Page 8 of Surrendering His Heart (Buena Hills #4)

The next day, Hallie sat on a stool at her kitchen’s center island, sketching a maple leaf on a piece of white paper to recreate on her pumpkin spice cookies for the Autumn Festival. A few more potential designs fanned out around her on the counter.

Thanks to Christian, she could finally focus on preparing for the two-day event.

By early evening, she’d decided on all the bakes to have on hand.

She planned to offer a few kinds of cookies, as well as cupcakes and her favorite fall sweet bread flavors.

Since most of her larger products were special ordered by her clients, she’d have only a handful of generic cakes on hand to sell by the slice.

But her portfolio was up-to-date with her best products to showcase her abilities.

While she sketched, her thoughts turned to Christian, as they often had since their car ride chat the day before.

He didn’t have to stop. The fact that he did spoke of a kindness that would’ve surprised her if he hadn’t willingly taken over her website.

She couldn’t let his generosity go to waste, even if he’d brushed off her attempts at a thank-you offering.

Plus, baking for him would give her an excuse to see him again, though she refused to analyze what that desire meant. But what to make him? He hadn’t exactly been helpful when she’d tried to gauge his preferences.

“It smells amazing in here,” Kendall said, entering the kitchen through the swinging door. “Like baked Nutella in a cupcake. Mmmm.”

Hallie laughed without glancing up from her sketch. “Chocolate and hazelnut—two foods that always go together.”

“We’ll never need air fresheners while you’re living here.

” Kendall’s keys jingled as she thumped them on the counter.

She eased her backpack off her shoulders, setting it flat onto a stool on her way to investigate the culprits of the aforementioned aroma.

All two dozen freshly decorated cupcakes were set out on multiple cooling racks next to the stove, waiting to be boxed and delivered.

“Look at the cute little bears! Who’re these for? ”

“The Pattersons down the street are having a gender reveal party tonight.” Finally satisfied with her maple leaf, Hallie stacked it on top of another design before gathering the rest in a neat pile. “I’m delivering them in a bit.”

She’d modified her original chocolate-hazelnut cupcakes to accommodate the French vanilla cream—dyed blue for the announcement—piped into the middle.

She’d geeked out a little when Kristin and Troy came to her with a sealed envelope containing the sex of their baby.

Until sometime after seven o’clock tonight, she and the ultrasound tech were the only people who knew the Pattersons were having a boy.

“That’s fun.” Kendall retrieved a glass container full of some kind of leftovers from the fridge. Pulling off the lid, she stuck the whole thing in the microwave and the appliance whirred to life.

“What’re your plans for tonight?” Hallie asked, crouching in front of the cupboard next to the oven while Kendall filled a glass of water from the tap.

“I have a big test on Friday, so I plan to lock myself in my room with my textbook and notecards. Why did I go to grad school again?”

Hallie paused in folding the first box to shoot a humorous glance at her friend. “Because you’re super smart and love school.”

“Somehow, I don’t think that’s it.”

Hallie set the first folded box on the counter and picked up the second. “Do you need me to grab some reinforcement snacks after I deliver these?”

“No thanks. I stocked up on caffeine yesterday to get me through.” The microwave timer beeped, and Kendall headed over to check her dinner. Steam rose from the broth slopping against the side.

“Text me if you change your mind.” Hallie began placing the cupcakes inside the assembled boxes. “You have mail, by the way. ”

Kendall set her dinner on the counter. “What is it?”

“Something forwarded from my parents,” Hallie said, tugging off her plastic gloves before thumbing through the pile of mail on the counter until she found the mentioned item.

Kendall took the oversized envelope from her, turning it over and breaking the seal. She slid out another, this one the size of a standard letter. Scowling at the front of it, she crumpled it into a ball and delivered it to the recycling bin underneath the kitchen sink.

“With that reaction, I don’t need to ask who it’s from,” Hallie said, stacking the two cupcake boxes on top of each other. “This is the second letter in a month. She obviously wants to talk to you. Aren’t you at least a little curious about what she has to say after all this time?”

“No,” Kendall said emphatically, plopping back onto her stool. “I haven’t heard one word from my mother since I came to live with your family in ninth grade. A few letters aren’t going to make up for that. The woman is dead to me. It doesn’t matter what she has to say.”

Hallie couldn’t imagine running away at fourteen. The fact that the woman didn’t do anything to convince her daughter to come home made her want to track her down herself. What kind of mother did that to her child?

“My life is much better with Roxy Parr out of the picture. I intend to keep it that way.” Kendall ran her finger along the delicate gold bracelet lining her wrist, betraying her unbothered tone.

It was the only piece of jewelry she ever wore, and Hallie had often noticed her fiddling with it during stressful situations.

Hallie resisted the urge to wrap her friend in a hug.

Kendall hated being coddled. Her childhood left some heavy scars, giving her a fierceness and independence that made her reluctant to get close to anyone.

Yet she’d become almost feral in her loyalty to the small circle of people she truly cared about.

Balancing the bakery boxes in one hand, Hallie headed for the door. “I’ll see you later. Good luck with your studying. I can help run through your flashcards when I get back. ”

“Thanks,” Kendall said, waving her off with her spoon. “I’d appreciate that.”

After delivering the cupcakes to the Pattersons, Hallie stopped by Tyler’s on her way home. The house, located in a cute neighborhood with picture-perfect lawns and tidy homes, belonged to Gemma’s grandma. The couple had acted as caretakers for the spunky old woman since her stroke four years ago.

Darkness hadn’t yet fallen when Hallie parked on the curb in front of the two-story home.

Her brother and sister-in-law occupied the front porch, cozily snuggled together on the hanging swing Tyler put in a few years back.

With his arm draped around her shoulders, he lazily rocked them back and forth with his feet.

As Hallie stepped onto the porch, a quiet, electronic hum reached her ears from the baby monitor propped up on one side of the swing.

Tyler stopped rocking, lifting his head from his wife’s hair. “What brings you to this neck of the woods on a Tuesday night?”

“I had a delivery to make, so I thought I’d drop by. I wanted to ask if you’d be in town for the Autumn Festival.” He traveled a lot for work, so she never knew whether he’d be around or not.

Thankfully, Tyler nodded. “We were planning on taking Will one of the days. Do you need me for something?”

“I’d love some help running the booth, if you’re willing.”

“Just tell me when.” He glanced at his wife, flashing her a flirty grin. “Do you think you can spare me for a few hours on a weekend?”

Gemma rolled her eyes with a smile. “I think I’ll manage. It’ll give me a nice break.” She laughed when Tyler scoffed in feigned offense.

Hallie watched the playful exchange that followed, shifting a little uncomfortably on her feet as she worked out the words to bring up her next request. “There’s something else I wanted to ask.”

Tyler looked at her expectantly. “Name it.”

“I was … uh …” Just spit it out. “Can I have Christian’s address?”

Her brother’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”

She had no reason to be nervous about this perfectly reasonable question. Still, maybe texting him would’ve saved her from the awkwardness. This was one time her preference for face-to-face conversation complicated the situation.

“I … um … wanted to bake him some cookies.” She rubbed the bottom of her flip flop across a small pebble on the porch. “For helping me with my website.”

“No way.” Tyler shook his head forcefully. “I’ve been around the block enough to realize a woman delivering any kind of baked goods to a guy is girl code for ‘I like you.’”

“What?” Hallie took a step back, and her heel teetered off the porch. Her stomach swooped to her throat at her near fall. “That’s not it at all.”

She was curious about him, sure. After yesterday, she could even say she enjoyed his company.

True, the way her body reacted to his scent when she was within smelling range was a little weird—it had happened in the car yesterday too.

As was the way he entered her mind at random times, or how the prospect of seeing him again made her stomach bubble over with anticipation.

But no. She didn’t like him. That would be silly.

“Ty, I’m a baker. Delivering cookies is literally my job.” She wasn’t even a little bit interested. No matter that Christian was super hot.

Wait.

What?

No.

Tyler stared at her with squinty eyes that made Hallie want to squirm.

And defend herself. Why did her brother always have to get all protective of her when it came to men?

It was the one drawback of living so close.

“I have to do something to repay him. He offered to build me an entire website for free.”

“He did?” Tyler’s eyes were now tiny slits, and the blue in his irises had disappeared. “That doesn’t sound like something he’d do.”

“Hence, why I want to give him something in return.”

Gemma nudged Tyler gently in the side, drawing his attention away from Hallie long enough for her to breathe. “I don’t think there’s any harm in it.”

They shared a silent conversation before he sighed and turned back to his sister. “Fine. I’ll text it to you.” The intensity in his stare didn’t lessen. “But I need you to promise me one thing.”

“What’s that?” Hallie asked.

“Please don’t get involved with him.”

Hallie sputtered out a laugh. “You have nothing to worry about on that score.” Did her voice sound pitchy?

“Good.”

“Good,” she repeated, bobbing her head once in finality. Except her curiosity wouldn’t let this conversation die. She swung her arms back and forth a little. “But … uh … why exactly … don’t you want me to get too close … to … him?”

Sheesh, she needed to work on her acting skills.

Her brother tilted his head to one shoulder, suspicion returning to his face. “It’s not my place to dig up his demons.”

Demons?

Hallie’s mouth tipped upward. “With that vague reference you’re giving credence to Kendall’s suggestion about him being a serial killer. You know that, right?”

Gemma laughed, but Tyler barely managed a smile.

“Why is he your best friend if he’s such a bad guy?” Hallie asked.

“I never said that. Christian is one of the best men I know. He’s just been through some pretty traumatic things, and I don’t think he’s capable of being the kind of partner you deserve.

Not right now anyway.” Tyler snapped his mouth shut as though he’d already said too much.

“Look, I don’t feel comfortable airing his dirty laundry, so I’m only going to say this.

Please be careful. I don’t want my little sister getting hurt. ”

Well, that didn’t clear anything up. “That’s not going to happen, so stop worrying about it. I have to go. I’ll text you the details for the Autumn Festival. Give Will a big, squeaky kiss for me, and say hello to Grandma June.”

Gemma waved to her, and Hallie headed toward the car.

At the curb, she made the mistake of glancing back at the porch before sliding behind the wheel.

Gemma’s head was back against Tyler’s shoulder, but his attention remained on Hallie.

She was too far away to read his expression, though she practically drowned in the concern radiating from him.

They’d always been close, and as annoying as he could be with the whole protective older brother stance, she’d never doubted he only wanted the absolute best for her. If he felt it necessary to be cautious, she’d keep her distance.

Starting tomorrow after she delivered some thank-you cookies.