Sweet Dreams (Ladies of Stanford #1)

5. Four

Four

B eth's fingers flew across her phone screen, a smile playing on her lips as she typed:

Beth: "So, Mr. International, what's on your agenda today? More vodka-fueled serenades, or are you planning to single-handedly revive the Soviet disco scene?"

She hit send, then returned her attention to the mountain of dough before her. The kitchen of Sweet Dreams was a whirlwind of activity, the air thick with the scent of cinnamon and vanilla. Christmas was three weeks away, and the orders were piling up faster than snow in a blizzard.

Her phone pinged. Beth wiped her hands on her apron and reached for it, her heart skipping a little.

Yuri : "Alas, my disco days are behind me. My bell bottoms tragically shrunk in the wash. Today, I'm drowning my sorrows in paperwork. Exciting, da?"

Beth chuckled, quickly typing back:

Beth: " Ooh, paperwork. Sexy. Don't let all that power go to your head, now."

"Beth? Earth to Beth!" Reese's voice cut through her Yuri-induced haze. "The timer's been going off for, like, a full minute. Unless you're aiming for 'Charcoal Chic' as our new flavor..."

"Shit!" Beth yelped, dropping her phone and rushing to the oven. She yanked it open, a plume of smoke escaping. Coughing, she pulled out a tray of what were once perfectly formed gingerbread men, now resembling tiny, burned corpses.

"Well," Reese said, peering over her shoulder, "look on the bright side. If the whole 'Christmas Baking Spectacular' thing doesn't work out, we could always pivot to Halloween treats."

Beth groaned, dumping the charred cookies into the trash. "Hilarious. God, what is wrong with me lately? I never burn things."

Reese's eyes twinkled knowingly. "Uh-huh. And I'm sure it has nothing to do with a certain international man of mystery you've been texting non-stop for the past week."

Beth felt her cheeks heat up. "I don't know what you're talking about," she mumbled, busying herself with preparing a new batch of dough.

"Oh please," Reese scoffed. "You've been walking around with this goofy grin on your face, checking your phone every two seconds. Spill, boss lady. Who is he?"

Beth sighed, knowing resistance was futile. "His name is Yuri. He's from Belarus. We met on that dating site Kelly signed me up for."

Reese's eyebrows shot up. "Belarus? Isn't that like, Dracula territory?"

"That's Transylvania," Beth corrected, rolling her eyes. "Belarus is... actually, I'm not entirely sure where it is. Near Russia, I think?"

"Ooh, mysterious," Reese waggled her eyebrows. "So, what's he like? Is he dreamy? Does he have an accent? Tell me everything!"

Beth couldn't help but smile. "He's... different. Funny, smart. He used to run this amazing nightclub in Minsk. And yes, he has an accent. It's... kind of incredible."

"Sounds like someone's got a crush," Reese sing songed. "When are you going to meet him in person?"

The smile slipped from Beth's face. "I don't know if we will. He's there, I'm here. It's just... fun. For now."

Reese attempted to respond, but the chime of the bakery door interrupted her. Zack from The Daily Grind walked in with a tray of coffee cups.

"Ladies," he greeted with a grin. "I come bearing gifts. Thought you might need a caffeine boost."

"You're a lifesaver, Zack," Beth said, gratefully accepting a cup. She took a sip and frowned. "This isn't your usual blend."

Zack's eyes lit up. "Good catch! It's a new holiday special I'm working on. Peppermint mocha with a hint of... can you guess?"

Beth took another sip, considering. "Cinnamon?"

"Close," Zack said. "It's actually—"

Beth's phone pinged again. She glanced at it reflexively.

Yuri : "Power? Ha! The only thing going to my head is the fumes from all this ink. Save me, moye solnyshko. Tell me a sweet story. Preferably one involving less paperwork and more frosting."

Beth bit her lip to keep from grinning like an idiot.

"Um, Beth?" Zack's voice brought her back to reality. "You okay there?"

"What? Oh, yeah. Sorry, Zack. You were saying? About the coffee?"

Zack's smile dimmed slightly. "Right. It's star anise. Adds a subtle licorice note. I was thinking maybe we could collaborate on a coffee-flavored holiday cookie to go with it?"

"That sounds great," Beth said, already texting a reply to Yuri.

Beth : "Once upon a time, there was a dashing baker who tragically burnt her gingerbread men to a crisp because a charming foreigner distracted her. The end. Moral of the story? Texting and baking don't mix."

"So, what do you think?" Zack asked, looking at her expectantly.

Beth blinked. "About what?"

Zack's brow furrowed. "The cookie collaboration? For the Christmas market?"

"Oh! Right. Yes, definitely. Let's set up a time to brainstorm. Maybe next week?"

Zack nodded, but he was eyeing her curiously. "Everything okay, Beth? You seem a little... distracted."

Beth forced a bright smile. "Everything's great! Just busy with holiday orders, you know how it is."

Her phone pinged again. Beth's hand twitched towards it, but she resisted. Zack didn't look entirely convinced, but he let it go.

"Alright, well, I'll let you get back to it. Let me know when you want to get together for that brainstorming session."

Beth snatched up her phone as soon as the door closed behind him.

Yuri : "Ah, the tragic tale of the Gingerbread Massacre. I weep for their little cookie souls. Perhaps we should hold a memorial? I'll bring the vodka; you bring the frosting. We can give them a proper send-off."

Beth giggled, earning a pointed look from Reese.

"What?" Beth defended. "He's funny!"

Reese shook her head, amused. "Uh-huh. You know, for someone who's 'just having fun,' you're awfully smitten."

Beth opened her mouth to argue, then closed it. Was she smitten? The thought was both thrilling and terrifying.

Her phone buzzed again, this time with an incoming video call. Yuri's name flashed on the screen. Beth's heart did a little flip.

"I, uh, need to take this," she said to Reese. "In my office. For... business reasons."

Reese snorted. "Right. 'Business.' Have fun with your 'business call,' boss."

Beth stuck out her tongue childishly, then hurried to her tiny office in the back. She closed the door, took a deep breath, and answered the call.

Yuri's face filled the screen, his blue eyes crinkling as he smiled. "Privet, moye solnyshko. I hope I'm not interrupting your great gingerbread revival?"

Beth laughed, settling into her chair. "You're safe. The great gingerbread massacre of 2024 is behind us. We're in full recovery mode now."

"Excellent news," Yuri nodded solemnly. "I was worried I'd have to organize a rescue mission. Although," he leaned in, "I wouldn't mind swooping in to save the day. I've always wanted to be a hero."

"My hero," Beth said dramatically, placing a hand over her heart. Then, dropping the act, "So, what's up? Shouldn't you be drowning in paperwork right now?"

Yuri groaned, running a hand through his hair. "I needed a break. One can only read so many legal documents before one's eyes start to cross. Besides," he added with a wink, "I much prefer looking at you."

Beth felt her cheeks warm. "Flatterer. I'll have you know I'm a mess. I'm covered in flour, my hair's a disaster, and I smell like burnt cookies."

"Sounds perfect," Yuri murmured.

There was a moment of charged silence, filled with things unsaid. Beth's heart raced. This was dangerous territory.

"So," she said brightly, breaking the tension. "Tell me more about this paperwork. Anything exciting? Any deep, dark secrets of the Belarusian nightclub scene?"

Yuri chuckled. "Alas, no. Just boring legal stuff. I'm trying to settle some final accounts from Rhapsody."

Beth's smile faded. She knew how much the loss of his club still hurt him. "I'm sorry, Yuri. That must be tough."

He shrugged, but she could see the sadness in his eyes. "It is what it is. But enough about my troubles. Tell me about your day, moye solnyshko. Any more baking disasters I should know about?"

As Beth launched into a detailed account of her morning, complete with dramatic reenactments of the Great Gingerbread Tragedy, she felt a warm glow in her chest. It was so easy with Yuri, so natural. Like they'd known each other for years instead of days.

Their conversation flowed effortlessly, from baking to music to childhood memories. Beth found herself sharing stories she'd never told anyone, not even Kelly. And Yuri listened, really listened, his eyes warm and attentive.

It wasn't until Reese knocked on the office door that Beth realized an hour had passed.

"Boss? Sorry to interrupt your, uh, 'business call,' but we've got a situation out here. Mrs. Klaus is demanding her usual order but with a 'festive twist.' Whatever that means."

Beth groaned. "I'll be right there!" To Yuri, she said apologetically, "Duty calls. Raincheck?"

"Always," Yuri smiled. "Go save Christmas, Baker Beth. I'll be here, drowning in paperwork and dreaming of gingerbread."

As Beth ended the call and hurried out to deal with the latest crisis, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted. This thing with Yuri, whatever it was, was quickly becoming more than just fun.

It was becoming real. And that was both exciting and terrifying.

But as she plastered on a smile and prepared to face Mrs. Klaus and her demands for 'festive twists,' Beth realized something. She looked forward to tomorrow for the first time since the Keith debacle. And the day after that. And the day after that.

All because of a charming Belarusian with a killer accent and a knack for making her laugh.

Maybe, just maybe, this Christmas would be sweet after all.