Bad Traveler by Lola Karns

Author:Lola Karns [Karns, Lola]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Decadent Publishing Company, LLC
Published: 2014-08-19T00:00:00+00:00

***

Gwen couldn’t believe the difference one day made in the life of her bakery. Tuesday lacked the large crowd occupying all the chairs and every inch of floor space, but she was busy. A steady stream of customers graced her door, many of whom mentioned how delicious the food was the day before or that a friend told them they “totally had to try that new bakery.” She anticipated hiring one or two part-timers if business kept up over the course of the next two weeks.

When Kyle came in around eight, he sauntered across the floor, posture and eyes alert. After a glance around the room, “I guess you’re secret is out,” he stage-whispered.

“I suspect most of them are here because of you.”

“Yesterday, they came for the news; today they are here for scones or muffins or cookies. I have a favor to ask.”

Her answer would be yes, no matter what he asked.

“Tomorrow, I want to have our coaches meeting over breakfast. Could you hold a table for six of us at say, eight thirty? I’ll also need a tray of assorted baked goods and coffee.”

She hoped his request would be more personal, but this was okay, too. “I’d be happy to do so. Any requests?”

“I’d say you, but I don’t want to share.”

“Kyle!” She pushed him away in mock indignation, even though his teasing proved his interest remained. “How about banana-nut muffins, and maybe I’ll even make a coffee cake?”

“Yum. See you tomorrow.” He kissed her forehead and left. A few customers elbowed each other and eyed her with curiosity.

Those who returned Wednesday morning hoping for gossip on Coach Meyer or the Interim Coach Collins were disappointed, but most drowned their sorrows in food. As she bussed dirty plates from the table, he touched her leg near the knee. When she turned to look at him, he winked. She liked this transition from nervous tension around each other to playful promise. Her touch didn’t offend him at all, and he even initiated kisses, chaste ones, but still.

Their date on Thursday, if all went according to plan, would further transition their physical relationship. Her sister had offered to open the bakery on Friday morning, so she stocked lots of “overnight” coffee cakes that needed to be thrown into the oven in the morning. Keira lacked her culinary skills, but even she could use a toothpick to test for doneness. After all these years, wasted by inaction, missed opportunities, and unspoken words, they deserved happiness.

After watching Wednesday night’s miserable away game on the local university television channel with her parents, she committed herself to making Thursday night special for him. In the few images they showed of the coach, he prowled the Ravens sidelines. He never lost his temper or yelled at the boys, but his footfalls grew more frantic. By the end of the game, his hair spiked in the front where he’d run his fingers through it. The fouls stacked up against his team. Kyle’s first game as the acting head coach went down as a loss.

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