The milky pureness of vanilla. The heady tang of lemon. The decadent smoothness of chocolate. Taking deep breaths in a warm kitchen was the only way to appreciate those luscious smells. And they were all hers. At least until customers came along to claim them. She opened her eyes again and looked around the room at the miracle her diligent study, hard work, and, yes, a dollop of good luck, too, had brought. And like those mouth-watering scents, it was also hers. The entire place. Lock, stock, humongous bank loans, and equally daunting monthly bills. Divine Desserts. The thing she’d wanted, longed for, dreamed of ever since she was in second grade and stood in the family kitchen with her mother while they sifted flour, rolled out dough, and whipped up bowls of sugary sweet cake or cupcake filling. Then they’d put everything together so they could enjoy a taste of their creations as a reward for the work they’d done. Now Divine Desserts was her reward and had been for the past six months since she first opened the business.
