Page 13 of The Blessings of Christmas
“Must be one of the college interns.”
Grabbing a towel, her mother dried the tray with brisk strokes. “Oh, I don't think so.” Then she waltzed back to the front of the store, leaving the empty tray and a lot of questions.
Nat King Cole was singing about chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Well, right now Sarah’s brain felt roasted. The rumble of Ryan's truck snapped her out of it. The back door opened, bringing a draft of winter air. And there he was with wind-ruffled hair and red cheeks. She smiled.
“Hey, Sarah.” Ryan shrugged out of his sheepskin jacket.
“How are the roads? Any trouble coming down Red Arrow?”
“You know Michigan. The crews have been salting the roads since the first snowflake fell.” Going straight to the cupboard, he got out the flour and yeast for the bread dough. They were settling into a rhythm. “How did the new cookies go over today?”
“We sold out.” Surprise lifted her voice.
Ryan’s square jaw dropped. “In this snow? I thought you’d have a quiet day.”
He was thinking about her today? Unexpected warmth swirled through her stomach. “Trust me, it’s been a day of surprises.”
Just then her mother bustled in from the front counter. “The door’s locked. I cleaned all the glass counters and table tops. Oh hi, Ryan.”
“Wow,” Ryan said with a chuckle.
Her mother shot him a coy smile––a look Sarah had never seen before. “You like it?”
“You look beautiful. The hair’s great.” Ryan looked to Sarah for agreement. “Right, Sarah?”
“Amazing.” That was all she could manage.
“Sarah tells me you sold all the cookies we cranked out this morning.”
“We did.” Her mother gave him the secretive look Justin and Nathan wore after they’d had a pillow fight and left the room a mess.
“Why don't you tell him, Mom?” She wanted to hear her mother’s side of the story.
“About what, dear?” Lila was sidling towards the door that led upstairs to her apartment.
“About the cookies. The library.” Okay, she was sounding more like an interrogator, not a concerned daughter.
With a dip of her new hairdo, Lila said, “I thought it might be nice to take some cookies to the library. You know, a taste trial.”
“Great idea.” His back against the counter, Ryan fold muscled arms across his chest. For heaven’s sake, he looked like he’d worked in the bakery all his life. Sarah tore her eyes away but not before Ryan caught her staring.
“Those samples sure brought people in.” Mom looked to Sarah, who nodded.
“That’s terrific. Guess I should get to work.” Ryan swung into action and her mother went upstairs.
Sarah had trouble concentrating. You would think a man measuring flour wouldn't appear masculine. But to Sarah’ssurprise, Ryan did. He handled the bag of flour with authority. Measured the ingredients, narrowing his eyes for accuracy.
“Seems there's a new temporary librarian on staff.” She had to tell someone.
“Really?” He started the giant mixer.
Ryan probably didn’t visit the library very often. “Mildred Wentworth has been a fixture in that library for as long as I can remember. This holiday season she's gone to visit her daughter in California.”
“Good thing they found someone to step in.” He mixed the warm water with the yeast. Yep, Ryan had really caught on to this bakery business.
“The temporary librarian’s name is Stuart.” Sarah wished she’d been more observant. “Now that I think of it, her trips to the library have become more frequent. I mean, who can read four books in two days?”
“Man, I could never do it.” Lips twitching, he held up a hand. “Hang on a minute, will you? I have to focus or I’ll mess this up.”
