She frowned. “I don’t know if that feels right.”
“We’re doing it to help you, and to make sure we can finish filming. Most of the money is already in your business account.”
“But . . .”
“Consider it payment for your participation.”
“Do you do that for everyone on the show?”
“No ...” He hesitated. “We haven’t had anyone in this kind of financial trouble before.” Then he smiled. “This season is important. Very important for me.”
“I can’t accept all that money. It’s wrong.”
“Look, if your business goes bust, the production company stands to lose a great deal more money than what we’re investing in you.” He realized he needed to be honest, as she had been with him. “The problem is that TV24 isn’t satisfied with the ratings. If we have to cancel this project, that will be the end ofLet’s Get Baking.” He paused. “So in order to boost the ratings, they’ve proposed various angles, and the idea that there might be some kind of romance between us is their latest suggestion.”
She thought for a moment, sipped her wine. “I’m sorry to hear about the ratings.” She took a deep breath. “I’m really grateful for everything you and the team are doing. Even if it’s confusing, I’m on board. Sounds like a little flirting could be beneficial for both of us.”
“Cool.” Henrik held out his mug. “Skålto that.” Now he had an excuse to kiss her again.
“Skål.By the way, how are the plans for your own bakery going?”
“Moving forward. The decision will be made at the board meeting on Monday.”
“Seriously?” She smiled. “That’s exciting! So after that you can get started?”
He didn’t feel particularly excited. “Yes, but only if everyone votes in favor.”
“And if they don’t?”
“Then it’s dead in the water.”
“But why can’t you open the place on your own?”
He looked at her in surprise.
“Do you really need the board’s approval?”
“I ... It’s just that everything I do is with my family. I’d really like for the Eklunds to be on board with it. I already have one failed project behind me, something I started up on my own, and ... I think it would be better if ...”
“If you had a big company behind you?” Nora frowned. “Can’t you see how ironic it is that you travel around fixing up bakeries all over the country, and yet you’re too ...” She broke off.
“Too much of a coward to open my own?”
“You’re very good at telling everybody else what they’re doing wrong.”
He nodded slowly. “I guess that is kind of ironic.”
Although her opinions often irritated him, he appreciated her honesty. She was direct without being nasty or supercilious—something he wasn’t used to. This kind of honesty was new to him, and it meant a lot.
He looked at her. He couldn’t imagine what it was like not to have any family. He and his siblings had a complicated relationship, but at least they were there. And his mother meant the world to him. Life really wasn’t fair, and he hoped he would be able to provide some support to Nora, who was all alone.
They got back to decorating, setting out Santa on his sleigh with his reindeer, and lots of elves in the front window. Then they hung thick wreaths on red silk ribbons on either side of the large Advent star. When they were done, the place looked lovely—festive and cozy. It would go over very well on TV.
As they folded up the empty boxes, Nora said, “All I have to do now is buy a tree, but no one is selling them yet.”
“I’m sure I can fix that. What kind do you like? Let me guess—Norway spruce?”
“Actually I love a Nordmann fir, but I usually go for a Norway spruce. It’s a classic, and it smells wonderful.”
