“Yes, please.” I glanced up from the bowl of chocolate cake batter I was stirring. It wasn’t even noon yet, and my feet and back already ached.
Totally worth it.This café had been my dream for so many years. A dream I never thought attainable in my other life.
The café was a dream my mom had too. As I poured batter into cake pans and put them in the oven, I thought of her. Wondered what she’d been like. Beautiful and kindhearted, according to Lupin. What else? Had her voice been light and airy or richer? What about her laugh? Had it been musical, or did she snort like me? How much did I resemble her? Did we like the same things?
An ache spread through me. I’d never get those answers. How was it possible to miss someone I’d never met?
“Mister Evan? Are you all right?”
I blinked, finding myself in front of the oven holding a platter of cookies. “Oh. Yeah, I’m fine.” I set the cookies on the counter and smiled at him. “Just lost in my head today.”
With a concerned wrinkle in his brow, Miles nodded and checked the cupcakes cooling on the rack.
“I promise,” I added.
“You’ve been on the go since I arrived this morning and haven’t stopped to take a breath since. Please take a break if you need one.”
“Nah, I’m okay.” I exaggerated an inhale, then expelled it. “See? I’m breathing.”
Ever since my kidnapping, my work family worried over me nearly as much as my men did. Miles, Peter, and Alice had kept the café running in the days I was gone, but even once I’d returned, they’d barely let me work at all, insisting I take it easy and rest.
Almost two months later and they were still like that. The silly worry bugs.
Seeming less worried, Miles swirled chocolate buttercream on one half of the cupcakes and used vanilla frosting on the other half, making each one picture-perfect. As a demi-bear, he stood close to seven feet tall, and rounded furry ears jutted from his brown hair.
Just like with Lake, some people took one look at him and made incorrect assumptions that he was wild and dangerous. All because he was a demi-human. In reality, Miles wouldn’t hurt anyone. He was softhearted and had a passion for baking and decorating desserts.
I was lucky to have him. As both an employee and a friend.
“Another order,” Alice chimed as she entered the kitchen. Her blond hair was styled in a pixie cut, and with her short stature, she kind of reminded me of a pixie. An observation I’d mentioned out loud once, earning me a hard tickle to my ribs. “A bowl of squash soup.”
Our menu had a selection of desserts, soups, and sandwiches. The soup was a seasonal item and had gone over surprisingly well with customers. Potato was our top seller, but squash and tomato were popular too.
“Coming right up!” I spun around to the large pot on the stove and spooned a generous amount into a bowl. The Brewed Muffin didn’t skimp on the goods, that was for sure. You got what you paid for.
“I’ll brew more tea,” Miles said once noticing we were running low.
Green tea with lemon was our recent best-selling flavor, especially with the colder days upon us. I had fun coming up with new ideas for the menu. Not all worked out though.
When brainstorming tea flavors a while back, I had experimented with a rose-infused tea despite my aversion to anything floral flavored. Other people liked it, so why not? Thetea must’ve known my heart hadn’t been in it because I’d failed epically.
Briar, bless him, had been my first victim—er, taste tester. He’d taken one sip and held it in his mouth, not wanting to hurt my feelings by spitting it out. He had then forced a swallow and politely smiled at me before saying,“Perhaps not this one, love.”
“Now you know how it feels,”I’d responded, remembering the disgusting post-sex tonics he’d made all of us drink.
Maddox’s answering laugh had caused him to choke on a muffin.
The scent of peaches tickled my nose. Arms came around me from behind, and there was a soft nuzzle to my nape. “You should eat. It’s past lunchtime.”
In the beginning of our relationship, Lake had stayed upstairs during business hours. His presence could start an uproar among the people if he was spotted. Miles, Peter, and Alice knew about him though, so he’d started using the private corridor that was blocked off from customers to come downstairs to the kitchen during the day.
“I will soon,” I told him. “I just gotta brew more coffee first.”
“Iwill brew it.” Lake pressed his lips to the back of my neck. It made me weak in the knees. Each of my men had their own spot. My nape was Lake’s. “You will sit at the table and eat.”
I huffed. “So bossy. Looks like someone has been taking lessons from Maddox.”
I felt Lake smile. “Please?”
