Page 69 of Cupcake of the Month
“Fine. You’ve checked.” Zach rolled his eyes and tromped into his room.
Damn, that did not go well. What had he expected?
Barb must have noticed something off with him on the drive to the job, since she allowed him to stay in the kitchen with her instead of circulating food. She didn’t pry, for which Josh was thankful. He had poked his head into the party and had recognized a baker from a few months ago, and pulled himself back into the kitchen before she saw him. The highlight of his night was a quick text from Jordan saying she was back at the Inn but ready for bed.
Zach was either sleeping when he got home and when he left for work the next morning, or he was going for the Oscar. Maybe they’d be able to talk after Sunday dinner that night.
Josh rubbed at his constricting chest, pushing down theshame that welled up in him at the hope that the evening would be too busy for them to talk, or that Zach would have homework. When Fountenoy Hall came into view, he suppressed it.
Biscuits and sausage gravy were on the menu, along with the normal eggs and peach dish. Ms. Eulalee’s recipe for gravy always knocked it out of the park. Josh measured out the flour and shortening, uncomfortable in the uncharacteristic quiet. It gave him too much time alone with his own mind, replaying the last day with Zach and his silence.
Usually one of the cousins would be down by now. Brandi would chat about her evening, or Wendy would study the schedule and make notes on the menu. Maybe they had stayed up too late, toasting Jordan’s return with Belle’s Medicinal whiskey.
Brandi came down as he finished with the biscuits. Other than a nod and a mumbled good morning, she was strangely silent. She poured her coffee facing the counter, keeping Josh at her back.
“Everything’s ready for you,” he said.
“Thanks.”
He stepped out of the way so she could get to the oven. Her eyes never rose above his chin, and she hightailed it to the dining room as soon as she had the pan of eggs steady. He placed the rest of breakfast on the counter, but when she came back, she avoided him by going for her coffee instead of the dishes waiting for her.
“Are you all right?” Josh asked.
“Just fine.” She grabbed the gravy and scurried out of the kitchen.
Well, okay. He’d find out what was going on soon enough. Right now, dirty dishes awaited.
The back door opened while Josh was elbow deep in the wash sink. He looked up and was blinded by the ray of sunshine.Jordan slipped into the kitchen, radiant in a sunflower skirt and yellow top, her bright smile kicking his heartrate up a notch.
“Hey, you.” She ducked under his arm and stood between him and the large sink. She held his face in her hands, her touch sending a simmering need through his body.
“I’m going to get you wet,” Josh said, shaking off his hands.
“Honey, you don’t know the half of it.” Her lips touched his, demanding and greedy and a little bit wild. He groaned, aching to wrap his arms around her, drag her back to her room and hike up her skirt. Maybe not in that order.
Her hands caressed his back, pressing him closer to her. He paused, then took a step back and blinked at her bare arm. “Hey, no more brace.”
“Mostly better.” She rotated her wrist in a circle to prove it, her other arm still looped around his neck. She gave him a quick kiss. “I’m going back to the stables, but come by later. You know, if you can.” She waved her fingers, then disappeared out the back door.
Ouch. He scrubbed the dish hard, eager to finish. Not that he was eager to talk, though. Something behind him tapped in a steady rhythm, and he turned to find the source. Wendy sat at the island, a pencil bouncing from her fingers.
She stilled her hand when she saw him watching. “Sorry.”
“I didn’t even hear you come in.” Was it time for the staff meeting? Where was everyone else?
He put the last pan into the sanitizing sink and dried his hands.
Wendy remained at the island, her expression grim. “Got a few minutes to talk?”
That didn’t sound good. “Sure.” He flung the towel over his shoulder and took a seat next to her.
The pencil tapped again. “I want to preface this by saying your work has been exemplary. Even when you were late withbreakfast, it was still pretty damn delicious. Don’t tell my aunt, but I think I like your biscuits better than hers.”
“Thank you.” Josh stilled, waiting for thebut.
“But yesterday.” Her green eyes locked with his. “Yesterday, Josh, we had a specific menu for the Junior League. They’ve been coming to our restaurant for their events for years. They know the menu. They know we’ll cook around their food allergies and nutritional needs. It’s a traditional event, one we want to keep going. They were expecting old favorites. Comfort foods. Something trusted and familiar.”
Josh nodded. “Did something happen?”
