Sweet Buns (Cedar Falls Book 1)

by Shea Balik

  Aidan instantly pulled back.

  “I just—” Those piercing blue eyes held Zane’s gaze, trying to draw him in again. He could feel himself starting to lean forward.

  No! He needed to stop this. Confusion and hurt shown on Aidan’s face as Zane pulled back once more. “I’m sorry. I just don’t want to do this in a car, on the side of the road.”

  Aidan gave him a small smile. “You’re right. Let’s get these to the festival. Then I can take you home to ravish you properly.” Aidan’s eyebrows moved up and down suggestively as he talked.

  Zane laughed. “You dork. Ravish? Really?”

  Aidan put the car in drive, then eased back onto the road. “Do you believe that I’m okay about you not talking to the other shop owners?”

  “Yeah.” Zane was falling more and more in love with Aidan. He had worried when first meeting Aidan that the man was a player, but slowly Aidan was breaking down all of Zane’s walls. Then again, it was easier to believe Aidan planned to stay in Cedar Falls when he was paying Parker thousands of dollars to build him all new furniture.

  Although, to Aidan that money might be a drop in the bucket. They hadn’t talked about it, but Zane kind of figured that by working at the casino, Aidan was making a lot of money. Still, Zane wanted to believe that Aidan was being honest about staying in Cedar Falls.

  Arriving at the fair, Zane was surprised how large it was. Even though they were able to park in one of the vendor lots, it was still a distance to their booth. Each of them carried what they could, but it would take multiple trips.

  As they neared the booth they saw a line of people waiting to be served. Megan and Kevin looked like they’d been run over by a truck.

  “Thank God,” Megan and Kevin both said as soon as Zane walked into the tent.

  It was a typical food tent. Tables lined the front to show off what they were selling. Megan and Kevin stood behind the tables and the rest of the food was stored behind them on the trays that lined the carts. Except when Zane looked at the carts, they were nearly empty. It wasn’t even lunchtime, how could they almost be out? A glance at the front tables showed many of the items were completely gone.

  “I hope you brought a lot because for the last hour, this is the shortest the line has been.” Megan pointed to the end of the line that had to have at least twenty people in it.

  Zane just looked at her for a minute as she continued to wait on the next customer. “Are you saying we really are almost out?” he asked when she was finished.

  “Yeah. And seriously, some of these people are getting pissed that we’re completely out of bear claws and cinnamon rolls.” She listened to what the next customer wanted. As she started filling the order, she said, “Oh, and we are nearly out of chocolate chip cookies, there’s only three chocolate cupcakes left, and I think I just saw Kevin give out the last brownie.”

  Zane was having a hard time understanding what was going on. He looked over at Aidan, who was smiling like a loon. “What?”

  “You honestly didn’t know just how good of a pastry chef you are, did you?” Aidan asked.

  No, he really didn’t. He still wasn’t sure this was any indication. Maybe these people were just really wanting something sweet because of the Halloween holiday. “I’m just surprised so many people are willing to buy what I make.”

  “As touching as this is, I need you to go get everything you brought,” Megan said. When Zane still didn’t move she added, “Now.”

  Zane may be in a fog, but Aidan apparently wasn’t because he dragged Zane by the hand back to the car. As he walked next to Aidan, Zane thought about what just happened.

  At the car, Aidan opened the back for them to grab trays and load them on the cart they brought back with them. Once it was loaded Aidan shut the door and locked it.

  “Are my pastries really that good?” he asked.

  Aidan took Zane in his strong arms and planted a quick kiss on his lips. “They’re amazing. You, babe, are a fabulous baker.”

  Zane grinned. Things were definitely looking up.

  CHAPTER 22

  On Sunday, Aidan met Bram at the Collared Pup in the morning to discuss the plans for talking to the various business owners. He’d been impressed that Bram had gotten more than half the downtown shop owners to agree to come. Aidan had talked to Parker and the other artisans about also attending. He thought most of them would show up.

  They were lucky that the Carolina Panthers weren’t playing that day, or they would have trouble getting anyone to show up. The fact that Bram would be providing the food and Zane the dessert, paid for by the casino, didn’t hurt.

  “Hey, Aidan. I just finished making the list for the food for this afternoon if you want to look it over.” Bram was sitting on one of the barstools at the bar when Aidan walked in.

  Aidan took the offered paper and quickly scanned the list. “I really appreciate you helping me out like this.”

  “Happy to help,” Bram told him. “Especially if it means getting more people into Cedar Falls. I don’t do too badly, but I also have to live above the bar to make ends meet.”

  It was that way with many businesses. Because so many had grown up in Cedar Falls, they lived in the homes they’d grown up in, but it meant forgoing repairs. Now that he was beginning to get to know a few residents, he discovered that meant their homes were one strong storm away from falling down around them.

  “Just let me know if you need to add anything,” Bram told him as Aidan scanned the list of food.

  Zane really liked the soft pretzels as well as the fish and chips, so Aidan upped the order for each of those. Not that Zane ate much, but he wasn’t about to let the man’s favorite foods run out.

  Bram took back the list of food and looked over Aidan’s changes. “Since I don’t need to be back here until noon to get ready, why don’t we go over to Sweet Buns for some breakfast.”

  Aidan grinned. Any chance he had to see Zane Aidan was all for. “Actually, that’s perfect. I wanted to check in on Zane anyway. The bakery is cleaning up at that festival in Blareston.”

  Bram locked the door behind him. “That’s not surprising. I swear, I have to force myself not to eat there more than three times a week.”

  The pub was just a few stores down and across the street from the bakery, close but not enough that he could see inside. But Aidan did notice there were quite a few cars on the street for a Sunday morning.

  He looked at his watch. It was nine. Most of the town was in church, so where did all these cars come from? Opening the door to Sweet Buns, Aidan was greeted by a full bakery with Brenna and Ethan running their asses off to take care of everyone still in line.

  The tables needed to be cleared in the worst way, and trash cans were overflowing. Based on the clanging coming from the back, Zane was busy baking. Clearly, Zane was going to need some help.

  “Um, Bram?”

  Bram clapped his hand on Aidan’s back. “I’ll help up front. You go check on Zane.”

  Aidan gave Bram a grateful smile. “Thanks.”

  The back looked like it had been bombed. There were dishes piled high at the dishwasher, bowls and pans stacked until they were nearly tipping over at the sink, and over everything was a film of flour. It almost looked like it had snowed.

  Zane was muttering as he continued frosting cinnamon rolls. Aidan wasn’t entirely sure what he was saying, but he caught one phase about watching what you wish for. Aidan wasn’t sure why Zane hadn’t called him to help, or Jesse, for that matter.

  “Where do you need me to start?”

  The question startled Zane, and the spatula he’d been using went flying across the room. “Ugh.” Zane growled in frustration. “That’s just fucking great. Now I have to take time out to clean the damn thing.”

  Aidan did his best not to smile at how adorable Zane looked angry. Not that he wanted Zane to be angry, but his expression said he was ready to fight the world, one spatula at a time. Walking over to where the spatula had landed, Aid
an picked it up and went to the sink to clean it. In all it had taken less than thirty seconds, but he hoped the time had allowed Zane to calm down a bit. When he turned around to hand it back to the man, Aidan realized thirty seconds wasn’t enough.

  Instead of handing it back to Zane, Aidan went over and kissed the man until the tension in Zane’s body finally relaxed. When he pulled back, he smiled at the look of bliss his kiss had created. “Now, you go bake. I know how to spread frosting with the best of ’em.”

  The reminder of what was going on snapped Zane out of the more relaxed state he was in, and he suddenly was off and running, or rather, baking. When Aidan finished frosting the cinnamon rolls he took them out to the front, a little stunned when people starting cheering.

  He looked from the two pans of six rolls each to at least twenty people standing in line and realized it wasn’t going to be enough. He went back and found Zane pulling out two more pans of the gooey concoction. Relieved they had more, Aidan quickly frosted the next two pans then took them out front and handed them to a grateful Ethan.

  But when he saw Ethan and Brenna forced to put everything on napkins as there were no clean dishes, he asked, “Ethan, have you or Zane tried Jesse?”

  Ethan immediately pulled out his phone and made a call. In the meantime, Aidan went into the back to start scrubbing pots and pans while Bram, who had brought back trays of dirty dishes, ran them through the dishwasher. Each load only took about five minutes, allowing Bram to bring clean plates and silverware to the front relatively quickly.

  As each batch of breakfast pastry came out of the oven, Aidan would stop washing, do whatever Zane told him to do to them, and brought them to the front. Zane was still muttering about closing the doors, but Aidan let him rant without interrupting.

  “Dude, do you know your bakery is packed with a line out the door?” Jesse said as he came in the back with an armful of dishes while still in his coat.

  Aidan groaned. He was tempted to urge Zane to go ahead and lock the doors. “Zane’s a little stressed right now, so maybe we shouldn’t mention the line still coming.”

  Jesse stared at Aidan with wide eyes. “Why, because Ethan asking for more cinnamon rolls, bears claws, and, well, just about everything else, isn’t a clue?”

  Aidan glanced at the panicked look in Zane’s eyes. “Just put those in the dishwasher and go clean the tables,” he ordered Jesse. Thankfully, Jesse listened.

  He needed to talk Zane down before he had a nervous breakdown. Aidan put his hands on either side of Zane’s head and forced the man to focus only on him. “It’s okay. Just keep baking and everything will be okay. Bram, Jesse, and myself are here to help, okay?”

  Zane nodded.

  He still looked dazed, but it was the best Aidan could do at this point. Going to the sink, Aidan continued his job of hand washing the pans, while Jesse kept bringing more and more dishes for the dishwasher. When Jesse went back out front, he’d take whatever Zane had pulled out of the oven.

  They worked like this for over two hours when Jesse finally came back and slumped against one of the counters. “I don’t want to jinx us, but the line is finally gone.”

  Ethan and Bram walked back. “Brenna is wiping down the counter, but I think the worst of it is over,” Ethan said. Then he picked up a washcloth and started wiping down one of the three counters.

  “Thanks, guys. I had no idea this would happen.”

  Zane still seemed to be in a daze, but he’d been slowly coming out of it as he’d made some progress in keeping up with the constant barrage of orders. Zane’s phone rang and everyone groaned.

  “Hello?” Zane closed his eyes in defeat. “Already? How is that possible? I sent you with twice as much as yesterday.”

  Without even being told Aidan could tell that was either Megan or Kevin and they were out, or nearly out. Aidan was thrilled for Zane’s success, but he just wasn’t sure they had it in them to keep doing this. Not to mention that he and Bram needed to start preparing for the meeting that afternoon and Zane still had to make the desserts he’d ordered.

  “Well, when you run out you’re just going to have to close down early.” Aidan could hear Megan yell over the phone. “I’m sorry, but we’ve just now finished a rush to end all rushes. I’ve been baking nonstop since four this morning, and I still have another special order to do. There is no way I can make more and get them to you.” With each sentence Zane’s voice was getting higher and higher. When he was done, he looked at his phone in disbelief. “She hung up on me.”

  “Who was it?” Bram asked.

  “Megan. Apparently they are about to sell out already and she wanted me to bring more,” Zane said.

  Bram took Ethan’s hand and pulled him back toward the front. “Ethan and I will help clean the front if you’ll take the back.” He didn’t wait for a reply, just led Ethan away.

  “I’ve got dishwasher and counters,” Jesse said.

  “I have to start making the desserts for the meeting,” Zane said.

  Aidan turned and looked at the mound of bowls and pans to clean. “I guess that leaves me with the sink of dishes.” He’d been scrubbing pots and pans for at least an hour already but as soon as one was clean, Zane would use it and it would end right back in the pile.

  By noon, Bram, Jesse, and Ethan left to set up for the meeting. Zane had nearly finished the desserts Aidan had ordered, and Aidan was starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel with his stack of pots and pans.

  Zane gently rubbed his hands over Aidan’s lower back, causing Aidan to moan. “Damn, that feels good, baby.”

  Lips pressed against his shoulders while those hands continued to work their magic. “Thank you for helping me.”

  Aidan twisted his arm around until his hand pressed into Zane’s back, pushing their bodies together. “I was glad I could help, babe.”

  He nearly groaned in disappointment when Zane’s hands slid off his back. But when they came around his waist to hold Aidan tighter, he didn’t complain.

  “I think I’m falling in love with you,” Zane whispered against Aidan’s back.

  For a moment Aidan’s heart stopped beating when he heard Zane’s confession. Tears gathered in his eyes. His throat thickened with emotion making it difficult to talk. “I’m glad.” The words were raw as he tried to force his vocal cords to work.

  The next part he had to say while looking Zane in the eye. He turned around and leaned down until their foreheads touched, their eyes focused only on each other. “Because I know I love you.”

  He moved just an inch closer, and their lips met as they both let their feelings come through in the sweet, slow kiss. The alarm on Aidan’s phone went off, telling him he really needed to get to the pub.

  “I know you need to go.” Zane gave him one more small kiss on the mouth. “Can you take what I have finished? I’ll bring the rest over as soon as I’m done.”

  “Okay, babe.” Aidan eyed the ten boxes of pastries, wondering how he was supposed to carry all of it and still see.

  In the end, he only took seven and asked Jesse to go back for the rest. The pub looked great. Food was set out along the bar, buffet style. Folding chairs had been brought in, in case there were more people than Bram had regular chairs. Aidan didn’t think it would happen, but he figured it was better to be prepared.

  “Hey, Aidan. Everything looks great,” Parker said when he walked into the pub. “It looks like all the artisans will be here for sure, including many who don’t have shops on Artisan Alley.”

  Aidan was a little surprised. “Really?” For some reason he thought he’d have a harder time getting people to listen to what he had to say. “That’s really great. Thanks, Parker.”

  The man blushed. “I didn’t do anything but spread the word. We’re all struggling, it would be nice to get more business right here in Cedar Falls, instead of having to always drive to other towns.”

  The door opened and more people started streaming in. “Why don’t you get yourself
a plate and we’ll talk later,” Aidan suggested to Parker before turning to introduce himself to the newcomers.

  What he thought would be a few shop owners turned into a never ending stream of shop owners, artisans, and even some of the town’s people who wanted to open shops but were leery because the town wasn’t doing so well.

  “Well sugar, it’s about time I saw you again.” Betty Sue hugged Aidan like a long-lost lover.

  Aidan did his best to pull back, but Betty Sue was a lot stronger than he thought. Finally, he felt her relax her crushing grip, and he could breathe once more. But to his horror her lips latched onto his.

  All he smelled was cigarettes and burned coffee. He was sure he was going to throw up. Frantic, he tried to push her off, but she wasn’t easy to move.

  “Betty Sue, if you don’t get your nasty mouth off my man, I will rip that overbleached hair right out of your head.”

  Aidan nearly cried in relief when he heard Zane’s voice.

  Betty Sue took her mouth off Aidan, giving him a suggestive smile before turning to Zane with a sneer. “There is no way Aidan is gay. He’s all man and I already claimed him as mine.”

  Zane smirked. “Oh really?” He walked right up to Aidan, shoving Betty Sue away. A coffee cup was shoved in his hands. “Drink that to get rid of her horrible taste.”

  Aidan did exactly as instructed. He’d never felt so disgusted in all his life. He tilted his head back and emptied the contents of the coffee into his mouth. He was grateful it had cooled enough that he didn’t burn his tongue.

  Betty Sue was now trying to push Zane away, but his lover was a lot stronger than he looked. “Get away from him. I don’t want you touching him,” she screeched.

  Jesse stepped up to her. “Watch it, Betty Sue. We both know what will happen if I get bitchy.”

  How that worked, Aidan wasn’t sure, but Betty Sue stood there quietly fuming. She was glaring daggers at Zane, but at least she wasn’t trying to push him away any longer. That’s when Zane turned that dazzling smile on Aidan. He felt himself drowning in the depths of Zane’s gaze. That beautiful face was something Aidan would never tire of looking at.