"Leyland is fine."

"Only if I want my mother giving me the evil eye," Charlotte replied, with a smile. "And trust me, none of us want that."

Lani's father smiled and nodded. "So noted." He turned to his daughter. "You have your hands full here, and I think I have the preliminaries of what I needed from Bernie there, so I'll be heading out. Tell Mr. Dunne I'll need to speak to him or Rosemary at some point."

Lani frowned. "Rosemary?"

"His producer," Charlotte and Lani's father answered at the same time.

"I spoke with her earlier," he said.

"I only know because one of my co-workers is dating her assistant." Brenton Charlotte mouthed in an aside to Lani.

"Right." Lani smiled brightly at her father and spoke before any follow-up questions could be asked. "Okay, so no worries. I'll pass the word."

"Pleasure to see you again, Sheriff," Charlotte said, neatly ending any further discussion and earning an arm squeeze of thanks from Lani.

He nodded, but didn't waste time exiting the room. "I'll lock up the front again, no need to follow me out," he called as the kitchen door swung shut behind him.

"Is Brenton here?" Lani asked Charlotte.

She shook her head. "Franco would have packed himself in my luggage to get down here if that were the case."

"Oh, sure, sure. He'd leave New York for a man, but not for me."

"Duh." Which, from Charlotte, had them both laughing. "Brenton is on postproduction of the season starting to air this week, so he's still in the city. Franco promised to give us an immediate heads-up if he hears anything we should know."

"We're all done here," Dre said, pulling Lani's attention back to the more immediate project of the moment.

She turned to find that Alva and Dre were sealing up the final box of molten cakes.

Charlotte stepped over to the table and examined them more closely, but without picking one up. "They look sinful." She glanced at Lani. "Will you share?"

"Do you play poker?" Alva asked her.

Charlotte smiled. "I'm afraid not. But if you have a mahjongg team, I'm your girl."

Alva's smile turned decidedly more speculative. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Dre, can you help Alva get the boxes out to her car?"

"Sure thing." Dre glanced between Lani and Charlotte. "Should I take off then?"

"Uh ..." Lani looked at Charlotte, then over to Bernard. "I'm not really sure what all is going to happen next in terms of setting up for filming, but I know I'm definitely going to need you. Can you e-mail me your class schedule for the next two weeks? Then I'll send you dates and times I'd really like your help and we'll hammer it out from there. Sound good?"

"That works."

"And I promise you'll get the introduction."

Dre's smile was usually more of a sardonic quirk of the lips, but she actually flashed teeth. "That works, too." She had an actual spring in her step as she went to help Alva.

Charlotte leaned in to Lani. "Hot Cakes crush?" she murmured under her breath.

"Oh yeah," Lani murmured back.

"Happens to the best of them." Charlotte sighed, then added a sideways glance at Lani and a sly smile.

"And to think I offered you a bed."

"I know," Charlotte said, entirely unrepentant. "Good thing for me I make a most excellent bake therapist. And I don't charge extra for after-hours calls. I even bring my own chocolate."

"You didn't."

"Oh, I believe I did."

"From Frustat's? On Seventh?"

Charlotte nodded.

Lani hugged her again. She might have squealed a little. Alva popped her head back inside. "Pleasure to meet you, Miss Charlotte. Lani May, you and your friend are welcome to drop in anytime over at Laura Jo's tonight." Her smile took on a decided twinkle. "Feel free to bring any other pastry chefs you might know along as well."

"Thank you, Alva. I think I'm going to be tied up here a good part of tonight, but I appreciate the invite. You'll have to let me know how the cupcakes go over."

"Oh, you'll hear all about it," she assured them. "It's going to be the lead in my first column."

Lani's eyes widened. "You finally won Dwight over?" Then they narrowed. "Wait, you didn't tell him you had an exclusive with Baxter did you? Because you know I can't promise-"

"My dear, I've already taken care of that on my own. Chef Dunne is a gentleman who keeps his word. Our dinner is scheduled later this week."

Really? Lani wanted to ask about a dozen follow-up questions to that, but since she'd told Baxter she'd do his show but to stay out of the rest of her life, it was hardly any of her business what else he did while he was on the island. "That's ... great!" She almost managed to sound sincere. "I'm glad you worked it out. I'm surprised you're not leading with the interview as your first column."

"Have to strike while the iron is hot, dear. His schedule ties him up for the next couple nights and tonight's poker action promises to strike a lot of hot iron, if you know what I mean." Alva's smile widened, and that twinkly gleam took on a decidedly wicked light. "Molten hot, I believe."

"This is true." Lani was amused, even though she knew she shouldn't encourage Shark Betty in any way.

"You just wait until tomorrow's edition comes out! They'll still be talking about it by the following edition, which is when I'll spring my Chef Hot Cakes article on 'em."

"That should keep things interesting."

"Oh, I should think you'll be doing enough of that all by yourself, dear." Alva wiggled her eyebrows. Before Lani could even react to that, Alva popped out the back door, closing it behind her with a final click.

"I see what you mean," Charlotte said, staring at the closed back door.

"It's one of those things you have to experience to understand."

"Absolutely," Charlotte agreed. "You do realize she's going to write about you and Baxter in this column of hers, don't you? Do you think that's why she's suddenly become your happy helper?"

"I wouldn't put it past her, except on both occasions she was all about the whole poker tournament scandal. But it might have occurred to her since then."

"What are you going to do about it?"

"Nothing."

Charlotte shifted a surprised gaze to Lani. "Really?"

"First of all, you've met her. Do you really think I could stop her? Besides, she's actually been really helpful."

Charlotte considered that and nodded. "There's that whole 'keep your enemies closer' thing."

"She's not my enemy." Lani smiled. "But you have a point."

"Miss Trusdale?"

Charlotte and Lani both whirled around at the sound of Bernard's voice. Lani had completely forgotten he was still there. "Yes?"

"I just got a call from Baxter. He's stuck in a production meeting with our producer and director. We're not going to set up until tomorrow."

"I'm open for business tomorrow."

"Right." Bernard looked distinctly uncomfortable for the first time. "About that-"

"Bernard-" Lani started, her tone a clear warning.

He immediately got twice as blinky and held up his clipboard like a shield.

She felt like she'd kicked a puppy. A near-sighted puppy. She sighed. "Okay, okay. But I need to talk to Baxter. Sooner than later."

Bernard seemed to breathe a small sigh of relief. "Good. He asked if he could drop by your home after they wind things up." At her raised brow, he talked faster. "To go over the production schedule, and ... anything else you need to know. I'm sure that's what he's doing right now, getting all the answers and information so he can brief you on-"

"It's fine, Bernard." Lani decided there wasn't any pleasure to be had in picking on the messenger. Besides, if Baxter had any ulterior motive in meeting on her home turf-and duh, of course he did-little did he know she had her own secret weapon cake tonight. She slid her arm more tightly through Charlotte's and smiled. "Tell him that's fine."

An hour later Lani and Charlotte had cleaned up and closed the kitchen and Lani was giving her best friend a tour of the front of the shop. Charlotte was the first person from her former life, well, other than Baxter, to get a glimpse of her new one. Of all the people from the big city chapter of her life, Baxter included, Charlotte was the only one whose opinion truly mattered.

Turning slowly, she took in the glistening vintage glass-and-chrome display cabinets that ran in an L-shaped pattern along one side wall, then wrapped around to extend the width of the shop. Her turn finally stopped at the pale blue wood shelves lining the wall behind the register. Each one was filled with an eclectic mix of antique baking implements and vintage cookbooks, all interspersed with whimsical figurines and collectibles relating in some way to the various aprons Lani wore. "You know, I wouldn't have pictured this for you. Not for New York you." Charlotte turned and looked at Lani. "But somehow ... with you standing there, beaming with pride like the mother of a newborn she thinks is an adorable little angel ... you know, this really suits you."

Lani beamed, every bit as proud as that fictional mother. "Thank you. That means more than you could possibly know."

Charlotte smiled. "Oh, I know. You don't owe me an I-told-you-so for the honesty."

"Deal." Lani grinned. "Does it make you think differently about wanting your own place?"

"Not in the least."

They laughed at that. During all the times Lani had waxed rhapsodic about running her own place, Charlotte had listened, but shuddered at the thought on a personal level. She claimed she wasn't cut out for management, not even if she was the big boss. Especially if she was the big boss. Considering how bossy she usually was, the idea was a constant source of amusement to Lani.

"I want to be able to leave work at work."

"I do that here," Lani said, which was sort of true. She did live, breathe and literally eat her shop a good part of the time, but mostly that was her own enthusiasm, along with a healthy dose of anxiety about wanting to see it succeed.

"The key word being here," Charlotte said. "The shop suits you, but, I have to say, I still can't figure out the allure of the location. Personally or professionally."

"Maybe it's precisely because here is where I can have a life."

Charlotte looked at her as if she couldn't fathom what kind of life one would have there that would be worth living, but both were smiling. It was why she loved Charlotte best. They didn't have to see eye to eye or agree on everything to still be each other's best support.

"I'm really glad you're here," Lani told her.

Charlotte's smile widened. "Location and godforsaken drive notwithstanding, I am, too."

Lani flipped the lights off and they headed to the back, switching off lights as they went. "I can't believe you drove down here. I didn't even know you had a driver's license."

Charlotte slid her a glance. "Who says that I do?"

Lani's mouth dropped open, but Charlotte just laughed. "I grew up in New Delhi, remember? Your American roads are mere child's play to me."

Lani laughed. "Still, I can't imagine you behind the wheel. And definitely not for that many hours straight." They exited out the back door of the shop, laughing as Lani shut, then locked, the door behind them. She turned and plowed directly into Charlotte's back. They grabbed the porch handrail at the same time as Lani whispered, "Holy Mother of-"

She gawked at the three mammoth white trailers parked behind her shop, filling up not only her parking area, but that of the entire block of shops. Her mouth snapped shut as she spied Baxter, hopping down from the steps leading out of the middle trailer.

He offered her his most endearing smile. "I can explain."

Chapter 8.

Baxter crossed the narrow space left between the trailer steps and the rear entrance to Leilani's shop. Only then did he realize who had exited the shop with her. "Charlotte?"

"Chef," she replied politely, but otherwise showing no emotion.

Lani hid her wry smile, but not quickly enough. Chef was a title of position and respect. Normally.

Baxter nodded. "Chef Bhandari," he responded with a smile.

"Play nice," Lani warned them both.

Baxter's smile grew. He actually liked and respected Charlotte. And he understood where the cool response was coming from. He could only imagine the earful Charlotte must have been getting about him from her friend. She was simply showing solidarity. He envied them the strong personal bond.

So it surprised him when she turned to Lani and said, "It's been a long drive, long day. I'll head to your place and leave you two to discuss ... things."

She'd left her natural habitat to come all the way down to the wilds of Georgia to support her best friend ... but wasn't averse to said friend fraternizing with the enemy. Interesting. Unless, of course, there was something new he didn't know about in the "discuss things" column.

Doubly wary, he started to speak, but Lani spoke first.

"Let me take you over, get you settled in." Lani said to Charlotte, not sparing him a glance. "You've had a long day and I'm certain whatever Baxter needs to discuss with me regarding his super-secret production schedule can be shifted to accommodate my far less important one."