AllFreeNovel
Share Us
They’re all totally wrong. Nothing’s going to bite back. I’m going to get what I want. And Zoey…
She’s unfortunately going to be another failed small business.
Nothing is going to go wrong.
At all.
Chapter Ten
Zoey
It’s not a date. That’s my mantra and I need to stick to it.
So what if I picked out a pretty dress with dark blues and greens to wear today. So what if I managed to find my mascara and perhaps a little eyeliner and tinted lip gloss.
Sometimes, a girl just happens to want to put all that stuff on and feel pretty.
For no reason whatsoever.
And if Magnus Simpson makes my palms sweat and my heart think it’s a jazz drummer performing a bebop solo, so what?
It doesn’t mean anything.
Anyway, tonight is just a fundraiser, two colleagues going out to help others less fortunate. And that’s a far way off.
But I feel good, light, even though the sky outside is gray and drizzly. I’ve already turned the sign to open. Early this morning I made German chocolate cake with a coffee and raspberry drizzle, and simple little white chocolate cookies with dark raw sugar, cacao butter and butter.
The bell tingles and I smile.
But that melts away to a frown at the sight of the small, severe man in a mac coat and natty suit. He has a clipboard and marches up.
“Miss Zoey Smith?”
“Yes?”
“John Rogan.” He flashes an ID at me and my heart sinks down to the soles of my sensible heels. Health inspection for permits, food safety. I’ve heard the nightmares. Mrs. O’Malley loves to regale me with tales from the dark side that they’d had to go through with the bar.
I don’t even know anyone from the mafia.
The man eyes the cake and cookies. “Permits? I got a tip off you were selling food made in your home. There are all kinds of violations and inspections needed. Not to mention licenses and certificates.”
I’m not a liar, but I’m going to give it a good try, because I haven’t put up any prices yet.
“I have cake and cookies if you’d like some…”
“A bribe?” His eyes narrow and I almost recoil.
“What? No. Me? Never.” This is why I didn’t want to be a lawyer. They’re too slippery. I don’t want to have his job, either. Too slimy. “I love baking and I like to give a little something to the neighborhood. For free.” I lean in and lower my voice, even though it’s still early and no one comes in yet.
Magnus isn’t scheduled for another twenty minutes.
My stomach clenches in a different way at the thought.
“I have a sweet tooth, so it’s mainly for me to munch on, but I don’t mind giving a cookie to someone if they ask.”
His eyes narrow into little slits and he writes something down. “And the coffee?”
With a sigh, I tell him the coffee is for me. And by the time he’s done with the promise or threat he’ll be back, my good mood is nothing but dust.
