Three Cowboys and a Puppy by Kate Pearce

Author:Kate Pearce [Pearce, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 2023-08-16T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

What had started as a good weekend, waking up beside Luke, had rapidly deteriorated into Bernie wanting to kick his ass. He’d walked out on her before dawn the day before with a totally fake excuse and then tried to be all heavy-handed and overprotective at the coffee shop about her business decisions.

“Hey, if you hit that dough any harder, you’ll end up with flatbread,” Anton said.

She looked down at the dough she was supposed to be knocking down, not knocking out, and winced. “Oops.”

“Got something on your mind?”

“Just that I need a bigger kitchen.”

He glanced around to where Roberto was perched on a stool in the corner working on the online orders, and Kenya, the new trainee, was washing up in the sink at the back. Pen floated in and out, replenishing the counter and dispensing commentary on her customers, her life, and everything else that occurred to her, whether anyone answered her or not.

“Can’t argue with that,” Anton said. “You need a separate area for the delivery services, otherwise we’re all fighting over this table for the first six hours of the day.”

“I guess I should talk to the bank about a loan.” Bernie grimaced. “I need more space to become more profitable, but they probably won’t lend me the money because I’m not profitable enough.”

“Truth.” Anton finished what he was doing and slid the heavy tray into the rack against the wall, ready for baking. “Maybe a tent?”

“Funny.” Bernie gently molded the dough and set it in the bread pans for its second rise. “Mind you, that British baking show does it.”

“And have you seen what happens when the temperature rises?” Anton shuddered. “The chocolate won’t set, the ice creams melts, the buttercream dissolves.”

“I didn’t realize you were such a fan,” Bernie said as her cell buzzed in her apron pocket.

“I love that show,” Anton declared.

“So do I!” Kenya piped up from the sink. “That’s why I decided to train to become a chef!”

Bernie’s and Anton’s eyes met briefly before they both smiled.

Bernie washed her hands and went to check on Roberto, who wasn’t exactly chatty in the mornings but had impressed her with his speed and efficiency.

“How’s it going?”

“Good, I think.” He half turned on the stool so that she could see the screen over his shoulder. “The ordering system is a little complicated.”

“Yeah, I know. I’ve been meaning to get back into the website and redo it.”

“I can do that.” He smiled. “I took a website development class when I was in prison. I’ll write out a plan and we can go through it together when you have some time.”

“That would be awesome,” Bernie said. “How are the orders coming along?”

He pointed at the counter in the back kitchen. “The overnight ones are all done and ready to be picked up. Everything else went at ten.”

“That’s . . . amazing.”

He shrugged. “You’re welcome. If you want to double-check everything, go ahead.” He pointed back at the screen. “It would be great to have a

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