Page 9 of Baking for His Omega (Omegas of Oliver Creek #13)

Gideon

Why did I have to be so pushy?

We were having a nice conversation, and he was enjoying my pastries, and I had to go and ruin everything. After leaving his home the night before, I couldn’t get Kelly out of my mind. A bear waited his whole life to meet his mate, and I’d never done anything harder than walk away after helping him clean up after the party.

His scent, the brightness of ripe summer peaches, remained in my nose, bringing forth an image of his face every time I closed my eyes. He’d been so lively, leading the games and handing out slices of cake. All the children loved him, but especially Wyatt who watched him with such adoration. He’d mentioned wanting the other father to be part of the little guy’s life, but did that mean that he would welcome him back into his own?

Or was he never entirely out? Couples had trouble and broke up and still, especially where children were involved, they managed to find a way to get back together. From his reaction to my invitation, either he wanted to try to make that work, or he wasn’t interested in me like that.

My bear was so sure he was our mate, and I shared that feeling, but did that mean Kelly would feel the same? Could one person think they were fated and the other completely disagree?

I finally fell asleep sometime after midnight, but I woke up a couple of hours later with an idea for a danish I hadn’t made before.

There was nothing for it but to get right down to the bakery and start the day’s baking. I wasn’t likely to get any more sleep now. Plus, I was excited about the danish. At the start of summer, everyone was looking for flavors that mirrored the season. In fact, I’d just gotten a case of peaches from one of the orchards outside of town the day before and had been trying to decide what to make with them. I would do a fresh peach pie, of course, with mountains of fluffy whipped cream, and turnovers. Muffins with that crumbly topping that Anisette said everyone liked so much.

And peach danish. It was practically a festival of the fruit. I could even get her to make a sign for the window. I had spent the predawn hours baking so many peach pastries and desserts, the bakery had the scent of my mate, which was less soothing than I might have anticipated. Rather, it kept him in the forefront of my mind.

By the time Anisette arrived, I had the racks filled with at least double what I usually baked in a day. “Are we expecting a crowd?” she asked, filling her mug from the coffee urn. “It smells incredible in here. Like summertime.”

“That’s exactly what I was going for. I’m glad you think I achieved it.” At least, if I never had a mate, I could enjoy my work. “Before you fill the cases out front, maybe you could make a sign letting people know we are featuring peaches today? I have overdone things a bit.”

Anisette leaned close to the danish and sniffed. “The danish smells heavenly.”

“Please take one and let me know if you like it. If it’s good, we can probably continue to serve it for a month or so until peaches start to go out of season.”

“All right!” Anisette picked up one of the pastries and set it on a small plate. “Ohhh, it’s still warm.” She carried the plate and her mug to the kitchen island and climbed up on a stool. “It’s going to be a big hit.”

“You haven’t even had a bite yet,” I protested.

“That’s true.” She opened her mouth and took a big bite. Chewed. Swallowed. Stayed silent.

“Anisette?” Nerves made my voice twitch. “Aren’t you going to tell me what you think?”

“No because it will go to your head.” She took another bite and groaned. Enough said.

By opening time, my assistant had filled the cases nearly to bursting, and there were a half dozen people waiting for us to open, and I was grateful to have finished all the baking early. My help was needed at the front counter. Which we refilled over and over again.

And then I learned something. The peach scent currently hanging in the air, as fragrant and delicious as it might be, had nothing on the inspiration. Because when Kelly entered with Wyatt, his scent was three times as nice.

He ordered a bear claw, but I wanted him to try the danish he’d inspired—not that I could tell him so—and to give Wyatt one of my little fruit cups. They were always made from what was fresh in season, if possible, so today’s included strawberries, blackberries, and some luscious chunks of peach. They also had just a few cubes of angel food cake, and people watching their diet and/or their sugar intake loved them.

I was so excited to see him that I allowed my emotions to take over and before I knew it, I’d let my guard down and asked Kelly on a date. I knew better—I’d warned myself not to do something like that unless he showed a sign that he might welcome my advances.

Which he had not. He’d merely stopped by to thank me again and buy pastry.

But…I did it anyway, and he was out of the shop like a shot, not even giving me a chance to apologize for overstepping.

I didn’t know how I made it through the day, kicking myself over and over until I got home. Finally, I couldn’t stand it any longer and picked up the phone. He wasn’t interested in me as a mate, but he did need a friend.

And I could put my own desires aside and be just that.