CHAPTER SIX – LUCA CASTELLI

By the time the last tray came out of the oven, Rebecca was exhausted but exhilarated. She stepped back, surveying her work with a sense of pride. The kitchen counters were filled with pastries that looked and smelled even better than the originals. Catherine came in to check on her progress, her eyes widening as she took in the scene. "Rebecca," she said slowly, picking up one of the éclairs and examining it closely. "These look... incredible." Rebecca held her breath as her mother took a bite. Catherine's eyebrows rose in surprise, and then, to Rebecca's amazement, a small smile appeared on her face. "This is... This is really good," Catherine said, sounding almost reluctant to admit it. "What did you do differently?" Rebecca explained the tweaks she'd made to each recipe, her words coming out in an excited rush. As she spoke, she saw something change in her mother's expression. The disappointment and anger from earlier were replaced by something that looked almost like... pride. "Well," Catherine said when Rebecca had finished, "it seems you've managed to turn this disaster into quite an opportunity. I'm... impressed, Rebecca. You've shown real initiative here." The words of praise, so rare from her mother, made Rebecca's heart swell. For the first time in a long while, she felt like she had truly succeeded at something in the bakery. "Thanks, Mom," she said softly. "I really want to do well here. I know I mess up sometimes, but I'm trying to improve." Catherine nodded, her expression softening slightly. "I can see that. And this," she gestured to the array of pastries, "shows that you have real talent when you apply yourself. Perhaps we need to find more opportunities for you to express your creativity in the bakery." As they began to pack up the pastries for delivery to the Founder's Day celebration, Rebecca felt maybe, just maybe, she could find a way to blend her own desires and dreams with her family's expectations. Rebecca stood behind the counter, absently rearranging a tray of cookies as she daydreamed about her next escape from the monotony of small-town life. The bell above the door chimed, jolting Rebecca from her reverie. She looked up, ready to greet the customer with her usual rehearsed smile, but the words died on her lips as she caught sight of the man who had just entered. He was, without a doubt, the most gorgeous man Rebecca had ever laid eyes on. Tall and lean, with olive skin and tousled dark hair, he moved with an easy grace that immediately commanded attention. His eyes, a striking shade of hazel, scanned the bakery before landing on Rebecca, and the smile that spread across his face made her heart skip a beat. "Good afternoon," he said, his voice rich and smooth with a hint of an accent Rebecca couldn't quite place. "I hope I'm not too late for some of your famous pastries?" Rebecca blinked, realizing she had been staring. She felt heat rise to her cheeks as she scrambled to compose herself. "Oh! No, not at all. We've got plenty left. What can I get for you?" The man approached the counter, his eyes never leaving Rebecca's face. "Well, that depends. What would you recommend...?" He paused, glancing at her name tag. "Rebecca?" The way he said her name sent a shiver down her spine. "I, um... our apple turnovers are really popular. We baked them fresh this morning." "Apple turnovers it is, then," he said with a nod. "I'll take two, please. And maybe your number to go with them?" Rebecca's eyes widened, her blush deepening. Was he flirting with her? "I... I'm not sure that's..." she stammered, glancing nervously towards the kitchen where she knew her parents were working. The man chuckled, holding up his hands in a gesture of surrender. "My apologies. I'm being too forward. Allow me to introduce myself properly. I'm Luca Castelli. I've just moved to town and I'm trying to get to know the local businesses... and the lovely people who run them." "It's nice to meet you, Luca," Rebecca managed to say, her heart racing as she wrapped up his turnovers. "Welcome to Gilda's Bay. It's... it's a small town, but we have our charms." "I can see that," Luca replied, his eyes twinkling as he accepted the paper bag from her. Their fingers brushed for a moment, and Rebecca felt a jolt of electricity at the contact. "So, Rebecca," Luca continued, leaning casually against the counter. "Tell me, what does a beautiful girl like you do for fun in a town like this?" Rebecca laughed nervously, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Fun? Oh, you know... there's not much to do around here. Mostly just work at the bakery, help out at church events... that sort of thing." Luca raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Somehow, I get the feeling there's more to you than that. You strike me as someone with hidden depths, Rebecca Harrison." The use of her full name startled her. "How did you...?" "Small town," Luca reminded her with a wink. "Word gets around. The Harrison bakery is quite famous, you know." Rebecca nodded, not sure how to respond. She was acutely aware of how plain and ordinary she must look to someone like Luca – flour on her apron, hair hastily tied back, smelling of yeast and sugar. But Luca didn't seem to notice any of that. He was looking at her as if she were the most fascinating person he'd ever met. "You have a beautiful smile, Rebecca. You should use it more often." Rebecca realized she had indeed been smiling, wider and more genuinely than she had in a long time. "Thank you," she said softly, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps from the kitchen made Rebecca straighten up, her professional mask slipping back into place. "Is there anything else I can get for you, Mr. Castelli?" Luca's eyes flickered towards the kitchen door, understanding dawning on his face. He straightened up as well, reaching for his wallet. "No, thank you. The turnovers will be perfect." He handed her the money, deliberately letting his fingers linger against hers as she gave him his change. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Rebecca," he said, his voice low and intimate. "I hope I'll be seeing more of you around town." "Yes, I... I hope so too," Rebecca replied, hardly believing her own boldness. As Luca turned to leave, he paused at the door and looked back at her. With a final, heart-stopping wink, he was gone, the bell chiming in his wake. Rebecca stood frozen behind the counter, her heart pounding and her cheeks flushed. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt so... alive. So seen. "Rebecca? Who was that?" Her mother's voice made her jump. "Oh, just a new customer," Rebecca said quickly, trying to sound casual. "He wanted to try our apple turnovers." Catherine gave her a searching look but didn't press further. "Well, don't just stand there daydreaming. We've got work to do." As Rebecca threw herself back into her tasks, she couldn't stop her mind from wandering back to Luca. His smile, his eyes, the way he had looked at her... It was like something out of one of the romance novels she secretly read late at night.