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He slides the seat back before folding himself behind the wheel. He’s still a large man, even for a delivery truck. I climb into the passenger seat and buckle up while he turns the key. The engine struggles, then quits.
"That," I say, staring through the windshield. "That’s what she does."
He tries again, and this time it catches. For a few seconds, we both listen to the uneven sound before he looks at me. "Does it happen when she’s warm too?"
"Sometimes. Mostly first thing in the morning."
He nods, then checks the mirrors. "Which way?"
I point toward the garage exit. "Take a right when you get out." I’m relieved he starts with where we’re going instead of a list of expensive things that might be wrong with her.
At the first café, Wolf parks in the loading spot I show him and carries the empty order boxes around to the back. I wash my hands at the truck’s sink and start filling them from the trays, checking quantities against the order on my phone. He stays out of my way until I put the lids on.
"These two?" he asks, resting a hand beside the finished boxes.
"Yes. Take them to the back door. Ask for Megan."
He lifts them and heads across the small lot while I start putting together the next stop’s order. Having someone else carry the boxes means I can get ahead instead of stopping halfway through to make two trips inside. I don’t want to admit how much that helps.
When he comes back, he has an empty reusable carrier in one hand. "Megan says thank you. And she asked if you’re doing lemon cheesecake again next week."
"Hopefully." I take the carrier. "I’ll confirm when I send the menu."
"She also wants to know why she didn’t get her usual invoice."
"Because I canceled yesterday’s delivery. Today’s is on me." I glance toward the door. "Give me a second."
Megan meets me before I get inside. "You can’t give away a whole order, Baylor."
"I didn’t give you much warning yesterday."
"Your ceiling fell in. You’re allowed a day." She puts her hands on her hips. "Send the invoice. And put me down for lemon next week if you have somewhere to make it."
"I’m working on that."
"I know. You showed up with cupcakes. Go finish the rest of your deliveries."
I promise to send the invoice, then get back in the truck. Wolf turns the key once I’m buckled in. This time, Sprinkles starts on the first try.
"Good customer," he says.
"The best. She sends me half her friends."
"Good business too."
I look at him.
"You came back today," he says. "She noticed."
I check the order on my phone because I don’t know what to say to that.
Three more deliveries later that go off without a hitch, and now I’m really glad he offered. I couldn't have gotten this done this fast without him driving.
"One stop left. Left at the next light."
I’m almost offended that Sprinkles is behaving for him. Even my delivery truck has a crush on Wolf Ziegler.
At the café, I have the order ready by the time he parks. His phone lights up on the console with a message about meeting at the gym, and I look away after catching the first few words.