LITMIR.BIZ

      1

      “OH, GOD,” Jillian moaned in pure, unadulterated ecstasy. “Your triple fudge Bavarian torte is right up there with great sex—not that I’ve had any of that lately.”

      Kayla Thomas grinned at her sister’s cheeky comment as Jillian sampled another bite of the new dessert Kayla had concocted that morning. “I can barely remember what sex is like, great or otherwise,” she replied wryly. “That’s how long it’s been for me.”

      “Fortunately, you’re surrounded by the next best thing. Chocolate.” Jillian waggled her brows in a lascivious manner. “And lucky me, I get to be your official taste tester. This one is a definite winner and gets a five-moan recommendation.”

      Kayla laughed and continued arranging an assortment of petits fours on a silver tray. “Oh good, I’ll be sure to put that on the packaging label.” Thoughtful for a moment, she then added, “Since the torte has your approval, I think I’ll include it as one of the desserts for the Chamber of Commerce function I’m catering tonight.”

      Jillian licked bits of chocolate from her full bottom lip, obviously not wanting to waste even a crumb of the dessert. “You’ll have them all salivating for more.”

      With a smile at her sister’s reply, Kayla glanced across the industrial-sized prep table separating them. They were alone in the kitchen area of Pure Indulgence since her two other employees were handling the front counter while Kayla prepared for the Commerce function that evening.

      “I’ll just be happy if I can drum up a bit of extra catering business,” Kayla said.

      “I have no doubts that you will.” Jillian set her empty plate in the sink, came up beside Kayla, and started putting the small, fancy cakes onto a scalloped paper liner to help speed up the packaging process. “You’re doing so great. Look at all that you’ve accomplished.”

      Jillian’s tone was infused with genuine pride as she swept a quick glance around the back of the shop, taking in the cakes and pastries cooling on bakery racks, and the refrigerators filled with dozens of different desserts. “I always knew you’d be a success in your own right. No other place in San Diego comes close to creating desserts as outstanding as yours.”

      Kayla appreciated Jillian’s support more than she could ever express. Despite a childhood spent with a mother constantly pitting them against one another, they’d managed to remain close. The bond had become even stronger after their mother had passed away and was no longer around to interfere in their lives.

      “I learned most of my skills during those summers with Grandma Thomas. She taught me my way around a kitchen and how to bake from scratch,” Kayla said fondly. “But you’re the one that made Pure Indulgence, and all this, possible.”

      Her sister made a pfft sound that Kayla recognized as a dismissal of her gratitude. “I might have helped to get your own bakery shop opened, but you’re the one who made it solvent after six months’ time. I had nothing to do with that.”

      “You know I can’t thank you enough for your help.” Financially and emotionally, her sister had been a rock

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