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Is she selling pastries?
As he approached, he saw Brodie, his wife, and their three children stuffing their faces with treats. Rosie’s eyes rolled back in her head. “Are you kidding me?” she gushed. “What is this magic?”
Grace stopped singing to answer. “That’s a Mont-Blanc. It’s meringue, whipped cream, and chestnut cream.” She reached into a basket. “Do you like chocolate?”
“Is that a serious question?” Rosie asked.
“Ha.” Brodie slung an arm around his wife. “This woman is the queen of secret stashes. Luckily, I’m a smart man, and since I know all the locations, I keep her supply intact.”
“That doesn’t sound very secret to me.” Grace was dazzling. Her smile, her pretty hazel eyes, everything about her radiated joy and happiness. “But if that’s your thing, then, try this one. Underneath the custard is a layer of dark chocolate. I’m just trying it out, but it’s been vetted by a ballsy six-year-old.”
“What’s ballsy, Mama?” the oldest child asked.
Grace grimaced. “Sorry.”
Rosie waved a hand dismissively. “My children have three ridiculous uncles. They’ve heard it all.” She accepted the fruit tart and took a bite. “There’s something wrong with you. This is too good. This is…you’re a sorcerer, right? You have to be. I’ve had a million fruit tarts in my life, but this one’s out of this world.”
“I don’t think there’s any magic to it,” Grace said. “It’s just the usual ingredients, but I do think we eat with our eyes first.”
That comment turned Jaime’s attention to the cart. Only a few pastries remained, but they were all adorned with tiny, colorful flowers and sprigs of greenery. Even for a guy who didn’t like sweets, they were fanciful and appealing.
He didn’t even realize he’d fixated on a lemon tart until it was lifted by a feminine hand and brought to his mouth.
“Go on. Taste it.” Grace smelled of sugar and warm butter.
I’d rather taste you.
“Welcome home.” She had a glint in her eyes that said,Bet you didn’t expect to find me here.
Dessert was the last thing on his mind, but with so many eyes on him, he couldn’t reject her offer. “Thanks.” Thinking he’d play along for her sake, he took a bite.
He’d expected a mouthful of sugar like every other dessert he tried, but this… The flavor was fresh, tart, and bright. It was like sunshine in his mouth. “It’s good.”
“Good?” Rosie asked.
“Hey, man.” Brodie reached out a hand. “Nice to see you.”
Jaime gave a chin nod to the baby strapped to his friend’s chest. “Growing that brood.”
“Yeah.” The big, muscular man gave a smile Jaime had never seen on him before.
While they’d gone to high school together, they’d run in different crowds. The Bowies were hardcore athletes, too, but where Jaime and his friends focused on hockey, the brothers were all about snowboarding and skiing. The oldest had won Olympic gold.
Like his friends, they’d been wild and untamed.
A total free spirit, Brodie was the last of the brothers to settle down. So, to see him this deeply contented with a wife and kids threw Jaime off his game.
“Where’s your bakery?” Rosie asked.
“Duff Island.” Grace accepted cash from a customer who made off with a Napoleon.
“Wait, are you talking about Rhode Island?” Brodie asked.
“Yes. Renzo’s. Have you heard of it?”
“No,” Rosie said. “But I’d assumed, since you were selling in town, you’d opened a bakery here.”
“Oh, no. Actually, I was supposed to head back today, but I decided to stay a little longer. At home, I only get to make croissants and turnovers, and I guess I had a little too much fun playing around. I didn’t know what to do with all these pastries, and I thought, well, I have to pay my parents back for the wedding that never happened.” Her cheeks went red, and she looked at them sheepishly. “Sorry. I’m babbling. I’m supposed to be on my honeymoon right now, but my boyfriend—well, fiancé—stole from me and my parents, so I ran, and this guy”—she gave Jaime a grateful smile and a pat on his bare arm—“rescued me.”
