Page 64 of Perfect Pairing
Since then, it had been a steady revenue stream. I loved getting tagged in daily videos of people and their families enjoying my creations, and I continued to ship my muffin andscone mixes all over the globe.
I’d never expected my small-town bakery to gain me recognition on an international scale, but a few weeks ago, I’d received an email from a very popular—as in over two million combined TikTok and Instagram followers—food blogger about doing a segment on me, my bakery, and Apple Blossom Bay. Naturally, I’d jumped at the chance, both to celebrate myself and help promote the town that had given me and my family so much over the years.
The blogger, a guy named Damian, had been in and out of the shop all week, trying something new from the menu each time, asking me questions as we worked through my process and interviewing my customers. The exposure was going to do wonders for me and the town, and I couldn’t wait to see it all come to fruition.
As though I’d conjured him, a bright blond head appeared over the sign hanging on the door, the bell tinkling as Damian pushed inside.
Today, he wore an aqua blue Polo that turned up the vibrancy of his similarly colored eyes and tan Chinos, a crease perfectly pleating the front, a pair of loafers on his feet. He wasn’t anything like I expected. In his videos, he gave off a laid back but enthusiastic vibe, so his country club style came as a bit of a shock.
Still, he was a nice guy who seemed genuinely interested in learning about my business and the town.
“Oh, look,” Celia said dreamily as he approached, though low enough he wouldn’t hear. “Your new boyfriend is here.”
“He’s not my new boyfriend,” I hissed, playfully smacking her arm. I straightened and offered Damian a large smile when heapproached the counter.
“Good afternoon, Damian,” Celia said. “What can we get started for you?”
Damian’s eyes never strayed from mine as he ordered a turnover and strawberry lemonade. Celia rang him up quickly, and Damian still didn’t look away as he paid. When Celia moved away to prepare his meal, he leaned his elbows on the counter, propping his chin up in a palm.
“I hope you love the turnover as much as you’ve enjoyed everything else,” I said with a smile. Then I hooked my thumb over my shoulder, in the direction of the kitchen, and added as I turned away, “I should get started on prep for tomorrow.”
As I turned to leave, he blurted, “Go out with me.”
I stopped so fast, my shoe squeaked against the floor.
Damian wore a soft smile when I faced him again, and from the corner of my eye, I clocked Celia frozen at the counter, pretending to be preparing his drink when I knew she was eavesdropping.
“Are you sure?”
Damian chuckled lightly. “Of course I’m sure. I’ve been wanting to ask you out since I met you, but it felt like a bit of a conflict of interest. Now that my videos are all shot and with my producer, my job here is done. I’m ready to…play. And my first order of business is taking you out.”
His blue eyes twinkled with promise at his last statement, and I couldn’t help grinning in response.
It had been a long time since a man had pursued me, and even longer since I’d been asked on a date. The last few years had been spent building my business, leaving me little time for a personallife. I was fine with that. I was, after all, only twenty-five.
Of course, there was also the Ezra of it all.
But I didn’t want to think about him right now, not with this gorgeous, sunkissed man in front of me giving me the attention I’d spent the last three years so desperately craving from the one man who refused to give it to me.
Ezra had tried to satisfy me with crumbs.
I deserved the whole damn meal.
“So what do you say?” Damian prompted, flashing his perfect white teeth in a wide grin.
“I’d love to go on a date with you.”
“Great!” Damian said excitedly, straightening to his full height. “Since I’ve been staying in the city, there’s one place up here I haven’t had the chance to visit, and it’s so highly rated that I thought we could check it out together. Have you been to the winery restaurant? Chateau Delatou?”
Behind me, Celia made a choking sound, and I cut her a glare.
For the sake of my safety—not that it was something I concerned myself with too much, given I lived in the smallest town in America—I kept my personal details, including my last name, close to the vest when it came to what I shared with my social media followers. To the public, I was simply Baker Brie. Given how much I’d come to dislike the nickname, the irony wasn’t lost on me. Damian not knowing who I was wasn’t entirely surprising, but it was refreshing.
In the area, I’d spent my entire life as “one of the Delatou girls” or “a Delatou daughter.” I loved my family legacy, and I wouldn’t begrudge my parents or my ancestors any of their success when it provided me the life I had today. Still, I wantedto be something more than just “that Delatou girl” or “Leon and Lena’s youngest.”
Who I was to my core was a woman who liked making people happy, and the way I accomplished that happened to be through pastries and sweets.Thatwas how I wanted to be known.
Damian getting to know me without my family legacy shaping his opinion was a breath of fresh air, and I wasn’t above taking advantage of it.
