The Novel Baker Novels & Stories

The rhythm of her feet pounding against the pavement became almost meditative. As she neared the end of her route, Emiliana noticed a small bakery that she had never seen before. She decided to pop in and grab a coffee to go. As she stepped inside, she was hit with the scent of freshly baked bread and pastries. The bakery was quaint, with exposed brick walls and a large counter displaying all sorts of delicious treats. Emiliana ordered a coffee and a croissant, then turned to leave. As she walked out of the bakery, she heard someone call her name. She turned around to see Jace standing there, a duffel bag slung over his shoulder.

She worked nights at a bar downtown and always looked half asleep during the day, but her eyes were sharp and kind. “Thanks,” I said dryly, lowering Caleb to the floor. “That’s exactly what I needed to hear.” She shrugged, grinning. “I call it like I see it. What happened?” “The bakery,” I said quietly. “It burned down.” Serena’s smile faded. “What? Oh my god, are you serious?” I nodded and sank onto the couch. “It’s gone. Completely. Mr. Whitaker said it started in the back oven. Electrical issue, maybe.”

MAVERICK I was hard as a rock. I couldn’t think. Couldn’t focus because my mind was on Iris. I craved her wet heat and I needed to be inside her. Right now. I adjusted my cock in my pants. The baker, whose name I’d never really learned, came out to meet me, a nervous smile on her face as her eyes darted around as if she was looking for Iris. “She had to leave…” I said, rising to my feet. “Emergency.”

Reunite me with Nori? I ran to the door and edged it open. “What?” “I’d like to discuss the matter further with you. Preferably out of the sweltering heat. May I come in?” I glanced back at the pills on the table. Shit. “Give me a moment.” I shut the door without waiting for a response and grabbed a towel from the kitchen. I haphazardly swiped the pills into the towel and disposed of them and the wine. A few moments later, Jonathan Baker, crooked lawyer to baby snatcher Anthony Powell, sat at my kitchen table. He opened his luxury briefcase. My lips turned down as I wondered how much it cost. It was probably worth a few months’ rent.

a familiar voice drawled, “you got lost and stumbled in here looking for more romcoms.” I turned sharply to see Enzo leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, his eyes flicking to the books in my hands. He didn’t even try to hide the smirk spreading across his face. “They’re not romcoms,” I said defensively. He pushed off the doorway and strolled closer, plucking the top book off my stack without asking. His brow arched as he glanced at the cover. “Right. And this one about two rival bakers falling in love is clearly a political thriller.”

I got to the bakery area and put on my apron and head wrap. Focus... don't think about him... Focus. I took a deep breath and started measuring the flour. Just a few minutes into baking, Felicia walked inside with her voice loud enough for me to hear. "Guys, you won't believe what just happened! I saw that biker guy and his girlfriend across the road." My heart skipped a beat and I paused. "What biker guy?" Julia asked. "Don't you remember the one we assume has a thing for Lena?" Gabi answered before Felicia could.

Every time the oven breathed, June caught a blast of hot wind that dried out her skin until it felt like old parchment. “The name!” Dante yelled. He had to—nobody could hear anything over the fire. He pointed at the living book in June’s arms. “June, check the name again! That can’t be right!” She looked down. The name glowed on the wooden pages, soft but steady. She knew that name. It was there at the very start, the first day everything turned into this nightmare. The Auditor. “He’s supposed to be dead,” June whispered. The gold light made her squint. “But he’s not. He’s inside the oven. He’s the New Baker.”

“Sarah, dear. How’s the first week of school?” “Exhausting. And filled with plot twists I didn’t see coming.” She chuckled, wiping her hands on her apron. “That’s senior year for you. Always leaves you with something memorable.” I stepped forward and brushed a light kiss against her flour-scented cheek. Then I turned to Baker and kissed his cheek as well. He hadn’t noticed me at all with his noise-canceling headphones on; only when my breath neared did he twitch slightly. In response, he bumped his shoulder gently against mine, though his gaze never left the delicate pink macaron he was finishing. Baker is a wonderful person—one of my closest friends. If he weren’t so resolutely attracted to

Baker the nastiest of glares. “I hope you’re right. Either way, it’s a good idea to keep that one on a short leash, or any leash!” She gave Bruiser a wary look as she played with the pears on her necklace. “I’d hate to see someone get hurt because of a mutt.” As she spoke, her tone turned bitter, and she returned Bruiser’s glare. In a blink of an eye, Mrs. Baker turned to Gail and gave her a bright smile. “Well, I was coming over to ask you for a cup of sugar, as cliché as that sounds. My boys are out of town or too busy with work to stop by the store for me and I have a hankering for my special double chocolate fudge cake.”