Page 6 of Win a Date with a Baker

I groan so loudly one of the prep cooks snickers behind me. “I hate that stupid nickname.”

“You hate attention.”

“I do.”

“And yet...” She spins her laptop around.

A video starts playing. It’s me yesterday morning. I’m kneading dough.

That’s it.

Just kneading dough. No funny commentary. No talking. No smiling.

The comments are already pouring in.

“The forearms...”

“Sir, respectfully I would let you fill all of my holes”

“Donut Daddy could bend me over that counter any day and teach me who’s boss.”

I shove the screen away. “I don’t understand people.”

“They think you’re sexy.”

“They need to get a life.”

Rachel laughs so hard she nearly drops her coffee.

“You signed me up without asking.”

Her smile fades. “I know.”

“You know I would’ve said no.”

“I know.”

“So why did you do it?”

She seals another bakery box before answering. “Because it wasn’t about you. It was for a cause near and dear to us both.”

That stops me.

She knows exactly what she’s doing.

I stare down at the tray of glazed brioche while she continues quietly.

“They’ve helped a lot of families.”

I nod once.

“My friend Melissa.”

“Our cousin.”

Another nod.

“The auction raised a lot of money.”