Carolyne Aarsen - The Bachelor Baker

Brian fought his frustration and anger. What was happening to his town? Why were things going so badly?

He looked at the little girl, trying to imagine her sitting on a bus for more than an hour instead of walking to school like so many children in Bygones did. As a kid he used to take the school bus, but in the summertime he and his sisters would bike from their home on the edge of town, enjoying the freedom of their own transportation.

“I’ll sign your petition, Treena.” He pushed himself to his feet and pulled a pen out of a jar sitting by the cash register. He scribbled his signature, then handed the paper back to Treena. “I hope the school doesn’t get closed down. Let me know what happens, Lexi,” he said as he straightened.

“What’s going on?”

Melissa stood behind him, a frown puckering her forehead, her arms folded over her chest.

And why was she frowning at him now?

“Lexi and Treena wanted me to sign a petition but I’ll get right back to work,” he said with a hint of asperity. Before she could say anything he grabbed the empty bread rack and pushed it, wheels squeaking in protest, to the back to finish his job.

* * *

Melissa watched Brian go, biting back a sigh. His second day on the job and he still exuded resentment. This was not going well. Saturday she had hoped to talk to Dale Eversleigh about helping her with another list of prospective employees and then Brian came walking into the bakery. For a moment she had been tempted to rescind her job offer, but she didn’t dare. She was the newcomer to Bygones and the SOS Committee held the strings and dictated the terms of her loan.

So she had, very reluctantly, hired him. And, it seemed, he was just as reluctant to work here, which made her wonder why he took the job.

She wasn’t sure whether she needed to talk to him about his attitude or wait and see if it changed. At least he knew how to work. She was still surprised he had cleaned up the front so well on Saturday and was willing to learn how to bag bread today.

As she turned her attention back to the little girl named Treena, she thought of how kind Brian had been to her. He was a puzzling study in contrasts, that’s for sure.

“What did Mr. Montclair mean when he said he hoped the school didn’t close down?” she asked.

Treena held up her paper again. “I have a perdition here—”

“Petition,” Lexi corrected as Melissa stifled a quick smile.

“Petition,” the little girl corrected. “I thought people in town could help me and sign my paper. Maybe I could give it to the school board and they would change their mind.”

Melissa glanced at Lexi, who gave her a “what can I do?” smile. “It was her idea so I said I would accompany her to the various businesses. It can’t hurt.”

“Of course I’ll sign,” Melissa said. As she added her name and signature to the paper, she noticed Brian’s above hers. His writing was a large, dark scrawl.

Not unlike the man himself, she thought, giving the girl her paper back. “I hope that helps,” she said with a rueful look.

Lexi placed her hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “I do, too. A six-year-old shouldn’t have to sit on the bus for over an hour to get to school.” She gave Melissa a quick smile, then glanced over at the display case. “While we’re here, I’d like to try some of the new pastries I’ve heard some rave reviews about.”

Melissa’s heart warmed at the compliment. “Sure. What would you like?”

“I can deal with the customers.”

Brian’s gruff voice behind her gave her a start, but she shook her head. “No. That’s okay. I don’t mind.” She turned back to Lexi.

Lexi glanced from Brian to Melissa as if unsure who to talk to.

“I want a doughnut,” Treena piped up, obviously not caring who she needed to deal with.

“Sorry, honey. I don’t have any doughnuts,” Melissa said.

“Wow. They must be amazing if you’re out already,” Lexi said.

“I don’t carry doughnuts.”

Lexi looked taken aback and Melissa could almost feel Brian’s smirk behind her.

“I’m aiming for a different product line,” Melissa said, trying not to sound defensive. “Something less traditional.”

“Okay. Then I’ll have a half-dozen white chocolate blueberry scones and a dozen toffee crunch cookies.”

“Coming right up.” Melissa turned to put on her plastic disposable gloves and almost ran into Brian standing right behind her, gloves already on.

“I said I’ll take care of this,” he growled. “You go bake your little fours or whatever you call them.”

She held his steady gaze, his eyebrows lowered over his deep-set eyes, and felt the tiniest frisson of fear. Then she dismissed it. She would not be intimidated by an employee, but at the same time she sensed he was not backing down.

“Okay. I’ll be in the back,” she said with a forced smile, knowing she would have to talk to him later about the boss/employee relationship. If he was going to work here, they needed to keep a few things straight.

After Lexi and Treena left, the bell rang again and a group of people came in. Melissa heard laughter, Brian’s gruff response and more laughter.

She was curious but stayed where she was, not sure she wanted to deal with Brian’s grumpiness any more than she had to.

Quiet ensued, but then another group of people came in. Sounded like women from the voices. More laughter. Melissa knew she should keep her concentration on the new recipe she was working on for Mrs. Morgan.

She corrected a few of the amounts, but her inquisitiveness got the better of her and she stepped away from her table, peeking around the corner to see the front of the store.

Two women stood by the display cases, quizzing Brian about the products and teasing him.

“I guess your Home Ec classes are finally getting put to good use,” one of the women, a tall brunette, was saying. She fingered her long hair, giving Brian a flirtatious look.

“I just got a job here because I kneaded the dough,” he said with a wry tone in his voice. Melissa pressed down a giggle at his unexpected humor, but neither of the women seemed to catch the double entendre.

“I never thought I’d see the day a woman put an apron on the rough, tough Brian Montclair,” the other woman said, her green eyes flashing behind a pair of heavy rimmed glasses, her hair a mass of dark curls springing away from her narrow face.

“Now, now, Anita, I’m not that helpless. I put this apron on all by myself,” he said, joining in on their laughter.

“So is this your new calling?” Anita asked, wrapping her arms around her narrow frame, giving Brian a flirtatious look. “Baking cupcakes and squares?”

“I don’t care to do any of the girlie baking stuff,” Brian returned. “That’s Miss—”

“City Slicker’s job,” Anita finished for him. “I heard you call her that after the Grand Opening. After all the grumbling you did there about the new businesses I never thought I’d see you working at one of them.”

“Well, as Miss Coraline always said, the Lord moves in mysterious ways. His wonders to perform,” Brian returned with a tight smile. “Speaking of wonders, Trudy, you have to try this apple pastry.”

“I’ll take half a dozen,” Trudy replied.

“Only half? Your husband and kids will have half of them eaten before Sunday comes around,” he said, putting six more in another box.

“Always were a smooth talker,” Anita said, adding a wink. “Have you been turning your charm on the owner of the bakery, Miss Melissa City Slicker? She’s single. Pretty. She reminds me of Tracy, one of your many old girlfriends.”

Melissa knew she should get back to work, but for some reason she was suddenly curious about Brian’s romantic history.