’s not at the library, but it sounded cooler that way.”

“Sure, but that’s also because she sleeps at night. Unlike you, who comes back here to mix dough and batter after mucking out stalls, and feeding hogs, and⁠—”

“Okay, that’s enough.” I pointed at the oven. “Remember about the tartlets. Please. I can’t lose another batch today.”

“You won’t,” she promised. “Enjoy the read-aloud. I hope you enjoy it more than sleeping.”

I nodded as I backed the door open with my butt. “I really do. I know you didn’t mean it, but I really, really do.”

She made another exasperated hum, and I spun around and got to work in the coffee shop. Once the peak morning rush was over, I double-timed it to the library, arriving just minutes before the read-aloud was supposed to begin.

Only to find none other than Carson Drake sitting on my beanbag.

I frowned, glancing between him and a blushing, smiling Mrs. Norris. “What’s going on? I’m not late, am I?”

“Oh, no, honey. You just have a buddy for this hour.” She beamed at him like he was a platinum-encased superhero, singlehandedly teaching the world how to read. “Carson has even picked out a book you can read at the same time. Isn’t that lovely?”

“Lovely,” I repeated tightly, but I wasn’t agreeing with her.