The Bakeshop at Pumpkin and Spice

by Donna Kauffman

  Once Lara had filled out her paperwork, they’d shared an elevator to the second floor. Gratitude curved her hand over his forearm. She’d given a gentle squeeze. Her gaze was bright, her expression animated. They conversed easily. She was excited to start work.

  Jack had assigned her a small office at the end of the hallway with easy access to the larger conference room. There she would appoint committee members and hold meetings. He hoped it wouldn’t get as wild and crazy as the previous Friday. Which had gotten out of hand. A first for Jack. He’d valued order and control, and had lost it. Never again.

  He’d never have imagined the parade causing such commotion. He’d been totally blindsided. The town had taken on a life of its own. Emotions ran high and opinions were loudly expressed. No one had been more obnoxious than Glen Meyers, the ring leader. He’d started it all. Had egged everyone on. Loud, rude, and intrusive, he’d arrived with a personal agenda that he tried to shove down Jack’s throat. The family lumberyard always had a big sale over Halloween weekend. It was a major moneymaker going into winter. The business slashed prices on both commercial construction and household improvement projects. Glen wanted to extend the parade route to draw in customer traffic. Jack had refused him. Despite the denial, Jack expected Glen to return. He would press his point a second time. Possibly even a third. He didn’t know when to quit. Jack hoped Lara would take a firm stand against her ex-boyfriend.

  To that end, he’d assigned his assistant, Paula, to work with Lara through the planning of the parade. Paula might be young, but she was smart, savvy, and so blunt she made people blink. No one, not even Glen, would bulldoze Lara with Paula in the room. Paula had push-back.

  Lara. A friend who held his interest. He liked what he saw in her. A pretty lady with a curvy body. Expressive hazel eyes and full lips that parted in surprise. Years ago her parents had moved to Chicago. So they could be nearer to her married sister, husband, and their grandchildren. Lara still loved the small town of Moonbright, as did Jack. She was now employed by the courthouse. He would see her every day. He smiled at the thought. She was easy on the eyes.

  It was still early, and Lara would be in her office getting organized for the parade blitz. Jack had planned her introduction. He felt an undefined need to protect her. He would affirm her position to the townspeople and request their respect during the committee meetings. An ambush was not on his agenda. He would not allow a repeat of Friday.

  He’d instructed Paula to post a notice on the conference room door, indicating a new events coordinator had been hired, and that she would open discussion on the Halloween festivities at 9 a.m. It was a quarter ’til the hour. Deciding to take a peek into the hall, he cracked his office door.

  No sign of either Lara or Paula. His initial look drew him fully into the corridor. He stood off to the side, positioning himself behind a column. People now gathered outside the conference room. The door remained locked against an early onslaught. Lara had a key. That protective urge rose in him again. He wanted her first day to go smoothly.

  “Mayor, are you hiding or spying?” Paula asked, coming up behind him. She carried a stack of photocopied pamphlets that weighed her arms down.

  Jack took half the pile from her. He noted the headline on the top page: HALLOWEEN PROCEDURES. “I’m here to help.”

  “If you say so.”

  “I’m taking a break,” he told her. “I was thirsty and headed to the water fountain.”

  “You have a small refrigerator filled with bottled water in your office.”

  “I’m stretching my legs.”

  “Legs that jogged three miles this morning?”

  She knew his exercise routine. “Your point being?”

  She openly studied him. Observant to the point of being annoying. Her eyes twinkled. Her smile curved. “Haircut, new navy suit, snazzy lavender paisley tie. The courthouse staff knows your basic style, yet you’ve dressed to impress. Impress who, Mayor Hanson?”

  Heat crept beneath his pale-blue shirt collar. Then stole up his neck. Blushed his chin. His assistant was far too perceptive. He steadily stared back at her, refusing to blink. Unwilling to admit his attraction to Lara Shaw. He didn’t understand it himself. He liked what he knew of her, and hoped to know her better. He declined to share his intention with curiously nosy Paula. He’d never been the center of courthouse gossip, and he wasn’t about to start now.

  She shifted the papers against her chest, and that’s when he noticed her T-shirt. A crisp yellow cotton scripted with a gold Q&A.

  Mommy, Mommy, are there such things as mummies? Yes, dear. Now wrap your bandages tightly, it’s cold outside.

  “New?” he asked.

  She nodded. “Looks like we both did some shopping over the weekend.”

  “Looks like.” Enough said. “I like your Halloween spirit.”

  “More T-shirts to come.”

  He glanced over her shoulder.

  “Looking for Lara?”

  He played it cool. “I wanted to be available to introduce her. I’ll hang around a while, in case there’s something she might need.”

  “Isn’t that why you assigned me to her?”

  He pursed his lips. “Fair enough.” Paula had his number.

  Lara left her office at that moment, which saved him from Paula’s scrutiny. He watched her approach. She, too, carried a stack of photocopied papers. She gave him a tentative smile. He smiled back. All three elevator doors opened behind him, and people spilled out. The lifts had been loaded to their weight capacity.

  Lara nodded to the arrivals. “I’ll be with you shortly.”

  Eighty-year-old Edna Milner narrowed her gaze. Squinted behind thick, round glasses. “Lara Shaw, that you?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Lara replied respectfully.

  Her expression pinched. “What are you doing here, girl?”

  Jack intervened. “I’m about to explain her presence.”

  Amid the ascending elevators and the widening crowd, Paula clapped her hands and gained everyone’s attention. Jack spoke then, keeping his voice even, firm. “I’ve hired Lara Shaw as the new events coordinator. She’ll now be in charge of the parade and future town activities. Give her a few minutes, and she’ll meet with you in the conference room.”

  The group gave a slight shove forward, and Lara held up one hand, palm out. “Orderly, please. I will honor your thoughts, concerns, and requests by addressing six people at a time. Paula will pass out information pamphlets with my initial overview on the parade. She’ll also post a sign-up sheet. First come, first heard. She will usher you in when it’s your turn. Discussion will follow.” After a pause, surprised buzzing echoed in the hallway, along with a few grumbles. “Are we good? Everyone understand?”

  Nods, and an unladylike snort. “Pumpkin Head,” came from Edna.

  Lara cut the older woman a look, but let it go. She next glanced at Jack and whispered, “If that’s the worst I’m called this morning, then it will be a respectable day.”

  He admired her control. She then withdrew a key from her blazer pocket and opened the conference room door. Only to immediately close it behind her after Paula and Jack entered.

  She unloaded the stack of papers onto the table, released a breath, said, “So far so good.”

  “You’re doing great,” Paula assured her.

  Jack hoped the day would progress as it had begun. Lara seemed on top of the situation. He set down all but one pamphlet, then flipped through it. A very organized three pages. Lara was prepared. She’d outlined procedures and what she hoped to achieve. He returned the pamphlet to the pile.

  Paula turned to Lara. “I’m going to pass out the pamphlets now. I’ll leave the extras on the hallway table by the vase of fresh flowers. The sign-up sheet will follow.” She side-eyed Jack. “You coming, Mayor?”

  He had no other choice but to do so. Staying would suggest that he questioned Lara’s ability to handle the parade. He had faith in her. He liked being around her, but lingering
would raise eyebrows. Paula’s in particular.

  “My staff takes a coffee break at ten thirty should you wish to join us,” he mentioned to Lara on his way out.

  “I’ll be there,” said Paula. “I’ll be sure Lara takes a breather, too,” she added for his benefit.

  Jack left then with Paula on his heels. “Back up, please, no rushing or crushing,” the young woman instructed the crowd, as she handed out the pamphlets. She hung a sign-up sheet to the left of the door. “Print your names. I’ll call you when we’re ready.”

  She then set the remaining pamphlets on the table and ducked back into the conference room. There, she conversed briefly with Lara. At Lara’s nod, Paula returned to the hall and called the first six names listed. They filed in.

  Still Jack couldn’t bring himself to leave. So he stepped off to the side, near the water cooler. From there he could observe Lara, but she couldn’t see him. He leaned a shoulder against the wall, crossed one ankle over the other, and watched the action go down.

  Lara had a way with people. She was cordial, and they were civilized. She listened, jotted down their ideas, and most left with a smile. All but a displeased Edna Milner. She marched stiffly from the conference room, her expression sour.

  Jack took the older woman’s attitude with a grain of salt. He hoped Lara did as well. He assumed Edna was still pushing to be honorary Pumpkin Festival Queen, despite her age. Traditionally the title was awarded to a female involved in community service. Someone devoted to Moonbright. Despite the fact that Edna had never volunteered or sat on a committee, she continuously nominated herself. Year after year. She harangued whoever headed the parade and openly campaigned for the crown. Sadly, her disposition wasn’t queenly. She was cranky and showed little kindness or compassion. She tended to insult people, whether on purpose or not. She now elbowed her way to the elevators, descending in a huff.

  Jack looked over the packed hallway. People conversed in small groups. There was a calmness to the morning. Almost too composed. Similar to a calm before the storm. He was an intuitive man, good at reading people. He had the gut feeling all hell would break loose—he just didn’t know when. That made him very uneasy.

  Deep in thought, he missed Paula’s approach. She snuck up on him and tapped him on the shoulder. “Are you holding up the wall?” she asked with mock innocence. “Perhaps we should move your desk into the hallway? You could work and watch Lara at the same time.”

  “Funny, Paula, really funny.”

  “I wasn’t joking, Mayor.”

  “I’m headed to my office.”

  “When?”

  He frowned at her. “You’re not my keeper today. You’re assigned to Lara.”

  “She’s holding her own. Doing amazingly well. People seem inspired by her suggestions. Many are agreeable.”

  Good to hear. Lara was conscientious and capable. And apparently getting far more accomplished than he was. He had a stack of week-old paperwork on his desk that needed his attention. The parade had put him behind. He ran a hand through his hair. He narrowed his gaze on Paula. “Find me if she needs anything.”

  “She won’t need a thing. She’s got me to look out for her,” Paula emphasized. “Trust me.”

  She was doing fine without him. Paula’s assessment of the situation should’ve pleased him. It did, to some extent. But a part of him wanted Lara to need him for something, anything. However small. He was the mayor. This was his courthouse. He was the problem-solver.

  Paula pressed past him. “Catch you at the coffee break. It’s Monday, and the bakery special is German chocolate layer bars. My favorite.”

  “Each daily special is your favorite.”

  “I like everything Sofia bakes.”

  Jack had enjoyed the Italian cookies on Friday, as had Lara. He wondered if they’d be available again today. Two hours until their coffee break. He’d have to wait and see.

  Back in his office, Warhol greeted him at the door with an insistent meow. His food bowl was empty, and he wanted Jack to fill it. Warhol was a snack cat. He grazed on his kibble throughout the day. There was no such thing as an empty dish in his world. Jack obliged, and the big cat purred.

  Business awaited. He circled his desk and lowered himself into his chair. His thoughts strayed to Lara one final time before he dug into a proposal for roadway repair and maintenance. She was pretty and soft-spoken. Curvy and feminine. Qualities that attracted him. His life was full and incredibly busy. He hadn’t dated for some time. He’d never been seriously involved. He hadn’t met the one.

  Perhaps he’d invite Lara to supper. To celebrate her first day on the job. It was something to contemplate between street potholes, deteriorating cement curbs, and repainting crosswalks.

  The early part of the morning passed quickly. In no time Paula popped her head inside the door, calling, “Bellaluna’s, five minutes.”

  Jack looked up from his desk and asked her, “How’s it going in the conference room?”

  She scrunched her nose. “It’s . . . going.” Too vague.

  “Going how?”

  “Only one issue, and Lara handled it well.”

  “Issue?” he pressed.

  “Minor dustup. Glen Meyers and Janice Stanley-Stark cut in line, came and went.”

  That would be Lara’s ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend. Glen and Lara’s breakup was recent. Jack had dealt with Glen on Friday, and closed the door on extending the parade route to the lumberyard. Apparently Glen didn’t take his no as the final answer. Jack wouldn’t tolerate Glen’s in-your-face with Lara.

  Jack kept his cool. “What happened?” He wanted details.

  “Glen refused to take a number and wait in line like everyone else,” she informed him. “He was all huff and puff and blow the conference room down. Janice sided with him, and added her own snide comments.”

  Jack locked his jaw. Refused to lose his temper. He and Glen were the same age. They’d gone to school together but had never run with the same crowd. Jack had let his scholastics and sports speak for him. He’d excelled. And was true to himself. Whereas Glen was self-centered. He talked himself up and put others down. Jack wasn’t certain what Lara had ever seen in the man. Then there was Janice. Beauty is as beauty does, Jack thought. She could be cutting.

  Paula gave him a wave as she closed the door. “See you in a few.”

  His office phone rang. When he picked it up, the caller was City Councilman Anders. He was a talker. The reason for his call was long in coming. When the point was finally reached, it turned out he wanted to discuss the Five-Year Capital Improvements Plan. Which would take hours and didn’t need approval until the end of the year.

  Jack cleared his throat and slowly closed the conversation. The city council met once a month. He proposed Anders schedule an interim meeting for next week. His suggestion pleased Anders. The man was recently widowed. His days stretched long and lonely. He sought ways to fill his time. Jack made a note on his desk calendar to invite Anders to lunch on Friday.

  He stood, scratched Warhol behind the ear. The cat jumped off the corner of his desk and went straight to his food bowl. He pawed the rim. Jack saw it as half-full. Warhol eyed it as half-empty.

  He shook his head. “Really?” An insistent meow, and the cat won him over. Jack took a bag of kibble from the cabinet beneath the coffeemaker and added a small amount to the dish. Warhol circled his ankles, purred. Then chowed down. Jack returned the bag. He tried to monitor the cat’s intake of food, but he wasn’t always successful. Had he left the bag out, Warhol would have eaten his way into tomorrow.

  He was late getting to the hallway. The corridor was empty. He’d expected his staff to go on ahead. They knew he was often held up by such phone calls. He was standing before the elevator banks, holding the button with his thumb, when he heard the conference room door open, close. Lara came to stand beside him.

  He couldn’t help but smile. He was pleased to see her. She looked pretty standing in the flood of sunshine throu
gh the wide crescent window. Her hair was slightly mussed, several strands spiking over the headband. At least no one had caused her to pull out her hair. Neither Edna Milner nor Glen Meyers.

  She went perfectly still when he lifted his hand and patted down the dark blond points. Smoother now. So soft. “Better,” he said. His innocent gesture caused her cheeks to turn pink. Silence stretched between them until the elevator arrived. The doors opened and he stepped back, letting her enter. He joined her, pushing the first floor button. He flexed his hands. They felt suddenly heavy and awkward. Sweaty. He pushed them in the pockets of his pants.

  The elevator showed its age. A creak, a slight shake, and a drawn-out descent. The public staircase at the back of the building would’ve been quicker, Jack thought. Courthouse employees took the steps when they were in a hurry. He didn’t need fast. He valued these private moments with Lara. Enclosed and quiet.

  “How’s your job thus far?” he initiated when the elevator bumped to a stop. Their bodies shifted for balance. Brushed. A suggestive touching. Her hip skimmed his thigh and his arm grazed her shoulder. Static sparks. Awareness jarred them both.

  She left the elevator all wide-eyed and parted lips.

  He followed with a sharply indrawn breath.

  Once on the sidewalk, the red stop light on the corner of Pumpkin Lane held them at the curb. “I’m on a learning curve with the position,” she said, returning to his question as the light changed and they crossed the street. “Paula’s smart and helpful and one step ahead of me.”

  Jack nodded his agreement. Paula was observant, intuitive, and a damn good personal assistant. She was under the assumption he was attracted to Lara. True or not, he didn’t want her speculating with staff. He planned to give her his darkest “don’t go there” stare should she raise an eyebrow when he arrived at Bellaluna’s. With Lara.