Page 74 of Heartbeats & Highways

“I’m happy about Savage. I’m even happy about the baby . . . babies. I didn’t think I’d be able—anyway. I’m happy, but I’m overwhelmed too.”

“What are you doing the rest of the day?” Jazz asked, changing the subject.

I shook my head. “Nothing. I could text Savage and ask him to come pick me up, but I’m not ready to go home.”

“I’ve got to get back to work and start the bread for tomorrow,” Jazz said. “You want to help?”

I smiled. “I’d love to.”

I was in the middle of shaping bread dough when the back door of the kitchen opened and a brunette with a baby strapped to her chest strode inside.

She blinked. “Hi.”

“Hello,” I greeted.

“Uh, no offense, but who are you?”

“No offense taken,” I said with a laugh. “I’m Evie. I?—”

“Oh,you’reEvie.” A smile stretched across the woman’s face.

“You’ve heard of me?”

“Brielle and Jazz might have said something about you.”

I pointed at her. “You’re Brooklyn.”

“Yes.” She smacked her forehead. “Sorry. I forgot to introduce myself, didn’t I? New mom brain and everything. I thought the pregnancy brain was bad. Mom brain is like a million times worse.”

Something to look forward to.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you,” I said. “Jazz left to get ready for her date and Brielle ran out to deliver the Reynolds wedding cake.”

“I see,” Brooklyn said, running a hand down the sleeping baby’s back. “That still doesn’t explain why you’re back here baking. Aren’t you the new receptionist at Three Kings?”

“Yeah, I am. Homer gave me the day off,” I explained. “He dropped me here. And I wasn’t ready to go home, so Brielle and Jazz kinda . . .”

“Took you under their wings.” Brooklyn smiled.

“Something like that.”

“You hungry?”

I shook my head. “No, I ate already.”

Brooklyn nodded toward the cooling bread on the wire racks. “You made these?”

I nodded.

“Jazz never makes loaves with such ornate scoring.”

I paused. “I have some experience baking bread. I kind of like bread as an art form.”

She smiled. “Well, they’re gorgeous.”

“Thank you.” My gaze dipped to the baby at her chest. “How old?”

“Few months. This is Palmer.”

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