Chapter 158: Waiting For Another Shoe

NORA’S POV

"Four hours is plenty of time," I assured her, though my stomach did a small, nervous flip at the reality of it. "We practiced the entire schedule yesterday. We know the proofing times down to the minute."

"I know, but... Nora, they sent the list of the other five finalists." Mom continued, her voice growing slightly anxious. "Three of them are high-end patisseries from downtown Boston. One of them is L’Étoile... that place owned by Chef Marcel Moreau, the guy who judged the national pastry championship on television last year! Their wedding cakes cost four thousand dollars, Nora. And there’s us from a little brick shop in Oakhaven."

I felt the familiar tug of self-doubt creeping into my throat.

Sugar & Spice was a small-town family bakery without copper pastry stations or celebrity chefs with television contracts. Our bakery ran on my mother’s worn hands, my dad’s thirty-year starter, and faded recipe cards.

Before I could say a word, Knox leaned his head closer to the phone.

"Mrs. Bennett," Knox’s deep voice carried a calm authority that instantly commanded the entire booth.

There was a brief pause on the other end, followed by a startled gasp. "Knox? Is that you, dear?"

"Yes, ma’am," Knox said smoothly, his eyes staying locked on mine. "Don’t worry about television chefs or four-thousand-dollar cakes. High-end Boston shops rely on fancy molds and PR teams. You and Nora have a connection that you share in your dishes. They can’t buy that."

A soft, wet sniffle came through the speaker, followed by a warm, embarrassed chuckle. "Listen to you, sounding just like my Thomas. Thomas always said heart beats money every single day of the week."

"He was right," Knox said. "And you don’t have to worry about travel, either. Bear is driving out to Oakhaven next Friday morning at seven. You get the front seat with the heated cushions."

"Heated cushions?" Mom asked, sounding delighted.

"The best heated cushions in New England, Mrs. Bennett!" Bear hollered right into the phone, grinning from ear to ear. "We’re getting you up that mountain in total comfort."

Mom let out a rich, happy laugh that made my entire chest glow. "You boys are far too good to an old baker. Bear, you make sure you drive safe on those mountain roads, you hear me?"

"Yes, ma’am! Safe and steady, twenty miles an hour around the curves!" Bear promised, giving a mock salute to the phone.

"All right, sweetheart, I need to get back to the oven," Mom said to me. "I have two trays of cinnamon knots to glaze. Call me tonight, okay?"

"I will, Mom. Love you."

"Love you too, honey."

The line went quiet as the call disconnected.

Right at that moment, the waitress returned carrying a massive tray loaded with heavy white plates.

The table erupted into activity. She set down Bear’s overflowing pastrami sandwich, which looked the size of a football, followed by a towering plate of cheese fries and Jake’s bacon burger.

She placed a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup and two golden, buttery turkey melts between Knox and me.

"Eat," Knox said softly, nudging the plate closer to my hands. "You barely had any breakfast."

I picked up half of the turkey melt. The sourdough bread was toasted to a crisp golden crunch, and the smoked turkey, roasted peppers, and melted provolone were warm and savory. I took a big bite, closing my eyes as the warm comfort of good food settled over me.

"See?" Knox murmured, a faint smirk playing on his lips as he watched me eat. "Better than worrying about Boston pastry snobs."

"A lot better," I admitted, taking another bite.

Across the table, Bear was already halfway through his sandwich, groaning in pure happiness between mouthfuls. Jake shook his head, dipping his fries into ketchup while Priya typed out notes on her phone, confirming her train ticket to meet us near the resort next Friday.

For the next forty-five minutes, the booth was filled with easy, comfortable conversation.

We talked about the youth clinic kids, Bear’s ridiculous photos from the charity calendar shoot, and the quiet week ahead on campus. With the compliance inquiry closed and the contract threat dissolved, the suffocating cloud that had hung over us all semester was completely gone.

By one-thirty, we paid the check and stepped back out into the chilly afternoon.

Knox drove Priya back to North Hall, dropping her off right in front of the brick archway. Then he swung by the athletic complex so Bear and Jake could hit the team weight room for an afternoon lift.

When the truck doors clicked shut behind them, the cab became entirely still.

The engine rumbled softly in the quiet parking lot. Outside, a light flurry of early winter snowflakes drifted lazily past the windshield, melting as soon as they touched the warm glass.

Knox shifted the truck into park and left the engine idling. Turning in his seat, he rested his forearm across the steering wheel as he looked over at me.

"You’ve been quiet since the phone call with your mom," he said.

"I’m just thinking," I said, looking down at my hands resting in my lap. "About how crazy this month has been. Three weeks ago, I was counting every dollar for tuition, terrified that my fellowship would fall through. Now the tuition is paid, the contract is dead, and we’re heading to a luxury mountain resort to bake for fifty thousand dollars."

I looked up, meeting his calm gray eyes.

"It almost feels too good to be true. Like I’m waiting for another shoe to drop."

Knox reached across the console, his fingers sliding between mine and squeezing tight.

"No more shoes, Bennett," Knox said, his voice entirely steady. "You earned every bit of this. You worked your ass off, and you stood toe-to-toe with Vanessa Orwell without flinching. Sugar & Spice belongs in that showcase."

He leaned closer across the center console, his other hand coming up to gently cup the side of my jaw.

"And as for tonight," Knox murmured, his thumb brushing over my lower lip, making my breath hitch. "The clinic is done. The boys are in the gym. My schedule is wide open until Monday morning skate."

"What are your plans, Captain?" I asked, a small smile teasing the corner of my mouth as my heart began to thud a little faster.

"First, I’m taking you back to North Hall so you can take a hot shower and ditch the winter boots," Knox replied. "Then I’m picking you up at six. No diners, no campus dining halls, and no study binders. Just dinner, and then you’re coming back to the SinBin with me."

Heat flared pleasantly under my skin, spreading straight to my chest.

"Is that an order?" I whispered.

Knox leaned down and brushed his lips softly against mine, lingering just long enough to steal the air from my lungs before pulling back with a slow, wicked grin.

"It’s a promise, Bookworm."