Seducing the Baker (At First Sight)

  Seducing the Baker

  At First Sight

  By Janet Lane-Walters

  ISBN: 978-1-77299-139-0

  Copyright 2016 by Janet Lane Walters

  Cover Art 2016 by Jasmin Attalla

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  To Cathy, a fabulous editor who has helped me keep these books on track finding all the errata and other mistakes especially those I never knew were there.

  Chapter One

  Jules Grayson sat behind the mahogany desk in his office. “Why me?” He propped his elbows on the leather desk pad.

  “Trust me,” Tony said.

  Jules glared at his friend. Trusting others might be someone else’s nature but not his. “Why can’t one of the others be best man at your wedding?”

  “They come in pairs. Lauren doesn’t want her friend to feel out of place. You’re the only bachelor left in our circle.”

  And he intended to stay that way for a long time. “Why do I have to meet her now? The rehearsal will suit me.”

  Tony grinned. “Trust me. The trip will be worth the time. You’ll like Grace.”

  Jules straightened. He had once known a girl named Grace. She’d been the only female to turn him down. Just thinking about her brought memories of a time and place he didn’t want to remember. “I really don’t want to cross the river until the trip is absolutely necessary.”

  “Just for the weekend meet and two days for the wedding. You can manage.” Tony rose. “What do you have against the village?”

  “Do you have to ask? The group home. Remember how your father had to rescue me from that…that…her accusations.” Jules grasped the steel letter opener. “I’ll come. Some time on Saturday, do the meet and greet and leave Sunday morning.”

  Tony paused at the door. “There is a plus. To reach my house you don’t have to enter the village.”

  “Go. Let me finish some work.”

  “Saturday.”

  “Yes and I’ll bring the wine. Found a new shop.”

  Moments after Tony left Mrs. Jamison entered with a stack of mail. She dropped the pile on his desk. “Buzz when you need me.”

  “Will do.” He slit the top envelope and groaned. Not what he wanted to see. Before leaving for her honeymoon, Allie Blakefield, editor of Good Eatin’ had given him an assignment. Having contracts signed wasn’t his usual chore for the Good Magazine Group but he’d agreed. Allie wanted the owner of Sweet and Spicy Cupcakes to agree to a feature.

  With three letters and four phone calls the woman owner’s answer had been no. A visit to the bakery might do the trick. He didn’t want to go there. The bakery was in the village he didn’t want to visit. Allie returned on Monday. Today was Friday. He sucked in a breath. Never leave a job undone was his rule.

  His hand hovered over the phone. A call hadn’t worked. When Allie had asked he’d figured obtaining the contract signature was a no-brainer. What bakery wouldn’t want to be featured in a national magazine? He’d had a failsafe plan. Mail the contract. Make a phone call or two. Answer questions. Contract signed. Hadn’t happened. The time had arrived to use some personal charm.

  Jules buzzed Tony’s cell. The moment his friend answered, Jules’ gut clenched. Though he hated asking he would. “Tony.”

  “Are you backing out?”

  Jules chuckled. “Not happening. Just wondering if I could stay tonight. I’ve some business from Good Eatin’ across the river today.”

  “No problem. I’ll call Lauren. What time will you arrive?”

  “Around noon. I’ll drop off my bag, see to business and swing back.”

  “Good enough. TGIF. I’ll be home around three. Good luck with your whatever.”

  “Sales pitch for Allie.” Jules disconnected. He shoved two copies of the contract in his briefcase and tended to the rest of the mail. Nothing urgent. The clock chimed the half hour.

  With briefcase in hand he paused at his secretary’s desk. “I’ll be out of town until Monday. Buzz my cell if anything needs to be handled quickly and I’ll check in with the service. Take the afternoon off.”

  “Will do.”

  Jules waved. When he thought about his destination his stomach churned. Though he didn’t want to spend time in the village of his nightmares he had to finish the task. Lately he’d grown to hate the investigative work. Was a career change possible? He had other skills and knowledge.

  After a stop at his apartment for clothes he sat behind the wheel of his Jeep. He clutched the keys in his fist. Waves of nausea assaulted him. He gulped a breath. He could do this. Two events had forced his tip across the bridge to the Hudson River village where he’d grown up. On the say he’d left he had hoped never to return.

  Trouble comes in threes. Business and a wedding weren’t the problem. Trouble existed in the memories of the place where his life hand imploded.

  His weekender and briefcase sat on the passenger’s seat. He’d packed enough clothes for the weekend.

  You can do this. The words spiraled in a never ending chain in his thoughts. He shoved the key in the ignition, revved the engine and drove from the underground garage. As the vehicle emerged into the light, Jules grinned. Something about being higher than the taxis and sedans made him feel powerful. He wove through the lines of cars and headed for the upper level of the George Washington Bridge. Hard rock poured from the speakers.

  A glance at the sky showed clouds gathering. Snow predicted meant an early covering to white over city sidewalks and brown suburban lawns.

  Not long after hitting the Palisades Parkway the feeling of doom he’d pushed aside leaped into his thoughts like the demons kids feared lurked in closets or under beds.

  He gripped the wheel. The vehicle veered right. If he didn’t calm down he would run off the road or into another car. He spotted the turnoff for an overlook and pulled into the parking lot.

  Get a grip.

  Jules climbed down and walked to the railing at the edge. He stared at the gray waters of the Hudson. A blustery wind slapped his face. Across the river he saw the skyline of the city where he would rather be.

  You can do this. The mantra ran through his head. He revised his plans. He would drop his clothes at Tony’s, charm the owner and obtain her signature. No sweat.

  He strode to the Jeep and entered the flow of traffic. After leaving the Parkway he sped along the winding road and finally found the turnoff into Tony’s street. He reached the development and located his friend’s massive house. He pulled into the circular driveway, grabbed the overnighter and walked to the house.

  Lauren answered the door. She held her nephew on her hip. Jamie burbled. “Ju. In. In.”

  “Hello to you.” He tapped the small boy’s nose and kissed Lauren’s cheek. “I gather you were warned.”

  “He phoned. Good to see you but you made me lose the bet.”

  “How?”

  “Bet Tony you would find a way to bail and here you’ve arrived a day early.”

  He winked. “I’ve come to convince you to run away with me.”

  She laughed. “Just like those old rumors. When I think of the days in the group home I cringe. I wonder how the Patons got the idea we were together.”

  “Pure invention ala Charlene.” He put a finger to her lips. “No talk about those times or places.”

  “Agreed. I’ll show you to a guest room.�
��

  Jules hung his coat in the foyer closet and followed her past the living room to the wide staircase. Why had Tony bought such a large house? He’d asked his friend that question a week ago. The answer had astounded him.

  “For the kitchen. It’s a cook’s dream.”

  Lauren opened the door of a room just beyond the stairs. Jules dropped the overnighter at the foot of a massive four poster bed. Warm shades of browns and greens gave the room a cozy feel.

  “The bath is through this door and connects to a second bedroom.” She opened the door. “Since you’re our only guest you won’t have to worry about locking the door.”

  Jules shook his head. “How many bedrooms are there?”

  “Six counting the master plus one upstairs in the third floor apartment.”

  “And baths?”

  “Four on this floor. One in the apartment. Two powder rooms on the first floor and one in the basement. Thank heavens for the cleaning service. Would take me a month to vacuum, dust and clean this house.”

  Jules followed her downstairs. “I need to do a bit of business for Good Eatin’. Means going to town.”

  “Five Cuisines?”

  “No. I’ll tell you more at dinner. What time do we eat?”

  “Around six thirty. Maybe six tonight since Tony will be home before five. Do you want lunch?”

  A lump formed in his stomach. “I’ll grab something in the village.” If he could eat. Maybe once he finished at the bakery his appetite would return.

  She patted his arm. Did she sense his uneasiness? “There are some great places in the village. Want me to recommend one?”

  “I’ll manage.”

  He grabbed his coat from the closet and left. Cupcakes, here I come.

  When he reached the village he saw Christmas had arrived. Probably made an appearance between Halloween and Thanksgiving. The shops bore lights and festive decorations. The light poles were wrapped with red, gold, green and silver bands.

  He made a turn and found he’d driven down the street where the group homes were located. He gripped the wheel. His two years at the boy’s home had been a drag but the circumstances had made him a ward of the state.

  His stomach lurched. He slowed to a crawl and rolled past the pair of houses separated by a fence. The trip along memory street had been a bad one.

  You can’t go home again but this had never been his home.

  A stray item slid into focus. He recalled Grace standing at that fence. He’d flirted with her and had decided she would be his next conquest. With laughter she’d turned him down leaving him to fend off another girl he’d had no desire to screw.

  With a groan he turned the corner and looked for a parking space. Remember the plan.

  A flurry of snowflakes dotted the sidewalk. As they melted dark circles appeared.

  * * *

  Grace Sutton stared at the check Tony had left on his way to the city. She’d been so involved with setting up the shop for the day’s business she hadn’t had a chance to look at the amount. She reached for her cell phone and dialed his number. Moments later she heard his voice.

  “Are you out of your mind? ” she asked.

  He laughed. “Not today.”

  “The check.”

  “Is for the cupcake display at our wedding.”

  “It’s too much. I gave you a fair quote.”

  “And you’re doing this at your busiest time of the year. Consider any extra as a bonus. Oh, Lauren said to use some of the money for new tires for the van.”

  “I will.”

  “Soon, I hope. Sorry you can’t make dinner and the play on Saturday night.”

  “Too much to do here. Like figuring how to finish all the holiday orders to be filled. I need a plan. Also choosing a selection for you to taste on Sunday. Then there are the books.”

  He chuckled. “See you Sunday. You are your plans. I have a friend who plans his time step by step, too. What do you do when the plan nosedives?”

  “Reassess.”

  She hung up and stared at the check. Enough to buy the supplies for next month and to consider hiring a part-time baker. She jotted notes for an ad.

  Another idea occurred. Bonnie, her clerk, was interested in learning about decorating. There were two girls at the group home who might like to work Friday evenings and Saturdays. The money they earned could help them save for when they aged out.

  Pass the opportunity forward. She’d learned to cook at the home. The high school home ec teacher had encouraged her to try for a scholarship allowing her to attend culinary school.

  “Coffee’s ready,” Bonnie called.

  Grace left her office and joined her clerk. She filled a cup and sipped. “Perfect.”

  Bonnie pointed to the empty space in the display case. “We need refills.”

  Grace carried her mug to the office, finished most of the brew and entered the kitchen. Before opening the gleaming cooler, she donned gloves. She handed Bonnie a tray of cinnamon bun cupcakes, the steadiest seller. She carried a tray with three chocolate varieties. Chocolate Milk, Chocolate Heat and Chocolate Mint. “How are the Candy Cane, Winter Snow and Ginger Houses holding out?”

  “We’re good there.”

  While they stocked the shelves several customers arrived. Grace joined Bonnie in filling orders. When the rush ended Grace went to the kitchen to make several small batches of cupcakes she wanted for Sunday’s tasting. She set the trays in the oven to bake. Mingled aromas soon filled the air.

  Working automatically, her thoughts drifted to the coming wedding. Though happy for Lauren, Grace felt a tad envious. She had dreamed of finding her own special love. Years ago, she’d thought she had found him but he’d disappointed her the way most people in her life had.

  She’d been almost sixteen. He’d been two years older. Tall with dark hair and dark chocolate eyes. He’d been labeled a “bad” boy but beneath his smoldering anger she’d seen sadness and grief. She’d dreamed about him, spun fantasies until the day he’d climbed over the fence separating the two group homes. He’d kissed her and in crude terms told her what he wanted. She’d turned him down.

  He had laughed. “Your loss.”

  She thought, “not mine. Yours.” Grace’s hands tightened. She couldn’t stop the roll of memories from the past from forming. Drunken screams and laughter. Her mother and her guest for booze, drugs and sex appeared. Grace had vowed to have a different life but she feared the seeds had been planted years ago. She wouldn’t be like her mother. Could she hold this determination?

  A buzzer sounded. Grace pulled on her long padded oven gloves and removed pans of cupcakes from the oven and placed them on the multi-tiered cooling racks. She filled more pans and started the cycle again. When the second batch cooled she entered the sales room. The number of empty spaces made her grin.

  In a small way I’m a success. She prayed nothing would happen to poke holes in her ballooning confidence.

  For a moment she considered the offer from Good Eatin’ Magazine. She’d been tempted but afraid. Growing too fast would see her dreams hurtling downhill in an avalanche.

  Bonnie grinned. “Been a good morning and afternoon. Five orders for the holidays and look at the empty spaces.”

  Grace looked at the clock. “Go to lunch. I’ll handle the front.”

  “Want me to bring you something?”

  “I brought a sandwich from home. I’ll eat when you return. This afternoon I plan to tackle the fruitcake recipe again.”

  “How many times have you tried?”

  “Maybe fifteen.” Grace pointed to the door. “Goodbye.”

  “Yes, boss.”

  Moments after the door closed behind Bonnie, the chimes announced a customer. Grace turned. Her hands tightened. Charlene? Why?

  The bleached blonde sauntered to the display case. She ran a finger over the glass. “Good.”

  “What?”

  “There are plenty of cupcakes. Mama needs two dozen. She’s entertaining some
friends this afternoon.”

  Tension gripped Grace’’s shoulders. Her foster sister had been a bully years ago. “What about the dozen I gave you last night?”

  “The girls raided the pantry. Mama is so angry with them she’s going to punish them. I figured you would find a way to stop her.”

  Charlene’s nasal voice made Grace’s stomach clench. She’d been fortunate when she’d lived at the group home never to face Mrs. Paton’s punishment. Lauren had too often been given meticulous cleaning chores and too often Charlene’s lies had been the cause.

  “What do you want?”

  “The cupcakes.” Charlene tapped the case with a blood red fingernail. “You owe Mama for taking such good care of you. You should make her a partner in the bakery.”

  Grace shook her head. She owed the Paton’s but she’d given them money again and again. “Which ones?” She opened a large box and filled it with the other woman’s selections.

  The bleached blonde carried the box to the door. “See you at closing time.”

  Grace drew deep breaths. The group home had been a safe haven where she’d escaped her childhood fears. She’d learned to file nightmares in a mental storage block. Now she needed to discover a way to end the need to constantly repay the people who had saved her.

  * * *

  Jules sat in the Jeep until the remnants of his past vanished. Why had he given into the urge to drive past the group home? Not one of his better ideas and certainly not part of his weekend plans. He reviewed the steps. There was a contract to be signed. Failure would taste bitter. Coming to grips with the betrayal of his trust wasn’t part of his plans for today either. Hard work and trusting few people had given him all he’d lost and more.

  Sometimes he wondered what had happened to the people who had invested with his father’s Ponze scheme. Why had people thrown money into investments seeming too good to be real? Had they been greedy or fools?

  He’d been torn from a comfortable life. Shame oozed from hidden places. Why did tingles of guilt smear his life? He’d been a teenager and hadn’t done anything wrong. Shame had driven his parents to death and he’d ended up in that place.