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feel good about herself, even if the compliment was entirely comprised of something as superficial as her looks.
    Dru snapped his fingers. “I have an idea. Can you bake up some little samples of somethin’ I can give away?”
    “I always have a plate of cookies on top of the display case and give those away for free. Kids come in with their moms and they look for them.”
    He scratched the stubble on his chin. “I don’t think that’s workin’. I mean, you’re only gettin’ the same customers who already walked in—and kids don’t buy stuff. Maybe at lunchtime I can take a plate out into the neighborhood and tempt some of the folks who’d just walk on by.”
    Rebecca mulled it over. “Hmmm…”
    “It works like a charm on me at the mall. Although if I see the perfume lady comin’ I run like hell.”
    Rebecca smiled. “It’s not a bad idea. Not bad at all. You’d do that for me?”
    “Hell, yeah. I’d be doin’ it for me too. Like I said, the next boss could be downright ugly.” He winked at her again and she laughed. Sexual harassment be damned. I like how this guy makes me feel.

    An hour later, the display case was full and Dru had learned how to make coffee and keep an eye on the urns. Rebecca showed him how the cash register worked, and he assured her he was comfortable with everything except the baking part of her operation. That was the part she loved, so Rebecca felt lighter than she had in a long time.
    Even though Dru said he didn’t think he was doing much, she assured him that his contribution would be an enormous help.
    A couple of people appeared on the sidewalk outside the door.
    “Should I let in the hungry masses?” he asked.
    Rebecca glanced at the clock and saw it was five minutes before their scheduled time to open. “If I didn’t need the business so badly, I’d let them wait while I straighten up the back, but it’s fine.”
    She returned to the kitchen and heard him unlock the door, then give a big ol’ Texas “Welcome ‘y’all” to her customers.
    She smiled inside and even started to hum as she wiped down her prep counter. The future seemed a little brighter with Dru here. Maybe she’d even experiment with a new recipe she’d dreamed up—literally—and use the rest of the fresh strawberries she had on hand.
    She was rinsing the fruit in a colander when Dru poked his head around the door.
    “Somebody wants to speak to you. Are you busy?”
    “I’m not doing anything I can’t walk away from.” Rebecca grabbed a towel and dried her hands on her way through the door. She spotted a woman waiting near the cash register.
    “Can I help you?”
    “Oh, yes.” The woman smiled. “Are you the baker?”
    “I am,” she said proudly.
    “Last fall, I got some of the most delicious apple cupcakes here. Do you know the ones I’m talking about?”
    “The ones with caramel buttercream frosting?”
    “Yes. They were incredible. Can you tell me what was in them? I’d love to know why they’re so much better than anything at the grocery store.”
    Because I’m not taking shortcuts, like they do. “Sure. I start off making a normal cupcake batter...
    After reciting the whole recipe, she said, “When I have loads of apples, I make a double recipe.”
    “I think it was the frosting that made it so unusual,” the woman said. “What was in that?”
    “1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
    1/4 cup water
    1/4 cup heavy cream
    1/4 teaspoon salt
    3 sticks unsalted butter, softened
    4 large egg whites, at room temperature and
    2 teaspoons vanilla extract.”
    Rebecca noticed Dru glancing over at her and his brow was furrowed. Maybe he was trying to remember it in case she let him help with the baking someday.
    “It’s a recipe I adapted from Martha Stewart. Bring 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar and the water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Then, cook it, swirling the pan occasionally, until the caramel is dark amber. Immediately remove it from the heat, and slowly add cream,