Julie Caplin - The Little Brooklyn Bakery - A heartwarming feel good novel full of cakes and romance!

‘And how would I get any work done, Maddie? I’d be constantly distracted by your gorgeousness.’

Oh please. Sophie schooled her face into polite indifference. He had to be kidding.

‘Oh Todd, you’re such a charmer,’ said Madison, dipping her head coyly.

Really? That sort of cheese was digestible?

‘I know,’ he said cheerfully. ‘But English here is going to help me with a new feature, so it probably makes sense for her to be in the vicinity.’

News to her. Sophie stuck her tongue firmly in her cheek, which only Todd could see. He gave her a twisted grin. ‘Yeah … er … An – um – Englishwoman Abroad, checking out what’s new in New York.’

Madison frowned, or at least tried to. Her forehead didn’t seem to want to wrinkle like normal people’s did.

‘Oh, OK. Well, if you change your mind or finish your feature, I can always help on another one. I know all the most exclusive bars and I can get you into the member-only clubs.’

‘I’ll bear it in mind. Thanks, you’re a doll.’

Trudi smiled pleasantly, the epitome of diplomacy. ‘Right, well, we’ll leave you to it. See you at the editorial meeting.’ She turned on her heel, making a pointed pause when Madison didn’t immediately follow.

‘I’ll see you around, Todd. Maybe we can have that drink sometime.’

Todd waved a casual finger at her. ‘You bet.’

Sophie stood helplessly, while Todd unearthed a phone extension from underneath a stack of magazines. ‘I knew there was one here somewhere.’ He stepped forward and then with a wicked grin said, ‘Let me clear these sex toys away.’ He paused, sorting through a pile of boxes before offering her an open one with a large pink plastic shape nestled in purple tissue paper. ‘Unless you’d like to try a couple out and review them for me. For the column.’

Sophie gave him a level look which he cheerfully ignored.

‘Maybe not.’ He dropped the box on the floor and nudged it under his desk with his foot. ‘Here, grab these a second.’ He shoved a handful of flimsy silk underwear into her hands. ‘Help yourself to anything you fancy. They’re not my size.’

‘Fan mail?’ asked Sophie dryly, beginning to wonder quite what the scope of his column was. The one she’d read entitled ‘West Bank’ had been a recommendation of the best restaurants and bars, with multiple escape routes for those dates that went West , as well as a guide to decoding what men meant when they said certain things on a first date. It had been funny, witty and irreverent, poking fun at men’s hapless approaches to dating.

Todd let out a bark of laughter. ‘Funny, English. Funny. No, they’re samples. Sometimes I recommend gift-buying ideas. I get sent all sorts of stuff.’

‘So I gathered.’

‘Comes with the territory of being New York’s Man About Town , aka expert on everything.’

Todd’s idea of tidying up was simply transferring most of the mess to a pile behind his desk, but she could hardly complain as it meant she now had a clear space to work in. A bit too clear. She gave the bleak desk a baleful look, regretting not even bringing her own notebook to lay claim to her new territory. Digging in her handbag, she pulled out a solitary biro – it was the one Todd had lent her yesterday morning – and put it out in front of her. It looked a little sad. Lost and alone. Her mouth twisted.

When she looked up Todd was studying her.

‘You OK? You need anything?’

‘Fine,’ she said with a wan smile. ‘I don’t suppose you’ve got some paper I can borrow to go into the meeting. I packed in a hurry … I didn’t bring …’ On her desk at home, she had a pretty pot with pens, a magnetic bird that held paperclips and … a photo of James in a silver frame. Pain pinched at her heart.

‘Sure.’ He tossed towards her a lined foolscap pad emblazoned with a company logo. The phone on his desk shrilled. ‘Todd McLennan. Hey Charlene,’ his voice dropped an octave and he leaned back in his chair and put his feet up on the desk. ‘Course I haven’t forgotten. Charlene, how could I forget you?’ He winked at Sophie.

She rolled her eyes and his grin widened.

Utterly shameless. Sophie stared at the soles of his trendy lace-up boots.

‘Seven o’clock is just great, Charlene. Can’t wait.’ He put the phone down.

‘Was that Charlene by any chance?’ asked Sophie, amused. ‘Worried you were going to forget her name?’

‘It has happened,’ replied Todd. ‘But it’s a good psychological trick, builds rapport.’

Sophie could see exactly why Bella had said he was bad news.

‘And now on to the November edition. The fashion section is all sewn up. We’ve got the “Hundred Best Boots for the Fall” feature. Health, we’re focusing on supplements and vitamins that beat lethargy and tiredness. We’re testing cookers for best buys.’

As Trudy spoke, Sophie glanced around the meeting room, receiving tentative nods from the people assembled around the large oval glass table. She’d been introduced at the start of the meeting with little fanfare or fuss, which suited her fine.

This was more like it. Familiar and routine. Apart from the American accents around her, it was just like an editorial meeting at home. Already their ideas were sparking a few of her own, plus she’d come armed with a few feature suggestions up her sleeve and had been scribbling a few notes on the foolscap pad.

‘Sophie, this’ll be your first rodeo. Any ideas?’

‘Well, Brandi emailed the outlines for Thanksgiving—’

‘She left notes,’ piped up Madison, her voice strident and a steely look of determination in her eye. ‘I’ve got it all taken care of. It’s not like it could wait.’

‘Oh,’ said Sophie because she had no idea what else to say.

‘Well, with due respect,’ drawled Madison in that deceptively casual tone which you knew really meant business, and was not respectful at all, ‘you were over a week late.’ With an insincere smile, she shifted in her seat, deliberately drawing attention to her long elegant limbs, and slight hint of tasteful cleavage. ‘So, I’ve got the recipes for a cheese grits-and-corn pudding, hints for perfect roast turkey and a darling recipe for pumpkin pie with walnut crust.’

All of which had been in Brandi’s outline.

‘That’s great,’ Sophie paused and gave a light-hearted smile, ‘and just as well, as being English, I know nothing about Thanksgiving … yet.’ Everyone laughed. ‘And I have only the vaguest idea what cheese grits are, but I’m hoping while I’m here to pick your brains and find out more … but I was thinking of perhaps an English afternoon tea feature.’

Madison smirked. ‘Isn’t that a bit too precious? This is CityZen magazine, not Good Housekeeping . Not grannies and their knitting.’

Sophie turned to her, with an even bigger smile, pumping up the enthusiasm. She’d been up against far bigger and bitchier foes and could out-smile anything Madison could throw at her. ‘Yes, but we would put a hygge spin on it, look after yourself and family and friends in preparation for those miserable dark nights when Daylight Saving comes in and the clocks go back. Scones and jam, I mean jelly, toasted teacakes, warming spicy parkin and delicate fairy cakes. In front of a roaring fire.’

‘Oooh yum,’ said Trudy with an approving smile. ‘Love it, love it, love it, especially the hygge angle, even though I have no idea what parkin is, but I’m sure it will be delicious. I’ll make sure I’m around the day that recipe gets tested.’

‘And who doesn’t love a fairy cake?’ piped up a very camp voice on Sophie’s left, making everyone laugh again.