Unicorns and Honey Cakes Read online

  She couldn’t let herself read Aubrey Z.’s review. What if they’d hated it? What if they’d thought her bakery was no good? She didn’t think her heart could take it if every line talked about how much she sucked and how her cakes were no good –

  “Sylvie, oh my God. You have to read this.”

  It was Gale’s voice that snapped her out of her terror at last. Her heart thundering in her ears, she forced her eyes open again, flickering them down over the review.

  … Sylvie’s Sweets and Bakery is everything a hometown bakery should be… the ricotta and pear cheesecake I tried was light and airy, but had enough body to leave you feeling satisfied, with a subtly nutty base and soft punch of cinnamon aftertaste… the apple cake I tried was a perfect blend of tart fruit, sweet spice, and soft cake, dusted with sugar… but the star attraction is undoubtedly the honey cake – seven layers of silky gingerbread, sandwiched between soft-as-a-cloud whipped honey and cream, it shouldn’t exist outside a dream…

  Sylvie closed her eyes again. She couldn’t read any more or she was worried her heart might literally explode, or her head might fly off her neck, or – or something –

  Tears pricked at the backs of her eyes.

  I never imagined this would happen… but then, I never imagined any of this would happen…

  She felt Gale’s hand wrap around her shoulder, a moment before his lips pressed against the top of her head.

  “Congratulations,” he whispered, his breath warm against her ear. “Though I never doubted that if Aubrey Z. ever did taste your cakes, this is exactly what they’d write.”

  “Well. I won’t intrude on you two lovebirds any more,” Eula said with a laugh. “I just wanted to come in and give you this. This copy’s for you, Sylvie – maybe you can frame it and hang it up on the wall of the bakery.”

  “I think I’m going to go buy five more,” Sylvie said, her voice wobbling a little. “One for every room of the house.”

  “Well, I think that’s a fine idea! If you don’t toot your own horn, who else is going to do it? Well, except Aubrey Z., I suppose.”

  Booming out a laugh at her own joke, Eula swayed her way out of the shop again, the door slamming closed behind her.

  Sylvie stared down at the review again, still not quite able to believe her eyes.

  Did Aubrey Z. really come into my shop? And I didn’t even notice?!

  Quickly, she ran back through as many customers as she could remember in her head – Was it the white-haired granny with the cardigan? The wine-drinking guy?! The woman with the red hair??!!

  She had absolutely no idea. It could have been any of them – or none of them.

  “I guess that’s why they’re so mysterious,” she mumbled to herself. “If you could tell, they wouldn’t have much of a career as a mysterious food reviewer.”

  “What was that?” Gale asked, glancing down at her.

  “Nothing. It was nothing,” Sylvie said, shaking her head. “Just… still trying to take all of this in.”

  “I’ll bet,” Gale said, smiling down at her. “Seems like you’ve got something to celebrate, though.”

  “Mmm. You’re right about that.” Sylvie turned back to him, wrapping her arms back around his waist. “And who exactly is going to help me celebrate?”

  “Oh. Is it me? I’m pretty sure it’s me,” Gale laughed. “I really hope it’s me.”

  “Got it in one,” Sylvie said, tilting her head back and closing her eyes as he leaned down to kiss her.

  Perfect, she thought, as Gale’s hand came up to cup her face, sending a thrill of warmth right through her. Everything is absolutely perfect.

  A Note From Zoe Chant

  Thank you for reading Unicorns and Honey Cakes. I hope you had as much fun reading it as I did writing it. It’s part of my Shifter Bites line of shifter romances that are short enough to read on your lunch break!

  If you’d like to be emailed when I release my next book, please click here to be added to my mailing list. You can also visit my webpage, or join my VIP Readers Group on Facebook!

  Please review this book on Amazon. Hearing from readers like you is what keeps me writing!

  More Paranormal Romance by Zoe Chant

  Outback Shifters Series

  Hector

  Callan

  Euan

  More coming soon!

  The Lost Dragons Series

  A Mate for the Dragon

  Fated for the Dragon

  Destined for the Dragon

  A Bride for the Dragon

  Bound to the Dragon

  Shifter Bites

  Taking the Bull by the Horns

  Cute But Prickly

  Fire & Rescue: First Mission

  The Dragon’s Lost Letters

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  See Zoe Chant’s complete list of books here!