“I think he’s checking to see if I’m home.”
Henrik’s eyes widened. “That doesn’t sound too threatening.”
“No, it’s just ... he ...” She hesitated. “He might have a reason for coming over. I stopped contacting him, and I haven’t answered his calls, and ...”
Henrik was grinning now. “I understand—it’s kind of awkward.”
Nora shrugged, feeling stupid. What could she say? She’d simply been too much of a coward to have that conversation with Mange.
“So what are you doing out and about?” she asked quietly.
“I’ve just had dinner with Don, and I thought I’d take a walk around town.”
“Not much happens at this hour in November.”
“That’s okay. I like the quiet.”
She nodded. “That’s what I like about this town too—you can find peace and quiet, but still have people around you. It’s an unbeatable combination.” They fell silent, and she expected him to bring up yesterday’s incident. “I’m sorry I lied the other day,” she said quickly, in an attempt to divert him.
“Lied about what?”
“About dinner—when I said I was babysitting. Going out for dinner with you and the production team would have felt like hanging out with my kidnappers.”
“You mean we’vekidnappedyou and your patisserie?” He was smiling.
“Something like that.”
“And having dinner with us would equate to some kind of Stockholm Syndrome?”
She couldn’t help laughing, then suddenly realized she was laughing with Henrik Eklund—the man she had regarded as her enemy.
Henrik’s expression grew serious. “Listen, what happened yesterday ... I apologize for pushing you too far. I didn’t understand what was going on until it was too late.”
“Neither did I. You’re not going to use any of that, are you?”
He hesitated briefly. “No, of course not. I’ll make sure of it. This process is intense when you’re not used to it—long days with cameras in your face, irritating features producers, and a sour-faced executive producer to boot.”
His phone buzzed, and Nora sighed with relief—the last thing she wanted was to discuss her panic attack with him. He read the message and frowned.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes.” He slipped his phone back in his pocket. “It’s just something I’m not too happy about.”
She nodded, but couldn’t help feeling curious. Surely his celebrity baker life must be worry-free?
“A difficult TV-something?”
He gave a wry smile. “A difficult TV-something with my family.”
“Oh?” She was surprised.
He shrugged. “We’re about to start filmingChristmas with the Eklunds, and the situation is a little ... strained.”
Nora was even more surprised. The Eklund family seemed so perfect on TV. “I guess it can be tricky when you spend so much time working together.”
He nodded thoughtfully, then looked at her. “Is this really what you want?”
“The show?” She frowned. This was getting tedious—he knew she didn’t want to be on his show, but she had no choice.
