Page 26 of Deserving Cora
But Ryan didn’t pause or even indicate that she’d heard her. She stayed on her path to what Cora assumed was the kitchen.
She pushed open a door and the smell of freshly baked cookies was strong enough to make Cora’s stomach growl. Loudly.
Ryan beamed. “I know. I swear Robert puts some sort of narcotic in his cookies to keep us coming back for more. I’ve only been here a few months, but I think I’ve put on at least ten pounds.”
“You needed to put some meat on your bones,” an older man said with a grin, entering the kitchen from what she could only assume was a pantry or something. Cora guessed he was in his fifties or sixties.
“Robert.” Ryan smiled wider as she walked toward him. She gave him a hug, then stepped back. “This is Cora,” she said, gesturing as she spoke.
“I know. She tried to win Pipe in that bachelor auction but someone outbid her. Pipe found out why she wanted to win so badly, so he brought her back home to figure out how he and the others could help get her friend away from some asshole who took her to Arizona and won’t let her leave.”
Cora’s mouth fell open as she stared at the chef in disbelief. How the hell did he know all that? She’d only been here about two-point-three seconds.
Ryan nodded, as if she wasn’t surprised in the least. She glanced at Cora and chuckled. “You have to understand, this place is like the smallest small town you’ve ever been in or read about. There aren’t any secrets. Well, hardly any. Anyway, the guys’ll figure things out. You did good in hooking up with Pipe. Robert…are you gonna give us some cookies or what?”
The man smirked. “You want the ones from earlier, or the ones I just took out of the oven?”
“Is that even a question?” Ryan asked.
“Of course it is.” But Robert made no move to show them where the hopefully still-warm cookies were.
Ryan narrowed her eyes and put her hands on her hips. She studied Robert shrewdly. “Did I tell you that I have an inside line to get those Little Debbie Christmas Tree cakes that you like so much…like, all year? I can get them in July if I want them.”
Robert’s eyes widened. “Really? You aren’t just pulling my leg to get the warm cookies, are you?”
Cora’s gaze went back and forth between Ryan and Robert as they bantered.
“I would never lie about Christmas Tree cakes,” Ryan said with a straight face.
“I want in on that,” he demanded.
“AndIwant warm chocolate chip cookies,” she countered.
Robert moved quickly toward a box on one of the counters. He opened it, and Cora realized it must be a warmer of some sort. He pulled out a tray of cookies and set them on the counter, then scooted them toward where Ryan and Cora were standing.
“Mmmmmm, cookies,” Ryan said in delight as she leaned over to inhale the scent of the gooey treat.
“I’m in, right?” Robert asked with a smirk.
“Oh, you’re in,” she agreed as she reached for a cookie. “You’resoin.”
Robert did a weird little dance, then grinned at Cora. “Go on. Since you’re friends with Ryan, you get warm cookies whenever you want too.”
Grinning, Cora picked up a cookie and moaned when she bit into it. Ryan was right, there had to be more than eggs, flour, and chocolate in this cookie, because the second she swallowed, she couldn’t wait to take another bite.
“I’ll set things up so you get a box of Christmas Tree Cakes every week,” Ryan told the chef.
He beamed. “Make it two.”
Ryan’s brow lifted. “Two?”
“Well, I was gonna make it four, but compromised.”
They all burst into laughter—and that was when the kitchen door opened and Alaska, Henley, and Reese entered.
“What’s going on in here? Wait—is that a new batch of cookies?” Alaska asked.
Ryan hunched over the tray on the counter and growled as she did her best to protect them. Cora couldn’t help but giggle at the over-the-top antics of her new acquaintance. Eventually, Ryan stood and slid the tray toward the other women.
