Page 29 of Half Baked

“It’s nice to meet you… formally.” He smiles at Tara, but it’s not the carefree smile I’m accustomed to seeing from him.

He casts me a sideways glance. There’s a question in his eyes. If I’m not mistaken, Hayden seems hurt.

“We are so very happy you are joining us. This is going to be justdelicious.” I bristle at the way she drags out the worddelicious, as if Hayden is the one on the menu. Tara doesn’t notice, adjusting the decorative silk scarf around her neck. Between that and her white and navy striped sweater, it is clear that she decided to embrace the New Englander aesthetic during her time here, looking nothing like the executive I first met.

“And here come the others now.” She motions towards the door as three people step into the bakery.

“Poppy, you remember Hannah, my assistant. And Trevor, our technical director on camera. And this is Neil, I know you didn’t get to meet him at the audition. He’ll be our sound and lighting guy.”

I shake hands with the newcomer, Neil. “It’s good to meet you,” I say, thinking there’s a trace of a smile on his face but having a difficult time being certain with all his burly auburn facial hair.

“You too,” he says gruffly.

“It’s great to see you again, Poppy,” Trevor offers with a bright smile. “You lookgreat.”

Still at my side, Hayden takes a step closer until his arm brushes against mine. “We haven’t met, Trev,” he says in a clipped tone.

“And you’ll have time to chat later. But he needs to set up and I need my stars over here with me. We’ll walk through the plan for today,” Tara calls from where she is pulling folders from her alligator handbag.

A fresh wave of nausea turns over in my stomach. This is it; I’m going to be on an internationally streamed baking show. I can’t even hear Tara walking through things, not with my heart thudding like a kick drum in my chest.

“Are you ready to take your places?” she’s asking. But I don’t remember her telling me where our places are.

Reaching up to my lip, I tug the edge with my thumb nail and index finger, stealing a glance at Hayden.

I watch him study my face for a brief moment before the corner of his lip slides upward in a smirk. “She’ll probably stand just a few feet off the mark. She’s not big on being told what to do.”

“That’s only with you,” I reply evenly. My temperature is rising rapidly because I have a feeling that he just read me like an open book.

Everything slows as I shoot him my typicalHayden glare. And my stomach feels more settled when he pulls me over to a spot behind the prep table, telling me condescendingly, “This is where you stand.”

Fueled by my indignation for him, I no longer have the capacity to remain nervous. But I have a feeling he knew this would be the case—and that feels important.

“Ooh, save it for when we’re rolling,” Tara tells us with glee. She takes a seat on a fold out canvas chair in the archway between the storefront and the kitchen and picks up her headset.

“There’s no shortage of this,” I say, flitting my hand between us.

“That’s what I’m counting on,” Tara replies with a wink before turning to Trevor and telling him, “on your cue.”

He counts down on his fingers from three and points at us as the light on his camera glows red. Ready or not, it’s showtime. I lift my chin and smile for the camera.

“Hello! I’m Poppy, and with me is Hayden. We’re pleased to welcome you to Foxport, Massachusetts, the home of Seaside Bakehouse.”

“Poppy here owns the bakehouse,” Hayden jumps in. “And you get to join us as she teaches me to make some of her favorite recipes for a coastal summer menu.”

He turns to me and flashes his patent roguish grin. “Isn’t that right,Poppy Seed?”

My lip curls as I meet his gaze. Here we go.

Chapter 14

Hayden

“And now the final step is optional.” Poppy smiles at the camera. “But if you have one handy, take a kitchen torch and toast the meringue topping.” She lifts a miniature butane device and fires it up.

Flames shoot out and I can’t help but grin at the way she’s just set me up. I rest my hand atop hers and shake my head. “And this is why she keeps me around. I have to be ready to put out her fires.”

She rolls her eyes and gives me a shove. “Just try one.”

---