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Kit walked into the back entrance of the bakery and smiled when she breathed in the aroma of cinnamon raisin bread and fresh dough for her made-from-scratch bagels. Although she had become the owner of Sweet Tooth Bakery two years ago, she still had a hard time believing this was her job, her business. She had worked for years in various pastry positions, including 10 years as the head pastry chef at a country club, so when her friend Carla, Sweet Tooth’s former owner, decided to step back, Kit jumped at the opportunity to take over and keep the successful business going. She also inherited two great employees, Nic and Mina, quickly elevating Nic to the bakery manager position. Mina, however, was happy to continue coming in early and hustling to get bagels, muffins, and donuts started for the morning rush, primarily working with Jessica, a new hire in her first job out of pastry school.
“Good morning, ladies,” she said to Nic and Jessica. “You’re here early, Nic.”
“Inventory day, remember?” Nic reminded her. “I like to get it going before we open the doors.”
“There must be love in the air,” Jessica joked. “Kit’s forgetting what day of the week it is. That was one of my ‘symptoms’, if you will, when I met Irving. We were having so much fun together it was like I lost all sense of time. Not that I’m complaining. We’re starting to talk marriage and we just celebrated our first anniversary.”
“What are you all talking about?” Kit asked. I am not in love with Randolph; we only had one lunch date, and our other date was sharing a coffee here when I had downtime. I mean, just because he comes over every morning for a bagel or a cupcake to have after dinner doesn’t mean we’re in a relationship.”
“Then why did you ask me to set aside an extra half-dozen of peanut butter cookies just for him?” Mina interrupted. She had been starting to gather ingredients for a rush wedding cake order after the couple’s previous baker had canceled. But the conversation had caught her attention, and she pulled out one of her earbuds to join in.
“It’s true,” she added when Nic and Jessica looked at her in surprise. “Kit texted me before bed last night and told me to make a separate batch. I guess they’re Randolph’s favorite.”
“I’d say that’s love.” Nic smiled and headed into the cooler to continue working on inventory.
Kit shook her head at her staff, but she also started to think maybe they had a point. Randolph was the co-owner and executive chef of a popular bistro-themed restaurant that was just around the corner. When he first met Kit, she noticed he seemed to be in a bit of a hurry and had the closed-off, intense personality of a chef, but he softened up once he tried a bagel one morning and started talking to her about her recipe. Even though pastry had never been his forte, he was still interested in learning, which made her even more attracted to him. Now, he was a frequent customer before he had to go to work and get ready for lunch and dinner, and out of all the regular customers she had, she looked forward to his visits the most.
“You ladies know I don’t mind comping our customers every so often,” she reminded them. “And it just so happens that tomorrow is Randolph’s birthday, but he’s taking a day off, so I decided to surprise him when he stops in today. He told me he’d make me a meal on the house when mine comes around, and even said that all of you are invited and he’ll make sure to reserve a table for us. I know he seems grumpy at times, but he is quite thoughtful. When he wants to be.”
“As long as you’re happy,” Nic said. “I know you’ve been hoping to find love again after your divorce. What’s up with Randolph? Is he divorced too?”
“Yes, although his was more recent; it was just last year. He told me that he’s surprised it lasted as long as it did with all the nights and weekends a chef works. That’s honestly part why I chose the bakery life. I’d rather be up early in the morning and done by 6:00 than working the dinner rush or overseeing the desserts for a wedding reception.
“Oh, and Nic, I think he also mentioned that his apprentice is still single if you’re on the market. Conrad something; I forget his last name.”
“Yeah, he’s the sous chef. I saw his picture on a dating site. I’m pretty sure I know who you mean. But I don’t think he’s my type.”
“Well, I didn’t think Randolph was mine, but things seem to be going well. Goes to show you never know.”
She glanced around the kitchen, trying to bring everyone’s focus back to work, and was satisfied with what she was seeing with about 45 minutes until opening.
“All right, back to business. Mina, good work on getting that cake going. I appreciate you coming in to take on a rush job since it’s not something we normally do. Nic, when you invoice the couple, make sure you add a 15% rush fee. Jessica, the sourdough bread is getting rave reviews, especially for lunchtime sandwiches. Oh, and I think our hands are getting too full for us to bake and handle our own social media feed, so Nic, later today can we also discuss hiring an intern or part-timer to handle some of our marketing?”
“We need to get pastry interns too.” Mina chimed in. “I know there’s only a couple of months left in wedding season, but school will be starting soon, so it’ll be easy enough to recruit interns on campus or put a posting up on the career services page. And besides, it feels like we have to get ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas earlier every year. We have to put a good team together now.”
“Excellent point. Well, the counter staff should be arriving soon to help us finish setting up, so let’s make it another good day.”
When no one was looking, she tied a blue bow around the bag of cookies (it was Randolph’s favorite color, so she could easily separate it from the pink ties that were normally used on the packages that were sold to customers) and set them off to the side. She knew he usually came in around 10 or 11 before going over to his restaurant, and she was already counting down the minutes.
Although she was the owner and could technically take it easy while her employees handled all the work, Kit wasn’t that kind of business owner. She tried to be front and center as much as possible to greet her regular customers or make product recommendations, and she even liked to train new staff herself when she had the time. If she wasn’t doing any of that, she occasionally helped straighten up the seating area, as she knew that her team was busy enough between putting out fresh batches of bagels and packing up boxes of cupcakes.
As the morning rush was winding down and everyone’s focus was shifting to lunchtime and checking the stock of cookies, cupcakes, and dessert bars, Randolph entered, and Kit caught his eye as she finished brewing a fresh pot of coffee.
“And there you are,” she said, coming out from behind the counter and giving him a light kiss on the cheek. “Happy early birthday.”
“Thank you. I’m looking forward to my day off tomorrow, that’s for sure. Let Ian run the place for a change.”
“Don’t quite trust your sous with management yet, huh?”
“Hawkins? I’m not sure if he has what it takes to succeed in this business. Yeah, he can run the line and put together a good plate, but sometimes I think he has no sense of taste when he insists something is ready to be plated. Meanwhile, I put it in my mouth and can tell right away that it needs more garlic, or less salt. The salt overload is enough to nearly give me a heart attack. But you know, he thinks because I moved him up to sous six months ago that I should have handed him the keys too. He talks a big game to all the line cooks. Honestly, I’d rather have Billie in charge of the kitchen some nights but Ian and I have to discuss that.”
“Billie. Remind me, she’s like a lead cook or something?”
“I wanted her to be my sous, but Ian liked Hawkins’ experience better. Said he’s been in the Michelin biz a little longer. Billie can hold her own on a line with mostly men, though. She throws their shit talking right back at them. I love her for it, not gonna lie.
“So, how are things over here?”
“Pretty good,” Kit answered. “I have a special treat for you actually. Can you give me a minute to go get it? And do you want a cup of coffee or anything?”
“Of course; take your time. And coffee sounds great. Mind if I camp out at our favorite window table? It looks like things are pretty quiet around here, but I figured I’d ask to make sure you weren’t getting a surprise rush.” He gestured to a corner table with daisy centerpieces that she had recently purchased, as one of the bakery’s hallmarks was to have fresh flowers on every table.
She quickly headed back into the kitchen to get Randolph’s peanut butter cookies and two plates, putting a double chocolate cookie for herself on one of them.
“Oooh, looks like your special guest is here,” Jessica said. “And I can tell it’s a special day because you always mention how rare it is for you to eat chocolate after you’re around it all day.”
“There’s a point to this.” Kit told her with a smile. “Of course I can’t give that away. That’s for mine and his ears only.” She went back behind the counter to prepare coffee for him and tea for her, and then headed into the seating area to meet him.
“I’m sorry that I don’t know how you like your coffee,” she said. “But the fixings are…”
“Over by the dessert display. I remember. No worries." Randolph laughed. "And I like one pack of sugar—the real stuff, not Stevia or whatever—and two packets of half-and-half. Or two tablespoons if you have the container out.”
A pack of real sugar and two packets of milk…no, half-and-half, Kit tried to remember. OK, next time I’ll make the coffee. For now, she plated one cookie for him and then tied the bow back on the rest of the pack.
“Wow, this is for me?” he asked when he sat down again. “Looks delicious.”
“Peanut butter. Your favorite. I know I’m not going to see you tomorrow because you’re taking the day off, so I asked one of my bakers to make you a batch. So, enjoy one now and then you can take the rest home or back to your restaurant. Whatever works for you.”
“This is very thoughtful. And you even know my favorite color.” He grinned at her, and she hid a shy smile behind her hand. She loved his softer side, when he was the seasoned restaurant veteran who asked about her recipes and admired the flavor combinations that went into a chicken salad sandwich. Or complimented her peanut butter cookies as some of the best he’d ever had.
“It was one of the first things you told me about yourself. And you remember mine.”
“Purple. Of course.”
She took a bite of her cookie and realized she’d never even really answered his question about how she was doing, so she tried to think of something to say that would hold his attention and make her look like she could carry on a conversation in front of the object of her affection.
“You normally like a morning donut or croissant, right?” Randolph asked. Thankfully, he had found a solution to her problem.
“Oh, yes, you’re right. Although I’m afraid I’ve gained about seven or eight pounds recently. It’s not that much, but you know at our ages, we have to be more careful. I don’t want to lose my figure. I’m just fortunate my schedule allows me time to go to the gym at a decent hour.”
“I understand. I try to lift weights when I can, but I can’t bench what I used to. For what it’s worth, though, I think you look fabulous. One cookie won’t do as much damage as you think it will, but if working out makes you happy, I don’t want to push it. I know body image is a tough topic for women, and I like your company, so I don’t want to piss you off.”
“And I like yours as well, so I won’t rub it in your face that you can’t lift heavy weights anymore.”
He laughed. “Well, I do like a good morning run if you ever want to join me. I’m planning to do a 5K next month.”
“I don’t think I’ll be ready for that,” Kit replied. “But thank you for the invitation. How about I just come cheer you on and then you can help me ramp up my training another time?”
“It’s a plan.”
She picked up the cookie again and watched him quickly but happily eat another one of his peanut butter cookies.
“You must be really happy with them,” she pointed out. “You’re going to eat the whole half-dozen before you get to work.”
“And if I do, then I have an excuse to come back tomorrow on my actual birthday. So, what made you go for the chocolate today?”
“You know, it was because you were coming. I know that baking really isn’t your niche, and you asked me what the appeal is of peanut butter and chocolate. So, I once read it’s because these two flavors balance each other out. Chocolate is sweet, and peanut butter is creamy and a bit salty. You can enjoy those things separately, of course, but the contrast makes us want more.
“My point is, as cliche as it sounds, you can be the salty half of this pairing when you’re too much in a hurry or you talk about the way you run your kitchen. And I find that attractive because you know when to turn it off and balance out your big personality to spend time with me.”
“Ah, so you’ve proclaimed yourself the sweet one?” he asked with a grin.
“Well, if I do say so myself, things are quite busy around here, but it’s not as cutthroat as the line at a dinner rush.”
Randolph started to laugh and shook his head. “That is the one thing I think I’m missing by not broadening my horizons into pastry. We very rarely get complaints about desserts; when the customers send something back to the kitchen, it’s generally an appetizer or the main course. Occasionally a side dish.”
“I assure you people can be a bit picky about their baked goods too,” she answered, chuckling. “But, the two flavors of cookies seemed to capture our relationship well, and I think despite our contrast to each other, we would make quite the pair and should consider making ourselves more official. So, would you like to go out with me sometime? Both of our businesses are closed on Mondays, and I close on Sundays by 3. Or I could catch up with you on Tuesday on the other half of your ‘weekend.’”
“That sounds great.” Randolph didn’t even hesitate when answering. “And they do say opposites attract. I guess that’s true in food and in life. I’ve always liked chocolate and bacon since it first became a trend, by the way.”
“You sizzle and I delight the senses, leaving you wanting more.” Their flirting made them laugh again, but this time, he raised his eyebrows in intrigue.
“We’ll figure it out after my birthday,” he said once they came up for air. “Thanks for making my day a little sweeter. I do have to get going now.”
“You want a to-go cup for your coffee?”
“That would be fantastic. Thank you.”
Kit watched Randolph leave, and even when he pulled out his phone almost immediately after getting outside, she couldn’t help but feel in love. Not to mention proud of herself; for as confident as she always thought she was, she never quite had what it took to ask a man out on a date.
What a way to sizzle. And of course, leave Randolph wanting to continue indulging his romantic side.