Page 6 of His Determined Mate

"Right here, please," Hannah said, directing him to a spot near the counter. She signed for the delivery and opened the box to reveal a stack of brand-new menus, their covers adorned with a beautiful illustration of the northern lights. She smiled, feeling a thrill of excitement. These little details would help set her bakery apart.

As the day wore on, Hannah faced one challenge after another. A shipment of flour arrived late, causing a brief panic in the kitchen. The electrical system decided to short out, plunging the bakery into darkness until an emergency call to the electrician fixed the problem. Through it all, Hannah remained focused, tackling each issue with determination.

Hannah was kneading dough when the bakery door jingled. She looked up, surprised to see Rick standing there, his usual gruff demeanor softened by an uncertain expression. His broad shoulders filled the doorway, and for a moment, he looked almost vulnerable.

"Rick," she said, wiping her hands on her apron. "What brings you here?"

He hesitated, his gaze flickering around the room before settling on her. "I wanted to apologize for the other day. I was out of line, and I feel bad about it. Thought maybe I could help out, if you need an extra pair of hands."

Hannah blinked in surprise. She hadn't expected this from Rick, of all people. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, and it made her wonder if perhaps she had misjudged him. "I appreciate that. I may have overreacted a bit myself. How about we both chalk it up to a bad day.”

“That’s awfully generous.”

She grinned. “I know. There's a lot to do before the festival. I could use the help."

Rick chuckled as he stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "Where do you want me to start?"

“How about helping me with the painting? I can get most of it myself, but having to get a ladder for the tall stuff really slows me down.”

“I get that. Why don’t you let me do the cutting in instead of using tape? That will also speed things along.”

“Sounds great. Thanks.”

They worked side by side, Rick sort of taking command and assigning her the easier tasks. She might have objected except for two things: he was a really good painter and knew what he was doing, and it was nice just to let somebody else take the lead for once. She realized after she’d moved up to Alaska that not once in her whole marriage had she not had to be in charge and run the show. Left to his own devices, Teddy would either take the easy way, pay someone else to do it for him, or just leave it undone, knowing ‘Hannah would do it.’

Rick was quick and showed a surprisingly deft touch with a paintbrush. As they worked, the silence between them gradually gave way to conversation.

"So, what made you want to open a bakery here in Kodiak?" Rick asked, genuine curiosity in his voice.

Hannah smiled, recalling her journey. "I've always loved baking. It's my passion. And when my marriage ended…”

“I’m sorry.”

She looked up at him surprised. “Why? I’m not. I suppose that sounds awful, doesn’t it?”

“Was he a nice guy?”

“In retrospect? No. As part of the divorce settlement he got to claim half of everything I make in the next ten years from my graphic arts business.”

Rick laughed. “So, you came to Alaska to open a bakery. Good for you.”

She grinned. “We visited Kodiak on a cruise a couple of years ago…”

“Oh, please tell me he was the jackass that fell off the dock.”

It was her turn to laugh. “One and the same. Anyway, I just fell in love with it, and when I heard there was a bakery for sale, I jumped at the opportunity.”

Rick looked around. “You’ve done wonders with the place, but my guess is nobody told you how bad it was.”

“Not even close, but with Nicole’s help, introductions, connections, and the like, I think it’s all going to be okay. Sometimes I think you have to get through the hard stuff to get to where you’re supposed to be.”

Rick stopped painting for a moment. “I agree with you wholeheartedly. Sometimes we have to get through something we never think we will, but when we’re on the other side, you look back, knowing it was all worth it. But it takes guts to follow your dreams like that."

"Thanks," she said softly. "What about you? Have you always lived here?"

"No. I’m from the mainland originally, but I’ve been here longer than I lived there. Kodiak's my home. Been here longer than anywhere else."

They fell into a comfortable rhythm, the conversation flowing more easily now. Hannah found herself noticing little things about Rick she hadn't before—the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled, the way he focused intently on his tasks. There was a warmth to him that belied his tough exterior.