You Belong With Me (Book 1 in The Love and Dessert Trilogy) Read online

  Jane sighed as she rested her head on her hand. “We’ll all keep our eyes out. Single, good looking, mature, kind and honorable men. That’s not asking for too much right?” she asked doubtfully.

  Layla snorted but refused to say anything bitter. Kit shrugged and looked away. And Jane groaned loudly as Officer Tate walked down the street toward their bakery.

  Layla glanced at Jane’s face realizing that she’d been so caught up in her own life and Michael that she’d never gotten all the details on their big fight or even the reason for it.

  Tate walked up to the bottom of the stairs and glanced up at the three sisters. Layla and Kit looked down at Tate in friendly curiosity. Jane seemed to be studying the rain gutters though.

  “How are you lovely ladies this fine afternoon?” he asked politely.

  Layla refused to say anything and let Kit say something meaningless. What was she supposed to do? Lie?

  “Well, glad to hear that. Just wanted to stop by and let you know that there have been some break-ins in a few businesses around this area during the past week. We’ve had a few windows smashed and tills stolen. How is your security system?”

  Kit and Layla exchanged clueless looks. Jane sighed loudly. “Our security system is fine Officer. Now be on your way please,” she said coldly and studied her manicure.

  Layla looked over at Jane’s short grubby nails and winced. Wow. She was ticked. Officer Tate frowned and put his hands on his narrow hips as he stared directly at Jane.

  “I’ll be the judge of that. Show me what type of security system you have,” he said in a direct, authoritative voice, they’d never heard from him before.

  Jane’s eyes widened and she glanced at her sisters. Layla shrugged and Kit whistled a soft tuneless sound as she refused to look at Jane. Jane made a huffing sound and stood up.

  “Please follow me Officer,” she said and then mumbled another word that Layla hoped she’d misheard.

  By the way Officer Tate’s face tightened, she was going to assume he’d heard it as well. It wasn’t a nice word. He followed Jane into the bakery, leaving Layla and Kit alone on the porch.

  “Can you say sparks?” Kit said, looking over her shoulder to make sure the door was shut firmly.

  Layla laughed, not sounding that amused. “Yeah, well, sparks don’t really matter, do they? I had plenty of those. Just yesterday too. Oops, sounding bitter. Moving on. So what exactly happened between those two? The last thing I remember yesterday was Jane throwing a croissant in his face.”

  Kit grinned and shook her head, wincing at the memory. “Jane told me it was hideous. Remember her plan to be a strong, take charge kind of woman? Well, it didn’t go over so well with Officer Gorgeous. She asked him out. He said no way. She wanted to know why and he wouldn’t tell her. She asked him if he was married. He said no. Did he have a girlfriend. No. Was he gay. No. On and on and on. She finally said, is it me? And he said . . . , yes.”

  Layla’s mouth fell open and her eyes went wide. “Are you kidding me?” she breathed out, feeling her heart hurt for Jane. “He comes around here flirting and getting free samples and then tells her he won’t go out with her because she’s the issue. No wonder she threw a croissant in his face. I would have thrown everything I had at the guy. And now he’s back one day later. Is he an idiot?” she asked softly.

  Kit laughed and nodded her head. “Apparently so,” she said as Officer Tate opened the front door and walked out, glaring over his shoulder. As he walked down the steps he glanced back at Layla. “Get a security system. Today,” he snapped and walked away, disappearing within minutes.

  Layla and Kit exchanged looks as Jane walked back out onto the porch holding a decadent looking lemon square in her hand.

  “Mmm, this is really good Layla. Max is right, you are an angel with desserts,” she said taking a big bite.

  Layla laughed, for real this time. “Let me guess. You flaunted our beautiful desserts in front of his face and didn’t offer him one.”

  Kit laughed as Jane smiled evilly. “Now would I do that to an officer of the law?”

  Layla tilted her head back and laughed, feeling better for some reason. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go look up security systems and see how much they cost,” she said leaving her sisters on the porch, giggling.

  Chapter 14 – Dancing Around

  The next day the three sisters rushed around in a frenzy trying to get everything ready for their big opening the following day. Max stayed calm and laughed at their nervousness, but she did stay later than usual and held her tongue even when Jane threw a whole pan of burnt cookies in the trash, before pulling her hair and screaming at the ceiling.

  Later that night as they looked at the gleaming glass cases and the spotless floors they looked at each other, each woman feeling slightly sick along with too much excitement.

  “Are we seriously doing this?” Kit asked, collapsing on the floor, cross legged, leaning her head in her hands.

  Jane twirled around in a circle lifting her hands up as she grinned. “Not only are we doing this, but we’re going to be amazing. We’re going to be world famous. We’re probably going to have our own reality TV series by next year. Not MTV though. I’m thinking Bravo,” she said, sighing happily as she collapsed next to Kit on the floor, lying back and staring at the ceiling.

  Layla looked at her two younger sisters, praying their dreams would come true. Well, all except for the reality show. That she could do without. She walked over to the front window and the brand new OPEN sign they’d bought just that afternoon. She stared out at the sunset and sighed tiredly.

  “You know what, men can come and go and hearts can break and mend, but sisters are forever. I’m so glad we’re doing this. I love you guys,” she said turning back around to see her sister’s looking at her in surprise. Before she could catch her breath, Jane and Kit were standing next to her, wrapping their arms around her in the tightest group hug she’d ever experienced. She gasped for breath as she tried to pull her arms out of their tight grasp. When she finally got her arms free, she hugged her sisters back, kissing them on their foreheads and laughing lightly.

  “You two might be the only family I have left, but I’d rather have you two than a hundred relatives,” Layla said fervently.

  Kit looked up at her with tears in her eyes. “Same goes Layla. I know you only did this for me and Jane. Thank you.”

  Jane looked up then, tears in her eyes too and squeezed her so tightly Layla squeaked. “Kit’s right. If it weren’t for you, I’d be miserable sitting at a desk doing someone’s taxes.”

  Kit nodded her head. “And I’d be homeless and living out of my car and working at McDonalds.”

  Layla laughed and squeezed her sisters back until they yelped. “You two crack me up. I think we’ve done all we can tonight. Do you guys want to go grab something to eat or we could call for some take out?”

  Kit finally let her go. “I would kill for some Chinese food.”

  Jane frowned. “I was thinking pizza.”

  Layla sighed. The problem with having two sisters was they never agreed. They finally settled on walking to a little Mexican restaurant two blocks away. Layla breathed in the spicy scents and smiled happily. Their waiter was a gorgeous man in his early twenties who flirted like crazy with all three sisters. Layla knew it was to get a bigger tip but after the beating her ego had taken, it was balm to her soul. By the happy expressions on Jane’s and Kit’s faces, they were enjoying the over the top compliments and attention too.

  They ordered fajitas and then concentrated on eating all the chips and salsa. Three bowls of chips later, along with all the fajitas, the women were now relaxed, feeling better and full. Even after all that, it wasn’t hard for Ricardo to convince them to order dessert. While they waited for their flan he insisted that Layla get up and dance with him. She surprised her sisters and herself by agreeing. She tried to follow Ricardo’s movements and thought she’d done a pretty good job by all the whistling an
d yelling coming from the other tables. Kit and Jane were laughing so hard, they’d collapsed on top of their table. Ricardo finished the dance by grabbing her and bending her deep over his arm, holding her an extra second before whipping her up to a standing position. As she blinked her eyes, laughing at herself, she realized two things. Michael was standing a few feet away from her, staring at her with dark dangerous eyes and someone was pulling on her shirt.

  Ricardo bowed deeply and she curtsied, telling him thank you before kneeling down and looking into Stella’s bright happy blue eyes.

  “Layla! We saw you dancing and laughing. Can I dance with you too?” she asked with big hopeful eyes.

  Layla sighed to herself but picked Stella up in her arms and twirled around with her, dipping her low as she tried to ignore Michael’s presence. She pulled Stella up and kissed her on the cheek.

  “You are by far the prettiest senorita I’ve ever seen,” she promised setting Stella down.

  Stella wobbled a little dizzily before Michael scooped her up in his arms. “Hi,” Michael said quietly.

  Layla glanced at her sisters, sitting quietly now, listening and watching. Layla’s ridiculous heart leaped but she took an internal baseball bat and smacked it back into submission.

  “Hi Michael. I’ll let you get back to your date,” she said looking at her feet as she waited for him to move so she could sit down.

  “Did you get my note?” he asked as Stella ran her hands through his hair.

  Layla fought the urge to smooth his hair down and crossed her arms. “No,” she said lying. If he didn’t have the guts to be with her and tell her how he felt to her face, then she didn’t feel obligated to acknowledge his feelings.

  Michael frowned and glanced at Stella. “Stella, will you run back to the table and tell your mom you can order some ice-cream?”

  Stella squealed excitedly and ran off. Layla watched her go and noticed Ashley standing in the shadows watching them. Stella ran to her mom and held her hands up to be held. Ashley shook her head and took her hand instead, leading her back to the table. Layla frowned, hoping Stella didn’t get her feelings hurt by Ashley’s cold treatment.

  Michael stepped closer to her and put his hands on her arms, leaning in closely. He put his mouth down by her ear. “I wrote you a note and told you that I loved you. I love you,” he said gripping her arms tightly.

  Layla sighed. “Oh, that note,” she said softly.

  Michael leaned his forehead against hers. “Please Layla,” he said, not specifying what exactly he wanted from her.

  Layla looked up into his face and frowned. “We’ve only been out a couple times Michael. We really just met. You can’t love me,” she said softly, feeling her heart beat so hard it felt like it might fly out of her chest.

  Michael closed his eyes and brought her in closer to his body. “I know what I feel and I know what this is.”

  Layla felt a snap of anger zip down her arms and she pushed him away. “Well, for a man so in love, you have a weird way of showing it,” she said and pushed out of his arms. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to finish my dinner and I’m sure your date doesn’t appreciate you being over here with me,” she said coldly, putting her nose in the air and clenching her hands.

  Michael stared down into her eyes grimly but then his face changed and he grinned. He leaned in close and whispered just for her to hear. “You don’t fool me. You never have,” he said and then walked away.

  Layla stood there and watched him go. How could he have seen her heart? She’d locked it away and buried the key. At least she could have sworn she had. She let out a breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding and sat down next to Kit.

  “Well, that was fun, huh?” she asked, looking for Ricardo. “Where’s our bill? We need to get to bed early tonight,” she said glancing at her sister’s faces.

  Jane’s eyes were big and Kit had a small smile on her face. “What?” Layla asked. “If you guys wanted to dance with Ricardo, you should have grabbed the chance,” she said airily, as she began to organize the salt and pepper packets.

  Kit shook her head. “You are in so much trouble.”

  Layla laughed nervously and shrugged. “What are you talking about?” she said, craning her neck to see Ricardo. He was talking to a few men at the bar, but he did glance back at their table.

  Jane grabbed Layla’s hand and her attention. “He did that thing again. Where he looks into your soul. You should have seen your face Layla. You are so snagged.”

  Layla snorted, scoffing at her sisters and praying that Ricardo would just get his rear in gear when he showed up with a tray of drinks. “Ladies, you have a few admirers at the bar who insist on buying you drinks. They would love to join you if you’re willing,” he said with a wink and a grin.

  Layla’s mouth fell open as she looked beyond Ricardo to the bar. Yep, three men were craning in their seats to see them. They looked young, handsome and bored. Typical social piranhas. Yikes.

  Jane sighed. “Oh brother, why did you have to do that salsa move with your hips, Layla?”

  Kit looked tired and irritated too. “It’s not Layla’s fault Jane. Ricardo, be a sweetie and tell them thanks but no thanks. Take the drinks back and tell them we’re all married or something and that our husbands are all huge, super possessive firefighters. Just make something up,” she said with a wave of her hand.

  Layla winced and grabbed Ricardo’s arm before he could disappear. “Check please.”

  An hour later as all three women were in their own rooms, getting ready for bed, Layla stared in the bathroom mirror as she washed her face and put on moisturizer. Michael’s words kept running through her mind over and over again until she felt like banging her head into the wall

  Chapter 15 – Ready or Not

  When the bakery opened up at nine the next morning, they were ready. Their cases were full, the smells in the air were heavenly and Max stood back and smiled at them proudly as they flipped the sign to open. They had even ordered big balloon bouquets to decorate the front porch. Ready or not, they were in business.

  Their first customer was a kind, older Jewish man who ordered cannolis and a hot chocolate. He insisted on telling the sisters his favorite memories of Belinda. Layla smiled sadly, wishing again that they’d had a closer relationship. After that, it was a steady stream until two o’clock.

  Jane leaned over and whispered in Layla’s ear. “We’re hiring counter help today by the way. I’m calling in the ad right now,” she said walking back to the kitchen to grab her lap top and take a five minute break.

  Kit smiled and waved off another customer and her two children and then collapsed on the counter. Layla grinned and stretched, feeling the tiredness in her muscles.

  “We’re doing pretty good Kit. If it keeps up like this, we’re going to be just fine,” she said, smiling tiredly.

  Kit raised her head up off the counter and stared at her. “If you don’t hire counter help today I’m quitting,” she said, not blinking.

  Layla grimaced and pointed to the kitchen behind them. “Jane’s putting in an ad right now. But until we get the help, this is a good way for the community to get to know us. We’re closing at six tonight. We can handle four more hours. Easy,” she said, wincing as she realized how tired and sore her feet were starting to feel.

  Kit closed her eyes and stood up. “Kill me now,” she muttered. “Remind me again, whose bright idea it was to offer everything half off? We’re running out of eclairs and we only have a few trays of cupcakes left. We might have to shut down early because we’re sold out,” she said, frowning at their depleted cases.

  Layla grinned. “That would be awesome. Can you imagine? Jane made a call yesterday to the local news station. A reporter is supposed to come by soon and take pictures and do a little story on us.”

  Kit squeaked and hurried around the counter. “Why didn’t you tell me? I’m going to take my break and freshen my makeup and fix my hair. Call me if the reporter comes,
” she called over her shoulder as she ran out of the room.

  Layla laughed and leaned against the counter. They were doing it. They were really doing it. She’d had major doubts, but with Max’s tutelage and Jane’s business sense. Things were coming together. She stared at their empty bakery and narrowed her eyes. Next week they were definitely adding croissant sandwiches and soup to get the afternoon crowd. She laughed softly to herself and perched on the stool by the till. She was having the time of her life being a baker. Who would have ever thought that Layla Kendall would have ended up in Fircrest Washington, wearing an apron? Not her.

  Layla sat up straight on her stool as the bell rang over the door and new customers walked in. She kept her smile firmly in place as she saw Stella holding her mom’s hand in hers. Oh great.

  “Hi Layla!” Stella called, running to the cases and pushing her nose against the glass as she stared at all of the cookies, cupcakes, cannolis, brownies and breads.

  Layla grinned at Stella’s awestruck expression and then looked at Ashley who was standing in front, of her. Not looking so awestruck.

  “Hi Ashley. What would you like today?” she asked with a polite smile.

  Ashley smiled coldly and leaned forward. “For starters, I want you to stay away from my husband,” she whispered so Stella wouldn’t hear.

  Layla’s smile froze on her face as she raised an eyebrow. “Your husband huh? Do you mean the ex-husband you abandoned?”

  Ashley’s face tightened and she glanced down at Stella who was chattering to herself as she tried to make up her mind. “That’s about to change unless you mess everything up. Stay away from my family,” she hissed.

  Layla sighed and looked down at her feet. Her job as a social worker was to keep families together if at all possible. Most of the time that hadn’t worked, but when it had, she’d felt a special elation that kept her up and going through the harder cases that weren’t so successful. She glanced down at Stella and felt her heart tear a little. Would she really be willing to take away Stella’s chance at having her mom and dad back together?