Cinnamon and Spice Conundrum (Cinnamon Rolls and Pumpkin Spice)

Chapter 33

Sadie

My heart tries to beat its way out of my chest, and I’m breathless from our fast retreat into the kitchen. Or maybe it’s from the hunky guy at my side.

Ryan’s wearing a pair of designer jeans that hug his butt just right. His Henley shirt molds to his muscular chest, leaving no doubt about what’s underneath. Rather than the black-framed glasses, he’s wearing contacts. Even though I like him in glasses, the contacts allow me to gaze into his brown eyes without having to look through lenses. He smells so good—a pleasing hint of pine and man—I barely resist the urge to sniff his chest.

We stare at each other for several long beats. He keeps a firm grasp on my hands so I don’t run away, although that’s the last thought on my mind right now.

“What do we need to talk about?” I say, my voice coming out raspy.

He leads me to the tiny table in the break room. Fortunately, Michael and Ella are at school so we don’t have a six- and four-year-old audience.

Before we sit, he says, “I need to do this first.” He sweeps me into his arms, and when his lips land on mine, everything feels right again in my world.

Oh how I’ve missed this guy!

Any previous anger I was feeling dissipates like air from a popped balloon. I slip my arms around his neck and kiss him back; every pass of our lips a promise of the future, leaving no doubt as to exactly how we feel about each other. Lucky the two kiddos aren’t here.. .

One... or five minutes later, both of us come up for air, breathing like we just ran a sprint. Ryan cups my face with his fingertips, gently stroking my cheeks.

“I was worried you’d slap me in the face,” he says with a teasing glint in his eyes.

“Two weeks ago, yes. But Team Ryan and your gifts have made quite an impression.”

He chuckles, then slides a chair out, motioning for me to sit. When he sits across from me, his brows crease together, and he nervously taps his finger on the table. I doubt he even knows he’s doing that.

“I want to explain why I misled you about who I am,” he says.

“I’m listening,” I reply, at last ready to hear him out. I won’t tell him I met Miss Louboutin Shoes until after he’s had his opportunity to speak.

A look of relief crosses his handsome features. He clears his throat and starts talking. “Have you ever heard of Denver’s Twenty-Five Most Eligible Bachelors list?”

I shake my head. “No, can’t say I have.”

“Being named to it turned my life into a nightmare,” he says with a sigh.

Sitting straighter in the chair, I say, “How? What happened?”

A mixture of what looks like embarrassment and frustration crosses his handsome features, and he scrubs his hand against the stubble on his chin. “The best way I can describe what happened is all single women in the Denver area became stalkers. They accosted me at my condo, at work, everywhere I went.” He pauses, his brown eyes lock with mine. “I know I sound like a whiny rich guy, but life was miserable wondering whether they were interested in me or money. Who could I trust?”

Pieces of the puzzle click; I get a glimpse of how it must feel to be a celebrity. Always wondering about the motivations of those around you .

“When Sam mentioned you needed a fill-in barista, coming here seemed like the perfect solution. Hide out and let the notoriety of the list wear off. But I was worried a Denverite would recognize me. That’s when we came up with the plan for me to assume Jack’s identity—the lowly, underpaid, and dumpy assistant.” He sighs, sadness written all over his face.

“But why did you think you couldn’t let me in on the plan?” I ask, a twinge of hurt evident in my voice.

He looks thoughtful. “Sadie, this was the perfect opportunity to have people get to know the real me. It’s not that I didn’t trust you, it’s that I wanted to strip away all the outer Ryan stuff—designer clothes, luxury cars, fancy condo—so people could get to know the real man. I wasn’t intending to fall in love. I just wanted to be a normal guy for a while.”

I blink at him, then ask what’s been bugging me for weeks. “When we started having feelings for each other, why didn’t you tell me the truth then?”

He frowns. “I kept wanting to, but the time never seemed right. I didn’t want to mess up our burgeoning relationship, but that backfired.”

“Your deception hurt me, Ryan. I didn’t know whether I was falling for Jack or Ryan. Who’s the real guy? How do I trust him not to deceive me again?”

Ryan takes my hands in his. “Please give me another chance to prove to you that I’m the guy you fell for. Jack is the real me, other than those dreadful clothes. My personal shopper would be appalled.”

He has a personal shopper? How many other trappings of wealth does he have? He mentioned luxury cars and a fancy condo. It’s going to take me a while to wrap my head around the fact that he’s not impoverished Jack but wealthy Ryan. I don’t care about his money, but nonetheless it’s a part of who he is .

I sigh. Time for a confession of my own. “I met one of your stalkers,” I admit with a sheepish expression.

His eyes widen. “You did? When?”

“She came in the day after you were outed, looking for you.” He sucks in a breath. “I understand why you wanted an escape. This woman treated Judith like mud on her shoe, she made snide comments about Pinecone Pines, and she implied that you’d never be happy here.”

“She’s wrong! I was happy here. In fact, I can see myself living here long term,” Ryan says as he squeezes my hands still clasped in his.

“So are you staying in Pinecone Pines for a while?”

He nods. “That is, if a certain beautiful café owner wants another morning baker? And a back-up barista?”

It’s time to give him a second chance. Let’s see if the guy I fell for is the real Ryan. “I can use the help, but there’s one stipulation.”

His brows draw together. “What’s that?”

“No ugly cardigans.”

He yanks me to my feet and plants another kiss on my lips. “I can agree to that,” he whispers. Time stands still, and through several kisses, Ryan shows me in actions not words how he feels about me. I’ve missed this man so much.

Knock! Knock!

“Do you hear someone knocking?” I ask, pulling back from the kiss. My brows draw together. Did I imagine that noise?

Knock! Knock!

“Yep,” Ryan says with a chuckle.

I trot into the kitchen with Ryan trailing right behind me. Five well-lived-in faces peer at us through the window. Team Ryan is here in full force.

“We heard you two got back together!” Agnes yells through the glass.

Judith must have alerted them. So much for loyalty on Team Sadie .

I unlock the door. The septuagenarians and Julio shuffle in, forming a circle around Ryan and me, peppering us with questions.

“Sorry, boss. When we got the text, I had to come. I can be on Team Sadie and Team Ryan now, right?” Julio asks with a sly grin. I nod and Ryan gives him a fist bump.

“Does that mean you kissed and made up?” Georgeanne asks, fluttering her eyelashes.

“I assume you’ll be staying at the cabin,” Wilbur says. “When do you wanna go fishing?”

“Is that your Land Rover parked outside?” Dilbert asks, awe lacing his voice.

Clap! Clap!

Agnes breaks up the twenty questions, and silence fills the room. “What we all want to know is how did you convince Sadie to forgive you?” She arches an eyebrow and gives Ryan a pointed stare.

The group looks on expectantly, while I smile at Ryan. He puts his arm around my shoulders and says, “I promised to never wear those ugly sweaters again.”

“That’s all?” Georgeanne asks in an incredulous tone.

“It wasn’t one of those romantic gifts that won her over?” Agnes sputters.

“What did you decide about wearing the floppy hat?” Julio asks, but the group quickly shushes him, apparently not interested in any other Ryan wardrobe details.

“Are you loaning her the Land Rover?” Dilbert asks. The mechanic is so fascinated by that vehicle, I definitely want to drive it now.

“You didn’t even apologize?” Wilbur bellows.

I hold up my hand. “Ryan explained himself, but some things need to remain private between Ryan and me.”

“Especially the kissing part,” Ryan says, waggling his eyebrows as I playfully jab him in the ribs .

“Well! Looks like our job here is done. Let’s go get some coffee and some of those blueberry muffins. Ryan, we’re going to put them on your tab,” Agnes says with authority.

He nods. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

The fivesome troops off towards the door to the coffee bar, grumbling among themselves.

“I was hoping they would spill the tea,” Julio says to Dilbert in a disappointed voice.

“We aren’t having tea!” Wilbur hollers.

“Well? Are they back together?” Judith squeals right before the door swooshes shut behind them.

Ryan tugs me back into his embrace. “Where were we before the interruption?” he asks, with a flirty grin.

Standing on my tiptoes, I say, “I believe we were kissing and making up.”

We flee back into the break room and continue to do just that.

“Do you want to learn how to make the dough for the popovers?” I ask a couple weeks later. We’ve picked up our relationship as if we never broke up. The last two weeks have been amazing, filled with baking together every morning, eating together every evening, and kissing. Lots of kissing.

I’m teaching Ryan all the fine points of baking, and he’s trying to teach me how to cook, with limited success so far.

“Sure, as soon as I get these muffins in the oven.”

I giggle and point to my chin. “You’ve got batter on your chin.”

Striding over to my side of the counter, he tugs me into a hug, then wipes his chin off on my cheeks. I squeal and scrunch my shoulders, turning my head back and forth, trying to avoid the ambush.

After a few more swipes, he says, “There, did I get it? ”

Standing on my toes, I gently run my lips over his. Within seconds, we’re making out like two teenagers, forgetting all about muffins or dough or batter on the chin.

“PG-13 please!” a female voice says.

Ryan and I pull out of the knee-weakening kiss, turning to see three pairs of eyes staring at us. My neck and cheeks heat. We should have kept closer attention to the clock; I didn’t realize it’s almost opening time.

“Yucky! Girl germs!” Michael declares.

Ella hugs her doll to her chest, then says, “When are you getting married?”

Judith motions towards my chest, her shoulders shaking. I glance down and my apron is askew, as if I put it on backwards. I quickly adjust it and return to measuring ingredients for the dough. Neither Ryan nor I respond to the marriage question.

“Well,” I say briskly. “I was just going to teach Ryan how to make popover dough.”

“Right,” Ryan says as he stands beside me, barely keeping a straight face.

Judith shakes her head and rolls her eyes. “Kids, let’s get you settled in the break room while Sadie and Ryan... er... bake .” She winks, then wipes her fingertips on her shirt and blows on them as if they’re on fire.

Once the trio is out of sight, Ryan waggles his eyebrows and says, “I sure like learning how to bake with you.”

I swat him on the arm. “Focus, Mr. Turnbill. These popovers won’t pop themselves.”

We regroup nicely, and Ryan and I finish the popover dough in record time. After the pastries are baking, Ryan sneaks a muffin and a cup of coffee.

“What’s on your agenda this afternoon?” I ask Ryan before heading out front to join Judith .

“I need to review that takeover proposal for Sam,” he says, with a sigh. There’s a company that Sam wants to purchase, and he needs Ryan’s opinion.

“What? No fishing?” I tease. Ryan and Wilbur have become fishing buddies. They go out almost every afternoon.

“Not today. I really must concentrate on that proposal.” He sounds like the consummate businessman, but even that makes my heart flutter.

“Want me to bring dinner?” I ask.

He grins. “Sounds good. That will leave more ‘us time’ after dinner.”

Arching an eyebrow, I tease, “So that’s what we’re calling it?”

“PG-13, remember?” he says.

I give him a peck on his cheek. When he tries to pull me in for another kiss, I waggle my finger at him and say, “PG-13.” As I stroll off, his laughter fills the room.

“You two sure are getting cozy,” Judith comments while I place a tray of fresh-out-of-the-oven muffins into the bakery case. “Are there wedding bells in the future?” she asks.

Are there?

During the last few weeks, Ryan has convinced me that he is the man I fell in love with and much more. He really is Sweet... Wonderful... Ryan, with more stylish clothes and a fabulous vehicle than his alter ego Jack. I was worried that his wealth would bother me, but he seems content with this simple lifestyle, living in grandad’s rundown cabin, fishing every afternoon with a curmudgeon, and baking with me at the café every morning. As Sam said, he seems to be upstanding and honest. Now that he’s no longer hiding behind the Jack persona, I’m seeing the real man.

Judith stares at me, waiting for my response to her question. “I hope so, but that’s up to Ryan.”

“He’s in love with you, Sadie. No doubt about it. ”

The first customer of the day walks in, breaking up our conversation. I have high hopes for my future with Ryan. He’s captured my heart, hook, line, and sinker.