Chapter 7
Iwasn’t sure how to summarize the last four days.
I had a brand-new job at the Wilder Retreat Winery as the pastry chef and the wedding cake lead. I got to make wedding cakes and desserts for a living again, only on a much grander scale because they had at least three weddings a week. I didn’t know how this had become my life, but I loved it. I was a baker, and I loved my job. I was no longer stuck in my house, baking cookies and small orders, and hoping that what I did was enough. Because it was never enough.
“Okay, Aurora. You’re coming to the 1:00 p.m. meeting, and then the 3:00 p.m. meeting. We have the Torkland bride and groom, and then the Ashton bride, and the Merriment bride right after.”
I grabbed my tablet and took notes, as well as looked through the wedding book Trace and Ridge had somehow gotten back from the former pastry chef. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know how exactly they had retrieved it from him. I only knew that the police weren’t called. Somebody made a rumble or two, but no blood was shed, and Kendall hadn’t had to murder anybody. I also had the lovely joy of fixing every little thing my predecessor had done. It wasn’t that he was a bad baker—it was actually the exact opposite. He was good at what he did, he just didn’t like dealing with happy ever afters. He hated weddings and hated listening to Kendall. So no matter what the Wilders did, they would never be good enough for him. And he was an employee. Just like I was now an employee. I almost needed to pinch myself to make sure this was real, but it was. I was now working full-time, with benefits, and already having an amazing time.
Yesterday was my first appointment with Alexis to meet a bride and groom and go through their initial meeting to find out exactly how they wanted their wedding. I had sat back and only asked a few questions at the end while Alexis handled the rest. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure she needed me there. But one of my favorite parts about being a baker for weddings was getting to know the bride and groom. That way I could customize their cake and any desserts they wanted specifically for them. And since I didn’t have to do this full-time, because there was enough kitchen staff to ensure I wasn’t the only one baking day in and day out, I also was working on desserts for the inn’s restaurant, small dessert favors for weddings, and if Signature needed me to step in, I would. They had a dessert chef on staff there in their own right. However, if there was a large party, I could be there to help.
I was working far more hours for far better pay than I ever thought possible, and I loved it. Yes, the commute sucked, but in terms of city driving, it could have been worse. And it was one straight highway thanks to the Loop, so I only had to deal with the construction from hell and the overpass that was never going to be completed connecting downtown San Antonio to downtown Austin. That was never actually going to happen, and we all knew it. But we could pretend it would be complete sometime in the next twenty years of construction.
“I’ve got it on my list. Anything else?”
“Not from me,” Alexis said as Kendall frowned at her phone.
“No, we’re good. There’re a few other things that we have to handle throughout the week, and I know you still have a few other projects from your previous job.”
I nodded. “I had already said yes to a few clients, and I’m grateful to be able to use your kitchen to get them done, especially since you didn’t have to allow that.”
Kendall waved it off. “You stepped in at the last minute and are completely changing your life to suit my needs. I’m just happy that fate decided to put you in my path. And yes, I sound very selfish right now, but after the issues we’ve had since Sandy left to pursue her dreams, I feel like I’m thirty steps behind and deserve this. I deserve you.”
I smiled while shaking my head. “You’re ridiculous and I love working with you.”
“We’re going to have to put that on my business card.” Kendall winked and Alexis shook her head.
“Okay, a few more things to go through and then I’ll let you get to work. I know between your sous chef and the staff at Signature, you have everything covered but, Kendall, you’re going to need to hire another chef. Signature is becoming a thing, and I know you like working there, so we’re going to need someone to take your position here.”
Kendall frowned, and I almost felt like I should leave; this was probably a conversation they had often. Honestly, I wasn’t sure how Kendall had done it at all. Between the inn’s restaurant, catering events, and working at a high-end restaurant that was only open a few hours for dinner, Kendall had to be working far too many hours. Plus, she was a mother to twins, and from what I heard, she and her husband were trying for another. There weren’t that many hours in the day.
“I know, I know. I’ll find someone. But now I don’t have to find a pastry chef that can work the weddings. And Jeff is great at Signature,” she said, naming the pastry chef who worked there. “But he cannot decorate a cake to save his life. He doesn’t like doing it, and he doesn’t like weddings. Just like the guy we don’t talk about that used to work for me here. You have to actually like weddings and love in order to do it, and neither of them understood that.”
I swallowed and shrugged. “I believe in all of that. I love weddings, although I’m glad that I don’t have to stay for the whole thing.” I hadn’t meant to say that last part, and both women gave me a soft look but not a pitying one.
“Either way, hire someone. I’m the one saying it.”
“I know we keep going through people because they want their own restaurants and they don’t want to work for me. And because I work them hard.”
“I’m going to step in and put my foot in my mouth here and say if you’re working them too hard, and you’re also doing their job, then they are not working hard enough and you’re working far too much.”
Kendall gave me a look while Alexis just laughed.
“I knew I loved her. Now, go forth and make people happy and bake and cook and do all the good things with food. And look at that stack of resumes. It’s time.”
Kendall grumbled but headed to the kitchen. I looked over at Alexis. “I hope she doesn’t hate me. I mean, I really like this job. Though I wasn’t expecting it.”
“Wasn’t expecting the job, or wasn’t expecting to like it?” she asked, a teasing light in her eyes.
I stood up, tablet in hand. “Maybe both?”
At the exasperated look on Alexis’s face, I smiled. “I honestly never thought I’d want to go to a wedding again in my life, and not only did I go to one, I ended up with a job where I get to work at them. I used to make wedding cakes and birthday cakes and cupcakes and cookies and breads and all these other things when I was at the bakery, but it wasn’t weddings day in and day out. It was all kinds of celebrations. And I know I can do a little of that here, because it’s not just weddings, like tomorrow I’m making a retirement ceremony cake, it’s a little different. It’s throwing myself into the deep end and remembering that it’s okay.”
“You are so freaking resilient and amazing. I am so happy you’re here, but if it is a little too much, please let us know. We will find a way to make it work. We’re really glad you’re here. And one day soon we’re going to sit you down with some wine and cheese in the employee section of the winery, and you’re going to spill about why you’re not working at your other place anymore.”
My shoulders stiffened and I forced myself to relax. “There’s not really a story there.”
“You can lie to yourself, but that lie isn’t going to work with us. When you’re comfortable, just know that we Wilder women sort of collect people.”
At my raised brow, she continued. “You work for us now, and you don’t have to be our friend—because there needs to be a healthy divide between work and real life sometimes—but if you’d like more friends, we’d love for you to join us. I promise we’re not a cult.”
That made me snort, and we made our way towards where we each worked. “Isn’t that like the first thing a cult says?”
“Maybe. But we have wine and cheese, and you can bring the dessert.” She winked as she said it, and we said our goodbyes before I headed into the kitchen. Today, I was working on a small two-tiered wedding cake, and then a groom’s cake. We had meetings later, and then I would do the finishing touches on the prep for the retirement cake. Dessert tonight for the restaurant was simple—mostly pies and cakes and tarts. I worked on those each morning, so by the time lunch and dinner rolled around, they were all ready to go. Signature didn’t need my help for the next week, but it would be nice to brush-up on my high-end skills when they did need it.
No day was going to be the same and every cake was going to be different and fit the personalities of those involved. Every tart and pastry and cupcake would be a new experience.
Joni had always told me I needed to go out and find something new. To remember that I was still here even though William wasn’t. I hadn’t let myself before. Maybe it was time I finally listened to my best friend.
And as if I thought her into existence, my phone buzzed and I looked down at the text.
Joni:Kick ass today. Bring home leftovers. We miss you.
My lips twitched as I texted back.
Me:I can probably do that, at least with the leftovers. I’m still new enough that I’m slowly working my way up to kicking ass.
Joni:I’m sure you’re already doing it. I love you and I’m so proud of you. And I can’t wait to visit you because that retreat has always been on my bucket list.
Me:I’d love to see you here. Now I have to get to work. My boss hasn’t seen me text yet.
Joni:Ooh, already in trouble.
We said our goodbyes, added heart emojis, and then I washed my hands and got to work.
Kendall was working on prep for the restaurant now, and would head over to Signature later, which was the job that she really loved. I wasn’t sure how she did it, and I knew that if the Wilders had their way, there would be a new head chef for the retreat and for catering. Kendall was doing the job of three people, and that was honestly ridiculous. From the way that her husband glowered at her after a long day and would pick her up and carry her over his shoulder back to the car to take her home, I knew that he was frustrated too. But their relationship dynamic was adorable and, if I did say so myself, the Wilders were damn sexy.
It was a little distracting.
I put my earbuds in and got to work, rolling out the fondant for my fall-themed cake. It was a lemon cake with buttercream frosting and strawberry and rose filling. A little high on the flavor points, but it was their favorite flavors, and chosen by my predecessor. I wasn’t going to change anything, other than elevate the decorations as much as possible. The sketch that he left had been bare bones and the only reason I even knew where I was going was thanks to the additional notes Kendall had found. Now, I’d be working on making it spring on the inside and falling leaves on the outside. Considering we rarely had seasons, I liked that this cake seemed to want to have both. I’d be doing fondant leaves changing from green to the oranges and browns and yellows of autumn and working with food coloring for most of the afternoon. It was sometimes monotonous work, but fun. I enjoyed this part, even though my predecessor hadn’t.
I had already worked on the desserts for the restaurant and some pastries, and tomorrow morning after I did my initial restaurant set, I would work on the chocolate bowls and other specialty chocolates for the favors. I would get it done, and I was grateful that this was my job now, instead of sitting at home and wondering when my life would begin again.
“Aurora?”
I turned to Naomi, noting the hesitation in her voice. “Yes?”
“There’s someone out front for you, and they said it was urgent. I’m sorry for interrupting. I know you’re busy.”
Alarm spread through me as I quickly set everything down and nodded to one of the kitchen hands to take care of my station. I washed my hands and followed Naomi out.
“Did they say who it was?”
“No, just that it was urgent, and you needed to come out there.”
Visions of Joni not being able to reach me and something being wrong with the kids filled my mind, and I pulled out my phone. I had no missed texts or calls, but maybe she was out of her mind and unable to communicate that way. Maybe she needed to tell me in person.
“They were…insistent.”
At the oddness of Naomi’s tone, I knew exactly who was out there and I rolled my shoulders back, sliding my phone into my pocket.
Because Joni was fine.
Instead, Lauren stood in the center of the lobby, face pinched, hair piled on the top of her head. She had on suit pants and a white button-up shirt. She must have just come from an event—she was a baker as well and worked smaller weddings in the city. I remembered years ago, right before everything changed, she had said she tried to work here, before Kendall and whoever else had been in my job before me had been hired. I’d always found that odd since they had a family-run bakery, but she had talked down about Kendall and the rest of the Wilders, saying they weren’t good enough.
But that was Lauren. Anything that wasn’t hers, that she couldn’t have, must not be good enough.
“Thank you, Naomi. I’ll handle this.”
My voice had been low so Lauren hadn’t noticed me yet. Naomi looked back and forth between us.
“If you need help, just let us know.”
I nodded and stepped forward, clearing my throat. “Lauren? Is everything okay?”
I shouldn’t have asked that. Because things weren’t okay. She hated me and her brother was gone. What was I supposed to do? I couldn’t change the past. I couldn’t bring him back.
“Well, I see things haven’t changed. Keeping me waiting.”
I barely resisted the urge to roll my eyes. I was better than that. I didn’t need to act as immature as she was.
“I’m working, Lauren. Is there something you need?”
“I need you to get your head out of the clouds and get back to where you belong.”
I blinked, confused. “Where exactly do I belong? I’m working here.”
“With our rivals? William would be ashamed of you.”
It was like a slap and a gut-punch at the same time, and I staggered back. Just a single step, but Lauren saw it, and that catlike smile jumped to her face for an instant before she narrowed her gaze. My former sister-in-law had already won, and I needed to get out of this before we made a scene and I lost the job that she hated so much for me.
“You’re being ridiculous, and you need to leave. I’m working. There’s nothing I can do for you, and honestly there’s nothing you need from me.”
“How could you? How could you betray my brother’s memory like that?”
“For doing what I do best?”
“What you do best is ruin everything. This place keeps stealing our business, stealing William’s family’s business, and you decide to work here?”
Her voice rose, and I saw Naomi on the phone out of the corner of my eye. I resisted the urge to close my eyes and sigh. Well, there went this job. I knew I couldn’t have anything good when it came to this or my life. Because something was always taking it away.
“You need to go. You’re grasping at straws here, and remember, you’re the one who kicked me out of the business. I have no loyalty to the bakery. Only to myself. You made sure of that. And we both know that the bakery and this establishment barely have any connections. Your business is strong, the Wilders won’t change that.”
“Is there a problem here?” a deep voice asked, and I closed my eyes, humiliation settling in.
Ridge stepped to my side. Not in front of me to protect me, not behind me, but at my side. I would have to think about what that meant later. He folded his arms over his massive chest, but I didn’t look at him beyond that. I sighed and looked at my former sister-in-law. For some reason, Lauren looked between us and scoffed.
“Calling security on me. Really?”
“No, that was me,” Naomi said, giving a little finger wave. “We protect our team here.”
“She’s just going to fail and make things worse. That’s what she always does.”
“Ma’am,” Ridge began, but I held up my hand.
“I’ll handle this. Thank you, though,” I added quickly, meeting his gaze. He searched mine for a moment before he nodded and let me speak.
I would be grateful for that later. For now, I couldn’t think through the humiliation. “Lauren. Go. I don’t know what you’re trying to do, or what you want from me. But you’re not going to accomplish anything. I haven’t worked for you for five years. I have taken scraps since then, but I’m done. You’re embarrassing yourself and you’re embarrassing me. This is a place of business. People come here to be happy and relax. You shouldn’t be here.”
“We’ll just see about that,” she grumbled before she stomped off, but I knew that wouldn’t be the last of it.
Lauren didn’t hate me for not working with her, because she had been the one to fire me in the first place. Lauren hated me because I was alive and her baby brother was dead. I had lived, and William hadn’t. Lauren would never forgive me for that.
“Are you okay?” Ridge asked and I stiffened, hating that he had witnessed that scene.
I turned to him, and once again there was that flare of attraction. That burn in the belly that told me I wanted more.
Who was this man, and why did I feel like this?
I ignored the tension, the way that the hair on the back of my neck rose. I could reach out and cup his cheek, just touch him.
And maybe that was part of the new me, starting out and branching out.
But right now it was too soon, at least because I really only knew his name.
“Thank you. I’m fine. If it happens again, I’ll escort her out.”
“If it happens again, I’ll do it myself,” Ridge said, his voice low, deep, and it did horrible things to me…things I needed to ignore.
Today was a day for new beginnings. And maybe this beginning was just my job, just doing something I wanted.
Or maybe it was about that heat, that connection, because Ridge hadn’t moved his gaze from me, and I didn’t want to move my gaze from him.
And then I heard someone talking, a phone buzzed, a clock chimed, and real life entered. I cleared my throat and turned, heading back to work, but I could feel Ridge’s eyes on my ass the entire time.
So maybe there was room for growth.
Or maybe I was just kidding myself.