Tasty Treats.

Trundling forward tugged along by Nina's insistent grab, my heart skipped a beat as I felt Emma's arm loop into mine. With a grin Nina led us past the front door and into a foyer where a blanket of warm smells enveloped us. The smell of something savory lured me in and the scent of baking bread and roasting coffee tickled my nose welcoming me in like a familiar friend as I drew closer to the inner sanctum.

At the heart of the counter lay a long glass display case that was illuminated with a bright soft light. Each section held a small depleted treasure trove of pastries, doughnuts and cakes that seemed to bring a childish delight to Emma's eyes as she pressed up against the glass to gaze in awe at the remaining contents.

"It smells so good," Emma breathed, her voice tinged with anticipation her usual teasing demeanor momentarily replaced by a childlike wonder. The glass case was meticulously arranged with a dazzling array of pastries, cakes and doughnuts with sugary glazes that sparkled with a soft, inviting light that sent a rumble through my stomach. At the top of the case sat croissants, their surfaces a perfect golden brown, separated by delicate contrasting thin layers of light flaky dough. Below them lay rows of macarons, a rainbow of colors, but it was the doughnuts in the middle that drew Emma's attention. She shifted from side to side peering at the delights within. There were traditional doughnuts like éclairs filled with rich cream and topped with a glossy, dark chocolate glaze elegantly dusted with powdered sugar adjacent to their powdered doughnut friends.

She turned her head and met my gaze with a playful smile, "They're so cute," She cooed, whispering with a breathless quality "I've been waiting all week for this." But the excitement dwindled and tempered as she began pacing back and forth in front of the cabinet, scanning for a missing treasure. She frowned, disappointment permeating her body language. "Nina are the honey crullers all gone? The ones with the custard inside?"

"Huh, that's odd, I swear I set a few aside for you," Nina mused for a moment before her eyes lit up," but I have something better" she darted around the side of the counter and held out a pair of doughnuts, "Crème Brule!," She chirped out before she held them out towards our faces, "Would you like to try them?"

Emma nodded enthusiastically as she snatched the pair into her hands. She hesitated a beat before Nina gave her a pointed look and handed one to me. They were still warm, soft and baked golden. The tops were caramelized to a perfect, glistening brittle sweetness, that crackled the moment I bit down on them giving way to a filling of rich, vanilla bean-speckled custard, its creamy texture a delightful contrast to the crisp exterior.

"Do you like them?"

"These are amazing," I said, my words muffled by the doughnut, as I took another bite. Emma nodded in agreement, her cheeks stuffed with her own doughnut half listening as she looked for a hidden treasure. "It's a bit too sweet for me though."

"How about some coffee? Maybe some tea? Balance the sweet with some bitter?" Nina suggested, her voice impassioned already busying with the contraptions behind her, "What do you guys want?" She said her hand making a flourishing gesture at the black chalkboard menu above her.

"I think hot chocolate would be great with this," I said, my mouth still full with the last of the doughnut. "Maybe a mocha?"

"Still sore about Emma's thievery huh?" Nina giggled, her hands flying over the contraptions with practiced ease, "Emma?"

"I'll have the same" Emma said, her eyes still focused on the contents of the pastry case as she chewed. Nina gave a nod and clicked a light on, unfolding a barista's realm, a stage set with gleaming coffee machines that seemed like something out of an alchemist's laboratory. Nina moved with a dancer's grace. Each movement was quick and purposeful as she coaxed out sounds and aromas from the equipment. A whir filled the air as the smell of freshly ground coffee wafted through the air. The machine began to hiss and steam as it beckoned forth a stream of thick dark liquid. Milk was frothed to a silky smoothness, poured with a flourish to create delicate patterns atop the coffee, topped with a thick dollop of whipped cream and garnished with a final dash of cocoa powder with a flourishing touch.

Nina took a step back and beamed at her work with pride before setting the drinks before us. The whipped cream wiggled delightfully as they settled on the counter. Emma took a sip of her drink and a small bead of whipped cream clung to her nose. She looked almost angelic savoring the drink with closed eyes and a satisfied cherubic smile, but I knew better as she smirked suddenly, "Tastes better than that ten dollar hot chocolate"

"Ten dollars," Nina made a face before she exclaimed indignantly, "Where the hell have you been getting your hot chocolate?"

"Ugh, the café at the library," I volunteered with a shrug. "It's better than Starbucks at least I guess."

"Starbucks is trash, and that place is barely better" Nina snorted before she made a face. She shook her head in disbelief, "I can't believe they charge that much. If we had that location we'd make a killing"

"Pretty easy to make money off tasteless rich boys" Emma said with a grin as she swiped off the whipped cream with a napkin.

"What does that say of our relationship then?" I said returning her barb with a smirk of my own.

"Oh shit, he got you there Emma" Nina snorted and giggled at Emma's flabbergasted flapping mouth before she composed herself with breath, "Ok, so what do you guys want to eat?" Hushing away Emma's indignant response with a smug grin

"Uhm, maybe something savory to go with the sweet? What do you recommend?" I said glancing at the black chalkboard menu that hung above Nina's head, my eyes glazing over the blackboard menu and the options listed in cursive script.

"It's all good, I promise," Nina said with a grin, "You know it's kind of quiet now. I bet I can whip you up something amazing."

I blinked a few times, surprised, "You're the chef too?"

"Oh no, my uncle's the chef, he's in the back with his crew, " Nina said with a laugh. "I figured I needed to fend for myself when I'm in college so I've been learning on the job with my uncle. Might as well seeing as I'm here. Do you cook at all?"

"Not really, but I'm a wizard with the microwave." I grinned sheepishly, "My mom does most of the cooking to be honest."

"Well if you want I can teach you how to cook some time"

"You sure?"

"I insist, besides I owe you for those notes" Nina said with a happy little sigh as she leaned down on the counter. She seemed to be beaming as she rested her chin in her hands and peered out at us with a giddy expression, "I'm glad you guys figured it out, I always thought Emma would be doomed to be a crazy cat lady"

"Not like you're any better" Emma let out a snort as she continued her search for her treat

"Hey, I'm trying," Nina pouted, before her face became serious. "Can I ask you something Isaac? After your date of course. Emma?" Nina turned her attention to Emma who was still engrossed with the display.

"Hmm, yea ok "Emma mused, before her head snapped up to look at her friend so fast I thought she had whiplash.

"About Noah" Nina added quickly seeing Emma's suspicion, "Pretty please Emma, I swear I won't steal him from you" Her face became cherubic as she clasped her hands together and batted her eyelashes. She seemed like the image of a Disney princess innocence, or was she like Emma after all despite her warmth?

"Uhm, sure I guess?" I shrugged, trying not to stare at the way her forearms pressed her boobs together and the way Emma narrowed her eyes at me.

"Great," Nina smiled as she clapped her hands together, "I'll get to work on your brunch, my uncle needs a break anyways." She made a show of rubbing her hands together, the apron on her chest crinkled and ruffled as she reached up and tied her hair into a bun, "I've been meaning to try this new dish out, you're gonna love it"

"So how much do we owe you?" I said reaching into my back pocket, and flicking out a credit card but Emma stopped me with a hand on top of the device.

"Separate bills please."

"Huh."

"Let's go Dutch, you drove me, its only fair, besides I stole your coffee remember?"

"Well, it's not like it's my money"

"Well I'll make it easy for you guys, since it's your first date and all and I love Emma oh so much," Nina said sarcastically, "It's on the house"

"You sure?"

"We're pretty much done after brunch" Nina shrugged, "We donate most of our leftovers to a woman's shelter in a few hours anyways." Nina gestured to an empty booth by the window and shooed us off with a push over the counter and disappeared into the kitchen leaving no room for argument.

Author's Note:

/ᐠ - ˕ -マ

Lots of work as a corporate bee in the finance world. /Sad cat noises. More chapters soon.