Page 11 of Sweets and Sycamores
Chapter 6
YOU LOOK MORE BOTHERED THAN USUAL
Allie scrubbed the kitchen again, then the tables and counters in the front. She even moved that fancy coffee machine and wiped the area behind and under it, and cleaned the display case as well. With a soft brush, she dusted the blue velvet chairs, then wiped the front door’s window. She found a broom, a mop, and a bucket in the supply closet and used them vigorously. When the place smelled too much of chemicals, she opened the door and the windows, letting the chill morning air flow in and ignoring the chattering of her teeth.
She had earned her shivers.
Why,whyhadn’t she told her boss from the start that she didn’t know how to turn on the ovens? In the end, she’d had to admit it anyway, with the added horror of Dominic knowing she intentionally hid this from him. Why she’d thought that a good idea was beyond her now. Dominic had every right to bite her head off.
Allie wanted to keep her job while she strove to get her crazy fire under control by Hallows Eve. There was no other acceptable outcome. Looking for another place was a waste of time when Sycamore Falls, and more specifically, Dom’s Sweets, was everything she needed. But she had to get her silly acttogether in front of her boss and find a way to clear the fog that clouded her brain whenever Dominic spoke to her. She had to do better and be honest, even when it was embarrassing.
No more lying or keeping things hidden. The bookstore climbed up her list of priorities, since she desperately needed to learn basic baking skills to help Dominic. More like be able to do her job.
A revving engine drew her attention to the street. She closed the bakery windows and stood in the doorframe, watching as the darkness surrendered to the first rays of light. The auburn colors of the sycamores lining the street came to life with shimmering shades of red and yellow, and the mountaintops surrounding the town basked proudly in the sunlight. Pearls Fields held its evergreen beauty, but this was the most beautiful landscape she had ever seen.
Dominic climbed out of the car and crossed the sidewalk and small front yard in long strides, a toolbox in his hand. She took him in, tall, dark, and broad, oozing confidence and annoyance. She couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast between Dominic and, well, all other men she had met. There was something about him that drew her in, and she wished she could Read him. Did he have any magic? What kind? What if he was a Wizard? Would he help her if she asked?
Probably not.
Allie stepped away to make room for him to enter the bakery and closed the door behind them. She cleared her throat and started on the speech she had prepared while scrubbing the place clean.
“Mr. Ranford, I’m really sorry about earlier.” Dominic stopped in his tracks with his wide back to her and didn’t turn around as she spoke. “I should have told you the truth. I don’t have any baking experience, not even domestically, but I am a quick learner, and I promise I’ll bridge the gaps in no time.” Shehoped she could keep this promise. “This evening after work, I’ll stop by the bookstore. Are there any books about baking I should start with?”
Dominic was quiet, and Allie would’ve given anything to see the look on his face. After a while, she heard him sigh, the muscles on his back shifting under his shirt.
“Do you know how to separate eggs?” he muttered.
Separate eggs, separate eggs, separ—yes! Separating eggs was one of the few tasks Petra had entrusted her with.
“I do!”
“For real this time?”
Allie couldn’t fault him for doubting her.
“For real. I need to put the yolks in a bowl, and the whites in another bowl,” she explained, waving her hands. He nodded once, still not turning around to face her.
“Take bowls from the shelf on the left and twenty eggs from the middle fridge,” he said and walked away, down the narrow hallway. Toward her room.
“Is there anything you need?” she asked when Dominic stopped in front of her room. Allie had nothing to hide, and last night proved her boss would respect her privacy. Kind of. Hehadknocked first.
“I’m going to fix the sofa,” he grumbled as he slipped through the door. “And put in a new lock.”
Allie stared dumbfounded at the empty hallway. Not only was she still employed, but her boss would go through the trouble of fixing stuff around her room. All the more reason she had to prove to Dominic that she could be useful and not a pain. “Thank you!” she shouted after him and sprinted to the kitchen.
Allie put the bowls and the eggs on the table and washed her hands thoroughly. Focused on not messing up yet another task today, she cracked and opened the first egg gently, trying to keep the shells intact to separate the whites from the yolkswithout any shell pieces falling in. With each egg, she gained confidence, her hands became steadier, and she caught herself smiling. Maybe she should not have felt that pang of pride for accomplishing such a small feat when she couldn’t even start the ovens.
The eggs' cracking sounds were occasionally accompanied by hammering and drilling noises coming from the back of the bakery. Dominic fixing the sofa instead of firing her made a spark of hope bloom in her chest. Getting rid of her might be a peripheral idea in his mind, given all her shortcomings, but she could lean into this safety for a while. She hoped for at least two weeks before his patience ran out, so she would be able to explore the town and save some money.
When she was done with the eggs, Allie put the shells in the bin and cleaned the table. Dominic walked in as she was wiping it, wearing a black apron just like hers over his all-black clothes.
A muscly vision in black.
She whisked the thought away, shaking her head.
“You okay?” Dominic asked.
“I’m fine, thank you!” she shrieked. “And thank you for the sofa. And for the new lock.” Allie paused for a second but added quickly, “And for taking me in.”
