Page 8 of Cookies & Kisses

She’s the owner? Well, shoot. I’m half anxious, half excited that she’s going to have some words with Mason. But hopefully it doesn’t get me in trouble with him. He’s the one I really deal with every day.

I hear a muffled exclamation from Mason, which sounds like excitement at seeing his mom. As much as I’m dying to eavesdrop, I try my best to stay professional.

Trybeing the key word here.

I edge closer to the swinging door, pretending to rearrange the cookies that happen to be right within earshot.

“Why isn’t she working in the kitchen?” Monica asks.

“I don’t know if she’s ready.”

Monica scoffs. “I’m sure she told you her background. What more are you looking for?”

Thank you, Monica.

“I’m working on…testing her.”

“Testing her?!”

Yes, Monica! This has been ridiculous!

“I don’t want to end up in the same situation as I did with Natalie.”

His mom pauses. And my mind starts racing. Who is Natalie?

“Those were unusual circumstances,” she says.

“Yeah, well, look where it got me.”

“It got you your own bakery!” she exclaims.

“Under your control!” he shouts back.

I definitely shouldn’t be listening to this conversation. Unfortunately, I don’t make it away from the door in time, and Monica bangs it open, slamming right into me.

Which knocks me to the ground, with a tray of Madeleines landing on top of me.

“Oh, Madeleine! Are you all right? And all the…Madeleines…” Monica’s voice turns from sympathetic to amused, and she has to cover her mouth with her hand to hide her giggles.

Mason bursts in and surveys the scene. But instead of laughing, he just scowls.

“It’s Madeleine,” Monica says between giggles, “in a pile of Madeleines.” And then she erupts into full laughter.

Mason’s expression softens, and I swear I almost see him crack a smile. But joining in with our laughter would be too much for him, and he turns and storms back into the kitchen.

Monica finally realizes that I’m still lying on the floor and holds out her hand to help me up. The cookies go everywhere, but they’re ruined anyway. I’ll have to clean them up later.

“I’m so sorry,” she says. “I should have opened the door more slowly.”

“It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have been standing right there.”

“I suppose you heard some of that.” She winces. “I don’t know how much you know about the background of the bakery.”

I shake my head. “Nothing, honestly.”

She sighs, then speaks in a whisper. “Mason opened a bakery with his girlfriend of the time, Natalie.” A wave of jealousy passes through me, but I tamper it down. He’s hardly spoken to me in the two weeks since I’ve worked here, and now I think I have some kind of claim to him? Get a grip! “Mason taught Natalie everything he knew. It was supposed to be a partnership.” She pauses and glances at the door again. “But Natalie went behind his back and forced him out of the business. Mason was out of money and work…and he was betrayed by the woman he loved. So his father and I funded this new bakery.”

“I guess it does explain why he’s so possessive,” I say.

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