The Cupcake Coven by Ashlyn Chase Page B

stop baking fresh bread in the morning only to watch it go stale and give it away at night.”
    “Sounds smart, for now. But if you got the help you needed, would one of those contracts increase your earnings?”
    “Oh, goddess, yes!”
    “Okay. So it sounds like you need to concentrate on gettin’ more help.”
    “Yes, and preferably a baker, so I don’t have to take the time to teach him.”
    “Him?” Dru’s brows knit.
    Could he be jealous? “Or her.”
    His shoulders relaxed and he nodded. “Okay. What else are you thinkin’ of?”
    “Well, the Fourth of July is coming up. I could encourage preorders of my red velvet cupcakes with whipped white frosting and blueberries on top.” She grinned sheepishly. “If you wouldn’t mind handing out some minis, and taking orders on the street.”
    “Don’t mind a bit. You should probably ask for a deposit so people don’t change their minds. I think I can get something on a smart phone that’ll read credit cards.”
    “Good idea. Do you have a smart phone?”
    “Yup. Don’t you?”
    “No. Just a dumb one. I was hoping to upgrade when I had the money.”
    “Okay. So how do we get you more money?”
    “I have recipes for gluten free cookies and sugar free pies, but the ingredients are more expensive, so I haven’t been making them. Maybe you could take orders for those too?”
    “Sure. And if the ingredients are more expensive, you should charge more and people should pay full price when they order. Don’t you think?”
    She mulled it over. “I already charge more, but maybe they can pay half. I can probably sell them from the case if they never come to pick them up.”
    “Now you’re cookin’ with gas.” He winked and grinned.
    “Oh, no. Don’t tell me you like puns. Do you know how many puns there are about baking?”
    “No, but I look forward to findin’ and repeatin’ every last one.”
    She groaned.
    “Of course, I don’t know much about your profession, so they may only be half-baked.”
    “Cut it out.”
    “Don’t worry, honey. I think you’re the greatest thing since sliced bread—even if you’re sometimes a little flaky.”
    “Dru…” She set her hands on her hips and tried to glare at his cute face.
    “I’m sorry. That was crummy of me. I shouldn’t tease you at all. I know you knead the dough.”
    She groaned loudly and covered her eyes.
    “And you know what the icin’ on the cake is? I’m just pie-eyed over you.”
    “Stop!” She slapped her hands over her ears.
    He sidled up next to her and in a low menacing voice he said, “Come to the dark side. We have cookies.”
    “I give up.”

    Dru wondered why everyone seemed so afraid of Hanna. Rebecca didn’t want him to see her alone. She offered to go with him, but he didn’t really want her there, so he made the excuse that he’d gotten a lead on Shasta—not untrue. Yvonne had mentioned that she might have seen her in Market Square, as did the homeless guy. Dru left as soon as the bakery closed, intending to walk through the square on his way to Hanna’s hotel.
    The workday had gone much more normally…at least Rebecca said so. To him it still didn’t seem like she was making the kind of money she needed to keep the place afloat. She had told him her monthly operating expenses were approximately four thousand dollars. That day’s take was approximately one hundred. She’d need forty days in a month to break even.
    He wasn’t sure Rebecca could get out of her own way and ask for a little help. Therefore, he was going to do that for her. Yes, she’d probably be angry if she found out, but dammit, someone had to help the girl. Maybe Hanna could cast a spell so that someone looking for a job would find their way to the bakery.
    He strode into the hotel lobby, wondering if she went by Hanna or Hazel. He could simply ask for the concierge, and that’s what he’d do if he didn’t see her.
    Fortunately, he spotted her behind a desk right there in the lobby. If