Don't Go Baking My Heart

“It’s not revenge. Not really. Yes, I fully admit I’m making you take me to lunch because you pissed me off, but how about you don’t disparage people’s intelligence, and you won’t find yourself here, hmm?”

He made a noise that sounded like a grunt, and Reba got to her feet and smoothed down the front of her dress. The ribbed material tended to have a mind of its own. “I’ll drive since I know where we’re going.”

He turned to her, ready to protest but shook his head again. “Fine.”

The receptionist looked like she couldn’t believe her eyes when Devon told her he’d be back in two hours, at the latest—he stressed the time as if sending her a silent signal to send out a search party if he wasn’t back by then—and if anyone asked for him, he was out on a business lunch. The woman’s eyes slid over to Reba and then back to Devon.

“Business lunch. Okay, yes, got it.”

Reba laughed as they made their way to the elevator. “Her group chat is going to be jumping about this.”

Devon looked out the window, watching the scenery as they descended to the ground floor. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

“Hey, this is actually working in your favour. Your co-workers get to see a different side of you. And how can you function without proper nutrition? I’m helping you here.”

“I function just fine. Your idea of helping is vastly different from mine.”

“We’re very different people, Devon, I’m aware. That’s the fun of the whole thing.”

“Fun is overrated,” he grumbled. “We agreed the weekends would be your time. For baking. Now you’re disrupting my work during the week?”

They exited the elevator, and Devon followed Reba to the visitor parking in the back of the building. “Yup, just call me The Disruptor,” she said proudly as she pointed to where her car was parked.

“This feels weird,” Devon said as soon as he slid into the passenger seat. “Not used to being driven.”

“Well, sit back and enjoy the whole ten minutes it’s going to take to get there. I’m an excellent driver, and you get to look at all of this instead of the boring scenery outside.”

He followed her hand as she swept it from her waist to her hip, but he didn’t say a thing. She could see his brain working overtime to figure out where she was taking him. Didn’t matter, he was never guessing the location. She was positive Devon had never set foot into this place, nor did he know it existed.

He was silent the entire time it took them to get to the nondescript car park. Reba didn’t bother him because she was too hyped to see his reaction. He followed her across the street and looked totally confused when they were in front of one of those old colonial-style houses.

“Not here.” Reba pointed to the little side gate. “Down there.” She pushed it open and smiled to herself as Devon followed silently behind. Usually, it was jarring when people stepped from the bright daylight into the more subdued lighting of the JamBoree Bistro.

“What in the hell is this place?”

Reba stepped aside so Devon could get the full impact of her favourite lunch spot. The music was at a decent level, but there were still people jamming out to it at their tables as they either waited for their lunch orders or chowed down on their food.

“Welcome to my best-kept secret.”

Devon remained glued to the bottom of the stairs like he didn’t want to move any further into the room. Fair, Reba supposed. To him, this entire place would look like chaos. She wondered how he would take it when she told him they didn’t have a daily set menu.

A tall, burly guy came over to them. “Darling, I didn’t expect you today!” he shouted, grabbing Reba up into a big hug and spinning her around before allowing her feet to touch the ground.

“You know I like keeping you on your toes. Well, I’m introducing someone to your amazingness today.” She pointed at Devon. “JB, this is Devon. My chaos-averse comrade.”

JB gave Devon the once-over. “I love a challenge, so come on. I have your usual table for you right over here.”

Reba’s favourite table allowed them to see the entire place. She loved people-watching. It was so easy to spot when someone was entering JamBoree for the first time. Their facial expressions were always so amusing.

Like Devon’s right now. He didn’t know what to make of this place. His brow furrowed even more when JB asked, “So, any allergies to anything? Anything you don’t particularly like?”

“Isn’t there a menu?” Devon asked, clearly confused.

“Nope,” JB said cheerfully.

“That’s…”

“Genius, right?” Reba butted in.