Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45218 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45218 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Whirling, Ellie relaxed to see Riley in the doorway. “Hi! You’re early. Come on in.”
Ellie waved the dark-haired woman with the pale-blue eyes inside and asked her to sit at the nearest table. “I’ll be right back.” She ducked through the swinging door and grabbed a plate of assorted cupcakes and two small bottles of milk.
Tucking her clipboard of official questions the internet told her she should ask under her arm, Ellie balanced the treats as she returned to Riley. “I thought you should sample a cupcake to make sure you can endorse them.”
“They’re beautiful. I’d love to try one,” Riley said eagerly. Carefully, she plucked a red velvet cupcake from the platter. After peeling back the paper, Riley took a big bite, smearing the cream cheese frosting on her upper lip and even on her nose.
“Mmm!” she hummed, casually wiping the frosting from her face.
“Good, huh? That’s one of my favorites, too.” Ellie laughed at herself. “I’m not making anything I don’t like.”
“If everything is as good as this is, you’re going to make a million dollars!” Riley complimented.
Ellie watched her look at the top of the cupcake. Riley rotated it slowly as she stared at the beautiful frosting on top. “Tell me what you’re thinking?”
“I chose this one because my grandma adored red velvet cake. She’d had one for her wedding because grandpa canceled the plain white cake her parents had ordered to save money and changed it to this yummy concoction. There’s a picture in her wedding album of them cutting the cake. The excitement on her face is priceless.”
“That’s a sweet story,” Ellie mused.
“She always said she noticed what looked like a sprinkling of red velvet crumbs in a lovely pattern on the top of the cake. But she figured the baker had added those as a free gift for her wedding day. Grandma always told me to find a man who notices the small things that make me happy.”
Ellie smiled.
Riley paused to study the plain, cream-colored frosting on top. “You could add some sprinkles of red velvet crumbs on the cupcake to clue in people who don’t know what it is. Maybe on one half?” she suggested.
Leaning forward to look at the icing pattern she’d decided on for those cupcakes, Ellie suggested, “Or maybe a swirl?”
“Can you do that? That would be unique.”
“If you come work for me, I’ll teach you how to do that!” Ellie returned the grin on Riley’s face.
“I brought the application from the website,” Riley said, pulling the folded sheets from her purse.
“I already know you have the skills to talk to customers politely and work a register and a credit card machine,” Ellie said with a smile as she accepted the wrinkled sheets. “You’re already working. Do you need another job?”
“Yes. I’m saving up for something important.”
“Riley, are you going to quit when you have enough money?” Ellie forced herself to ask. She wanted to have some people she could rely on, especially in the beginning.
“I like working. If I meet that goal, I’ll set another. I promise you, Ellie, I won’t leave you in a lurch.”
“Then unless you’re a serial killer or allergic to sprinkles, you’ve got a job.”
“Thanks, Ellie! I promise I’ll work hard.”
Ellie picked up her bottle of milk and toasted Riley before taking a drink.
Trying not to make snap judgements, Ellie considered all the applicants with an open mind. She carefully selected two other women to work part time with Riley. With two people to work the front and Ellie baking in the back and helping out during rushes, she thought they could handle just about anything.
Her advertised time for interviews was almost over. The platter of cupcakes had dwindled as each candidate had eagerly enjoyed one. Ellie wrinkled her nose at the thought of the lady who stated she didn’t eat sugar and actually called it evil. When Ellie had suggested that her body would absorb demonic sugar as it landed on her skin in the sweet shop, the woman had quickly decided to withdraw her application.
“Why did she even come?” Ellie wondered out loud.
A deep rumble of laughter made her look up. A familiar huge figure stood inside the doorway. Ellie realized her question could have a variety of interpretations. Quickly, she covered her embarrassment with chatter.
“Hi, Bear. Want a cupcake?”
“Yes. I’d love one. Maybe after you interview me?” he suggested.
“You’re here for an interview?” Ellie asked in confusion. The large man served as one of the Dungeon Masters for Blaze. She’d never wondered what his real job was. Bear hadn’t been around for long. He fit so well into the club vibe that it just felt like he’d been there forever.
“Yes.” Bear settled into one of the chairs Garrett had constructed. Suddenly, Ellie was glad her Daddy had put them together. He was a big man. Those screws needed to be secure.