Page 71

Deliciously Cookie

Vawn Cassidy

ChapterOne

Cookie

“Cookie, are you done with the cupcakes yet?” a soft, sweet voice asks.

“Almost,” I murmur, finishing another swirl of rainbow-coloured frosting with a flourish and only then looking up.

“They look great.”

I smile at my newest friend, Colin. My best friend Tyler, being kinda prickly, is always bemused at how I can collect people wherever I go, and this impromptu trip to England has been no different. People are fascinating to me, and I just love figuring out their stories. Tyler says that’s because I’m too nosy for my own good, and he does have a point.

Take Little Red here, for example. With his bright red hair and swathes of freckles, his neat sweaters and cute bow ties, he’s way too adorable for his own good.

I’m also pretty sure he has a crush the size of Vegas on the hot silver fox that builds boats on the other side of this cute little British bay. I can’t say I blame Colin though—ay papi,Garrett is hot, like full-on scorching. I would have climbed that man like a tree if it weren’t for Colin. I don’t poach on another man’s territory even if Colin is oblivious to the fact that he has a major thing for the sexy older guy. Garrett, on the other hand, couldn’t make his interest in my little ginger friend more obvious if he pissed in a circle around him.

I’ll give the man his due, he’s got a l0t of patience. And as I’m so fond of Colin, I’m going to make it my mission while I’m here to help them get their happily ever after…or at the very least, several very satisfying orgasms. Garrett sure looks like a man who knows what he’s doing; if it’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to never underestimate a man who works with his hands.

I do seem to drive Ty crazy because I can’t resist matchmaking. Maybe I should’ve been called Cupid instead of Cookie. I can’t help it though, I just like seeing people happy and in love.

“I have something new for you to try.” Colin stops beside me and sets a small bag down on the counter.

With eager hands, I open up the bag and pull out a handful of tiny candies. Placing them down on the tray beside the cupcakes, I pick one up to examine it more closely. It’s made from a clear hard candy with swirls of edible glitter running through it.

I beam at him as I look up from the twisted cone shape sitting in the palm of my hand. “A unicorn horn?”

Colin nods eagerly. “Taste it!”

Not needing to be told twice, I put it in my mouth and suck for several seconds before groaning in happiness. “Is that watermelon?” He nods again. “Oh god, so good!”

His cheeks flush with pleasure. “There are other flavours too. I tried to do something a bit different, not just the regular orange and strawberry. There’s an apple in there, too, as well as peach.”

“You are so talented.” I hum and suck the candy harder. “You should spend more time creating stuff like this.”

“Maybe at some point.” Colin shrugs and starts placing a unicorn horn in the centre of each swirl of frosting. “I usually only make them for the festivals and markets, or as special favours. But I have my hands full with the bakery, so I don’t really have time to build up a second business, even if they would complement each other. There’s just not enough hours in the day. Sometimes I wish I had a twin, or any sibling at all, then there’d be two of me and I could get more done.”

“Honey, you don’t need a sib. What you need is a manager and more staff.”

“That costs money.” He sighs. “Maybe one day. This place does well during the summer months now that tourism is starting to pick back up in the bay, especially since I started adding ice creams to match the flavours of my cupcakes, but it still gets pretty quiet in the off season.”

“Are you crazy?” I follow him as he picks up the tray of cupcakes and heads into the bakery. “That’s the perfect time to build up your candy empire. You can sell online, and you’ve got all the best holidays. Halloween, Christmas…Valentine’s.”

He chuckles as he places the cupcakes in the display case on the counter, lining them up alongside mouthwatering, sinful-looking cookies and pastries.

“I don’t know.” He shrugs. “It would take a lot of planning, and that’s time I just don’t have at the moment. I’ve got my hands full just with this place, and the Festival of the Sea is coming up soon. Not to mention Nat and Beck’s wedding cake, plus all the other special occasion cakes people keep asking me to make.”

“Colin, you’re going to burn out if you don’t take a moment to breathe and figure out a better way of doing things. This place makes more than enough money to support more staff.” I glance at the clock and, noting the time, go to unlock the door and flip the sign to Open.

“I know.” He exhales slowly and puts the tray away. “I know you’re right. It’s just...”

“Just what?”

“When I first opened my business, the bay was so quiet. Tourism had dropped off over the years with people heading to bigger towns like Newquay and Falmouth. It was really just the residents and a very small summer crowd. I could pretty much handle everything on my own and still earn enough to cover the bills. But now, with Finn re-opening the old theatre, Nat helping to bring Sully’s restaurant back from the brink of bankruptcy, and all the new festivals and markets Nat and Mel have talked the local council into hosting here in the bay, this place just keeps getting busier during the season.”

“But that’s a good thing?”