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“What’s wrong?”
Luke held up a finger and swallowed, breathing through his nose. When he could finally talk again, he said, “Don’t eat that one. It’s gone bad.”
“It’s supposed to be tart.” She held up the paper label that read, Raspberry Torte Cake.
“That’s not tart. It’s toxic.”
“Oh, come on, I have never had a bad cake from here.” Marley popped a small bite in her mouth, and he knew, the second her eyes went wide, she was going to spew it everywhere.
“Get your napkin,” he said.
Marley grappled for it, and spat the cake out into it. She continued wiping her mouth and tongue after the bite was gone, making Luke laugh.
“Oh, my God, that is not how it is supposed to taste. How the heck did you swallow that?”
“Years of tequila shots, and hangover mouth. I told you it was bad.”
Tanya came back through the door, and set down their drinks. Marley reached for hers a bit desperately and guzzled half of it. Tanya smiled widely at them.
“Oh, the raspberry torte cake is my favorite. What did you think?”
“It’s not my favorite.” Tanya looked as though Marley had just kicked her dog, and Luke raised his eyebrow at Marley, who added, “But I’m more of a chocolate person.”
Tanya brightened a bit. “Oh, well, Sonora chose two. The tuxedo and the mousse.”
Tanya continued to stand next to the table, and Luke had a feeling she was waiting for their reaction to the next bite. Luke grabbed a plate with the tuxedo on it, and held up his fork. “Bottoms up.”
He took a bite at the same time Marley tried the mousse and could tell by the green tinge to her skin that hers wasn’t any better than his. His was so sweet it made his teeth ache, and there was a funny aftertaste that coated his tongue with a film.
He swallowed, and drained his milk, grateful that at least that tasted normal.
Marley grabbed another napkin and wiped at her lips, making a noise in her throat. Luke was afraid she might throw the cake back up.
She kept it down, and took another drink of water before speaking. “Tanya, did Betsey make these before she left?”
“No, I did. I’ve been her apprentice for six months, and I know all of her recipes like the back of my hand.” She frowned at them, concern in her eyes. “Why? Is there something wrong with them?”
“Pretty sure mine just gave me diabetes,” Luke muttered, earning a kick from Marley under the table.
“Why don’t you try my mousse, and see what you think,” Marley said.
Tanya grabbed a clean fork and took a bite. After a moment of chewing, she frowned. “It tastes fine to me.”
Marley looked at Luke, and he mouthed “wow” at her.
“Well, it doesn’t taste fine to me, I’m sorry.” Marley stood up and Luke took her lead. “Please give Betsey my love, but I think we’re going to go with a different baker.”
Tanya’s mouth opened and closed like a fish, her face flushing. “But…but we’re the only bakery in town!”
&n
bsp; Luke got to the door first and held it open while Marley turned back. “Then we’ll go to Placerville or Jackson, but I am not ordering a cake from here after the way they tasted today.” Luke thought Tanya’s head was going to explode as Marley added, “This isn’t personal, Tanya. It’s business.”
“What am I supposed to tell Betsey?”
Marley’s tone was kind, but firm. “That’s up to you, but if she asks, I’m going to be honest.”
Tanya’s thick brows snapped down over her blue eyes, and Luke could tell this wasn’t going to end well. “You’re going to get me fired.”
