Sweet Heat Rising (Thoroughbred Men Series) (16 page)

“I wanted to make large frosting rosettes and elaborate shells on each cake” she said quietly as she worked. “I just don't have the time and I need to keep it simple so I can get it out there in the case. Do you think I should just slice it and wrap it individually or do you think I should leave the cake whole? I could cut a few slices and just count on the cupcakes selling first?” she asked Matt without looking up from the icing bag that was carefully moving over the cupcakes.

Matt felt out of his element. He liked sweets, but never planned on how they should look. He just ate them and honestly didn't care how they looked as long as it tasted great. “Baby, I just do not know,” he said helplessly, “I do not know anything about running a bakery, however I do know your food is amazing. Maybe leave the cake whole and cut two or three slices? So you have the best of both options and can cut more?” he said trying to be supportive.

Sarah finished with the cake, stood back to survey the top that was carefully frosted and shook her head. It needed something eye catching. She moved to the cupcakes and began frosting them while she thought on what to do to the ‘centerpiece’ of the case today. It was going to have to be the centerpiece, she just did not have much this morning. Sarah pulled the rolls out of the oven to cool and checked the loaves, returning them back to the oven. Almost done!

Sarah snapped her fingers and headed back to the refrigerator. She put the double boiler on again and dropped the melting chocolates in the pot. Sarah picked up a massive marble slab she used for pie crusts and Matt ran over to carry it for her. “Can you put this in the freezer,” she asked him, “back along the rear wall where all the frost is at? I need it cold fast.”  She stirred the chocolate several times, making sure it was melting evenly.

Matt finished with the floor, no sign that there was ever any blood present. He offered to carry the trays of food to the front case for Sarah, while she continued at the stove. He slid open the case, grabbed a tray and put it inside carefully trying to make sure the little cups did not turn over, spilling everywhere. He slid three trays in and closed the case.

Sarah turned off the stove, leaving the chocolate in place, and moved towards the case to place the cupcakes towards the front. She had him slide the tray of bread knots underneath the cupcakes and Sarah removed the loaves from the oven. Last thing to go in the case would be the cake and then she was ready to go!

Sarah grabbed the cold marble slab and placed it on the work station. Matt watched Sarah move, fascinated with the process. She poured the cooling chocolate on the icy slab and carefully spread it evenly with what looked like a putty knife. Once it was spread, she took the knife and carefully placed the same knife at an angle and curled the chocolate. She kept scraping at the marble until she had a stack of beautiful, dark, chocolate curls. She picked them up gingerly and placed them haphazardly on top of the large stacked cake. The broken curls she chopped up and used them to surround the base of the cake. She stepped back, surveyed her work and said, “That will have to do for now.”

It was not quite what she had in mind, but it was lovely. She grabbed several small plates, placed doilies in each and grabbed a large knife. She carefully sliced the cake and carried the small slices towards the awaiting plates. She slice the large cake a few more times and moved the sliced pieces to the case. She cleaned off a few of the broken crumbles from the wedge that was now present in the cake to make it look ‘clean’ in the case and put the cake in place.

Sarah circled the display case and eyed it critically. “Not bad! I think this will do today!” she said happily and flipped on the open sign and propped open the front door as the sun began to rise over the sleepy town.

Matt poured them both a cup of coffee and came to sit with her and wait at one of the tables. He looked over at Sarah’s eager face and was relieved to see that the bruising had faded a lot, just a small discoloration here and there. Hopefully none of her clients would comment on it, bringing up memories. He just wanted her to focus on the day and not think of what had happened.

It was not long before she had cars pull into the diagonal parking spots in front of her little shop. Customers came in and hugged her carefully, relieved to see her okay and asked what had happened. Sarah carefully said she was glad to be better and be back at work, but did not give any more details.

One of the benefits of living in a small town was that gossip ran rampant and she knew that they already were aware of what had happened to her. Her customers were the people she had grown up with or had grown up with their kids, it was a very close knit community so it seemed natural to hug each one that walked in to purchase that morning, she was so happy to see each of them and they were happy to see she was okay.

Matt sat back at the table and let her handle the flow, he did not want to be in the way and she needed to get back into the ‘swing’ of it. He was content to see her smiling and enjoying herself. He saw the alarm van pull in up front and went out to usher them around back of the building. He walked through the shop, gave Sarah a kiss on the cheek as she spoke with Millicent Clark, thanking her for all her help that day.

Matt opened the rear door of the bakery and let the two technicians into the kitchen. They set up sensors on the door and installed a keypad next to the light-switch with panic buttons if needed. The panic buttons would alert the police and they would arrive within minutes, guns drawn, according to the installer.

Sarah invited them to have a slice of the cake she worked on this morning, while they waited until the front of the shop cleared out somewhat. She did not want to scare anyone that she was having an alarm installed.

Matt thought it might be a good idea that word got around the town, so that it might get back to Tyler. The two men thanked her for the cake and happily wolfed it down. Matt pulled Sarah aside and quietly told her his thoughts on the alarm. “Baby, I think you should let people see that you are protected now and that your shop is secure. It is bound to get back to Tyler and may deter him. If it does not get back to him, maybe the police will catch him if he tried ever to break in... I do not think it is going to hurt things to let people know,” he said encouraging her.

Sarah could see his logic, but it still bothered her a bit having to get the alarm system. Small towns should not have to mess with alarms, she thought, but maybe she was being naive and this was not such a small town anymore. There were people she didn't know that came into the shop and new people all the time.

People like Tyler, who needed a job. People like Matt, that were looking to get away from memories and start a fresh life. She was so thankful to have met Matt, and could have passed on meeting Tyler--even if he did help out a lot at first, she thought wryly. It just was not worth all of the drama and heartache.

One of the officers in town stopped by on his patrol and Sarah offered him a large slice of cake free of charge. He looked a bit surprised but gratefully accepted and sat down at the small table near where Matt sat.

Matt recognized him from the hospital and took this opportunity to strike up a conversation with him, asking if he would be a few minutes here at the shop. The officer’s face shuttered closed and asked him carefully, “why do you ask?” Matt explained how he wanted to get the locks changed on the doors. He asked if he was patrolling or would be about ten minutes for him to run to the hardware store so he did not have to leave Sarah alone.

The officer listened and leaned forward. “My name is Jacob Hunter. Go get the locks. I will wait here with Sarah.  I went to school with her and asked for this beat when I heard what happened. I cannot stay inside because my break is almost over, but I will watch the store for a few minutes and hang around up front for you. Tell her we are all sorry to hear about what happened but we are gonna get the guy. She does not have to worry,” he said quietly.

Matt thanked him and took off down the road to the hardware store at the end of the small block. Sarah grabbed the coffee pot and walked over to the table by the window, topped off his coffee. Sarah thanked him for stopping by again and moved to greet the lady that walked in the front door.

The rest of the afternoon went quietly and things settled down quickly around one. Matt changed the locks on the doors for Sarah, giving her the new set of keys. The installers of the alarm system were getting ready to leave and asked who would be at the condo, their next assignment. Matt suggested that Sarah go, however she declined.

Sarah smiled at the suggestion, but she was still needed to be here and he could take care of it for her. “Matt, I still have a lot to do here to get ready for tomorrow. You go. Take my keys and I will lock up here and set the alarm. No one else has a key now to the doors and if I lock up, no one is coming in or out without the police knowing,” she said reassuringly.

Matt nodded in agreement. He wasn't crazy about leaving her alone, but she was making perfect sense about it. She would be safe and if Tyler happened to show up, the police would be there in minutes.

Sarah locked the front door and flipped off the open sign, drawing the sheers closed. She flipped off the overhead lights in the front and walked back to the kitchen to escort the trio out. One of the techs had her create her own pin number for the alarm pad and explained how to use it. Then walked out the back door, Matt waited until he heard the lock set and the beep of the alarm system arming.

Matt drove to Sarah’s condo and let the alarm company inside so they could set up the new system. This time, Matt had them install two security pads, one near the front door and one on the wall in her bedroom near the light switch. He also had them install window sensors on each window and asked them to bill it on a separate bill so she wouldn't protest at the cost.

Matt placed security stickers on each window while they worked. Once done, they asked what pin number to set up and Matt called Sarah. “Baby, what pin number do you want set on the house?” he asked “or do you want them to come back so you can set it yourself?” Matt could hear her chuckling through the phone.

Sarah was touched he would call her and ask her preference. “Honey, I picked yesterday’s date for the pin number - I wasn't sure what else to use on the spot. I just put 0619 and we’ll use the same one for the bakery and the house. It's the day I told you I loved you, and you made me feel loved. I never want to forget it. You’re everything to me,” she said softly into the phone.

Matt did not know if it was possible to love her more. She was so open and free with him, she trusted him completely and leaned on him. She was giving him access to her and her livelihood and he was never going to abuse that trust. In fact, he was not going to lose her faith or trust in him ever. He decided at that moment he wanted her forever, he wanted to make her his wife.

Matt finished up with the techs, set the alarm and thanked them for their work and how fast they came out. Seems everyone knew Sarah and had heard what happened. They said they were glad to be of help, gave him a small sign to put in the yard and headed out. Matt pushed the small metal stake into the ground near the entryway where Sarah had been planting her bulbs only a few short weeks ago where he had seen her for the first time.

Matt headed to the car and called Sarah’s cell. “Everything okay, baby?” Sarah informed him she was finishing up and would be waiting on him when he was finished up. “I am on my way,” and went to pick her up from the store.

Sarah informed him that she had a chance to get everything prepped for the next day and that she needed to go by the bank too. She balanced the drawer, gave him his money back and had a bit to deposit too. It was overall a good day in her books.

Matt drove her straight over to the gun range they had visited two days before. “I am not going to let you change your mind. It gives me piece of mind knowing you are able to defend yourself, whether it is Tyler or anyone else” he said expecting a protest.

Sarah squeezed his hand. “I am not bothered. I will admit I am not crazy about guns, but when I saw my blood on the floor that was the breaking point for me. I do not want to ever have to use one but if he walks in my store, Tyler is going to regret it,” she said firmly. She did not think she could take a life, but she would damn sure guarantee it hurt to walk ever again and he would not be able to follow her as she ran.

They walked in together and she tried several different guns, settling for a small used gun that fit her hand and purchased the bullets for it. She fired it off several times for good measure and paid for it. She wanted her life back and did not want to ever be scared again.

They returned to his apartment, out of habit and when they pulled up, Sarah asked if they could get a few things and try staying at her place for a night or two? She wanted to be there, to feel like she was getting back to her old life, her old sense of self but she did not want to be alone either. Matt agreed and they packed up Sarah’s things and a few of his and headed back to her place.

She wanted to see the alarm system, where it was placed, and Matt showed her the outward signs that there was a security system. “Tyler would be a damn fool to try to hurt you here,” he said comfortingly, as she surveyed the condo and walked inside. Matt gave her the new keys for her place. He had quickly changed the locks here also while they were installing the sensors.

Sarah pushed a key back towards him. “For you” she said and gave him a kiss. Matt put the key on his keychain and kissed her again. He broke the kiss and showed her the other key pad in the bedroom. He explained that there were sensors on the windows too, so if Tyler attempted to come in that way, the alarm would go off regardless. Sarah was relieved to be in her home with Matt.