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In a moment of desperation, I turned to Penelope for help, but she was no better. Finally, I faced him, shaking off my awe and arranging my expression to one of steel. A minute ago, Mom was desperate to keep a single cake contract. And now, Thorne Roberts was in our little shop—a miracle within itself—wanting to hopefully order something, and she wanted to give it away for free.I don’t think so.
“She’s mistaken. Nothing is on the house. Sorry,” I said, returning his smile with one that said,Sorry, not sorry.
“Scarlett,” Mom hissed, but I ignored her.
Clearly he wasn’t offended because he merely laughed and rapped his knuckles against the counter, his green, cat-like eyes sparkling with amusement.
“Actually, I was in here Thursday evening, or I should say, my assistant was in here . . .”
My mind worked.Thursday . . . ? Wasn’t Thursday the day Penelope and I helped Mom and Dad out with icing the cakes?
My skin prickled at the recollection as it clicked into place.
The woman with the Jimmy Choo's. The one that wanted the custom order made on the spot.
I had sensed she was someone important. Looks like I’d been right. But who would’ve thought she was Thorne Robert’s assistant?
I felt Penelope’s gaze heavy on the side of my face as my mouth turned to sawdust. Regardless, I pushed my shoulders back, waiting for him to get to the point at the same moment Mom turned to me for an explanation, her brow furrowed in judgement.
“I’m so sorry about that. I had no idea,” Mom said, and I heard in the words she didn’t say the accusation of why I didn’t tell her about it.
But how was I supposed to know Pushy Lady was Thorne-freaking-Robert’s assistant?!
“Yeah,” Thorne said, and I swore he transformed his face into a mournful expression. “It was truly unfortunate. You see, I needed a very special order for a very special group of friends, and she said you couldn’t fulfill it at the last minute. We even offered compensation for the inconvenience, but whoever was working still turned her away.”
I squeezed my eyes closed.
We even offered compensation for the inconvenience.
Great. Now Mom was definitely going to kill me.
“Nonsense,” my mother said, her voice so sweet, it gave me an instant cavity. “We would always make time for a client such as yourself.”
“That’s what I would’ve thought.” He shoved his hands in the pockets of his Tom Ford jeans and shrugged like the victim. “Unfortunately though, I had a group of very disappointed children.”
Okay, that was enough!
I rolled my eyes. I’d about had it with the whole woe is me act. It was a freaking order of cupcakes, for Pete’s sake, not some lifesaving procedure I turned down. If he laid it on any thicker, he’d need a trowel.
“That’s because she wanted one hundred twenty cupcakes,withfondant designs, and several dozen cookies by morning,” I blurted out. “And it was after hours, I might add. She practically barged her way in here with her ridiculous request.”
Way to give yourself away, Scarlett.
Beside me, Penelope bit her lip, and I knew what she was thinking. That it was partly her fault since she’d been there helping, but she had no reason to feel responsible, just like I had no reason to feel guilty. Just because Thorne Roberts was used to getting everything he wanted didn’t mean we needed to acquiesce to his assistant’s ridiculous demands.
“Oh, I amsosorry,” Mom said, hands aflutter. “I’m Alma Rees, by the way, the owner of Batter and Bake.” She stretched a hand out, and when Thorne took it in his, he clasped both hands around hers.
“Nice to meet you, Alma.”
Mom blushed further and I wanted to scream.
“You know, I just love all your movies. I know some of them are a little young for me, but Scarlett, do you remember how we used to watch the Treemont High series together? She lo—”
“Why don’t we cut to the chase,” I interrupted, trying my best to ignore the burn of embarrassment in my cheeks. I was almost eighteen now. It was one thing to admit I’d seen the Treemont High musicals and an entirely different story to admit to loving them—to hanging the posters on my walls, memorizing all the lyrics, and humming them until I fell asleep at night, which was exactly where I knew Mom was going before I stopped her.
“Scarlett, manners!” Mom hissed before she turned back to Thorne. “Well,” she said when he finally released her hand. “There’s just something about young love. It can change you. Make you happy, even the people around you. Love is just good for the soul, you know? That kind of hope is life-changing. Anyway,” she flapped a hand at him, “enough of my blabbing.”
“Thank God,” I muttered under my breath, dodging Mom’s responding glare.
