Chapter 3
The next few minutes passed in silence as Dakota whipped up a new batch of cake batter, formulating a new birthday cake in his mind, one that would easily outshine the first and please the likes of Mrs. Norton. If such a thing was possible.
While he worked, Dakota watched the clock, hoping his assistant would manage to be on time. He hated the idea of closing the shop for the brief period he had to make the delivery. However, she had proven herself reliable since the date he hired her so he shoved concern aside and let the decadent scents calm his rattled nerves. Baking was literally a way of life for him. For some people, escape came in the form of alcohol or books or binge watching TV shows. Dakota preferred toiling away in the kitchen mixing eggs and flour and sugar, amongst
