Page 6 of Crushes and Confections
“I take it back, this is even better!”
“Well, I figured we had to go to get the best food in town,” I said smugly. “My mom puts magic in this food, I swear. She’s an amazing woman.”
“I don’t even know her and I’ll have to agree,” he teased. “So, how do they feel about Claire?”
I chuckled. “Our moms are besties. They’re almost more attached at the hip than Claire and I are. She’s their other daughter.”
“That’s great,” he said before diving back in, the two of us absorbed in the feast before us for a moment. You know the food is good when the conversation lags while you eat.
The one thing missing from the date was his scent. Using blockers wasn’t uncommon but I wanted nothing more than to breathe in his scent. I knew it would be one of those unforgettable ones you can’t quite get out of your head.
Kind of like Claire and that peaches and cream scent I’d never get tired of.
By the time we cleared the food Vance was back to his inquisitive questions. It was a little jarring at times, having his attention focused only on me, and I almost wished Claire hadn’t deflected.
“Where do you work? Here?” he asked as I laughed. “I’ve only seen you at Claire’s shop, and I’m pretty sure asking around would have drawn more attention than I was ready for.”
While my family was packed full of phenomenal chefs and my best friend was a pastry chef of the gods, I was the opposite. It was sexy as hell that he was that curious about me though.
“Absolutely not. My parents banned me from the kitchen when I was a teenager and I haven’t been allowed back. Being a server wasn’t my style, I have too much energy to be stuck indoors all day. I am actually a partner at Cedarwick Orchards.”
“The name sounds familiar,” he mused before recognition hit. “That’s the amazing apple butter Claire serves with her scones, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” I said with a grin. “Autumn Cedarwick took over for her grandparents and she hit the ground running. We’ve been talking about next year and there will be even more on our agenda.”
“Next season I’ll have to go up and see the orchard,” he said. “I didn’t get out as much as I wanted to this past year. I’ve been here that long but I’m a fairly private person. I didn’t go out much until about a month ago. Work ended up keeping most of my attention.”
“Well, we’ll have to change that. You’re missing out on the heart of Holiday Hollow if you coop yourself inside,” I protested.
“I’ll hold you to that,” he said with a heat I hadn’t expected. My cock stirred at just the look he was giving me and tension rose by the second.
I’d never been the type of beta to start swooning over an alpha. I was far too independent and loud for most alphas. Betas were thought to be the quieter, caretaking type but that had never been me. I was unapologetically myself and having this man look at me like he could take a bite… well sign me the fuck up.
Maria walked up then, effectively ruining the heated moment and from her smug smile, it was definitely on purpose. Though how do you turn away someone with dessert in hand?
“Mom heard you were here, so she insisted I plate this. I one hundred percent think it’s a ploy to catch you, so here’s a box. I suggest you take it and run if you know what’s good for your first date,” she hissed. With a worried expression she glanced at her watch, then checked the door. “I’d say you have exactly three minutes. I’ve got the check. Go.”
“You just earned yourself a plate of Claire’s cookies,” I said as I frantically dropped the tres leches cake in the box.
“I know,” she grinned. “Now go!”
“This feels insane,” Vance laughed but his eyes danced with excitement. I had a feeling this alpha needed a bit more spontaneity in his life and I was more than happy to be the one to provide that for him.
CHAPTER 3
Claire
Iknew I was in trouble the moment a gaggle of women in intricate hats and their Sunday best came waltzing into my shop looking like they were on a mission.
Did I mention one of them was carrying a highly polished trumpet?
Sarah was a regular customer of mine and when she raised that trumpet to her lips I instantly regretted making an extra batch of double peanut butter fudge for the beta this week.
Actually, who was I kidding? I’d probably make her another batch.
It was things like this that made me love Holiday Hollow, even if they were slightly insane. It wasn’t their fault I was stressed with some of the extra work I’d taken on since Autumn and I were selling and distributing products in limited numbers across the state.
“Hear ye, hear ye. We’ve come this morning to Claire’s Coffee and Confections to formally invite Ms. Claire Elizabeth Dawkings to take part in our Dates & Delicacies auction we will be throwing before the annual Sweetheart Swing,” Janet declared.