Edible Espionage (5 page)

“Five days for three cookies?”

“I know, right? Silly. But that is what they do.” Sarah picked up her mixing bowl and added a pinch of salt. “There’s a reception and vendor exhibit and some media stuff we’ll have to do. I’m the returning champ, after all.”

****

The next day, Gavin finally found himself alone in Crazy for Cake. Fiona only worked sporadically and Sarah left him there while she delivered trays of cookies for the numerous weekend office parties in town. He seized the opportunity to rifle through the front counters and made a call.

“Mr. Arnold. I was beginning to conclude you had forgotten about me.”

Mr. Lexington’s voice sounded clear and an octave higher than expected coming from a tall husky man of pedigree. “No, sir. I started at Crazy for Cake.”

“Good.”

He envisioned the balding man leaning back in his leather office chair. “Yes, sir.”

“Are you registered with her yet? You need to get your name on that form.”

“Happened yesterday, sir. They put my name on the registration form.”

“Perfect.”

“The competition is in two wee—”

“I know when it is, Arnold,” Mr. Lexington interrupted.

Gavin took a deep breath and rolled his eyes. He loved his job, but it came with challenges. Namely, entitled rich people. “What would you like me to do until then, sir?”

“Gather any information that will be useful in the competition. Get the recipes she’s planning on using.”

“I sampled one of the cookies the other day. Very tasty. She’s still working on the final recipes. When the decision is made, I will get them.”

“I’ll let you know what else I want you to do as the competition approaches.”

“Yes, sir.” Gavin disconnected as a family of four walked into the bakery.

****

Sarah couldn’t believe her ears from where she stood frozen by the swinging kitchen door. Suddenly grateful Jake couldn’t soundproof the door between The Lab and the front, Sarah smashed her lips together.

Did I hear that right
? A pit grew in her stomach and she wanted to throw up. Gavin had
wanted
, nay,
planned
on getting her to register him on her team for the competition? He wanted her recipes? What was going on?
That SOB! I’ll be damned if I let him get my recipes. Who the hell is this guy?

Against every urge in her body, she retreated toward the office. She would’ve liked nothing more than to punch Gavin in the throat and yell obscenities, but first things first. She needed to get him off her registration form.
Where did Fiona put that damn piece of paper?

Sarah marched into the office, shoving stacks of invoices, envelopes, and pens every which way until she found letterhead with the Trio Trifecta stamp. She punched in the numbers on her cell phone.

“Trio Trifecta registration. This is Marley. How can I help you?” a young high voice sang on the other line.

Rage filled the tip of her tongue. Instead, Sarah breathed deep. She needed something from this girl and yelling would get her nowhere. “Hi, Marley. My name is Sarah. How are you today?”

“I’m doing well, thank you.”

“Great.” She made herself smile because people are always saying the person on the other end can tell. “I believe my registration for Crazy for Cake was sent in yesterday. I need to change the names.”

“Let me check. Crazy for Cake you said?”

“Yes, under Sarah Zion.” She tapped her pen against the oak desk.

“Yes. I have it.”

“I need to change the second name listed to Fiona Blue.”
Fiona will have to suck it up and go.

A long pause on the other end of the phone triggered a lump in Sarah’s throat.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Zion. Your registration has already been processed, and you’ve been assigned. I can’t change the form now.”

“We just registered yesterday.” He voice rose and she worked to keep control. “Can’t you make an exception?”

“We aren’t allowed. Oh! You won last year!”

The girl’s voice became cheerier, making Sarah seethe. “Sure did. So, couldn’t you make an exception? I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t
very
important.”

“I’m sorry.”

Sarah could practically hear the girl frown.
I guess the saying is true, you can tell expression over the phone.

“I would try to make an exception for you, but yesterday being the deadline, the press packets and other information went out this morning. I’m sorry, there is nothing I can do.”

Crumb cakes.
Sarah extended her cell phone away from her face to scream silently.
What do I do now? Think.
“Marley? Can you tell me who else is registered in the competition?” Maybe if she knew the competitors, she could figure out what type of situation had walked into her life two days ago. She still didn’t totally know who Gavin was or what he was doing.

“There are twenty-five entries. Isn’t it nice you didn’t have to go through the approval process again?”

“Yep, Godsend,” Sarah deadpanned as she chewed the end of the pen.

Last year, being the first year Sarah entered, she’d gone through the entire, rigorous approval process. After stressing for weeks and baking forty different cookies, she sailed through the competition tryouts with high marks. Since she placed in the top three last year, she automatically qualified for this year.

“I’m not supposed to release the list ahead of time. It normally comes out a week before to the general public.”

“I’m not the public, Marley. Pretty please? With a cherry on top?”

“Okay, I guess doing so really doesn’t hurt anything. Give me your email.”

“Thank you.”

Sarah rattled off her email address and sighed in relief. Sadly, peace was short-lived when she remembered why she needed the list in the first place.
What the hell is he up to? And, now I’m stuck with him. I’ll be dammed if he’ll get my recipes or hurt my chances in the competition or whatever he’s doing.
She folded her arms on the desk and plopped down her head.

The fact she was stuck with him, and really didn’t know how to stop him because she didn’t know his end game, sank in. She needed to figure out what he was after…and fast. Only a couple of weeks remained before the competition, and in order for her to compete, she had to have Gavin as her assistant.

“Hey there, boss.”

Sarah lifted her head off the desk to see Gavin filling the doorway. “What do
you
want?” Her voice came out snottier than she meant. Well, she meant the snark—she just didn’t want him to know.

“Okay.” He held up his hands in a surrendering gesture. “Bad errands?”

Blood pounded in her ears. She needed him out of the bakery. She needed time to think. She had to act normal so he wouldn’t suspect anything. “Yeah, sorry about that.” She cleared her throat. “I’ve got things covered from here today. Thanks for your help. You can go.”

“I can stick it out. There’s only an hour. And,” he scratched his chin then moved his hands to his hips “I thought you needed help tonight with the reception delivery.”

“Oh, I can handle the order.”

“Sleet is falling outside. Roads might get slippery. I can be your second set of hands.”

“I said, I got it.” Her temper flared causing her fingers to clench into a fist. She’d never been good at control.

He stared, pinching his lips together.

For good measure she added a smile and kept it planted until he quietly disappeared out of the back door. Damn, he looked good in his jeans.

****

Sarah stewed. She was mad she’d overheard Gavin talking. After all, sometimes not knowing is bliss. She was mad he was doing something sneaky in the first place. But, most of all, right now she was mad she couldn’t get the damn wedding cake in the van by herself. Fiona wasn’t answering…Jake wasn’t picking up and she had no one else to call. She’d been staring at the cake now for fifteen minutes, willing the five-tiered beauty into the van. Since the confection apparently wasn’t a secret hovercraft, she would have to do the unthinkable. Call Gavin.

Realizing part of her was happy to make the call made her feel sick. She liked seeing his face, she told herself, not the warmth that spread through her body every time they made eye contact.
This is not the time for games. This is your life he’s messing with. This isn’t some relationship game you can walk away from.

Maybe she could work her predicament to her advantage. Sarah remembered Gavin’s cell phone and the fact the entrant’s list was being emailed. If she could get a hold of the number he called, she’d be off to a productive start.
Good girl…way to be rational for once in my life.

She liberated her phone from her pocket and dialed.

****

Gavin arrived as Sarah wrapped up the last cream puff tray for transport.

“Reporting for duty.” His joke didn’t receive an easy laugh from the Sarah he’d come to know, but instead a semi-friendly glare.

His stomach knotted.

“We need to load up all of these trays in the van and the cake. Then unload when we get there and set up.”

She didn’t meet his gaze.
What happened today? Is she mad in general or at me?
“Are you okay?” He stepped closer.

“Fine.”

His arm, about to reach for her, stopped when he heard the worst word a female can say.
Great. It’s me. What did I do?

Sarah deftly avoided his gaze and arms. “We have built-in shelves on the sides on the van and we can secure these trays so they don’t slide about.” She grabbed a tray of chocolate truffles and headed to the alley.

He followed suit.

When they got to the hotel, Sarah led the way. “Let’s put all of the trays down here.” She pointed at a table set up out of the way. “Then I can transfer them over as I want them arranged.”

“You stay here to set up. I’ll bring in the rest.”

“I can help.”

“No, I won’t be of any use arranging.”

“Good point.”

****

She fixated on Gavin’s confident stride as he walked away. He’d added a maroon hooded jacket to his jeans and T-shirt which somehow made him sexier.
Since when are hoodies sexy?
On Gavin, though, the look departed from his normal sturdy and preppy—added almost a vulnerable quality. Instead of arranging her treats and yelling, she wanted to hug him, to relax into his chest, and stay for a while.

No, Sarah. Not a good idea. Not even a bad idea. It’s the worst idea you’ve ever had.
She’d been considering the conversation she’d had with Fiona the other day about Gavin.
Yes, having a fling would be fun, but probably not great for working conditions…especially now that he’s spying on me.

Sarah neglected to call Fiona and fill her in on the new-found information. Fiona would freak out and she didn’t need the added stress. Neither of them did. No, Sarah would save her best friend from the misery and deal with Gavin herself. “That’s the last load.”

He set down the tray of heart-shaped crispy rice treats topped with a white and milk chocolate sauce. The happy couple’s initials adorned the tops in bright blue to match their wedding colors. “Nicely done.” Gavin walked over to the three tables full of her treats. “Are the tablecloths yours?”

“No. They provided the decorations and cloths to match the rest of the room.” She motioned around. “I asked for them, though…to make my display better.” She breathed deep and relaxed. Without being a jerk, she could keep up her defenses. She needed to keep being flirty anyway…the plan to get her hands on his phone hinged on their witty repartee.

“And you made the wedding cake?”

“Yep.”

They both turned to look at the cake.

“Wow. That’s amazing.”

The cake turned out magnificently. With the pearl finish and imbedded flowers along the edges, the five-tiered cake stunned. Then, taking her creativity one step further, she brilliantly glazed the ends of the pearl flowers with hues of blue.

The sight of her work made her smile. Getting paid for creativity and having it appreciated topped Sarah’s dreams in life—dreams that now played out in reality. Opening Crazy for Cake continued to prove to be the best thing shed done yet. She couldn’t wait to see where this adventure would lead. Ideas of art, from edible to non-edible, always bombarded her mind. “Do you enjoy to bake or cook?” she asked Gavin, softening her voice.

“Used to dabble in a little of both.”

Suddenly aware of his presence, Sarah’s stomach flipped. Music started in the background and she noticed the disc jockey setting up for the night’s festivities. Jarrod Niemann sang out to his song, “Only God Could Love You More.” Sarah smiled within. She loved this song. She didn’t expect love was ever in the cards for her, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t imagine the sentiment.

Just as a phrase about not being alone started, Gavin reached out his hand, tilting his head ever so slightly.

She stared at his fingers and blinked. She placed her hand in his and tingles swirled up her arm. No words were exchanged. Sarah eased closer and they swayed with his hand on her waist and her hand around his shoulder and back. Excitement filled her, knowing she’d put on her silky red top because now she felt as if his hand lay directly on her skin. The sensation caused images of other places she’d like his hand pressed, sending a shiver of pleasure all the way to her toes.