Tied With Me (With Me In Seattle)(14)

I love this place.

The front of the house was designed with the same care. I have a long glass display case that can hold roughly fifty dozen cupcakes at any time. I have an industrial espresso machine that would make Starbucks proud.

The color scheme is red, white and black. The floor is covered in black and white tile. The tables are little black wrought iron bistro tables for two covered in red tablecloths, and there is a long pub-height table by the front windows where people can stand with their treats and watch the traffic or the many musicians who come and go out of the nondescript recording studio across the street.

I’ve been open for just over a year, and I couldn’t be happier with the success of the shop. Succulent Sweets has made a profit from the first month, which I know is rare.

I work my ass off for it.

I set out my ingredients for the different flavors of cakes and dig in immediately. It’s a Sunday, so I’m open only half the day, from nine to one, but I still have orders to fill for two birthday parties, a baptism and a baby shower.

Thank God cupcakes are all the rage these days.

After the cupcakes that will be sold in the shop are all baked for the day, I let them cool while I bake the special orders. Just as I’m about to begin decorating, Tess, my part-time employee, bounces into the kitchen.

“Good morning,” she sings and smiles widely.

“You are very chipper for this early on a Sunday morning,” I respond with a smile. “And good morning.”

“I went out last night,” she announces as she ties her white apron around her trim waist. Tess is tall and thin, with thick blond, red and pink hair. She wears black-rimmed glasses that are almost as big as her face, but she insists they’re very cool.

And, I have to admit, she looks adorable in them.

She pulls her hair back into a ponytail and grabs some frosting out of the fridge, ready to help me finish up today’s baking.

“Who is he?” I ask.

“His name is Sean…” She scrunches up her face. “Sean something.”

“Geez, Tess.”

“Oh stop, I had a bit to drink. He’s tall and built, and he has his nipples pierced.”

“Ouch,” I reply with a laugh.

Tess laughs with me as she frosts the lemon cupcakes with lemon frosting.

“How was your night?” she asks.

“Fine. I just went to the gym.”

“Oh.” She sighs and looks at me like I’m an old maid.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

“I just wish you’d go out and have fun,” she replies and arranges the lemon cupcakes on a long plastic tray, ready for the glass case.

“I do go out and have fun,” I reply.

“Going to kitchen auctions is not having fun,” she responds sarcastically.

I send her the stink eye, and she visibly shrinks before holding her hands up in defeat. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry. I’m sure the kitchen auctions are totally fun and full of really hot guys.”

“You’re a smart-ass.” I laugh and put the finishing touches on two dozen It’s A Girl treats for my client.

“You love me,” she replies and kisses my cheek before she bounces out to arrange the glass case out front.

“Okay,” I announce when she returns, “these special orders just need to be boxed up. Do you mind doing that while I run upstairs and shower? I’ll finish up with the daily special when I come back down.”

“No problem. Take your time. We’re ahead of schedule, boss lady.”

I shake my head and chuckle as I climb the stairs to my apartment, shedding clothing on the way.

Tess is young, only in her early twenties and still in college, but she’s a hard worker. She loves the shop, and I enjoy having her around. There’s never a dull moment when she’s working.

It doesn’t take me long to shower and dress in my uniform of black slacks and red T-shirt with a white apron, tie the red ribbon in my hair like a headband and brush on a bit of makeup.

When I return to the kitchen, we still have forty-five minutes until we open, so we spend that time frosting the daily special—white chocolate mocha—and preparing batter for the next morning.

At nine a.m., Tess unlocks the door and immediately a small crowd of guests pours in to order a treat and coffee.

When the crowd finally dies down at about twelve thirty, I have a moment to slip in the back and quickly eat a banana and string cheese before consolidating the cupcakes in the glass case and tidying up the seating area.