Mini Bonus Chapter One
A Batch Made in King Lake
Valley and Luke left the deck and stopped at the bar to say goodnight to Dare, his mate Audrey, and Trick’s mate Cassidy. Trick waved at them from the door as he checked the IDs of a small group.
They walked through the swinging door into the kitchen.
Sigh looked over his shoulder. “Good timing, this is the last ticket. Marco can take over.”
He plated the burger and slid it across the counter to Marco, who added fries and then carried it to the pass for the server to deliver.
Sigh wiped his hands on his half apron and said, “Let’s step outside on the patio.”
Juliette joined them, and they sat at a picnic table. Sigh folded his hands on the worn top and said, “Remember when you made buns for us?”
“Yes,” she said. “It was just a few days ago.”
“Right.” He grinned. “They were fantastic. I actually got a lot of compliments from patrons. I appreciate you stepping in when things got dicey here.”
“I was happy to.”
“I’d like to hire you.”
“For?” she asked.
“To bake for The Howl. Buns for now, a few days a week you can bake for us here and use my equipment. Maybe later on, we might open up a small dessert menu – pies and cakes and such. But at the moment, just buns.”
She stared at him.
Luke nudged her. “Sweetheart?”
“Is this a job offer?” she asked.
“Oh hell,” Sigh said. “Yes, it is. Sorry, my brain is still back in the kitchen. It’s a real paid job. We can work out the numbers next week. I’m not asking for favors, I want you to be the exclusive baker for The Howl.”
“What do you think?” Juliette asked.
Valley could only stare at them in silence as she thought about what had been on her mind since she gave up her job. What would she do for work? Luke was sure that fate would drop a job into her lap, and it turned out fate had once more used The Amber Howl to bring something wonderful her way.
“I’d love to,” she said. She smiled, relief filtering over her like sunshine through trees. Luke’s arm tightened around her.
Sigh nodded. “Let’s talk Sunday afternoon. We’ll work out the finance details with Dare, get a supplies list, and kick things off on Monday.”
“Perfect,” she said.
They talked for a little while longer about what Sigh envisioned she’d make – brioche and potato rolls for the weekly burgers, simple sesame seed buns for the core menu. “Apple cider donuts,” he said.
“What now?” she asked. “Donuts?”
Juliette shook her head with a groan. “He wants to use apple cider donuts for burger buns in the fall for a burger of the week.”
“Hot damn right,” Sigh said. “Imagine it! With bacon!”
Luke laughed. “I’m sold.”
Valley looked at him. “You are?”
“Hell yes. Burgers are good and so are apple cider donuts.”
She shook her head with a chuckle. “I can do all those things. I can make the bun types you want and even donuts for your weird fall burgers. I think it’ll be awesome.”
“We need to get back, babe,” Juliette said, wiggling free of the picnic table and standing. “We’ll see you guys tomorrow to discuss?”
“Yeah, that works,” Valley said.
Sigh gave Valley a fist bump.
She and Luke stayed on the back patio after the couple headed back inside.
“Wow,” Luke said. “I was not expecting that at all.”
“Me either.” The last lingering knot of worry about what her future would look like loosened. It wasn’t the job she’d planned on, but it was a wonderful place to start.
“I can build you a commercial kitchen,” Luke said.
He stood and helped her to her feet. “You can?”
“Sure. I can build anything you want. I just need to do some research and figure out the best place for it in the yard.”
“My fixer,” she said with a chuckle. “You’re so sweet. I love you.”
They held hands and walked away from the tavern toward home, the future wide open, and an empty bed waiting for them.
Want more from King Lake, Luke, & Valley? Read on for Mini Bonus Chapter Two: A Little Wild, A Lot Forever.