Page 268 of A Taste of Vanilla

I open the back of the frame, pulling out the paper before placing it in Oliver’s folder.

“Okay, menu,” I say.

Marley straightens.

“We need something more interesting. Our menu was boring.” I think for a second, my toe tapping on the ground. “How about a brown butter salted caramel latte with banana cold foam?”

Marley thinks, the bottom of her pen between her teeth. “It kind of sounds like a heart attack, but I mean… a delicious one.”

I snap my fingers. “The banana cold foam will have vanilla bean paste in it. Then maybe a coconut mocha cold brew?”

Oliver makes a grumbly sound, but then goes, “That actually sounds kind of good.”

Marley gasps. “A latte flight.”

I gasp back. “You’re a genius.”

“Coconut Bloom latte, toasted coconut mocha, coconut caramel cold brew. Maybe a hot version for grumpy men who hate fun.”

“I want to finally make my D&D cookies,” I tell her, and she types it with a nod. “Shortbread tiles with different kingdom sections.”

“How about the Baltimore Vipers game-night specials?” Marley asks.

Oliver’s head snaps up. “Absolutely not.”

“Yes,” I say with a snap of my fingers.

“No sports.”

“The Vipers already come to your bar.”

“Against my wishes.”

“They buy drinks. That makes you money.”

“I resent that money.”

“My twists sold.”

“I haven’t known peace since. They keep asking for them.”

“We can do game-night boxes. All the things they like and maybe cold brew cans. We can call it something like the Seventh-Inning Stretch.” I sit back, pleased with myself.

“That’s baseball,” Oliver hisses.

“Correct.”

“This is a bakery.”

“And you’ve turned into a sports bar.”

Marley types so fast I worry about her fingers.

Oliver ignores me.

“We can partner with a couple of players who like posting,” Marley says. “Nothing formal yet. Just organic. Maybe one more tasting night.”

“At Saints & Sinners?” I ask.