“Simon, what are you doing in here?”
“Sorry. I knocked. I knocked a lot. And when you didn’t respond, I started to worry that you might not feel well.”
“I... I’m fine.”
He searched her face. He could tell she was lying, but he didn’t dare accuse her. Instead, he would pretend everything was fine, which clearly it wasn’t. But until he figured out what he could do to help her, it was best to play it safe.
“Can I get you something to eat? Eggs? Toast? Waffles? Or pancakes?”
At that, Pepper’s face turned about three shades of green. She held up a finger indicating he should wait. Then the bathroom door slammed shut. What in the world?
As he approached the door, he knew what was the matter. Pepper didn’t feel well. It was the shock from last night. He couldn’t blame her. If his business was to suddenly go up in flames, he would be utterly devastated too. But she just had to realize that this was just a temporary setback, not the end.
Unless...unless she didn’t have insurance. He couldn’t imagine not having insurance, but he also knew when money was tight, corners were cut. If that was the case, it just might be the end. No wonder she felt so poorly.
He wasn’t sure what to do. He didn’t want to make matters worse, so he moved to the doorway and waited. A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened. Pepper stood there. Even her lips were pale this time.
He rushed over to her. “Maybe you should sit down.”
She didn’t say anything or put up a fight as he guided her to the side of the bed. She must feel as bad as she looked.
“Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
He rushed to the kitchen. He knew his housekeeper/cook kept it well stocked. He was about to find out just how well stocked. The pantry was not a place he ventured very often, but when he opened the door, he was quite pleased with the selection.
He quickly located a can of ginger ale. And then he moved to the fridge. Recalling what his mother used to give him when his stomach was upset, he toasted some bread and served it plain.
He returned to the room to find Pepper had made the bed and was straightening the place. He was shocked she was up and about. She hadn’t looked well enough to do any of this. And she was still looking ill.
“You don’t have to do that,” he said.
“Of course I do.” Then she frowned. “You’re right. I should strip the bed in order to wash the linens.”
He was horrified that she thought she had to come here and do the laundry. “Pepper, come over here.” He gestured to a small table in front of the window. When she didn’t move, he said, “I pay people to take care of things like changing the bed and washing the laundry. You are my guest. And you don’t feel good. You need to take it easy. You had quite a shock last night.”
She sighed and moved to the table. She sat down and looked at the things he’d brought her, but she didn’t make any motion to eat or drink.
“It’s ginger ale and some plain toast,” he said, sitting across from her. “My, uh, mother used to give it to me when I didn’t feel good. I thought it might help you. But if you prefer something else—”
“No. This is fine.” And then her gaze met his. “Thank you for being so thoughtful. And I’m sorry about everything, from tearing you away from your party to making a scene last night and then putting you out—”
“Stop. You don’t have to be sorry about anything. To be honest, that party was boring. It was a bunch of people who wanted to be seen.”
“Then why did you host it?”
“Because it was expected.”
She studied him. “So you did it because people expected you to do it, even though you, personally, didn’t enjoy it.”
“Something like that. But enough about me. What can I do to help you?”
“You were helping me.”
“I was?” He didn’t follow her meaning.
She nodded. “By talking about yourself and your party for just a few brief seconds, I was able to think about something besides the nightmare that is now my life.”
“Oh.” He wasn’t used to talking about himself. In fact, he made it a point to share as little as possible, because whatever he told people eventually ended up on some tabloid site.
But Pepper was different. He’d told her a lot about himself and none of it had ended up on any gossip sites. All their morning chat sessions had been kept private.
And even after their night together, when things had gone terribly wrong, she still hadn’t turned to the tabloids and vented. Was it wrong that he’d braced himself for that exact eventuality? How could he have doubted Pepper’s character? She was exactly what she seemed—a wonderful, caring person.
* * *
The events of last night felt like a nightmare.
The problem was, when she woke up this morning, it was all real.
With her stomach now settled, Pepper was on the subway headed toward her bakery. Wearing the same clothes she’d had on yesterday, she sat on the bench as her stop quickly approached.
Soon she would be back at the bakery—or what was left of it. She wrung her hands together. She was hoping in the light of day that the damage would be less than she imagined. Maybe it was just a small stove fire that could be quickly and easily remedied. Could she be that lucky?
She didn’t consider herself a lucky person. Everything she’d gained in life she’d worked for, or it had come with a very dear price. Her thoughts turned to the loss of her grandmother and the modest inheritance she’d received. At first, she hadn’t wanted to take the money. It just felt wrong to take her grandmother’s money and roll it into her dream of a bakery.
And then she’d received a letter from her grandmother’s attorney. Her grandmother had written her a short but pointed letter, basically ordering Pepper to follow her dreams. It was so like her grandmother to propel her forward into the unknown, because nothing was gained without taking chances.
But now it had all gone up in smoke. The thought weighed heavy on her heart. She had no idea where to go from here. She definitely needed a plan ASAP.
She couldn’t believe Simon had cared for her. She must have been a pathetic mess, for him to take her home last night. She knew the only reason he would take her in would be pity. Because she knew without a doubt that he had absolutely no feelings for her.
It was nice that he’d lingered around the penthouse that morning to make sure she was feeling better and over the shock of the fire. He’d left before her, but she didn’t waste much time. She had to find somewhere to live besides Simon’s place. She hoped that it would be back in her apartment.
She exited the subway and made her way toward Mulberry Street. It wasn’t far from here. Light flurries fell from the sky, melting as the snow hit the sidewalk. Normally, she’d enjoy the wintery scene, but today she was too distraught to find the beauty in anything.
Her feet felt heavy as she walked. Her steps weren’t as quick as they’d normally be. All the while, she tried to prepare herself for what she might see, but how did one prepare for the end of a dream?
As she turned the corner, she caught her first glimpse of the bakery. There was yellow caution tape up around it. Pepper barely noticed the people she passed on the sidewalk or the cars rushing up the road. Her sole focus was on the bakery.
And then she stopped across the street from it. Her heart clenched. Her beautiful bakery was a broken, sooty mess. Tears stung the back of her eyes. She blinked them away. She’d fallen apart last night, but today she had to keep it together. She had to formulate a plan.
She hesitated. She stood there taking in the boarded-up display window and the stripes of soot running up the white painted brick. The black awning seemed to have fared okay. She crossed the street, finding it was only an illusion. Upon closer inspection, she could see the toll the fire had taken on the material. I
t would need replacing.
It might be a mess, but the bakery was still standing. That had to be a good sign. A glimmer of hope flickered within her. Was it possible to rebuild her beloved bakery?
She moved to the door. There was a sign on it, but she didn’t pause to read it. She was anxious to get inside and see what needed to be done.
Her hand touched the door handle just as it was pulled open. A tall man in a firefighter’s jacket stood there. His expression was serious as he frowned at her.
“You can’t be here. Didn’t you read the sign?”
“But I own the bakery.”
He nodded. “You still can’t be here.”
“But I live here.” All she had were the clothes on her back. “I need to get to my things.”
“That’s not going to happen. The fire marshal hasn’t been here to do his report yet.”
“What report?”
He didn’t answer her as he stepped outside, forcing her to back up on the sidewalk. The man was so tall that she couldn’t see around him to get a glimpse of the inside.
The man eyed her as though making up his mind about her. “There’s a suspicion of arson.”
“Arson?”
In the back of her mind, she vaguely remembered arson being mentioned the night before. The memories were blurry. But by the way this man was looking at her, he thought she was guilty.
* * *
The bakery was as bad as he remembered.
Simon had just had a look at the back of the building, since no one would allow him inside. He’d been hoping the fire was minor and Pepper could return home today, but it wasn’t going to happen. That much was evident from the outside. He could only imagine the damage to the inside.
He thought of Pepper and another wave of sympathy came over him. The fire last night had hit her so hard that he wasn’t sure how she was going to take the sight of her bakery all charred. It didn’t even slightly resemble the trendy bakery that it’d been a mere twenty-four hours ago.
He rounded the building and stopped on the sidewalk in front of the bakery as he spotted Pepper. The short-tempered fire captain that he’d had the misfortune of running into was now walking away from her. That man was definitely not the friendliest guy. His words were short and blunt.
When Simon had tried to get inside to eyeball the damage, he’d been told no. There was no room for discussion. The captain didn’t care who Simon was, and that was fair enough, but the man provided absolutely no information that would help Pepper. None whatsoever. And so Simon had to wonder what the man was holding back.
He focused his attention on Pepper. His jaw tightened when he saw the distressed look on her face. He was certain the captain had done nothing to help matters.
Simon approached her. “Are you okay?”
She shook her head. “Have you seen this place?” And then she moved her distraught gaze to him. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at the office?”
“I wanted to see where things stood.”
“Don’t worry.” Her eyes reflected her pain. “I’ll be out of your penthouse as soon as I contact the insurance company.”
“There’s no rush.” He instinctively reached out to her, drawing her near. Initially, she resisted, but then she let herself be drawn into a hug.
There on the sidewalk, with flurries swirling around them, they stood wrapped in each other’s arms. Holding her close drove home how much he’d truly missed her—missed everything about her.
He murmured against her hair, “You can stay as long as you need.”
She pulled away, and with great reluctance, he let her go. “I’ll make other arrangements. You’ve done too much already.”
Perhaps it was best to change the subject. “What did the fire captain say to you?”
“That I couldn’t get inside.” Her fine brows drew together. “Did he let you inside?”
Simon shook his head. “He’s a very unfriendly guy.”
“That’s what I thought. I tried to tell him that I live here and I needed to get to my stuff—especially my clothes. He didn’t care.”
“Hopefully, you’ll be able to get inside soon. Can I give you a lift back to the penthouse?”
She shook her head. “I have some shopping I need to do.”
“Can I drop you anywhere?”
Again, she shook her head. “It isn’t far and I feel like walking.”
He watched her walk away, wondering if he should go with her. Something told him if he tried, she’d refuse his company. At least she had his phone number. If she needed anything, she could call him. But would she?
CHAPTER SIX
AND THE HITS kept coming.
The insurance company refused to release the funds until arson was ruled out.
Pepper couldn’t believe she was suspected of arson. Her. A person who loved her little bakery with all her heart. A person who was lost without her warm kitchen filled with scents of cinnamon, apples, cherries and a bunch of buttery goodness.
Not sure what to tell Simon, she took advantage of his invitation to make herself at home in his penthouse. So after a quick stop at the grocery store, she made her way to Simon’s massive kitchen. She lost herself in her baking. It was cathartic for her.
And then it was time to head to the animal shelter where she volunteered at least once a week, sometimes it was more. Next to her bakery, it was where she was most comfortable. And until the renovations were complete, Pepper looked forward to her visits to the Helping Paw Shelter each weekend. She carried in the boxes of cookies, cupcakes and Danishes for the adopt-a-pet event.
“Pepper, I didn’t think you’d be able to make it.” Stephanie, the assistant director of the shelter, rushed over and gave her a hug. “We heard about the fire, and I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do?”
“Thank you. I appreciate the offer, but there’s nothing to do right now but wait for all of the paperwork to get done.” She didn’t want to discuss the arson investigation.
“How bad was it?”
Images of the scorched front of the bakery flashed through her mind. “It looks bad from the outside.”
“What about the inside? What about your apartment?”
Pepper shook her head. “I don’t know. They won’t let me inside yet.”
“Oh, Pepper, that’s awful. Where are you staying?”
“With a friend.” Heat rushed to her face when she thought of Simon. She didn’t know if he still qualified as a friend, but she didn’t know what else to call him.
A smile eased the worried look on Stephanie’s face. “Must be a guy friend.”
Her body grew increasingly warm. “Why would you say that?”
“Because you’re blushing. Tell me it’s Simon Ross.”
“Shh...” Pepper glanced around to make sure they weren’t overheard.
“It is.” Stephanie grinned and quietly clapped her hands. “How did this happen?”
Pepper needed someone to talk to about the events of her life and Stephanie had become a good friend. She gave her a brief overview of the events of the last twenty-four hours.
“Wow. I can’t believe all of that happened to you.”
“Me either.” Her thoughts turned to the problems with the insurance company. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“I’d offer to let you stay with me, but all I have is a lumpy couch. It’s yours if you want it though.”
“Thanks. I’ll keep it in mind.”
Stephanie checked the time. “Let’s get a table set up for all of your goodies.”
Pepper glanced around and noticed that nothing for the event was set out. They must have thought she wasn’t coming. “I should have called to let you know I could still make it. And I have some goodies for the four-footed little ones.” Lately, she’d started baking doggie
biscuits and experimenting with kitty treats.
“You know, they like them so much that you should consider starting your own pet line.” Stephanie’s gaze moved to all the baked goods. “I can’t believe you baked all of this, considering everything that just happened to you.”
“It felt good to bake. I might have made a little too much.”
“Never. It’ll all be gone by the end of the evening.”
Pepper set up the table with the pastries she’d brought with her. “You really think so?”
“I do.” She glanced up at the clock. “We have a little time before the adoption party. Come with me.”
Pepper glanced back at the table that wasn’t totally set up. She really should stay here. She needed it to look its best. Even though her bakery was temporarily out of business, she was not giving up. She intended to use the insurance money to fix everything and then life would go back to normal. In the meantime, she was passing out her business cards in hopes that people would call her for cakes and remember the name of her bakery and come to visit when she had her grand reopening.
“You can do that later,” Stephanie said. “I have someone for you to meet.”
Meet? Pepper wondered who it could be. She’d been coming to the shelter for so long that she knew all the volunteers by name. Maybe they’d taken on someone new.
Pepper followed Stephanie to the back of the shelter where they housed the puppies. Each doggie looked so sweet to Pepper. They all had their sad stories that pulled at Pepper’s heart strings. If it were up to her, she’d adopt them all. If only she had a big enough house and all of the hours necessary to care for them.
She did take care of foster dogs from time to time. They were usually very special cases. However, with the opening of the bakery, she hadn’t had the free time that she used to.
Stephanie led her to the last kennel and stopped. “Pepper, I’d like you to meet Daisy.”
Inside the kennel was a beagle puppy. She was timid and smashed herself against the back corner. She was the most adorable fur baby with her brown, floppy ears. Pepper’s heart immediately melted.
Her Christmas Pregnancy Surprise Page 6