Bread Beignets and Cowboy Boots Read online

  “What do you think, Felicity?” Robin asked.

  “I agree with Rayne. I think we can as well.” She attempted a convincing smile.

  “Perfect timing.” Robin motioned for the man walking through the front door with a camera to join her. “Let’s get some pictures of the two of them, the display case with all the goodies, and some photos of these two in action. You know the drill.”

  Even dusted with flour, Rayne looked great. On the other hand, Felicity had sweat-matted hair and jelly stains on her once-white apron.

  “Could we perhaps do this another time?”

  Robin waved off her protests without even looking at her. “You’re fine.”

  She wasn’t sure about this or about Robin. She didn’t know why, but her senses never failed her before, and now there was a strange twinge rushing through her body. It was obvious Robin was smitten with Rayne. She could understand why. He was attractive and seemed confident in what he was doing when baking bread. She also knew good looks didn’t make a good businessperson.

  CHAPTER 9

  “I wonder if I could ask a favor.” A cup of coffee in hand, Rayne walked up to the table where Felicity was working.

  “Sure. What’s the favor?” She stopped measuring ingredients and glanced up at Rayne. Flashbacks of people she thought of as friends in high school came flooding back.

  Do you think you could make some cupcakes for the bake sale?

  Do you think you could bring some cookies to a party I’m having this Saturday? Of course, you’re invited.

  The only time they ever invited her was when they needed her to bring something from her grandmother’s bakery.

  “I wonder if you could make a cake for me. I’d be happy to pay you for it,” Rayne said.

  “Sure.” Felicity took a breath. She wanted to be friendly and not take her frustration out on Rayne. She reminded herself they needed to work together. If that meant making a cake, then she would make a cake. “What type of cake? I mean, is it for a special occasion?”

  “It’s my mother’s birthday.”

  “I see.” Felicity listened as he continued.

  “My brothers and I are grilling steaks for dinner. This is one night a year we take care of everything except the cake. Your grandmother would always bake a cake for her.” Rayne grinned.

  “That’s nice of you to make your mother dinner.” She tried not to laugh as she imaged a kitchen full of men attempting to pull together dinner. Running into each other, spilling things, and Rayne trying to rein them in. “Grandma Fe always made delicious cakes. How many people do you want it to serve?”

  “Just the seven of us. My brothers, my father, and mother.” Rayne held up seven fingers.

  “Does your mother like chocolate?”

  “Of course.” Rayne rubbed his head. “I mean, I don’t know many people who don’t.”

  “Perfect. What if I make a three-layer chocolate cake? With raspberry filling? I have a great recipe,” Felicity offered. “When do you need it?”

  “I was hoping you could fit it into your schedule today.” Rayne squinted his eyes. “Your grandmother had it marked on the calendar. She always made one without me even having to ask. And I forgot until this morning.”

  Felicity smiled. She wasn’t the only one who missed her grandmother. “I’ll make time for your mother. It sounds like from what you’ve told me about her, she deserves a nice birthday cake.”

  “She gave up on us buying her gifts. She always returned something because it was the wrong size or some other reason. Dad would take us all to the department store and turn us loose. He gave us a dollar amount, and he would pay for it. When I think back to some gifts we brought home to her.” Rayne shook his head. “She always made sure we knew how much she loved it.”

  “She sounds like a loving mother.” This time Felicity couldn’t stop the laughter at the thought of what five boys running around a department store trying to find the perfect gift for their mother. “Your father never made suggestions or helped you guys find something your mother would like?”

  “No.” Rayne waved his hands in front of him. “My father is one of the worst gift buyers I’ve ever met. When I got older, I realized him blaming us for the gifts was his way of getting out of having to come up with something himself.”

  “That’s pretty smart.”

  “When we figured him out, we all decided that making dinner for her on her birthday would be a better gift than any of us could buy, especially my father.”

  “Good idea.” Felicity agreed.

  “Don’t let me forget to take the cake home with me when I leave today, please. I’ve got a lot of things on my mind that I need to do. One is to make sure I take a few loaves of bread home with me to serve with dinner.” Rayne patted the table in front of him and made his way to where he was mixing dough.

  “No worries. I’ll box the cake up for you when it’s finished.” She returned to measuring ingredients in the bowl in front of her.

  “That looks delicious.”

  Felicity put the finishing touches on the cake, then set it aside. Joining Tilly at the front counter, she searched under the counter until she found the perfect cake box.

  “What’s that for?” Tilly asked.

  “Rayne asked me to make his mother a birthday cake.” Felicity shaped the box to make sure it was strong enough to hold the three-layer cake. “This one should be perfect.”

  “You mean when he leaves to go home for the day?” Tilly asked.

  “Yes. He asked me to remind him. He said he has a lot on his mind, and he might forget it.” Felicity checked the last fold of the box.

  “Well, I’d say that’s true because he’s already left for the day.” Tilly put her hands on her hips.

  “What? He left already? When?” Felicity attempted to remember the last time she saw him. “He was just here.”

  “He left about twenty minutes ago. I was told to tell you good night because you were in the storage room taking inventory. He bought two loaves of bread and walked out the door.”

  “You’re joking?” Felicity dropped her hands to her side then turned to check the back where Rayne hung his cowboy hat. “His hat’s gone. He’s gone. What do I do now? I have a beautiful birthday cake ready for his mother.”

  “It’s almost time for us to close. Why don’t you take it to him?” Tilly nodded at the big wall clock, then glimpsed at Felicity.

  She couldn’t possibly do that. “Will he be with his family? The Miller Canyon Ranch, right? I don’t want to interrupt their family dinner.” Felicity wanted a good excuse not to have to take it.

  "I’m sure he will be.” Tilly slipped her hands in the pockets of her apron. “He’s searching for an apartment in town. Until then, he’s with his family at the ranch. I can give you directions.”

  “Of course you can.” Felicity exhaled.

  “The ranch is easy to find. Rayne invited Felicity Noelle and me for dinner a few times.” Tilly found a piece of paper, wrote the address and directions, and handed it to Felicity. “Here you go. I also wrote Rayne’s cell phone number just in case you get lost.”

  “You thought of everything. Thanks, Tilly.” She took the piece of paper from her and put it in her apron pocket.

  “Are you planning to wear that out the door?”

  “No, of course not.” She undid the strings and took the apron off.

  “Then you better put that in your purse.” Tilly pointed to the apron’s pocket.

  “Okay. Okay.” She took the paper from her pocket and taped it to the top of the cake box. “There. Now I won’t forget it or lose it.” Felicity smiled.

  “I’ll go lock the front door. You get ready to leave, and I’ll clean up.” Tilly patted her arm.

  “Are you sure? I can help you clean up, then we can both leave.”

  “I don’t mind at all. You’ve got an important delivery to make. I don’t want you to get busy and forget to take the cake with you like Rayne forgot to take it with him.” Tilly waved her hands. “Now get out of here.”

  “Fine.” Felicity walked back to the table, placed the cake in the box, and taped it shut. Grabbing her purse and tote bag, she waved at Tilly and walked out the back door of the bakery.

  CHAPTER 10

  Pulling into the gravel driveway of Miller Canyon Ranch next to Rayne’s truck, Felicity was sure she was in the right place. She stepped from the car and placed her tote bag over her shoulder. Removing the piece of paper with directions off the top of the box, she tossed it on the floor, then carefully lifted the cake box from the passenger seat of her car. The front door of the house opened before she reached the porch.

  “You brought the cake.” Rayne stood in the doorway in a pair of jeans, a white starched shirt untucked with the sleeves rolled up, and cowboy boots. His hair was still damp from a shower, and the scent of freshness hit her senses as she moved closer to the door.

  “I did,” Felicity answered. “It seems you forgot to take it with you when you left for the day.”

  “I’m so sorry. I completely forgot.”

  Rayne ran his hand through his damp hair, sending chills through her body.

  “Come in.” He stepped back and motioned for her to enter.

  Felicity waved her hand in the air in front of her. “I don’t want to interrupt. I just stopped to drop off your mother’s cake.”

  “You can’t leave until you meet my family,” Rayne insisted. “My mother would never forgive me.”

  “Maybe some other time. I stopped at my house but didn’t change from the clothes I’ve worked in all day.” She glanced down at her slacks with spots of flour here and there, then up at Rayne, who was intoxicating and appeared he was ready for a photo shoot.

  “Who are you talking to,
Rayne?” A voice came from another room.

  “Felicity Fortner, Mom. She stopped by for a few minutes.”

  Felicity’s heart stopped beating for a second. She just wanted to go home.

  “Invite her in. Where are your manners?” the woman’s voice scolded.

  Rayne held on to the door and motioned again for her to walk through.

  Felicity closed her eyes and thought of anything other than brushing against Rayne as she walked through the door and into the entryway.

  “You must be Felicity.” A striking woman walked from the living room to greet her.

  “Yes. I am.”

  “I’m Mary Miller, Rayne’s mother. It’s so nice to meet you.” She held out her hand for Felicity to shake.

  Balancing the cake box with one hand, she shook Mary’s hand with the other. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Miller.” She held up the box. “This is for you.”

  “What’s this?” Mary asked.

  “This is a birthday cake for you. Happy birthday.”

  Mary took the box. “How sweet of you. It’s beautiful. You came all the way out here just to deliver a cake?”

  “It’s one of Felicity’s specialties, chocolate with raspberry filling.” Rayne winked.

  “It sounds delicious. It’s so sweet of you to bring this out just for me. Why don’t you stay for dinner? We have plenty of food.” Mary opened the box lid and peeked inside.

  Felicity peered at Rayne, wondering why he didn’t tell his mother he asked her to make a cake. He shrugged and smiled. All she could do was thank the good Lord he didn’t wink at her again. She wouldn’t be able to concentrate if that happened. “I didn’t have time to change my clothes, and I don’t want to interrupt. After all, it’s your birthday, which is a family celebration.”

  “I won’t take no for an answer. You’re just as beautiful as Rayne says you are. Come in, and let me introduce you to the rest of the family.” Still carrying the cake, Mary took Felicity’s hand and walked back toward the living room.

  Mary Miller’s words rang in her ears, just as beautiful as Rayne says you are. Rayne said she was beautiful. Beautiful! Not pretty, not attractive, but beautiful. This was something new she needed to learn to deal with.

  Rayne surprised her by placing his hand on her shoulder and walking beside her.

  “This is my husband, Clu.” Mary put her arm around her husband. “Clu, this is Felicity Fortner. She works with Rayne at the bakery.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Clu put out his hand for her to shake.

  “These are my other sons, Alder, Clay, Drake, and Ridge.” Mary pointed to each one as she said their name.

  All the men appeared built like their father. Each one over six feet tall, slim-hipped and dark-haired. There was a little of Mary thrown in, either the eyes, the chin, or the nose. All a definite mix of Mary and Clu. “It’s nice to meet all of you.” Each one of them waved, not saying a word. Not only did she have to be nervous about having dinner with Rayne. Now there are four more.

  “Felicity is going to join us for dinner. She came all the way out here to deliver a birthday cake just for me,” Mary explained.

  “I need to start the grill. I could use your help, Ridge. If you’ll excuse us.” Alder nodded at Felicity, then he and Ridge disappeared outside.

  “I’ll come help,” Clu offered, then disappeared as well.

  “I’m going to get the steaks.” Drake walked into the kitchen and picked up a tray of steaks on the kitchen counter.

  Clay motioned for Rayne to follow him into the kitchen, leaving Felicity and Mary alone in the living room.

  “Your house is beautiful.” Felicity wanted to add how surprised she was there were so many feminine touches since it was a house full of men, but she kept the thought to herself.

  “Thank you. I work hard to keep at least this room and the kitchen to myself.” Mary pointed toward the kitchen. “These are my rooms, and they have rules.”

  “I can understand that.” Felicity glimpsed Rayne in the kitchen, having what seemed a secret conversation with one of his brothers.

  “Let me put this cake in the kitchen where I can keep an eye on it.” Mary motioned for Felicity to follow her.

  Felicity whispered to Rayne, “Is everything all right?”

  “Clay forgot to put the potatoes in the oven, so we’re missing a side dish. He had one job to do.” Rayne glared at his brother.

  “No side dish, huh?” Mary grinned. “I’ll make some mashed potatoes. It’ll be fine.”

  “It’s your birthday dinner, Mom. You’re not making anything.” Rayne held his hands up in the air.

  Felicity watched as Rayne, Clay, and his mother discussed who would do what until she interrupted. “Excuse me.” She raised her voice loud enough for them to hear. “Rayne’s right, Mary. It’s your birthday. You shouldn’t be making dinner. Rayne and I will take care of things.” She reached into the bag she brought in with her and removed a bottle of wine and a corkscrew. She held them out to Rayne. “Why don’t you pour your mother a glass of wine while I take care of a side dish? Where are the potatoes?”

  “You come prepared. You brought wine?” Rayne read the label on the wine.

  “I stopped by the house because I wanted to bring your mother a birthday gift.” Felicity walked into the kitchen. “It’s too bad I didn’t change clothes.” She brushed some flour from her pants.

  “You also have a smudge of chocolate frosting on your cheek.” Rayne pointed to her face.

  “Where?” Felicity whispered. “That’s been on my face since I arrived? Why didn’t you say something?” She popped Rayne’s arm lightly. “I’m so embarrassed.”

  “I just noticed it.” Rayne grinned as he took the dish towel and softly wiped the spot from her cheek.

  She closed her eyes, so she didn’t have to look in his. She was sure he would see how much his touch was affecting her. “Thank you.” She took a breath to slow down her heart rate. “Now, where are the potatoes?”

  Rayne pointed to the strainer of new potatoes in the kitchen sink, then took the bottle of wine and corkscrew from her. “What else do you need?”

  “A potato peeler and an oven-proof skillet. I can find everything else I need.” Hanging her bag on the back of one barstool at the kitchen island, Felicity followed Rayne to where he pulled a skillet from a lower cabinet, then searched for a peeler in a drawer next to the sink.

  “Here you go.”

  She took the peeler from him and placed it on the island. Opening the refrigerator door to find butter, parsley from the chiller drawer, then a few cloves of garlic from a basket on the island. She set the oven to 400 and peeled potatoes.

  Watching Rayne as he poured his mother a glass of wine and made sure she was settled, Felicity kept peeling and slicing. Not sure how many potatoes she needed to feed a group of eight, she peeled and cut them all.

  “Do you mind if I watch?” Mary asked as she sat on one barstool.

  “Not at all,” Felicity said.

  “What are you making?” Mary sipped her wine.

  “Château potatoes,” she replied. “It’s one of my favorite dishes I learned to make while I was in France.”

  “I would love to go to France. It’s been a dream of mine for many years, but with the ranch and five boys, it’s going to have to stay a dream for a little while longer.”

  “Well, if you get the chance, I would highly recommend it.” Felicity continued peeling potatoes.

  “Right now, I’m enjoying having another woman in the house, especially one who can cook. This is a rare opportunity for me.” Mary drank more wine.

  “How much time do you need so I can let the guys know when they can start the steaks?” Rayne asked.

  “About forty-five minutes.” Felicity turned the burner on under the skillet.

  “I’ll let them know. We’ll be right back to help.” Rayne disappeared outside, with Clay following close behind.

  Placing some butter in the skillet to melt, she smashed two cloves of garlic and let them simmer in the melted butter for a few minutes. Felicity put the seasoned sliced potatoes in the melted butter, coated them then placed the skillet in the preheated oven.

  “What can I do to help?” Rayne asked as he came back into the house.