How to bake a scandal

Sutt

"Board's handled. They're still terrified of you," she said to Ethan, tossing

he batter. "Tell them to re

s.'" Claire rolled her eyes, then glance

nace," Etha

a PhD in avoiding p

scar on his forearm catching the

one else uses it. Th

o everyone here avo

e a look. "St

ged. "Jus

l away. *Something

he'd done this forever-bananas,

ounter. "You take

p. "You wouldn't

. "Why banana bread, t

. "My grandma made it when

u built a whole kit

ike they'd offended him. *Note

ne

a finger in the sugar.

he said

sugar, holdin

tened. "You'

us," I

g not to laugh. "Tell her ab

adding peanut butte

ad was

n't ea

rock. We joked about usi

ana bread mast

nto the bowl. "Are y

picked u

he secret

. "And keeping you

rsh

me the whi

he kitchen smelled like bananas and su

norm

When you're not workin

e. "Isn't that you

person, not

led. "We're n

ld b

o the oven, then turned to me, arms crossed. "Fine.

a laugh. "

rilling me all

g at the floor. "Uh... I binge trash TV

ked. "C

led marshmallows into the air.

ounter. "So lifestyle & leisure p

"They pay m

He tilted his he

ut the loaf-golden, smelling

first. "

slice and shoved it

shirt. *Damn. Okay.* "Not bad...

"High praise from

n at him. "You'

he said, wiping fl

buzzing like an angry hornet. "Ethan. They

from the loaf. "Te

*bak

her the folder she'd brought

"unpaid overtime" but left, he

on the counter, flour dusting his watch-a sleek, stupidly ex

ch. The recipe card peeked out

he said

e. "Wh

is stubble. "Because some th

loaf cooled between us, cra

rcolors. Here, the world was sugar and s

?" I nodded at

n apron. "Try