Make a Wish

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

As he placed the last of the heavenly smelling goodies on the shelf, Scott smiled faintly, pleased to have been of use to the man he’d been crushing on for the last six months. Sure, he had known Dakota for three years, having met the baker the first day Heavenly Delights opened, both excited at the prospect of freshly baked deliciousness and worried about his waistline—good thing he did a walking route. And though they struck up a quick friendship, it took Scott some time before he realized there was more to his morning stops at the bakery than coffee and friendly chatter.

Scott gathered up the containers, stashing them in a cabinet, all the while thinking about the day he realized Dakota had commandeered the strings of his heart.

“Thank you.” Dakota’s words broke his train of thought.

Scott looked to find the slightly older man busily drying a silver cake pan. “You’re welcome.” Foolishly, Scott felt heat spread across his cheeks, quickly turning away to pour himself a cup of fresh brew. While he was at it, he got another pot started. “It was no trouble. In fact, it’s the least I can do since you never let me pay in the morning.”

“I figure if anyone needs a boost to keep them going it’s you.” Dakota set down the pan, picking up another.

“That’s a lovely piece.” Scott gestured at the blue frosted confection. “Let me guess, Mrs. Norton ordered it for her precious baby boy, the most obnoxious child I’ve ever met?”

Dakota laughed, the sound rich. It made Scott’s heart skip a beat, especially the way Dakota’s face lit up. In that moment Scott studied him the way he had many times before, normally drawn in by Dakota’s dazzling blue eyes. He was slightly older than Scott, though exactly how many years were between them he’d never been able to pinpoint. Maybe five years, maybe ten, not that it mattered. The tinge of gray in Dakota’s black hair gave him a distinguished appearance Scott found to be a big turn on. And what did it matter if Dakota was a bit on the husky side instead of being gym trim and fit? It worked on his frame and Scott longed to hug him, once or twice nearly giving into the impulse.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t quite get a read on Dakota, on whether or not he was even gay, never mind interested. Scott placed all the blame on his last relationship for making him a doubting Thomas. Of course, his ex had turned out to be exceptionally cruel, a real cold hearted bastard. Just thinking of the man was enough to sour Scott’s mood, so he banished the memories and immersed himself in the present.

The heady scent of coffee. The tanginess of Dakota’s citrus dish soap. The delectable aroma of all the sweets. He sighed. Too bad he couldn’t just live in the bakery.

“You called it,” Dakota was saying. Scott tried to focus on what Dakota said, found instead he was studying Dakota’s lips. What would it be like to kiss them? Would they taste of sugar and frosting and oh so sweet? “…why I’m so worried about getting it right. The little brat won’t even care.”

“But his mom will,” Scott pointed out. He sipped his beverage. “And I’ve seen what can happen when Mrs. Norton is unhappy with provided services. The woman is a vulture. We used to have the loveliest flower shop, about three doors down from here, where the tailor is now.” Scott shook his head. “It was Mrs. Norton’s mother’s birthday. This big affair was planned to celebrate the old lady, who was actually a lot nicer than her daughter.”

“What happened?” inquired Dakota, going about mixing ingredients in a large bowl.

“Mrs. Norton wanted only pink tulips, nothing more, and she ordered a large quantity. The florist tried to get them, utterly flustered, but in the end she fell short. There just weren’t enough in the area,” Scott recalled. “She added bouquets of red to help balance things out. I’m sure you can imagine how displeased Mrs. Norton was.”

Dakota winced. “Tell me she didn’t throw a fit. I hear the woman is famous for them.”

“Is she ever? She managed to make Molly, the florist, cry and within a month she was closing up shop.”

Dakota stopped what he was doing. “She has that much clout in this town?”

This time it was Scott who shrugged. “She has a lot of money to spread around.”

“That’s just wrong. Whatever happened to this Molly girl?”

“Hard to say. She moved shortly afterward. I hope things are better wherever she is now.”

They both sat in contemplative silence. Scott regretted sharing the story, afraid he may have dumped a new source of stress on Dakota. Thinking that also stirred up thoughts on how he could go about easing said stress, like a nice shoulder massage. To touch Dakota would be a wonderful thing, and was literally the stuff of dreams. Feeling his chipper mood dip a bit, Scott decided it was time to move on.

He finished up the last of his coffee, rinsing the mug out and placing it in the drying rack.

“You’ll do wonderfully,” he assured Dakota as he picked up his mail bag. “See ya tomorrow.”

“Yeah.”

Scott paused at the doorway, noticing the preoccupied expression on Dakota’s face, and felt a twist of unease in his gut. He could only send up a silent prayer that all would work out in the end.