"We're closed for two days for kitchen cleaning, and I'm staying here for some work. I've got some cupcakes to decorate," she explained as she pointed towards the cakes on the work table. "They're almost done, though. Hello! Cupcake's anniversary will be soon. I'm trying to develop a few special cupcake flavors for that day."
Ryan watched as Violet cooped some batter and poured them into the frying pan. The batter let out a small sizzle. "Let me help you with that," Ryan offered, pointing towards the frying pan.
Violet raised a brow. "You wanted to flip the pancake? Really? Can you do that?"
"Of course I can." Ryan scoffed. "Don't look down on me.
"Okay," Violet handed him the frying pan. "Go ahead." She took a few steps backward and joined Lily at the table. The two girls watched Ryan flip the pancakes into the air and clapped their hands. "Wow! You're good! Where did you learn to flip like that?"
"Thank you, ladies," Ryan said with a smug smile on his face. "My sisters taught me how to cook when I was younger. This skill was quite useful when I had to live far away to study."
Ten minutes later, Ryan and Lily were sitting in the kitchen. Lily was sitting on top of the work table; Ryan had lifted a chair from the dining area into the kitchen, while Violet went back to work on her cupcakes.
Once he finished his meal, Ryan stood up and walked around the kitchen. He paused and squinted towards a few recipes plastered on the wall. "Death by chocolate cupcakes," he read. "Cherry Bomb?" Then he looked at Violet with a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Wow! You really do have the intention to kill people with your cupcakes."
Violet laughed. "Stop saying things like that. You're going to ruin my business. People are going to think that I'm poisoning my cupcakes."
Ryan walked towards Violet and peeked at the cupcake behind her shoulder. He could trace a mix of vanilla and honey scent from her hair. She probably got that vanilla scent from baking the cakes, and those honey scent might come from the pancakes. Whatever it was, the scent was intoxicating him.
Then he recalled his conversation with his younger sister, Marina last night. She told him that he should think of his feelings for Violet. Time is running out and soon, they will have to part ways and pretend to be strangers.
"Hey," Ryan called.
"Yes?"
"Uh," he paused and swallowed. He felt like there was a lump in his throat. Suddenly, he did not know how he should talk to Violet.
His heart was pounding fast as he looked at Violet. This was a feeling that he was unfamiliar with. But recently, Ryan realized that this feeling would appear each time he spent time with Violet.
Violet chuckled when she saw the look on Ryan's face. The man seemed to have something he wanted to say to her. But other than staring at her, Ryan had not done anything else. "What's wrong with you?"
"I–I just…" Ryan stuttered.
What was he going to say again?
Telling Violet that his feelings had started to change was not appropriate, right?
He suddenly recalled their agreement.
In the beginning, they agreed that they wouldn't fall for each other or else, they might have to pay a penalty.. Who was the person who suggested this term? Was that him?
Violet put her piping bag into the bowl as she waited for Ryan to continue. "What? What is it? Just tell me."
Too many thoughts ran into his mind. Ryan felt as if he was going to lose his mind.
"I'm hungry," Ryan said abruptly. A sigh escaped his lips. It was not known if it was from relief or disappointment that he failed to say what he had in mind.
"You're hungry?" Violet laughed. "You had three pieces of blueberry pancakes and you're still hungry?"
"I guess." Ryan silently cursed himself for not being able to think of any other excuse.
What happened to him?
He was not like this in the past.
"Wow!" She glanced at the clock and noticed that it was almost lunchtime. Violet put her hand on her hips and gave it a thought for seconds. "Perhaps we should order a takeout," she suggested. "What do you want?"
"Anything's fine."
"Anything?" She nodded. "Alright, then. Just hold on a second. I should ask Abby what she wanted for lunch too." She said before she disappeared behind the door.
"I'm an idiot," Ryan muttered. "God, Ryan, why can't you think of anything else other than 'I'm hungry'? What is wrong with you?" He looked at his niece, rumpled his hair in frustration, and groaned. "Your uncle is an idiot."
"Idiot!" Lily repeated.
"No. Please don't tell your mother that you picked that up from me. Or she's going to kill me."
Lily nodded. "Okay. I promise that I won't tell my mom."
Ryan patted his niece on her head. "You're a good girl."
"Uncle Ryan," Lily called out softly.
"Yes, Lily?"
"What do you think of Aunty Violet?" the little girl asked. "Do you think she's hot?"
Ryan turned to Lily abruptly. "What?" He chuckled. "Lily, where did you learn to talk like that?"
"I heard Mommy and Auntie Marina say something like that.."
Ryan cursed under his breath. He can't believe that his sisters would be too careless. How can they spout nonsense in front of the little girl?
His mouth opened and closed as he was trying to find the right way to answer his niece's question. His phone rang just in time.
Ryan took out his phone from his pocket and saw Marina's name on the caller ID.
"How's your date going on?" Marina chirped as the line connected.
"What date?"
"Aren't you on a date with Violet in her bakery?" Marina reminded him.
Ryan made a silent assessment. "Wait, how did you know..."
"I asked Hannah to cooperate with me," she cut him off. "I told her that you were considering your relationship with Violet. Hannah suggested that we use Lily and create an excuse for you to spend a little bit more time with her."
"You what?" Ryan looked at his niece in disbelief.
"I know," Marina said with a giggle. "You can thank me later."
Ryan swallowed. "What did you tell Hannah? You didn't tell Hannah about that... Did you?"