He held up a hand. ‘You’re not here to manage the front counter. I took my mother’s shift so you could surprise her with your work. You get the baker’s room.’ He nudged her through the saloon doors. ‘The sculpting tools are here.’ He opened a drawer then opened a container of modelling chocolate. ‘The details of the cake are in the order book.’
Jessie wrapped her arms around his neck and rose onto her toes to close the gap between them. Travis turned her world upside down with a mere touch of the lips. Heat skimmed the surface of her skin.
A low rumble sounded at the back of his throat. Breathless, he released her then pressed his lips to her forehead. ‘I’d like nothing better than to stay in your arms, but there are two dozen cupcakes and cookies calling my name.’ He grabbed his apron off the hook.
She winked then went to work. Travis wasn’t the only one excited to see her carving skills. She loved to sculpt, starting with a round ball of clay and ending with a creation uniquely hers.
Pressure settled on her shoulders. Jessie had to do a great job with the baseball players. She didn’t want to disappoint Travis or the birthday boy. As soon as she picked up a handful of modelling chocolate, she pictured a design in her head. The next few hours flew by. Jessie created six figures, bats, balls, and gloves.
Travis came and went, providing words of praise as he hustled from task to task. He baked fresh items for the front display cabinet and piped buttercream into the baseball diamond. He also responded to the constant jingling bell above the door. With today being equally as busy as any other day of the week, they briefly paused to devour the turkey sandwiches Travis had packed for lunch.
An hour before closing, the baseball-themed birthday cake sat on the front counter ready for pick-up. When the client arrived, she stared in amazement.
‘This cake is outstanding. The colours are perfect and the detailing is exquisite. My son will be so happy.’ She hugged Jessie. ‘Thank you. I know where to come with future cake orders, and I’ll be spreading the word about Cooper’s Cakes.’ She then accepted Travis’ help to carry the box to her car.
Jessie rubbed her cheeks, hurting from an ear-to-ear smile. Excitement and pride surged through her as if she’d just ended a thrilling ride on a rollercoaster.
Travis lifted her in his arms and swung her in a circle. ‘Did you see her face? She loved the cake. Those characters are masterpieces. The detailing and airbrushing were superb.’ Setting Jessie’s feet on the floor, he kissed her cheek. ‘The pictures I took will go at the beginning of the design book.’
‘I’m shocked at how easily the sculpting techniques returned and how much I enjoyed the craft.’ Travis’ boasting was an added bonus.
‘You’ve brought life to my cakes with your carving skills.’ He lifted a hand to caress her cheek. ‘I’m beyond thankful for the day you first walked through those doors and into my life.’
Feeling her skin grow warm, she gently punched his arm. ‘Stop before my head swells.’
Travis took her hand in his and dragged her to the counter. He opened the order book and pointed to the list of cake contracts that would have them occupied for the next several weeks. ‘I want your input on the designs.’
She flicked a wrist. ‘You don’t need me. Your cakes are awesome.’
‘Awesome? True.’ He chuckled. ‘But they will be outstanding by adding your talent.’
Travis’ praise caused her heart to pitter-patter.
‘We’re in peak season for weddings and parties. We’ll be nonstop from sun-up to sun-down.’ He nudged his hip to hers. ‘Working side-by-side. Overtime will be required. I hope you don’t mind.’
She shook her head. Spend more time with Travis? Could life get any better? ‘I’d be honoured to work beside a master baker.’ Jessie placed her hands flat together and bowed her head.
‘Oh, right, my mother.’ Chuckling, he rolled his eyes then fetched a pen and a sketchbook from the back room.
An hour and many drawings later, they pulled up to the curb in front of her parents’ house.
‘Are you sure you don’t want me to join you?’
She appreciated Travis’ offer of a drive, but didn’t want to take advantage of his generosity. Laying a hand on his arm felt like the most natural thing to do. She loved the feel of his muscle under her fingertips. ‘Your presence would be appreciated. However, I should go alone. The situation could get ugly.’ She forced her lips to lift.
‘You’re stronger than you think.’ Travis squeezed her knee.
Staring out the window, she wondered how her parents would take her reappearance. Jessie regretted her choice to not contact them prior to arriving on their doorstep. Six years. No letters. No phone calls. No contact. ‘I left a note explaining I had to follow my dreams.’
‘Stay focused on the here and now. Be the woman who walked into my bakery and blew my mother and me away.’ He winked.
She wished to muster a laugh, but the soft spot at her temple throbbed.
‘You can do this.’ He held tight to her hand. ‘Call me when you’re done. We’ll go out for something to eat. Our first official date.’
Excitement and nerves knotted her stomach. Jessie leaned in for his kiss then hugged him. She didn’t want to let go.
Travis rested a hand on her cheek. ‘Remember to breathe.’
She inhaled a breath. ‘Thank you.’ Opening the door with a shaky hand, she stepped outside and walked the cobblestone driveway.
The Colonial Georgian home looked the same as when she left. Multi-paned windows featured in the striking exterior of stucco and brick walls, balancing both sides of the sunburst-carved pediment front door. The moderately pitched roof included gabled dormers and Georgian motifs to create a sophisticated, eye-catching street elevation. Professional landscaping of trees, shrubs, and bushes paraded the lawns.
Instead of knocking on the front door, Jessie walked the path along the side of the house to the kitchen. When she inserted a key and turned the handle, familiarity assaulted her. The scent of roasted ham and baked potatoes tossed her memory into the past. She closed the door and placed a hand on the granite island counter. The death-grip on the ledge didn’t hinder the wobble of her knees.
‘Do my aging eyes deceive me? Are you real?’
Jessie turned to the comforting voice of a stocky, grey-haired woman coming out of the pantry. ‘Marsha.’
‘The Lord has answered my prayers.’ Marsha dropped the cans she held in her hands. The metal containers collided together in the air then landed in repeated thuds onto the floor. ‘Our baby girl has returned,’ she squealed.
She ran into the woman’s open arms. This moment made coming home worth the anxiety. A warm hug wrapped in love. This was home. ‘I’ve missed you so much.’
Marsha stepped back, keeping a grip on Jessie’s hands. ‘Where have you been?’ She closed her watering eyes for a second. ‘No. Don’t answer. You’re here. A little on the thin side, but I can fix that.’
Another embrace.
‘I heard an awful ruckus. What on earth is going on?’
Holding a breath, Jessie spun on her heel. Her mother, Patricia Robinson, had aged as gracefully as expected. Expensive hair colouring and cosmetics hid the grey and wrinkles.
‘Is Marsha okay?’ Calvin Robinson rushed into the kitchen, holding a phone in his hand. ‘Do we have to call an ambulance?’ He stopped at his wife’s side, his stare bulging and his mouth gaping. ‘Jessica?’
‘Hi, Dad. Mom.’ Jessie awkwardly lifted a hand and waved.
Her father moved forward, his stare smothering the air in the room.
She waited for a reaction. Dr Robinson hid his emotions well. She could never read her father. Her mother had been the one to implement the rules and force a tone when she deemed necessary. Her father wore a business face. A mask. Jessie often wished he’d lose control. Scream. Shout. Anything, so she’d know he felt something.
‘Jessica.’ Watery drops slid onto his cheeks.
T
ears? Jessie bit her bottom lip.
‘We missed you. We wanted to find you but gave you the time you requested. We didn’t think you meant six years.’ He swiped a hand across his cheek. ‘We made a lot of mistakes. Didn’t we, Patricia?’ He glanced over his shoulder.
‘Your leaving was my fault,’ Patricia blurted into a moment of silence. ‘I’m a terrible mother. I’m so sorry.’ Mascara smudged the edges of her mother’s eyes.
‘I wasn’t the best daughter.’ Jessie balled her hands into fists, willing strength to keep her standing. ‘I was lost.’
‘You found your way home. Nothing else matters.’ Her father held out a hand.
Jessie placed her hand into his. He pulled her into a tight embrace, gathering her mother to join them. Years of frustration faded. Being cradled in her parents’ arms washed away all pain.
‘Excuse me.’ Marsha sniffed and wiped a tissue across her cheeks. ‘A very handsome man is lurking outside the kitchen door. Does he belong to you? Or should I call security?’
With a gasp, Jessie raced to the door. ‘Travis.’ She dragged him inside. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I thought you might need support.’ He nodded to everyone in the room.
She wanted to kiss him for being so thoughtful, but she squeezed his hand instead. The kiss of gratitude would come later.
‘And you are?’ Her father crossed his arms over his chest.
Jessie had never witnessed her father’s protective attitude. ‘This is Travis Cooper. My—’
‘Her boyfriend.’ Travis shook her father’s hand.
The word about to come out of her mouth was boss, but she liked boyfriend much more. A flurry of butterflies eased the knot in her stomach.
‘We work together at my mother’s bakery.’ Travis then shook Patricia’s and Marsha’s hands. ‘Jessie runs the front shop, and she’s the bakery’s head sculptor.’
‘My daughter is a wonderful artist.’ Patricia smiled. ‘We have several of her first pencil sketches framed in the den.’
Jessie stared at her mother. She couldn’t believe her parents saved her drawings. Had she known this sooner maybe her life would have taken a different course. A better path.
Marsha checked the oven timer. ‘Supper is ready. I have enough for two extra settings.’
Her mother stepped forward before Jessie could decline.
‘Please stay. There are many regrets. Your father and I have a lot to make up for. Much time has passed, but a new beginning starts today.’ Patricia tapped Travis’ arm. ‘And I’d love to hear more about this bakery.’
‘As would I,’ Calvin added.
Her father’s stare sized up Travis. She glanced toward her boss and new boyfriend. He raised his brows, leaving the decision to stay in her court.
‘You’ve been missing my cooking.’ Marsha wrapped a hand around Jessie’s waist. ‘I’ve got the remedy to put meat on your bones.’
Smiling, she threw Marsha a wicked stare. ‘The roasted ham does smell delicious.’
Patricia reached for Travis’ hand. ‘Let’s head into the den first. I’ll show you Jessica’s sketches.’
Travis flashed Jessie an encouraging smile then followed her mother out of the kitchen with her father close behind. Jessie sauntered at the rear. ‘An ambulance?’
‘I hoped you’d fail to zero in on that. I should have known better.’ Marsha grinned.
‘You should also know I’m not leaving until you spill the beans.’ Jessie placed her hands on her hips.
‘I got a tiny bit dizzy a few weeks ago and fell off the stepladder.’ Marsha pulled the ham out of the oven then glanced up. ‘No need for concern. Just low sugar.’ Rolling her eyes, she pointed to the hallway. ‘Having two doctors as employers is not easy. They now monitor my every move. They hear a pot clang and rush in here. I’m beyond thrilled to have you home. They’ll have someone else to pester.’
Jessie hugged Marsha. ‘You’re not in the clear. You now have three stalkers making sure you take care of yourself.’
‘Enough about me.’ Marsha waved a hand. ‘Tell me about the charming man who has captured your heart.’
She grinned. A lit torch warmed her insides. She fell harder for Travis with every passing minute. Jessie looped her arm through Marsha’s. ‘Oh, where to start?’
***
‘Your parents are nice.’ Travis shut the door to Jessie’s apartment then joined her on the sofa, wrapping an arm across her shoulders.
‘What an evening.’ Jessie snuggled against his chest. ‘I didn’t expect the reconciliation with my parents to go so smoothly. Though, I’m not fooling myself. We have many years to make up.’
After supper, Jessie’s parents insisted they stay for a cocktail. Travis got the impression a lot had changed since she’d left. Her parents admitted their careers shouldn’t have taken precedence over their family. They were committed to reconciling with their daughter, and regular Sunday dinners would be a start.
‘Marsha told me my father turned into a raging bull after I left. He voiced a strong opinion about my mother’s controlling ways. He regrets trying to mould me into someone they wanted me to be, instead of allowing me to grow into my own person.’ Jessie ran a hand along the length of his strong arm.
Travis held a breath. ‘Sometimes you have to lose someone to realize how much you love them.’ He then inhaled an island of coconuts from her hair.
She raised her eyebrows. ‘You didn’t have to say you were my boyfriend. My mother was already smitten.’
He placed a finger under her chin and lifted, meeting her green-eyed gaze. ‘I spoke the truth of how I feel. You captured my attention the moment I walked into the bakery and saw you sitting at the table. My mother insisted we hire you, so I thought, hands off. You’ve made the past few weeks very difficult. Good at your job and incredibly gorgeous. I haven’t been able to think straight.’
‘You’re awesome at playing cool.’ She gave his shoulder a gentle punch. ‘What about your date? You didn’t come to work the next day until closing. I thought—’
‘Nothing happened. I like Maggie. She’s a great gal.’ Travis enjoyed the spark of jealousy lighting Jessie’s eyes. ‘She’s not you. I couldn’t get you out of my mind. Maggie guessed my attention belonged to another.’
‘Then, what happened yesterday?’
‘You mean the day Mom told me about you rejecting the hot guy from the sporting-goods store?’ He raised a brow. ‘I’m thrilled to hear of your refusal, but I didn’t enjoy hearing another guy asked you out. My buddy told me to ditch my no-dating-employees rule and to take you on a date.’
‘I already like your friend.’ Jessie put a hand behind his head and leaned forward.
Her lips were soft. He couldn’t get enough and returned her kiss with a need he’d been containing for weeks. Slipping a hand in her hair, he drew her closer. Not wanting to end the kiss, but pausing for breath, Travis rested his forehead against hers. ‘Jessie Robinson, would you be my girlfriend and accompany me to a wedding on Saturday?’
‘I would be honoured to do both.’
She slipped her arms around his neck and ran her fingers through his hair.
He placed feather-light kisses on her lips. ‘I can’t wait for you to meet Liam and Carla. We should plan a couple’s dinner this week.’ Travis shifted against the pillow behind his back. ‘The ladies love Liam’s British accent. He left London years ago, but his accent is still quite strong.’
Her smile faded and her face turned ghostly pale.
‘Are you okay?’
Standing, she pressed her fingertips to her forehead. ‘Who are Liam and Carla?’
‘My buddy and his fiancée.’ A thought popped into his head. ‘I wanted to ask for your help on their wedding cake. Could you sculpt a blackboard and chalk? They met teaching at the same school. Liam subbed for a while before becoming a firefighter.’
Jessie walked to the kitchen and held onto the countertop.
Travis rushed t
o her side, reaching for her hands. They were shaking. ‘What’s going on? Do you feel ill?’
She shook her head. ‘Just really tired. It’s been a long day.’
Frowning, he pulled her into his arms. ‘What was I thinking, throwing so much on you. I made you work on your day off, and you reconnected with your parents. You must be exhausted. I’m sorry.’ He kissed her cheek. ‘I’m going. You rest.’ He placed one last lingering kiss on her lips as he grabbed his keys off the table. She opened her mouth, but he placed a finger over her lips. ‘I’ll see you in the morning. Sweet dreams.’
Closing the door, Travis let his smile fall. He thought he saw panic shadowed in Jessie’s beautiful eyes. Her mannerism had suddenly changed. Could she be reconsidering their relationship? He shook off the silly notion. Reconciling with her parents had to be stressful. Jessie was tired. He had to stop thinking worst-case scenario. Travis wouldn’t allow his fear of loving to return. He had too much invested.
Chapter Nine
After a troubled sleep, Jessie dragged her tired butt out of bed and into the shower. She had to pick up her car and get to the bakery before the shop opened. She had to tell Travis the truth. Unfortunately, the confession might end their newly formed relationship, and her current employment.
She’d almost fallen off the sofa upon hearing about Travis’ friend. Liam. British accent. Substitute teacher. Jessie may have missed the connection between the man in Heather’s story and Mr Moretti, but she clearly saw the link for Travis’ buddy and her ex.
Liam Parker. Jessie knew him very well.
Ignoring the throb at her temple, she slipped her feet into a pair of black flats and smoothed a hand over her grey capris. She dug in her purse for her extra car key then headed out of the apartment and to the bus stop.
She fetched her car, which purred like a baby kitten thanks to Brandon. Having her car back in working order didn’t diminish her pulsing headache during the drive to the bakery. She pulled into the parking lot and popped two extra-strength tablets to soothe the pounding. She inhaled a deep breath in hopes of calming her racing pulse.
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