Page 4

Kelly

The man who saved me from a disaster told me he was not only the baker of the cakes but the owner of Bearly Baked. He’d made the delivery himself because I’d placed the order so late; it was completed after hours. He also mentioned he’d only agreed to the order because I sounded so frantic on the phone. He wasn’t wrong. I had been distraught thinking Wyatt wouldn’t have a proper cake for this birthday.

“Happy Birthday, Wyatt,” he said to my son as the toddler clung to me.

“How did you know his name?”

“It’s on the cake. Wyatt and the number one, right?”

I nodded. My heart was beating out of my chest, and my deer was bouncing inside me. He liked this alpha. And boy, was he an alpha. Built like a brick wall. His gray shirt with the logo of his bakery stretched across his chest. The logo was cute as could be. A bear with an apron on and flour on his fur, holding a cake. The apron had the same logo on it, and the bear on that logo had one on as well, until it was too small to make out details.

The alpha had a chiseled jaw and thick lips that beckoned me. Goddess, I might have been fawning over someone else’s mate. Although, there wasn’t an omega’s scent on him. Only the enticing smells of vanilla, sugar, and chocolate.

“Kelly? Is the cake right?”

I looked down at the cake and nodded. “Yes. Thank you.”

“It’s my pleasure.” Without another word, the alpha left. I stared after him but soon, Wyatt began to fuss. He was a fiery, energetic deer. Judson was a deer as well, so there was no question of his species.

I bet the alpha baker was a big, strong bear. He smelled like one. Looked like one in his human form as well.

I went inside and put Wyatt down, trying not to let the cake fall in the process. I put them down on the kitchen counter and opened the box. It was perfect. A pale-blue cake. Wyatt’s name in darker-blue frosting. Some sprinkles in the shape of stars all around. This would be enough to feed everyone, I hoped. My budget didn’t allow for a lot more.

“Look at this, Wyatt,” I called to my son. “This is your cake!”

We would have our little party after dinner, so I put the cake in the fridge and straightened the living room. Again. “Come on, you. Let’s go outside so you can get some of that energy out.”

When searching for a house here in Oliver Creek, I made sure to rent one with a big backyard so Wyatt could play. I’d picked up some toys from the local thrift store. A slide. A sandbox. That and a few balls for throwing, and he was in heaven. Kids didn’t need a ton of stuff, I’d found. Good thing because I couldn’t afford a ton.

While Wyatt chased a ball, I thought about the alpha who had showed up at my door. I did a quick search on my phone and found the owner was named Gideon. That name fit him.

Gideon was tall and strong. Goddess, I could only imagine what it must feel like to be enveloped in his arms. It had been so long since I’d been held. He looked like the cuddling type.

For an instant, I planned a trip into the bakery for no reason other than to catch a glimpse of him again, but I let out a groan. No. I had to focus on Wyatt and getting a job and all the things that went along with raising my son. I didn’t have the time or luxury of getting distracted.

Gideon would be the best distraction for anyone.

“Come on, Wyatt. Let’s get cleaned up and have a party! What do you think?”

Wyatt didn’t give two shits. It made me laugh. All this getting ready and streamers and balloons and a special cake, and my tyke couldn’t care less. He didn’t know it was his birthday. We could’ve snuggled in with a good dinner and some books tonight, and he wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference.

The party was really for me, but also, one day, he might wonder if we celebrated. I didn’t want to let him down, even in the future.

I gave Wyatt a bath and fed him a snack of cheese and turkey, so I didn’t feel completely awful with all the sugar I was about to give him. Also, since he was in his high chair, I had a chance to clean up and get the last-minute things ready. I had bought cute little hats, but I doubted any of the kids would wear them. My phone was fully charged for pictures and video.

I still had to hang the pinata outside. That was more for the older kids. I laughed, thinking about my little son with a big bat in his hands.

A birthday-themed cloth covered my table, and the juice boxes were chilled and ready. Little kid birthday parties were more for show than anything else. The kids didn’t care. They just wanted to play and have cake.

I didn’t blame them. Sounded like a good time to me as well.

The guests would arrive soon. “Oh, the candles.” I pulled out the one candle and realized I had a cake but not the smash cake.

He must’ve forgotten.

Oh, well. I would give Wyatt a piece of the large cake and call it a day. The baker had done enough.