by Toni Aleo
“That’s really great of you.”
“We’re lucky that we make enough with the bakery that we can do that kind of stuff for them. And you should see their little faces light up when they see me, well, they light up because they know I have cupcakes, not so sure it has anything to do with me.” Avery laughed, then her face dropped, and she made herself busy with the cookies.
But Kyler saw her sadness, and he couldn’t help but ask. “What are you thinking about?”
“Me?” Avery asked, a surprised look forming on her face. “Oh. Well, it’s just that we normally collect money through the year in a jar at the register. We usually get enough to buy one thing off of each kid’s wish list, so they have something to open at the Christmas Eve party.”
“That’s a great thing that you do. So why so sad?”
Avery sighed. She took the trays out of the oven and put two more in their place. “Because this year we didn’t collect enough. I was only able to get them all little things like socks, slippers, or a stuffed animal for the little kids. I wanted to get the kids a game system for the tv room, but there wasn’t enough left to do that.” She sighed again and turned away, hiding her face from him. “I just hate disappointing them.”
“I’m sure they aren’t even expecting what you’re getting them. So, I don’t think they’ll be disappointed. Sounds like they look forward to the time you take with them, and that means more than money and gifts.”
Avery shook her head, not looking convinced.
“I’m sure everything will work out. Things have a way of doing that.” Kyler said. He had an idea, but he couldn’t do anything until he got home. For now, he needed to get Avery’s mind off her troubles. “Hey, Avery, do you think you can show me how to make the colored icing?”
“Sure. Then I could use some help with this gingerbread house.”
After icing some cookies to look like Santa Claus or candy canes, Avery showed him how to make snow on the roof of the gingerbread house. Kyler watched closely as she layered the white icing. The way she moved the icing bag, and how her technique was perfection had his full attention. Still staring at her, he missed her asking him if he was ready to take over.
“Kyler?” Avery asked again. She held out the icing bag to him. “Think you can do that?”
“Piece of cake… or cookie.” Kyler took the icing bag and did his best to emulate her movements. Standing back and checking out his handiwork, he even surprised himself. It looked just like new fallen snow.
“Nice. Okay, I really need to finish these cupcakes. Can you outline the windows and the door, and I will be right over?”
Kyler nodded. All the things his mom taught him were coming back to him. He missed being in the kitchen, baking, and decorating. It was a different kind of rush than being on the ice.
When she was finished with her snowman cupcakes, she piped red and green icing on the house, accenting it. Then she attached a gingerbread man with a glob of icing, in the front yard of the house. “Just a few more things, then I’ll add the finishing touches tomorrow.” She piped white icing on the chimney and accented the walkway.
Looking at the house, he couldn’t believe what they accomplished together so quickly. “Finishing touches? You mean it’s not done?”
Avery laughed. The girl was adorable, and extremely talented. Before long she had him using cookie cutters to create more cookies. She taught him how to outline the cooled ones with icing, and he helped make various other cookies. She even had him adding the faces on the snowman cupcakes. He hadn’t had this much fun in a long time. It not only brought back memories of his mom, but it was like he and Avery had known each other for ever.
The Christmas music played in the background, and for the first time in years, he wasn’t annoyed by it. Maybe it was the non-traditional pink décor throwing him off. Maybe it was the rush of memories that Avery helped bring to the surface. He missed holiday baking with his mom. After losing her, Kyler never thought he would bake again.
It had been a long day of making cookies. Once Kyler was home, he knew he needed to rest, but his brain wouldn’t stop spinning with ideas. Tomorrow was going to be ever rougher than today, with all the holiday pick-ups, but he couldn’t force himself to just relax. He still had too much to do if his ideas were going to come to life.
Kyler settled in front of his television with a cold beer and leftover pizza. Opening his laptop, he searched every local toy site he could find. Christmas was in only a few days, so many of the toys were out of stock, but somehow, he lucked out finding many new and popular items.
He was sure these kids didn’t care what they got, as long as they got something, but that wasn’t good enough for him. Picking up his cell, Kyler texted his agent, asking him to get the children’s wish lists from the orphanage.
Kyler didn’t know how he did it, but before long the lists were in his email.
Looking over each of their wish-lists, he made sure to purchase at least two things for each of them off their lists for them to open at the party. And if possible, something off their list for Christmas day. These kids weren’t asking for much, so it was easier than he thought to accomplish the task than he had imagined. Which left him more time to buy things he was sure that they didn’t dream of getting.
As he shopped online, an idea hit him. He typed out an email to his agent, asking him to create a fund for the orphanage. Kyler wanted a percentage of his money to go to this fund so there was always money to buy Christmas gifts for the kids. He would continue to supply the fund with money as long as he could afford to.
Chapter Five
Avery
It was Saturday, three days before Christmas. Avery knew from experience that today was going to be busy. By seven o’clock, when Kyler walked in, she had a line ten deep at the register.
Relieved, she softly smiled and nodded towards the boxes stacked on the counter. “Kyler, am I happy to see you. I could use a runner. There are boxes in the back with names on them. Here’s a list of ones I need. Bring them over to me. Thanks.” Avery rang up the next person in line and handed a very confused looking Kyler a list. “Becca is in the back getting orders ready for later today. Let her know you’re here in case she needs any help once it slows down.”
Kyler shifted his coffee to his opposite hand and slid off his jacket before taking the slip of paper. “Yeah. Okay.”
The customer she was waiting on chuckled. “Is he new?”
That customer was one of the few that had no idea who Kyler was. Avery nodded. “Sort of. He’s just helping out.”
A few folks in line started to chatter, and stare in Kyler’s direction.
She lost track of how many times she answered the question “is that Kyler Wilson?” before noon. There was not enough coffee in the world to deal with this on one of the busiest pick up days. Maybe having him help out was a bad idea.
With the steady line of customers, Avery didn’t have time to think about Kyler being there. Or how handsome he looked in those tight blue jeans and hooded sweatshirt. Or realizing all the reasons she fell for his charms that drunken night maybe didn’t have much to do with the alcohol at all.
By three o’clock, the bakery had finally cleared out. Now, and probably for the remaining hour they were open, it should be slow, just the typical Saturday traffic for a single cupcake, or small order. But by the looks of the cases, there weren’t many single cupcakes left.
“Kyler,” Avery did her best to hold back a chuckle. “You still hanging in there?”
The poor guy looked exhausted. He was in the best physical shape out of all of them, and yet his face was red, and even though his hair was short, it was mussed. Kyler had shed the hooded sweatshirt about an hour ago and tossed out his hot coffee for ice water. It was hot in the bakery, and she was warm too, but she was also used to it. The oven heated the room up plenty, but in addition, he had been running back and forth from the kitchen to the register and handing out orders.
“I’m still
vertical, if that’s what you’re asking.” His breathing was ragged. He scrunched his face up and asked as he looked around the empty bakery, “was that it? Are we done for the day?”
“Yeah,” Becca appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. “I think we’re in the clear, for today. Most of the holiday orders were picked up. So, tomorrow might be busy, but nothing like today.”
“Good.” Kyler let out a heavy breath. Pointing to the glass display cases, he commented, “looks like they cleared you guys out pretty good.”
“Yep.” Becca beamed. “Empty cases are exactly what you want to see at closing. First of all, nothing gets wasted, and most importantly, those were all sales!”
“So, you start all over tomorrow morning then?” Kyler asked, looking exasperated.
“Exactly. We put out fresh cupcakes daily.” Becca answered.
Kyler shook his head, looking frazzled. “I don’t know how you ladies do it. That was more exhausting than playing a sixty-minute hockey game!”
Avery couldn’t help but laugh at his ridiculous comment. “Well, for difficult days like this,” she went into the refrigerator and pulled out a glass bottle of homemade Limoncello. Showing it to Kyler, she continued. “Once we lock the door, we drink.”
“Really?” Kyler’s face was twisted in what she assumed was disbelief.
“Yes, really. Busy days call for alcohol. And since Avery lives within walking distance, we typically crash there. But, you guys are going to have to drink without me tonight.” Becca said. Her words seemed like she was sorry, but the evil grin on her face said otherwise.
Avery didn’t like this. Becca was obviously setting her up for another night of poor decision making. “And where exactly do you think you’re going? Are you really going to bail on our tradition after a busy holiday pick-up day?”
“Sorry, but yes. Derrick has to go out of town for some charity thing, so I am watching the kiddo. Because, obviously, Aunt Becca rocks.” Becca flipped the sign on the door to closed, gathered her coat and gloves, and waved goodbye. “You two have fun, and don’t do anything that I wouldn’t do.”
“That gives us way too much flexibility.” Avery joked, but then realizing how it sounded, her face burned with embarrassment. “Be careful driving out there.”
After Becca was out of sight, Avery locked the front door. Maybe we don’t have to do this, I could just send him home with some Limoncello.
But Kyler was sitting at a table and already poured two glasses of the lemon-flavored alcohol. “Who is this Derrick guy?” He sniffed at the drink before taking a sip. “I keep hearing his name, but I have yet to see him.”
Avery reluctantly joined him at the table. “Derrick is Becca’s best-friend since childhood. He has a little boy, and Becca helps out when she can.”
“Oh.” Kyler’s typically happy expression turned modest. “Is he your best-friend too?”
“Derrick? No. I mean, he’s a good guy. He’ll help out here when we need it. And I’ve joined them for taco night or pizza night, but he’s her bestie. I’m friends with her, and he kinda came with the deal.”
Kyler slowly nodded. “Right. And how do you know Becca?”
“We met in pastry class. We became quick friends, and after midterms, we celebrated with Limoncello. That’s when she showed me how to make it. We both wanted to own a bakery, and doing it together sounded like more fun than doing it alone. And we always make sure to have a bottle of Limoncello on hand.”
Kyler quickly finished his glass and poured another. “This is really good.”
“Slow down with that. The sweet lemon tricks you into not tasting the alcohol, but it’ll sneak up on you.”
Kyler drank half his glass. “Yeah, well, with all the damn Christmas music and cheer, I can use the alcohol.”
“Not a fan?” Who wasn’t a fan of Christmas?
“Nope.” After filling his glass back up, Kyler added more to hers, so she had a full glass too. “How about we play a drinking game? Every time a song has sleigh bells in it, we drink.”
Avery nodded, hesitant. This will either make an awkward situation more bearable or make it worse. Three glasses later, Avery was relaxed, not worrying about the bad decisions that alcohol encourages. Instead, she was thinking about all the reasons why she was attracted to Kyler on New Year’s Eve last year. With each memory, her body heated up. Kyler was sweet and attentive. His pants were tight, showing very muscular legs, and a great ass. His arms were strong when he pulled her into his chest. His lips were soft when he kissed her…
“You know what? This flavor would make a really great cupcake.” Kyler suggested, his words snapping her out of her thoughts.
She cleared her throat and collected her thoughts. “You think?” The lemon would be delicious, especially sweeter than the typical citrus-lemon pastry. The wheels were already in motion, and it would be a nice distraction from Kyler. “Grab the bottle, and c’mere.” Avery hurried to the kitchen.
Baking was her passion in life. And if she was baking, she wouldn’t be making a drunken move on Kyler that she’d regret later. As she mixed the dry ingredients together, she was so focused, that she almost forgot that Kyler was there. But now that she was thinking about him, he was all she could notice. Avery could feel his eyes on her as she beat the butter, cream cheese and wet ingredients, and it made her heart race.
“Can you hand me the Limoncello, please?” Now her senses were hyper aware of him, as she poured the citrusy-sweet alcohol into the mixture.
Avery poured and downed another glass of lemon-flavored alcohol. Kyler met her with the bowl of dry ingredients. “Let me help.”
The smile that crossed Kyler’s lips lit up his face, and she couldn’t resist his charm. Maybe it was the alcohol talking, but as annoyed as she was that her one-night stand was hanging around, she couldn’t deny that she was attracted to him. That was the only reason she had been so cold to him. Because if she dropped the bitch act, she’d likely fall right into his arms. The man had a way to make women swoon, and she was far from exempt. Her best bet was to keep her eyes low and her hands busy, and a little space in between them didn’t hurt.
“I need you to pour a little dry mixture into the bowl, and I’ll pour some milk, then more dry mixture, and so on. Got it?”
“Yeah, I think I can handle that,” Kyler nodded, the grin still pulling at the side of his lips.
Her gaze lingered a little too long on his lips, and she did her best to play it off. Knowing it was no use, she kept her eyes on the mixer for the next few minutes. Kyler did his part, she did hers, and soon the mixture was ready.
“We still need lemon juice and zest.” Avery turned quickly and opened the refrigerator. The coolness felt good on her face. Between the alcohol and the other kind of hotness Kyler was giving off, she was overheating. Avery was proving to be no match for his charm.
Bringing back the last two ingredients to the mixer, she finished the batter, keeping her attention on the mixer. Kyler appeared at her side, and together they used ice cream scoops to put the batter into cupcake liners. When the tray was ready, she put it in the oven.
Avery was doing everything in her power to avoid getting bowled over by Kyler’s charm, but it was as if he couldn’t help himself. Every word he spoke was doused in flirtation and sex appeal.
Maybe it wasn’t him so much as me? Avery wasn’t blind to the fact that her body tingled every time he was near. Whatever it was, she had to keep her distance.
She washed the mixing bowl and mixing blade, preparing for the icing. The sink was far enough away from the oven, she could take a breather. “I think we should get started on the icing?”
Avery turned, taking two big steps towards the counter, and hit into Kyler. Not only did she bump right into his hard body, but the room took a spin on her, thanks to all the Limoncello she drank.
Kyler caught her against his broad shoulders and muscular chest. “Avery? You okay?”
She looked up and met
his dark eyes. His hard body pressed against hers. She swallowed hard. Avery tried to speak but nothing came out. Christmas music played in the background, the smell of cupcakes teased her senses, and holiday lights sparkled. She gradually moved closer to his lips, and he did the same.
Then the oven buzzer went off. Saved by the bell.
“The cupcakes…” Avery looked to the ground and sighed. What did she really know about this guy? Besides he was a hockey player, who had a history with puck bunnies. She already knew he was great in bed and an amazing kisser. Begrudgingly, she pulled away from Kyler, and tended to the cupcakes, taking them out of the oven. She needed to breathe, and in order to do that she needed space.
Maybe the buzzer stopping them before they could kiss was a sign.
“While those cool, we should start on the icing.” Avery was moving on auto-pilot. Her body wanted to be back in his arms, and her brain was telling her to make the damn cupcakes.
Kyler leaned against the counter while watching her put all the ingredients together. Avery mixed the butter and cream cheese, hoping the loud hum of the mixer would give her a second to think. After a few minutes, she added the Limoncello, then the sugar. Waiting until it was all incorporated, Avery took a small taste. “Perfect.”
She grabbed another little tasting spoon and filled it with icing. Avery held it out to Kyler. “Here, try it.”
Instead of taking the small plastic spoon, he walked towards her, so close that her heart skipped a beat and her breathing hitched. Without taking the spoon from her hand, he put the spoon in his mouth, taking every last bit of icing.
His gaze never left hers.
Kyler reached out and cradled her jaw in his strong hand. His lips brushed gently against hers, then his tongue met hers, tangling together. He tasted sweet and lemony as he kissed her. His lips lingered. Before she was ready to end the kiss, he slowly pulled away.
Looking from his lips to the floor, Avery was dumbfounded at how much she enjoyed his kiss. “The cupcakes?”