Page 36 of The Soulmate Bakery

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

‘I believe the words you’re looking for are “thank you”,’ Orion said, while languidly sprawled on the stool in the Treasure Trove kitchen.

‘Thank you?’ I asked, aghast, with my hands wrist-deep in dough. ‘You cheated.’

‘And? You needed an opportunity,’ Orion explained, and pushed himself off the stool. ‘It worked, didn’t it? You and the wolf have got your little study date together this weekend, right?’

‘Yes,’ I said, grinning down at the dough while thinking of the text from Silas, inviting me to his house.

‘And now you’re smiling at dough. Charming,’ Orion said, markedly unimpressed. ‘What are you making anyway?’

‘Glazed dough-knots,’ I said, moving the dough to the countertop. ‘Spelled to soften arguments; meant to be shared between two people.’ I glanced up at him. ‘You and your dad should have one of these.’

I shouldn’t have said it, but the words tumbled out of me without thought.

Orion sighed. ‘Soft and my father don’t go together when it comes to me, Reverie.’

‘If you don’t want to be a detective, what do you want to be now?’ I asked, twisting the dough.

‘You already know,’ Orion said softly, and I paused for a moment.

I did know. Or I thought I had. Back when we used to tell each other things. But I’d spent so long trying to force the memories away, I couldn’t tell what had been real and what hadn’t.

‘Being a thorn in my side?’ I responded lightly, but something in Orion’s gaze dimmed and he stepped back to let me work.

Soon, I was done with the knots, and Melodie came in from the shop floor, practically vibrating with joy. Behind her, the Treasure Trove wasn’t exactly teeming with customers, but it was fuller than before.

‘Once these go out,’ Melodie said with a grin, ‘everyone who loved the tarts will come flying back. I mean, not that the usual bakes aren’t brilliant too, but those tarts on your first day? They had all the dragon’s buzzing.’

At the end of her breathless declaration, Melodie paused, her gaze flicking between Orion – who was pressed against the corner of the kitchen, still looking irritated – and me. Some sort of understanding dawned upon her, because she suddenly said: ‘Orion.’

His head snapped to her.

‘Think you could take those out to the shop floor for me?’

Without a word, he grabbed the first batch of my freshly glazed knots and left the kitchen.

‘You know, Orion’s not a bad guy.’

I looked at Melodie – our relationship was built on the mutual understanding that I was here to help her and most of our chats were confined to baking. Me helping Melodie learn the ins and outs of the craft, and Melodie encouraging me to do the bakes that I considered risky at times.

But we’ve never discussed Orion Hawthorne.

‘I’ve known him since he was eight,’ I told her, my mouth tugging into an awkward grin.

‘Probably as your best friend’s brother, right?’ Melodie probed.

‘We were friends once,’ I replied, suddenly feeling defensive. As if I had to prove to Melodie that I knew Orion. Truly knew him. Like that even mattered.

‘Then you know Orion’s got a good heart,’ Melodie offered, lightly. ‘You know that he’d help someone in a heartbeat – even someone who’s bitten off more than they can chew with their family’s bakery. Or someone who is struggling in class. He’s the guy you call when you want to move furniture.’

I suppose it was true. Still, I didn’t want to think of him as anything but the guy who broke my heart and got me the second point on my licence.

‘I’m just saying,’ Melodie softened her voice. ‘He didn’t have the easiest time at MAC, I know that much. He was miserable, and he wanted to come home. Now he is, and he’s helping me and helping you. I think he’s trying to find his place here again.’

Her statements left me strangely breathless.

‘And that’s the last time I’m going to butt into whatever –’ Melodie waved a hand in the air – ‘is going on between the two of you. In fact, I’m going to relieve him from my job out front.’ She paused at the door. ‘Just, think about what I said, OK?’