Hello again. This little baby was inspired by a plot bunny my dear friend, banner maker, and pre-reader threw my way over 18 months ago. Chris sent me everything I needed to build these characters up. At that time, I was in the middle of writing a bunch of stories and it was put on the back burner. Then I left writing completely and the flame of that burner was blown out. After coming back and starting up OGCJM, I thought back to this little bunny. Well, Chris and me worked together to make it something that I think you will all enjoy. This is completely written. All the chapters are from 1400-2500 words. There will be 10 chapters plus an epilogue. All but the last chapter and epi are ready to go. I am thinking daily to every other day updates until complete. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

For those of you wanting an update on OGCJM, this is why that has been delayed. I was sucked into this and I have had a hard time pulling away from it to work on that. I promise it will be what I devote my time to from now on.

Without any more rambling and delay from me, I give you:

Baker's Dozen

The heat of the kitchen was starting to get the best of me. Monday mornings were typically spent waking at three to begin baking the surplus I would need for the week. By the time my bakery, Baker's Dozen, opened at six, I would be in need of a shower and a nap. Unfortunately, neither would I get for another twelve hours.

I heard the click of the lock being opened on the front door, before the bell chimed that someone had entered.

"Morning, Alice," I called to my best friend and employee. When I decided to put my passion of baking into a career, I knew there was no one I would rather have at my side than Alice Brandon. We had been best friends since before we could walk. With anything I did in my life, I tended to have Alice close by.

Even though I had worked for years making cakes, breads, and other doughy creations, when the chance to finally open my own company arose, I didn't have the confidence in myself to see it through. That's where Alice believed in me, and I knew there would be no way I could move forward without her.

"Morning, boss lady!" Alice giggled, pulling her apron over her head as she walked into the kitchen. "We really should invest in windows in here. It is hotter than hades. That beautiful spring air would feel damn good in here."

The blankets of snow we had all winter had finally given way to the spring flowers. We were starting to see the beauty that came with the month of May, and it was a beautiful sight here in the outskirts of Chicago.

"Renovation takes money," I told Alice. Even though Baker's Dozen had earned back all the initial money I invested, I wasn't ready to throw more money into the place. The building I bought five years ago was in the same lot as a string of businesses owned by an investment bank. Lucky for me, at that time they didn't own the plot that would be the future home of Baker's Dozen. Since I hold sole ownership of the building, I was able to renovate when and if I wanted to. I just wasn't sure I wanted to. I wasn't sure what the long term would hold for us, as well as Baker's Dozen.

"I would work for free, putting my salary toward renovations if it meant I didn't have to slave away in Hell."

Alice laughed at my sour expression. Best friend or not, she knew how to be a pain in my ass.

We continued to bake scones, muffins and cookies until the buzzer beeped. That daily buzzer was our signal; we had ten minutes left until the doors were to open.

I put the coffee on, and carried the last of the freshly baked goods out front. Alice worked diligently on plating all of the sweet breakfast treats, while I got the bagels and loaves of bread placed in the individual cubbies.

We had the mornings so perfectly planned out, that we were able to get things together, without a hitch in those few minutes before unlocking the door.

As Alice walked back from unlocking the door, it swung open, the bell chiming in time with the entering patron.

Same as every morning.

Mike Newton, longtime customer and our daily annoyance walked in. "Morning, ladies!" he called, walking to the counter.

"Mike, same as always?"

"Of course, Miss Bella. You have the best muffins and coffee." Mike leaned on the counter, looking at Alice and me as we worked. It was the same every day. After a few weeks of this five years ago, we got used to him and his flirting ways. He stared too long. He touched when he paid. It seemed to be his nature.

"Four-fifty," I told Mike, although he knew the total. It was always the same, never wavering.

Mike paid his balance due, and left a tip for Alice and me in our jar. Always the same tip, also never wavering.

Although, today started to be different at that moment. Normally, Mike would take his muffin and coffee and head out the door. Today, Mike took a seat at one of our tables and broke into his muffin.

"You girls see the work they're starting a few store fronts over? Next to mine."

I looked to Alice who shrugged her shoulders.

I guess I would bite. "No, Mike, actually I don't pay attention to much when I come in. It's normally pretty dark out."

"Oh well, the other day, guess it was yesterday a crew of guys came walking around. They were measuring stuff and covering the windows of the empty space. Wonder what they are going to be putting there."

The storefront, two down from where my building was had been empty for two years. The space was next to Newton's Sports, and I knew Mike had wished he could combine the two. Unfortunately, his landlord refused. The upside of owning my own building did have its bonuses. Maybe I would renovate after all. For no other reason than to spite Mike.

"Hope they don't put some crap in there that will interfere with my business." Mike shoved the rest of his muffin in his mouth, crumbs falling to the table.

I shrugged my shoulders, thankful that the bell above the door dinged with another customer. Too much Mike this early was tiresome.

As the morning rush picked up, Mike found his way back out the door, not bothering Alice or me with any more small talk.

The morning passed in a blur, full of our regulars and a few faces that I hadn't seen before. Mornings were when we tended to have the same slew of people in. They stopped on the way to work, or on the way home from nights at the hospital down the street.

By afternoon, it was hit or miss if we would know any of the people who came in for handmade sandwiches or an afternoon pick me up.

The lunch rush had come and gone, and I was in the back working on a specialty order of cakes. I would have to work on them all week to get them done on time, and while we were slow, I wanted to get a move on it. I wasn't big on the specialty orders, especially not the ones that would require me to use my freezer space to store until pick up. But they were extra money, and that was always something of importance when running a business.

"Bells, I'm going to step out for a moment. It is dead out there. That okay?" Alice asked, poking her head in the kitchen.

"Yeah. I'll keep my ear out for the bell."

"Thanks. I'll only be a minute. My mom's calling. You know how she is."

"No need to explain." Alice's mom, Ramona had been in a state of depression ever since Alice's dad died of cancer. I tried to help her cope, as she was there for me when my dad died, but no matter what Alice or I did for her, she wasn't handling being alone well.

My mind couldn't help to drift to my dad. Without him I wouldn't be where I was now. After he was killed in a head on collision, I was given a very sizable amount of money. It was given on the promise to chase my dreams and make my dad proud. Building up Baker's Dozen helped me grieve. If only there was some way to help my best friend and her mom.

Letting my thoughts drift back to the pain my best friend was dealing with, I started lightly singing a song I heard on the radio earlier about love and hope. I had my mixer going, getting the batter for my cakes ready, I never heard the front door chime, or someone walk into the bakery until they were clearing their throat at the entry of the kitchen.

I jumped, batter flying all over.

"Oh, Jesus, I didn't mean to scare you," a smooth voice said.

I turned, looking at the intruder of my kitchen. Before me stood a fine, male specimen. He looked to have a few years on my twenty-eight, but that didn't hurt his looks at all. He stood a good six feet, with a body build of a manual worker. He pulled his ball cap off, wiping his brow. His auburn hair shined with hues of red and gold in the lights of the kitchen.

"It's okay. Sorry I didn't hear you come in. One moment? Please?"

His smile was intoxicating. "Sure thing. Didn't mean to disrupt." He smiled again, nearly taking my breath away.

I wiped my hands on my apron, righting myself before walking out of the kitchen. As I stepped out, he was right there. I then realized he never really stopped looking at me when he excused himself. He just made himself less known.

Who knew how long he had been in the bakery while I was ignorant to his arrival.

"Oh, sorry," he said, stepping back. His eyes were a deep forest green, speckled with gold. His hands were up, keeping me from running smack into him.

"It's, it's okay." I gave him a shy smile, unsure of why I was feeling so timid before this stranger. "Um, excuse me?"

He looked around, realizing he was standing between me and the counter. "Oh, yeah. My bad. Guess I'm in your space, huh?"

"Just a little." As he turned to walk back to the other side of the counter, I couldn't help but keep my eye on him. He took large strides, walking with confidence. He wore ripped jeans and a short sleeve button up shirt, dust and dirt covering his pants and shoes.

"So, what can I get you?"

"What's good?" he asked, the smile never leaving his face.

"Well, since I'm the owner, I'm going to have to say everything." Having him out of my area, I was suddenly feeling more confident in myself.

"Well, then, in that case, I think I would like to try your turkey and swiss on rye with a coke. That's homemade bread, right?"

"Would you expect any less out of a bakery? Especially one you were able to spy the kitchen of."

"Absolutely not." He held his hand out. "I'm Edward."

"Bella." I reached for his hand and gave him a firm shake. One of the many things I learned from my father was to never let a man get a hold on you. A firm hand shake showed a man you weren't just a soft, incapable female.

"Nice to meet you."

I gave him his total, watching as he pulled the battered wallet from his back pocket. He handed me a twenty for his six dollar order. When I handed him back his change, he placed it all in the tip jar.

I was about to say something, but the door flew open to the bakery. Alice stormed in, completely unaware of the guy in the shop.

"I swear, if I can't get her to stop this crap, I'm going to kill my mother myself. She won't need to worry about meds then. Doesn't she understand this is difficult on me too?"

"Alice!" I snipped, turning my attention back to Edward. "Sorry about her. She's having issues."

"Clearly." He chuckled under his breath, trying to keep his smile at bay.

I got to working on Edward's sandwich, trying not to throw something at Alice through the opening to the kitchen. She was stomping around in there, clearly not happy about the conversation she just had with her mother.

As I worked on the sandwich, I glanced up at Edward. He was looking around the bakery, taking in the place. At my gaze to him, his eyes focused back on me.

"Here you go. Turkey and swiss on my amazing rye." I handed him the rolled up sandwich and a bottle of coke.

"Well, thank you for the late lunch. Sorry for disturbing you before."

"No bother." I smiled at him as he nodded and headed to the door.

He was half way out, and I hated that he was leaving already. He wasn't someone who had been here before, that was for sure. I knew I would remember that face. It was godly. I couldn't help but want to remember every part of him, just in case this was a onetime encounter.

Edward pushed the door open, stopping before continuing to walk from the bakery. "If this sandwich is as good as you promised, I'll be seeing you again. Have a good day, Bella." He winked with a wave before the door closed on him.

My eyes were still locked on the door where he had left from as Alice came out of the kitchen.

"Sorry about that. I never intend to be unprofessional. I didn't even see him." Her face was red and splotchy. She had been crying.

"No worries, Alice. I don't think you scared him away." I pulled her into a hug. "At least I hope you didn't," I added quietly for my own sake.