“Sure. I’ve got a bunch of pre-made sandwiches. I could just cut them in fours. And some bagels. Maybe some muffins?”
“Sounds good. Whatever you think will keep ten people busy for half an hour.”
She flashed me a grin, then quickly dashed around putting everything together beautifully in two large flat cardboard boxes.
Looking around the shop, I was astounded at the variety of food. “Do you really go through this many biscuits every day?”
Bailey shrugged. “Almost every day. Whatever doesn’t sell gets picked up by someone from the homeless shelter up on Mortimer.”
“Really? That’s kind of you.”
“It’s a good deal, actually. I give them quite a bit of food, and they agreed to shovel the snow in winter, and clean the front windows every other week. They send a couple of guys down every Thursday morning when I get my deliveries to haul the heaviest stuff inside for me. It’s hard for them to find work, and everyone needs to feel useful, you know?”
I nodded, not surprised by her kindness. “How long have you been a baker?”
She was busily tucking extra napkins and a little container of butter into the side of the box. “Do you want plastic knives or–”
“No, thanks, we have cutlery there.”
“Good, thanks. Um, I guess I started baking when I was six or seven. Whenever I visited with my grandmother, it was my job to grease the pans, stir the mixes, and help design the flavors.” She laughed suddenly. “I swear, I’m pretty sure that I was good at math in school because I already knew fractions thanks to converting recipes to different amounts.”
I laughed with her. “I remember when I was in high school we always wondered why the guys in the black leather jackets were good at fractions. I was too much of a nerd to realize they were the drug dealers.”
Bailey laughed with me, but I couldn’t help noticing that slight tension in her eyes that seemed to come and go.
As she rang up my order, I pulled out my wallet, seeing an empty slot where my credit card was supposed to be.
“Dammit,” I muttered. She raised an eyebrow, waiting. “I’m so sorry. I gave my card to Kate yesterday when she was doing some bulk ordering for everyone.”
Bailey held up her hands. “You can pay me later. I’m pretty sure I know where you work, so I could track you down quite easily.”
“I really don’t want you to think that I’m a deadbeat,” I said. “I’ll come back this afternoon, okay?”
“That’s perfect, actually,” she said with a sweet grin that made me want to reach out to her. “I’m doing more flavor experiments around five, and need a second opinion.”
“Excellent. I’ve always dreamed of becoming a cookie flavor expert.”
“Oh no,” she said very seriously. “We’re moving you up to the next round. Tarts.”
I nodded. “I’m truly touched that you would entrust this great honor to me. I hope that I don’t let you down.”
She came around to the side of the counter, standing beside me a bit closer than I expected as she looked up at me. “I’m sorry, I’m sure you get this a lot, but seriously, how tall are you?”
I shook my head. “Miss, that is a serious violation of my privacy. Those of us who are six foot four hate it when – oh crap.”
“I’m sorry,” she giggled. “I’ve just never seen a guy that big who laughs as much as you do.”
“It’s all the steroids,” I said, squinting my eyes and glancing side to side shiftily. “They make me giddy.”
She doubled over laughing, placing her hand on mine on the counter as if we were old friends. Or was she flirting with me? I don’t think she realized she even did it, as she pulled her hand away quickly. But that simple touch made my heart skip a beat, as it clearly said that she was comfortable with me. No matter what the context, there was some sort of connection between us.
“Thank you for assisting me in my first ever theft,” I said, picking up the boxes.
Bailey crinkled her nose, then spun as the little bell over the door tinkled. Turning back to me, she said, “I’ll see you this afternoon. Five-ish?”
She was looking forward to seeing me again. It was right there in her eyes. Grinning, I nodded and turned, clearing the way for three high school students intent on destroying their afternoon focus with an influx of sugar.
On the way back to work, I admired the strange old buildings, and the unusual mix of businesses on this street.