Nothing Bundt Forever Read online

  NOTHING BUNDT FOREVER

  SAMANTHA LIND

  SAMANTHALIND.COM

  Nothing Bundt Forever

  Sweet Valley, Tennessee Book 2

  Copyright 2022 Samantha Lind

  All Rights Reserved

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, distributed, stored in or introduced into any information storage or retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic, photocopying, mechanical or otherwise, without express permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, story lines and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons, living or dead, events, locales or any events or occurrences are purely coincidental.

  Trademarked names appear throughout this novel. These names are used in an editorial fashion, with no intentional infringement of the trademark owner’s trademark(s).

  The following story contains adult language and sexual situations and is intended for adult readers.

  Cover Design by Y’All That Graphic

  Editing by Amy Briggs ~ Briggs Consulting LLC

  Proofreading by Proof Before You Publish

  Created with Vellum

  For Debbie

  I hope Garrett’s mom does your name justice!

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Epilogue

  Coming Soon

  Also by Samantha Lind

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  1

  LACEY

  I reach over, smacking at my nightstand for my phone that has startled me awake. What time is it? Who is calling me in the middle of the night? I think as I crack my eyes open, only to be greeted with daylight peeking through my curtains. Shit.

  “Hello,” I say groggily after hitting the accept button.

  “Morning, Sleeping Beauty, are you not working today?” my best friend, cousin, and business partner, Harper, asks.

  “Yeah, I apparently slept through my alarm. Let me get the kids up and off to my parents, and then I’ll be in. Sorry to leave you without help,” I apologize.

  “I’ve got it all under control, but the repair guy should be here to start installing the new oven within the hour,” she reminds me.

  “Oh, shit. I forgot that was today.”

  “Gotta go; a line of people is walking in. See you soon,” Harper says before hanging up.

  I toss the covers off my body and force myself out of bed. I don’t hear the kids, so I head straight for the bathroom. I hope a hot shower will help wake me up and get me through this day.

  Bang! The bathroom door hits the wall as my daughter, Hope, comes walking through, her blanket in one hand as she drags it along the floor.

  “Mommy is almost done, sweetie,” I tell her from inside the shower. I’ve just rinsed my shampoo out, and quickly grab the conditioner bottle and squeeze some into my hand.

  “I’m hungry,” she proclaims.

  “I’ll get you some breakfast before we head to Grandma and Grandpa’s,” I tell her.

  “Pancakes?” she asks, and I don’t miss the way her voice hitches up with some hope.

  “Not today. We’re late and I need to get to the bakery, but this weekend, for sure. Unless you want Grandma to make them for you,” I suggest. I look over and find her contemplating my offer. “Go see if Benji is awake for Mommy,” I tell her.

  “Okay,” she agrees and turns to leave the bathroom to find her brother.

  I quickly finish with my hair before shutting the water off and stepping out. I throw on a clean pair of jeans and a bakery T-shirt before heading back into the bathroom to pull my hair up into a ponytail so it’s out of my face while I’m baking.

  “Morning, Benjamin,” I state as I ruffle my son’s hair. He’s curled up on the couch, a cartoon playing on the TV screen.

  “Mornin’, Mommy,” he greets, and I lean down and kiss the top of his head.

  “We need to get going. I’m late, so please go get dressed and put your shoes on.”

  He starts to grumble, not wanting to move very quickly this morning. You and me both, buddy, I think to myself as I turn for the kitchen. I pop two pieces of bread into the toaster, then grab the butter and cinnamon-sugar shaker to make the kids a quick snack to hold them over until I can drop them off at my parents’ house.

  While I wait on the toaster, I grab my cell and shoot off a text to my mom, giving her a heads up.

  Lacey: Running late, we overslept. I’m about to load the kids in the car and head your way. I’m making them some cinnamon-sugar toast for the ride over, but can you please feed them breakfast? Hope was requesting pancakes while I was in the shower.

  Rita: Of course, I’ll feed those sweet babies. I’ll have the pancakes hot and ready for them by the time you get here. Does Benjamin want some bacon?

  Lacey: I’m sure he’d love some, you know that boy can eat his weight in bacon.

  Rita: Grandpa will be mighty happy to have an excuse to fire up the Blackstone grill and get to makin’ some breakfast.

  Lacey: Thanks, Mom. I couldn’t do this without all your and Dad’s help.

  Rita: Family doesn’t abandon family. Now get moving, you already said you were late.

  I suck in a full breath and hold it for a couple of seconds before blowing it all the way out. When my emotions threaten to overpower me, my therapist gave me that as a coping mechanism, and it works wonders to help me refocus and move forward.

  I smear some butter on the toast before sprinkling the cinnamon-sugar on top. It isn’t the healthiest thing, but it will tide them over for the car ride.

  “Are you guys ready?” I call out. Both kids are near the door, attempting to get their shoes on. Benji is five and Hope is four, so they sometimes have trouble, especially if they want to wear their tie shoes.

  “All done, Mommy,” Benji states proudly as he stands up and shows off his fully dressed state.

  “Looking sharp. Here’s some toast until you get to Grandma’s and Grandpa’s.” I hand him the slice. “Now, go get in the van, and I’ll be right behind you once I get Hope’s shoes on,” I tell him as I help my daughter slip her feet inside.

  I get both kids into the car and buckled in. Thankfully, Sweet Valley isn’t that big of a town, so it takes me just under ten minutes to pull into my parents’ driveway. My mom is standing out on the wrap-around porch waiting on us. She comes down the steps and is at the passenger door by the time I shift into park.

  “Grandma!” Hope greets her with cinnamon-sugar smeared all over her face.

  “How’s my sweet girl this morning?” she asks her as she unbuckles her five-point harness.

  “I’s ready to play,” she states.

  “Well, that’s good because, after breakfast, we’re going to the park,” my mom tells her.

  “Where’s Grandpa?” Benjamin asks her as he hops out.

  “He’s out back cooking breakfast on the grill. Making some pancakes and bacon.”

  “Yes!” Benjamin cheers as he takes off for the back of the house.

  “Bye, Mommy loves you,” I call after his retreating back. I guess I’m chopped liver today.

  “You’d better get out of here; don’t want you to be any later than you already are,” my mom reminds me.

/>   “Oh, crap,” I say and look at the clock. “I’ll call you when I’m leaving the shop. I have no idea how late it will be since the install of the first oven is today.”

  “No worries, I’ll plan on the three of you being here for dinner so you don’t have to stress over it tonight.”

  “Thanks, Mom. I really appreciate it,” I tell her before she walks back up the path to the porch, Hope’s hand in hers. I find myself watching them for another few seconds before I put the car in reverse and back out.

  2

  GARRETT

  I grab the work order in my box and look it over. A new commercial oven install in a bakery in a small town about forty-five miles away.

  I go in search of the oven so I can find the install instructions. I need to make sure I have all the required tools and accessories, especially since I won’t be near the shop.

  “Need help getting this loaded up?” Paul, one of the warehouse managers, asks.

  “That’d be great. I’ll go back my truck up to the loading dock, now,” I tell him as I jog out of the warehouse to do just that.

  As soon as I drop the tailgate and back into place, he slides up with the oven on a pallet lift and sets it in the back like a well-oiled machine. I toss the additional materials in the back before we add some tie-down straps around the unit to secure it for the drive.

  “Do you know if we have anyone extra around today I can take with me for this install?”

  “I can come with you,” he offers.

  “If you’re sure. I just know getting this thing into place will be much easier with a second set of hands.”

  “Absolutely, let me just go let the office know I’ll be gone, and then we can hit the road.”

  While I wait on Paul to come back, I get the GPS set up with the bakery’s address.

  “I’m all yours for today,” he states as he hops in the truck.

  “Thanks,” I tell him as we pull out of the parking lot. It doesn’t take long until we’re on the highway and rolling down the open road.

  “How’re things going?” he asks, making small talk.

  “Can’t complain, mostly just work and hanging out with family during the off time. My sister, Miranda, had a baby a few weeks ago, so I’ve been going over to see them a lot. How about you?” I ask.

  “My wife, Amy, is due in just a couple of weeks with our first baby, a boy.” He beams.

  “Congratulations, man. Have you guys picked out a name for him yet?”

  “We’ve got a shortlist, but she wants to meet him first before we settle on one.”

  “That’s cool, make sure his name fits him.”

  “Something like that. I’m still not sure how we’re going to know that in just a few minutes or hours, but she’s the boss.”

  “What’s the saying; a happy wife is a happy life?” I ask.

  “Sure is,” he agrees. “You thought of settling down anytime soon?”

  “Yeah, just need the right woman to crash her way into my life, but it’s definitely something I’m ready for. With my sister settling down and getting married and having kids, I see how happy she is, and I’d really like our kids to be somewhat the same age, so I’m feeling the pressure now that she’s got a two-year-old and a newborn.”

  “It will happen when you least expect it to,” Paul says.

  “I’m sure it will. And I’ll be here waiting and ready,” I tell him as the miles pass by.

  We pass the time making small talk and catching up with the small-town gossip. Paul and I went to school together, from kindergarten to our senior year.

  We pull up to the bakery, and thankfully, I find the alley behind the shop empty of delivery trucks. I’m able to back up to a door that’s labeled as Nothing Bundt Dessert.

  “I can run around to the front to let them know we’re here, if you’d like?” Paul offers.

  “That’d be great. While you do, I’ll start getting all the straps off.”

  He takes off around the building and I hop out to do just as I said. A few minutes later, the back door opens, and Paul steps out with a woman who just about takes my breath away. She’s got her hair pulled back in a ponytail that is being held by a hairnet, a T-shirt with the bakery logo, and a pair of jeans. Nothing special, but she’d be beautiful in a paper bag.

  “Lacey, this is Garrett, he’s our install technician. He’ll be in charge today; I’ve just come along to help with the heavy lifting.”

  “Nice to meet you, Garrett,” she greets, offering me her hand to shake and a small smile.

  “Pleasure is mine, ma’am,” I reply as I take her offered hand. The spark of electricity that races up my hand and into my arm is alarming, and she must feel it, too, as she quickly pulls her hand back.

  “I’ll show you inside and give you the quick tour so you know where everything is that you might need access to,” she states. “We only turned on one oven this morning so the one you’re removing wouldn’t be hot and not able to be touched for hours.”

  “I appreciate that.” I chuckle as I follow her inside.

  “We’d like to start with this oven, here.” She points to an old model. “The electrical panel is back this way for you to cut the power to the unit.” She leads me to another small room and points to the box on the wall. “We’ve tried to pull everything we’ll need from the back out already, so we’ll do our best to stay out of your way, but please don’t hesitate to get our attention if you need something. Help yourself to the sink for water, or the fridge has some cold drinks, or we have coffee out front.”

  “I think we’re set,” I tell her before I head back out to the truck to grab my tool kit. The first thing we have to do is get the old unit out.

  “Do you have a second wrench?” Paul asks as I get everything pulled out.

  “Sure do, here you go.” I hand him the tool and we each tackle a side of the unit. It has to be unbolted from the cabinet it sits in, which goes by fairly fast with a helper. We have the oven unhooked and outside in an hour. By myself, this would have easily taken two hours.

  With the unit out of the way, I pull out the wiring kit for the new one and start installing that because it goes behind the unit.

  “How’s it going in here?” Lacey asks as she comes up behind me. A sweet scent follows her and makes my mouth water. It must be all the sugar and vanilla in the air from the sweets they make here.

  “No issues, yet, just getting this part installed and then we can get the new unit in here. We should be up and running in just a few more hours.”

  “Wow,” she whispers, “I can’t wait until we can use this tomorrow.”

  “I’m sure it will be a lot more efficient than the old one I pulled out. How old was that thing?”

  “Oh gosh, probably at least thirty years old.”

  “I can assure you you’ll love this one, then. I installed some in another bakery a few months ago and I stop in often to grab stuff and they rave about them to me.”

  “That’s what I like to hear. I was nervous about replacing them, due to the cost, but Nathan insisted on it.”

  I don’t know why, but another man’s name falling from her lips has my blood boiling. Who the hell is Nathan? I don’t see a ring on her finger, but that doesn’t mean anything. She’s a baker, maybe she removes her ring so it doesn’t get in things she’s baking.

  “I’ll let you know once we have it in and you can come to check it out,” I state curtly, and turn back to focusing on the wiring kit.

  “Thanks,” she says before turning on her heel and floating back out of the kitchen.

  “Yo, dude, what just came over you. You went from being a southern gentleman to being a dick in the blink of an eye,” Paul calls me out.

  “Nothing,” I grunt. “Just need to focus on this,” I lie to him. I know damn well what happened, I just don’t want to admit it out loud.

  I finish up the wiring and we get the oven off the truck. It has a lot of packing material, so we strip all of that off before manhandl
ing it inside. I get the wires connected to the back and verify that the unit will turn on before we lift it and start getting it secured into place. I only made that mistake once. Got a unit fully secured into place, only to realize something got crossed and it wouldn’t turn on, so I had to remove it and fix the wiring problem and redo all that work.

  “Do you want me to grab Lacey?” Paul asks once we verify that the oven is working properly.

  “Sure, and in the meantime, I’ll get all the packing materials cleaned up.” He turns to walk toward the door that swings open to the front of the bakery. If the smells from back here are any indication as to how good the items they make and sell here are, I’m going to have to visit the front and get something. My stomach has been grumbling since I got here. Sweets are my weakness, so I do my best to stay away from bakeries.

  “Are you already done?” Lacey asks as she approaches. I turn to face her and am once again knocked on my heels by her.

  “It was a piece of cake.” I smirk at the pun, and love the smile that I get in return.

  “Eek,” she squeals, and claps her hands together in excitement. “Anything special we need to know about operating it?” she asks.

  “Nothing special that I can think of. I’ve set all the paperwork for it over there.” I motion to the edge of a work table. “I’ve power cycled it on and off and everything is working properly. Being that it is a new machine, and a lot more efficient than your old one, you may need to adjust your baking times.”

  “I figured; we’ll keep a close eye on things over the next few days as we break it in. It will be so nice once we get the second one in here.”