“I think my fingers might fall off,” Lexi complains from my side as she twists the top of another piping bag.
“We just have six dozen more to ice, and we’ll be done.”
Mare whines from my other side, accidentally squeezing her bag too tight, and icing plops down onto the cupcake in one giant glob. “I never want to look at another cupcake again,” she announces, trying to cover the glob of icing with even more icing.
“Same,” Cade pipes up from across the counter. He proved to be terrible at icing cupcakes dozens and dozens of cupcakes ago, so instead, he’s been given the job of neatly arranging them in boxes for presentation. “And I normally love Pip’s cupcakes,” he adds.
“We’re almost done,” I assure them, taking a moment to appreciate all of them showing up to help me. I’d arrived in Sutten early in the morning yesterday, and the only time I slept was on the way back from the airport when Cade and Mare picked me up.
I’d spent the entire plane ride coming up with ways to try and save not only Wake and Bake but our entire block. It started with a bake sale to raise the funds to come up with as much money as possible to take it to the people selling our block. But one thing led to another, and eventually, it ended in all of us coming together to create one huge fundraiser with everyone donating items to sell and simply donating money to the cause. People from all over town have donated items and services, trying to help in any way to help us raise as much money as possible.
Our town has been brought together in ways I never imagined. Everyone in Sutten really rallied around us when Mom died, but they’ve done it all over again with this.
My eyes get glossy when I think about all of the hard work everybody’s put in for the last day. The vendor fair is tomorrow, and we’re hoping that we’ll get a lot of people to visit from the rodeo that’s happening two towns over.
The bell chimes to Wake and Bake. Lexi pops up with the sound, letting her icing bag drop next to the rack of cooled cupcakes. “I’ll go see who it is!” she cheers, trying to use any excuse to get a break.
She’s gone for a moment before she’s pushing the door open, the outline of a man in an expensive suit appearing behind her.
My heart skips as I wonder if it’s Camden. I know I’d told him not to come back, but for a small moment, I was hopeful he did and he’d somehow come up with a solution that ended with us both happy and together.
It isn’t Camden, and I hate the way my stomach drops with disappointment. I should’ve known better than to get involved. I should’ve thought about how different we were and never let him kiss me. Because the moment his lips hit mine, my heart was destined to be his. There was no use fighting it. It didn’t care that we weren’t compatible, that we were as opposite as two people could get. It wanted him regardless. And now we’re both left with an ache in our chests because of it.
Maybe once I know I’m not going to lose this company I worked so hard to create, I’ll be able to figure things out with Camden. But until I’m not threatened by someone from his world, I can’t even think about it. It’s no use.
“Mr. Livingston is here for you,” Lexi announces, taking a step to the side to reveal Dean Livingston. He’s still tall, dark, and handsome. But it’s the wrong figure, the wrong face. The wrong man. And disappointment runs through my bones when I realize how badly I’d hoped for it to be Camden.
The toddler holding Dean’s hand would’ve been my next clue that it wasn’t Camden here to see me. Clara pops her head around the doorway, her eyes lighting up when she sees the rainbow of cupcakes lining my entire kitchen.
“Daddy! Cupcakes!” she squeals, trying to make a run for it. He keeps a hold of her hand, not letting her get very far.
“Hi, everyone,” he says as he reaches down to lift his daughter. She has his same dark hair and brown eyes. Her eyes are wide with glee as she pays none of us attention and looks around at all of the cupcakes. “Clara wasn’t supposed to work with me today, but Ma couldn’t watch her, and I’m in between nannies.” His eyes meet mine for a moment. “I hope you don’t mind.”
I smile wide, putting my piping bag down for a moment so I can say hi. “I’d never mind. I love seeing sweet Clara,” I assure him, walking up to take her from his arms.
He gives a forced smile. There are bags under his eyes and not a lot of color in his face. He looks exhausted, but I can’t say much else because I probably look the same. “I’m here because I have what can seem like good news.”
My arms tighten around Clara, propping her on my hip. “Yeah?” I’m well aware of how hopeful my voice sounds.
“There’s going to be an auction for the properties.”
I gasp, looking around at everyone else in the room. For the first time since speaking with Jason in New York, I feel hopeful, and for the moment, that’s good enough for me.
“So that means the contract fell through?”
Dean nods. “Sort of. I had some help, but I managed to convince the realty group that they could get far more if they took it to auction.”
“Thank you.” I look down at Clara, finding her still eyeing the cupcakes. “Your daddy might have just saved the day. We’ll owe him big-time.”
Dean smooths out Clara’s hair, looking at her affectionately. “It wasn’t just me. And it won’t be cheap. I don’t think this Jason Vincent guy will go down without a fight. But there’s a chance. I’m trying to speak with Dad to see if we could get in on the auction. He’s trying to go more residential, but there’s nothing he loves more than this town. We’ve got a chance, Pippa.”
My eyes drift shut in relief. All I need is a chance—no matter how small it may be. That’s enough.
“I don’t know how to say thank you,” I begin, setting Clara on the ground when she starts to wiggle her legs.
He keeps his eyes on her. “Don’t thank me yet. We don’t know what will happen. But between the town rallying together for the fundraiser tomorrow and the auction in two days, we might just make this happen.”
“I want one,” Clara declares, pointing her chubby finger at a box full of pink and purple cupcakes. Her brown eyes find her dad’s. “Daddy, please?”
He sighs. “You haven’t even had lunch yet.”
“We’ve got sandwiches in the fridge. I can take her to have one before a cupcake if that’s okay with you?” Lexi offers.
Dean looks nervous about it for a few seconds. His eyes bounce from Lexi to Clara and back. “I don’t want to make you watch her. She can hang out with me while Pippa and I talk a bit longer.”
I smile. “Lexi’s amazing with the kids that always come in. Plus, I think she’s looking for an excuse to get out of icing cupcakes.”
Lexi laughs, shrugging. “You caught me.”
“Please, Daddy?” Clara asks, pulling at Dean’s pant leg. “I want to play with someone new.”
“Are you tired of me?” he jokes to his daughter.
Except she smiles up at him and gives him a confident grin. “Yes.”
Cade busts out with laughter behind us. It doesn’t take long for all of us to double over in a fit of laughter, thanks to Clara.
“On that note, if it’s okay with you, I’ll take Clara out front.” Lexi takes Clara’s hand and walks her to the door.
Dean doesn’t say anything, but he does keep his eyes pinned on Lexi and Clara until they’re out of sight. Finally, he turns back to me. “I can trust her, right?” His voice is cautious. It’s cute. I never would’ve expected the face of Livingston Realty to seem so vulnerable, but he’s always been that way when it comes to his daughter.
“She’s great. Clara’s in great hands, I promise.”
Mare claps her hands together excitedly, licking icing from her finger once she finishes her last cupcake. “Everyone get their heads back in the game. We have a small town to save!”
