“Oh. Okay. I’ll get them boxed up.”
He glanced around. “Are you the only one here?”
She nodded. “Don’t worry. I have a couple employees meeting me at your es
tate.”
“Let me give you a hand.” He slipped off his coat.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Sure I do. I’m the one who insisted on the extra items. The least I can do is give you a hand boxing them up.” He didn’t mention that he’d noticed the dark smudges under her eyes. She was working too hard and not getting enough sleep. At least he hoped that’s all it was.
They worked together, packing up all the delicious treats. Simon snagged one of the cherry turnovers. He couldn’t wait until later. His palate had been in withdrawal for weeks now. He was only so strong.
“Look at the time.” There was mild panic in Pepper’s voice. “With the traffic, I’m going to be late.”
“Not if you leave now.”
“But there’s still all of this to load in the van.”
“I’ll help you.”
This time she didn’t argue. They moved the baked goods on carts out to the delivery van painted in white with big black polka dots all over it and the logo for the Polka Dotted Bakery painted in bubblegum pink and lime green. He couldn’t help but smile. It was unique, just like its owner.
The truck was quite full when they were done and Simon wasn’t sure what he was going to do with all the extra food, but he would deal with that problem later.
He climbed out of the back of the van. “You’re good to go.”
She stood frowning.
“What’s the matter?”
“I forgot something.” And then her eyes widened. “My backpack. It’s on the counter.”
When she went to turn and rush back inside, he reached out to her. “You stay here. Close up the van and I’ll grab your stuff.”
She nodded.
He ran back inside the bakery. The only problem was that there were a lot of counters. His gaze moved around the kitchen in a counter clockwise manner. And then he spotted her red and white backpack as well as the digital tablet next to the stove. He rushed over and grabbed them.
He moved too quickly and the backpack knocked over a tall stack of business cards, as well as some papers. A frustrated groan formed deep in his throat. He rushed to clean up the mess. He guessed that Pepper meant to take the business cards with her to hand out at the party. He took most of them and her backpack. He flipped off the lights, exited the building and, using the keys Pepper had placed in the door earlier, locked it.
She was in the back of the van, doing something with one of the boxes.
“I’ve got it,” he called out.
“Okay. This is all set.” She climbed out, closed the door and turned to him. “I just have to set the alarm system.”
She rushed back inside. He checked the time. It was most definitely late, and it was his fault for insisting on taking her extra pastries. He owed it to Pepper to make sure she arrived on time. He called his driver to tell him to head to Connecticut without him. Simon had just hung up when she returned.
“I’m never going to make it on time,” she said.
“You will if you take a couple of shortcuts I’ve learned.”
She shook her head. “I’ll just get lost. I’m going whatever way my phone app tells me.”
“Trust me. I’ll show you the way.”