Page 44 of Walkoff Wedding

It’s just easier said than done.

“You’re a natural,” I admit, lifting my gaze. “It’s almost like muscle memory once you get it down. I think I could probably do it in my sleep at this point.”

I’ve been officially working at Ever After since I was thirteen. But even before then, I’d spent countless hours here as a child watching everyone bake. At first, it was simply so I could spend more time with Amos and Earl when he was around. And because I desperately wanted to be anywhere but with Brent and Tad. And oddly enough, even though Brent seems desperate to own the bakery, he rarely spends any time here.

But once I started working here, I realized how much I liked to be a part of things, contributing to my family’s business. And I loved creating something that made people happy, even if it wasn’t my art.

As I get busy with my own prep, I feel Grant’s gaze lingering on me, even though he never stops rolling his dough, and my stomach flips from his attention.

I realize in this moment how much I like the way that he looks at me. All my life, I’ve felt invisible, but with Grant… I don’t feel that way. I feel like he sees me. All of me.

“I think you might be the most creative person I’ve ever met, Addie. This might not be oil painting or charcoal, but it’s still an art form that you’re incredible at,” he rasps, causing my pulse to race wildly.

It seems to be something that happens pretty regularly when I’m around him. It’s both unnerving and exciting in a way that I’ve never experienced. Is this normal?

My throat works as my shoulder dips slightly, and I plaster on a small smile. “It’s just something I’ve always done. Art’s just the way I express myself. I wouldn’t really say that making beignets is an expression of myself. But I do like making something others enjoy.”

The air around us seems to grow thicker as something I can’t place hangs between us. Whatever it is causes my stomach to flutter as our gazes linger.

Finally, he speaks, his tone soft yet firm all at once. “Still seems like an expression of you to me. I have a feeling everything you touch turns to art, Addie.”

“Addie, how is the first round looking?” Amos interrupts from behind us, causing us both to jump, the moment between us broken.

I suck in a shaky breath and whip to face him. “Uh, we’re about to drop them now.”

His brow shoots up as a knowing expression passes over his face, causing his lips to curl up into a grin. “Just wanted to check. We’re opening in thirty minutes.”

Crap. I’ve been so caught up in Grant that time has gotten away from me. Seems to be an ongoing occurrence this morning.

“Those are looking good, Grant. You might be a natural baker like our Addie,” he adds with a smirk before turning and leaving us alone in the kitchen.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to distract you,” Grant says seriously once Amos is out of earshot. “I think I can handle this if you want to work on something else. We can knock it all out.”

I nod, stepping back and putting distance between us in hopes that it will calm the fluttering in my stomach.

“Yeah, I’ll work on frying these once you finish cutting them all out.”

With a lazy grin and a wink, he focuses on his task as I busy myself with getting everything else prepped and ready to go in the case and then start frying up the beignets.

Before I know it, we’ve got several pans of puffed beignets ready to be powdered and then put out for the morning rush.

“My favorite part,” I say with a wicked grin as I pull out the large bag of powdered sugar. “I’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth. I guess that’s expected when you work in a bakery?” I add when his brows tug together in confusion.

Handing him the sifter, I open the bag and pour a little into it, then close my hand over his and guide it over the beignets, showing him how to shake the sifter to spread the sugar evenly over our creations.

Once we’ve done a few together, I grab my own sifter and begin working on another pan. Together, we knock them out in only a few minutes. While I have been admittedly distracted with him here, we still work together well, and he’s actually been a lot of help today.

“Wow. Baking is absolutely fascinating,” Grant exclaims genuinely once we’re done.

I giggle. “Is it though?”

He nods with a lazy grin. “Definitely, even though it seems like a lot of work. There’s so much to learn. I think I might have to come back a few more times, maybe more—you know, to soak in all of it.”

I bite back a grin. “Mhmm. Yeah, definitely not something you can learn in a single day. Takes a lot of practice. Consistency.”

His laugh settles around me, warming my insides, and when he pushes himself off the counter, leaning forward close to me, my breath hitches slightly.

“You’ve got…” He trails off, reaching up with his thumb and swiping the pad of it tenderly along my cheek. “Something here.”

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