Page 21 of When the Baker Met the Dragon

Now, I just have to make sure I don’t show how I feel about Kaya. I have to let it go and stick to the work.

Tully is telling dirty jokes as we drink white peach tea and wait for the dough to proof. Once the dough is ready, Laini,Tully, and I each knock out our own portion. Kaya flits from work station to work station, giving us quick directions and grumbling about her injury.

After that, Kaya has me cutting parchment paper into precise sizes while Tully and Laini are in the front room trying to get Sio to talk to them. The paper is ready, and Kaya waves the other females back into the kitchen.

“Shape them into rectangles and put them in these,” she orders, pointing at the sheets I cut. “Roll them to fit once they are wrapped.”

It’s a long and complicated process, but with a witch who can do a few small magics here and there—she makes sure the magic doesn’t touch the food directly because it can make foods bitter—we end up getting to the lamination stage, as Kaya calls it.

Using her good hand, Kaya dusts each of our work stations with flour. She directs us as we fold the cold butter into the dough. I don’t know how she remembers all these crazy steps.

“This is more complicated than doing my yearly taxes, Kaya,” I say, looking up from my project. “I’m probably doing this all wrong.”

“No, it looks perfect,” she says to me, eyes twinkling. “Thanks for the help. I can’t thank you enough.”

She sets her healthy hand on my arm, and a shiver travels up to my chest. Her lips part, and a lock of her fawn-brown hair slips from the messy knot on top of her head to touch the edge of her heart-shaped face. Without thinking, I smooth the strand behind her ear. Her breath catches, and she shuts her eyes briefly.

I want to kiss her. My body hums with desire. I want to do more than kiss her. I want to lay her out on this floury surface and taste every inch of her until I find what makes her moan the loudest.

Laini and Tully have gone quiet behind us, but then Laini clears her throat.

“What are you going to wear tonight to meet the wool merchant?” Tully asks, her words too loud in the soft atmosphere of the kitchen.

Kaya seems to shake herself and turns to face the witch. “I have no idea. Is this not good?” She gestures to her simple dress and apron. “I mean, without the apron, of course.”

She laughs nervously. Dark pink suffuses her round cheeks, and I wish I could make her flush like that for very different reasons. I have to show her I support her meeting potential partners who aren’t me. I’m no good for her.

“How about that deep green dress you wore last May Day?” I say.

“You remember that?”

Uh oh. Caught. “It’s similar to a dress Rychell wore the day we made our deal on spice supplies.”

“Oh, right.” Kaya nods and smiles, but disappointment clouds her pretty eyes.

My recall of that garment has absolutely nothing to do with Rychell, even though the spice merchant is a lovely female. I couldn’t take my eyes off Kaya last May Day. She had led the dance around the bonfire that night, and the way her hips swayed and her voice rang out with the song of the spring… Well, I can’t tell her that if I want her to give this wool merchant a chance.

Laini smiles approvingly. “Good idea, Cyrus.”

I give her a look that says I know exactly where her mind is on this and that I’m not an idiot. “Thanks.”

I face Kaya, who is slicing the dough and marking the opposite edge.

“Maybe wear your hair down,” I say to her. “It’s good hair. He’ll be besotted by the time your food arrives.”

She glances at me out of the corner of her eye and raises an eyebrow like she’s not sure what I’m up to or why I’m helping so much. She can tell I’m holding something back. We know one another too well, I guess, to keep secrets.

“All right, Cyrus. I will do that. Laini and Tully, come here and see what I did so you can do the same to your dough.”

The day turns into evening, and the females head upstairs to help Kaya get ready for dinner. I’m left to finish the baking and add the chocolate at the right time. Sitting on a stool near the oven, Sio stays with me. I expect him to correct my technique at any moment now.

“No comments? Really?” I eye the old maplecat.

The cat opens his mouth to speak.

Chapter 11

Cyrus