Chapter 12 Baking Alone #2
“Obviously, I meant in baked goods,” Lachlan added.
“Lucky for you, I was just about to get started on the first batch of desserts for the contest,” she smiled. She didn’t dare comment on how she had to pitch the first set because she’d let them set out too long while she had a little baking sidequest.
“I decided to make scones. I thought I’d name them Winter Hearth for their warmth and Christmas nostalgia. What do you think?”
His eyes lit up, matching her excitement. “I think that’s brilliant.”
“Good,” she said over her shoulder, already prepping for her next bake. “You can be my taste judge.”
“I’m honored,” he said, placing his hand dramatically to his chest. “You better have brought your A-game, Snow. I’m as picky about my sweets as I am about the houses I sell.”
“High standards, hm? You’re wearing the same flannel from two days ago,” she teased.
“I have the highest standards.” He looked at her, more intently now. “About the things that matter in life. Like scones and vintage rolling pins.”
Before she could say anything else, her phone buzzed again, reminding her of the several she received earlier. She finally checked them. They were all from Piper.
WHAT
oh God, we’re reaching the climax of the Hallmark movie. What did you fight about?
what did you say to make him leave?
are the cultural differences between the city slicker and the country boy too great?!
Eliza groaned, shaking her head. She set her phone down on the island just as the oven dinged. She pulled on the oven mitts to get the scones out. Another message buzzed.
Behind her, she heard Lachlan laugh. She turned, seeing him over the top of her phone. Lachlan looked shamelessly guilty, and Eliza raised a brow, color filling her cheeks. “Did you just read my texts?”
He held his hands up in innocence. “In my defense, it was literally right in front of me. It’s not like I grabbed it, unlocked it, and read.”
What did Piper say this time?
Eliza crossed the kitchen and snatched her phone. After double-tapping the screen, she read:
FR though… where did he go
Eliza sighed, partially relieved. Not that she wanted him to read any of her texts, especially between her and Piper. But if her privacy was going to be breached, she was glad it was the one he read.
He raised a brow, smugly leaning against the counter. “Does this mean that someone was concerned for me?”
Eliza ignored him and silently went to her iPhone settings and disabled her message previews. “There,” she muttered, tossing her phone down again. “Now your nosy self can mind your own business.”
Lachlan looked far too amused. “Are you at least going to reply? Tell her that I came back in one piece?”
“No, because I wasn’t talking about you.”
“Oh, really? Who were you talking about then?” His voice lifted in skepticism.
“My ... cat,” she said, a beat too late.
“Your cat,” he repeated.
She nodded, doubling down. “Yeah. My friend lost him this morning.”
“What’s your cat’s name?”
“Fluffy.” She blurted out the first thing she could think of.
Puffcake and Lachlan exchanged a knowing look. “Creative,” he muttered.
“But, to be fair, you could’ve left a note.”
“So you were worried for me?”
“All things considered, yes. With my cat missing, and the house being what it is, I couldn’t help but worry.”
“Then,” he got out his phone from his coat pocket and slid it across the counter to Eliza. “We should exchange numbers. To soothe your anxiety, of course.”
“Of course,” she said. She punched in her number and added her name. “Eliza Jane Snow.”
Her phone dinged a second later. She glanced down at the screen, and his contact photo appeared. It was a picture of him on the cliffside of the coast, his arm slung around a German Shepherd.
“Who’s the dog?”
“My Fluffy.”
She snorted and tossed him a scone in response. He caught it with one hand, set it down on the island, and inspected it at all angles like a gemstone under appraisal. “Eight out of ten for presentation.”
“I didn’t know I was being judged on presentation!” she croaked.
“Well, you will be, tomorrow, ” he quipped. “Might as well start early. You’d better straighten up, Snow, or tomorrow won’t go in your favor.”
She rolled her eyes, placing a hand on her hip. “Shut up and taste the bloody thing.”
He obeyed, took a bite, and his eyes grew wide. “This is ...” he licked his lips. “Amazing.”
He paused, chewing thoughtfully. “But I think it could need something else. A little extra ‘Christmas pizzazz.’ I mean, don’t get me wrong, it truly is amazing. But I’ve tasted better from you, Snow.”
Eliza tasted one herself. She couldn’t say she disagreed.
It was good, but it wasn’t glowing. It wasn’t like all the other recipes that floated toward her on a whim.
“You think it needs a dash more zest?” she asked.
Puffcake nodded vigorously, twitching his tail. Lachlan only shrugged. “I’m not here to tell the master baker what to do. Only to judge.” He held his hands up in surrender. “But dang, your exes must’ve put on a fair few stone after dating you. You’re bloody dangerous.”
Warmth burned Eliza’s cheeks, and she wasn’t sure if it was from flattery or embarrassment.
He quickly backpedaled. “I didn’t mean to ... I just meant you’re really talented.” For the first time this week, Lachlan looked embarrassed.
“It’s fine.” Eliza smiled dryly. “I know you didn’t mean anything by it. Just be careful what you say. Or else next time I’ll feed you a burnt scone.”
She texted her friend back, figuring she’d waited long enough.
False Alarm. He came back.
For some reason, that made Eliza ridiculously happy.