Page 8 of Blood Sugar

I leveled her with an expression I hoped was neutral, but I’d bet my favorite mixer it wasn’t.

“Why would I be angry?”

Her lips thinned in a grimace. “Do you want me to start making a list?”

“Sadie,” I said, rolling my eyes, “go wash your hands.”

“Where, in the bathroom?” she said, spinning to look around.

I wanted to smack my palm to my forehead, but instead, I pointed at the handwashing sink in the corner with the state-mandated handwashing instructions pinned above it.

She probably just missed it, being in a brand-new place. But anyone who had worked in a restaurant or bakery would know the rules about handwashing sinks versus dishwashing stations. For example, they’d know to wash their hands a second time, in the handwashing sink, after using the bathroom.

While she washed and dried her hands, I forced myself to check my task list. I’d gotten ahead for the day and there wasn’t as much left to do.

“So what is your baking experience? Bread or pastries or..?” I asked while pulling the last of the croissants from the oven and sliding the trays onto the cooling rack.

Sadie cleared her throat. “Um, mostly cakes and cupcakes. Stuff like that. But I’m sure I can learn everything else quickly. I’m good at following recipes.”

I couldn’t keep the incredulity from my voice, but I was determined to give her a chance.

“Alright, well we need to finish the scones, prep the cinnamon rolls for tomorrow morning, and make the cupcakes and brownies. And then if we have any extra time, we need to prepare more pumpkin puree for later in the week. Next week is the Pumpkin Festival, and we will have a lot of extra baking to do. Anything we can do to get ahead, we will be grateful for later.”

“The Pumpkin Festival you told me about?”

My brows furrowed as I scowled at the reminder of our time together in the bar. It shattered the wall I’d built up in my mind, blocking out that delicious memory.

“It’s our biggest community event all year,” I said. “We make mini shaped pumpkin loaves for that one evening, and it’s the only time all year anyone can get them. We will need hundreds. It’s a lot of work.”

Sadie wavered in the middle of the kitchen, her eyes widening as she waited for instructions. I resolutely kept my gaze on her face and refused to glance down at her gorgeous curves.

My frustration wasn’t just the fact she was my new employee, it was also infuriating that she was so distractingly beautiful. It was impossible to concentrate. Clearing my throat, I glanced around the kitchen.

“Well, I just started shaping the scones. Can you take over cutting those? And then they need to go into the oven for twenty-two minutes.”

Sadie nodded, tying the string on her apron. Dammit, how was she pretty even in the atrocious orange aprons my grandmother insisted we keep? The color made her skin glow and her blonde curls appear even brighter.

I watched as she moved to the scones and picked up the scraping tool I’d been using. She pressed her tongue into her cheek as she used her hand to measure how large the scones were and tried to duplicate it.

She looked like she knew what she was doing. Maybe everything would be fine.

Shrugging, I focused on weighing out the ingredients for cupcakes. My energy was seriously lagging. After only getting half of the ingredients added and watching Sadie successfully shape a tray’s worth of scones, I cleared my throat.

“I’m going to grab a coffee from next door and get their baked goods order so we know how many of those we need to save for them,” I said, waving my hand at the scones under her hands.

It would be a good chance to clear my head and get rid of the lusty thoughts ruining my focus.

“You can finish up and get those in the oven, and I’ll be right back. If you need anything, text me,” I said, grimacing at the realization she already had my number.

If I hadn’t been distracted earlier, she would have gotten some very flirty texts from me. Thank the stars that didn’t happen. It would’ve made this situation even more awkward, if that was possible.

“No problem! I’ve got this covered!” Sadie gave me a floury thumbs up and a cheesy grin that made my stomach clench.

I should offer to get her coffee.

No, that was ridiculous. Inappropriate. Would it be rude to not get her any? Shaking my head, I stomped out of the kitchen. I’d get her coffee when I wasn’t still fixated on how her body melted against mine.

Nope! Not thinking about that.