Free Sugar Rush by Donna Kauffman

grin, his gaze still only on Lani, even as Alva literally squealed in delight. He lifted his hand and did a cheeky little wave to go along with it. “Surprise.”

Chapter 4
    W ell. That hadn’t exactly gone as he’d planned. In fact, it had gone absolutely nothing like he’d planned. He’d intended to sneak her out of the shop for a bit, and make his pitch to her in private. In fact, he’d come to her shop at the break of dawn that morning for exactly that purpose. He’d been confident she’d be in her kitchen when he’d left his hotel before dawn and crossed the causeway, winding his way through the dark, narrow island roads to the center of its only commercial district. If one could call the tiny town square that. Bakers and newsboys—the two folks a person could count on to be up before the sun. He’d relied on them both that day.
    For all the good it had done him. So far, his carefully laid plans had netted him a big fat goose egg. If the way Leilani had folded her arms across her chest was any indication, he’d taken another giant step backward. As if the kiss that morning hadn’t been a big enough blunder.
    He wasn’t used to making big mistakes. The truth of it was, more often than not, he got what he wanted. Mostly, because his ideas were solid ones, but he was aware he was blessed in other ways when it came to convincing people to follow his lead. A bit of charm and a nice smile could give a bloke a healthy headstart down the path toward achieving his goals. As he came by it quite naturally thanks to generous genetics, what was he to do? Pretend to be dour and dry?
    He’d honestly thought he and Leilani would have a quite congenial “hullo, so good to see you”; then he’d ask, one professional to another, for the use of her kitchen. Though his real reasons for wanting her workspace were of a far more personal nature, he’d been certain she’d quickly agree to the collaboration. After all, featuring her little shop on national television could only be positive for her. It had all been rather foolproof, really. The hard work would come after their agreement was sealed.
    However ... he wasn’t quite so optimistic of his chances to execute even the first part of his foolproof plan. Though he could readily admit he’d handled things ever so wrongly thus far, what with foolishly revealing his personal reasons for being there before even mentioning his professional plans, he was really starting to wonder what in bloody hell her problem was with him.
    “Well, dears, I must get along.” Alva beamed up at Baxter, who felt like a towering oak over the tiny bird of a woman.
    “It was a pleasure, Miss Alva,” Baxter said, trying not to glance at Lani, hoping she took the moment while Alva departed to clear her thoughts, see the bigger picture, and realize the boon he was dropping in her lap.
    Alva squeezed his hand with surprising strength, even as her eyes glittered. “I am so excited, I simply can’t wait to spread the news about your show being filmed right here! In our very own cupcake shop!” She beamed at Lani. “Imagine!”
    “Imagine,” Lani echoed with a faint smile, and far less enthusiasm. Okay, without any enthusiasm. But she didn’t exactly leap in to dissuade Alva from her excitement or her stated mission.
    Baxter took that as a positive sign. Though he was already grasping at the slenderest of straws if he could interpret anything about Leilani’s current demeanor as a positive sign.
    “Wait until I tell Beryl! Dee Dee and Suzette will be beside themselves, now!” The bells jingled as Alva made her merry exit.
    Baxter wouldn’t have been surprised if the spry little thing had clicked her heels and skipped across the small town square. She’d have been quite the vision in her matronly pumps.
    “How dare you.”
    Baxter turned back to face the heat, thinking he’d taken far, far worse in his climb up the ladder, toiling in downright volatile kitchens the likes of which Leilani