“Now look what you’ve done.” Lavender frowned. “You’ve upset her. Leave her alone. She’s got enough going on.”
“We’re—I’m—I’ve got everything under control,” Sadie said. The sisters didn’t look convinced.
The tinkling chime over the door rang, and Sadie knew, instantly and without turning around, who had just walked in.
“Stars,” Lavender whispered with a knowing smile. “They’re in your eyes.”
Sadie narrowed said eyes just as Jake called her name. She turned toward him like a moth to a flame.
“I’m just grabbing some stuff for the guys at the station,” he said with a wary smile as his gaze darted between the three women.
“I recommend the honey lemon pound cake,” Sadie said, turning on her heel and heading toward the kitchen.
“Sade, wait,” he said, following her through the metal double doors.
“You can’t be in here!” She tried pushing him back through, but it was like shoving a boulder, and his skin, even through the fabric of his uniform shirt, burned her fingers. She felt her hair begin to curl and the apron strings pull tighter around her waist like it wanted to show off her figure. Traitors, all.
“I just wanted to see how you’re doing.”
“Never been better,” she answered, giving up on getting him out of the kitchen and instead pulling the container of basil-lime sugar cookie dough out of the fridge and setting it on the counter in a blur of motion.
“Okay, well …” he said as she silently washed her hands and studiously ignored him.
She was back at the fridge, pulling out apricot lavender shortbread dough. Turning the ovens on, pulling down baking trays and cookie cutters and a rolling pin that looked like it could be used as a weapon. And all the while, his eyes tracked her. She felt them leaving trails of stardust all over her skin.
“Right.” He cleared his throat. “I’ll just go.”
“Jake,” she said just as he reached for the doors, “thank you. I just—I need to do this. It clears my head.”
He nodded.
“I’ll be at the station if you need anything, okay?”
“Take the guys a box of the pomegranate éclairs too. On the house.”
Sadie spent the next few hours getting lost in the rhythm of rolling, cutting, and stirring. The slide of baking trays going into the oven and the clatter of mixing bowls echoed around the kitchen like children playing tag. Every so often she’d go out and refill coffees or ring someone up while Gail restocked the pastry case. Juliana Daunton came in, and despite herself, Sadie felt her mouth pull into a smile.
“Sadie, honey,” she said, striding toward the counter like a woman on a mission, “this is my second time in here today. Those mini lime–poppy seed Bundt cakes are better than sex,” she said, lowering her tenor voice to a whisper. “And trust me, I’ve had some good sex.” She winked, and Sadie couldn’t help the blush that stained her cheeks like cherry juice.
“Oh well, that’s …” Probably more info than I needed, Sadie thought. “… good,” she finished lamely.
“I mean it. The card said they’d give you a kick of energy, but my God, I feel like I could dance a dozen rumbas.” Juliana moved her feet in a little dance. “I’ve got more oomph than the kids today.” Ms. Daunton ran the town’s gymnastic program, and Sadie immediately felt responsible for whatever chaos went on in her classes today. “Now, you’re going to share the recipe with us, aren’t you, honey? It’s simply not fair to deprive us of this goodness.”
Sadie thought of the cookbook. Of Gigi telling her to find her fulfillment.
“I might,” Sadie said, “but you know—”
“Sadie,” a stern voice cut her off as the bell chimed over the front door, and Sara Watanabe steamrolled into the shop.
“I am out of bells. I have called and called, and you do not answer. I need bells, and I also need more jars of the infused honey.”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Watanabe,” Sadie said, sighing internally. “Things have been a little crazy.”
“That is no excuse, young lady. You run a business? This is part of business. Now, tell me how your grandmother is doing.” Mrs. Watanabe’s voice was stern but Sadie took no offense, it was just the woman’s nature.
“Yes, how is that darling woman?” Ms. Daunton added.
Mrs. Watanabe glared at Ms. Daunton like she’d stolen her question at gunpoint.