The Baker Read Online Free PDF Page B

itself.”
    “Right.” Ian cleared his throat. His father might not be in the best of moods, and this situation was less than optimal, but he’d put if off long enough. And he doubted his father would ever be in a better frame of mind. “Have you heard of Tartan Day?”
    “Of course. April 6. What about it?” His father narrowed his eyes.
    “Huh.” He knew about it all along? Ian forged on despite his surprise. “Apparently the mayor wants us to celebrate the day here in Casper next year.”
    “Really?” His father frowned. “Wonder what brought that on.”
    “My friend Matthew, the mayor’s son, told me it’s about adding an event to the calendar so we can attract more tourists between the sled dog races in February and the summer festivals and rodeos, which don’t start until early summer.”
    “That makes sense.” His father nodded his approval. “So of course, as the best Scottish bakery in Casper, he wants us to participate.”
    It was phrased as a statement, not a question, and Ian nodded despite his somewhat rebellious thought about them being the only Scottish bakery in Casper. But his father wouldn’t appreciate that detail, so Ian pushed it to the back of his mind. He’d taken a breath to tell his father the rest of the deal, but he wasn’t fast enough.
    “We’ll accept his invitation. It’ll be great for business and free marketing.” His father leaned back in his seat with a smug smile. “I do like when we can get something for free.”
    “Um, there’s more.” Ian forced himself to look his father in the eyes. “The mayor wants this to be about the younger generation, showing the potential for Casper’s future. In the case of family owned businesses, the participants have to be the youngest family members who are actively involved in the business.”
    “What?” His father turned red with anger as he slowly rose from his seat.
    “Is that a problem?” Ian stood his ground.
    “Of course that’s a problem. You know it is.” His father slapped his hands onto the desk and supported himself as he leaned forward, face red and eyes narrowed in anger. “We’ll need to participate with our most successful items, the big sellers, if we want to win that competition.”
    “Of course.” Ian nodded.
    “And you know they all have a secret ingredient that is part of their success.” His father took a deep breath. “Next thing you’ll tell me I need to give them to you.”
    “I’ve been working in the bakery my entire life, and I am a member of this family, the one who is going to be inheriting this bakery at some point in the future, last time I checked. So yes, I think it would be reasonable for you to support me so we can win and get more customers.” Ian had no idea where his sudden courage came from, but he was glad he’d said his piece.
    “Yer talking pish!” His father shook his head as he slowly and deliberately lifted his hands from the desk and sat back down. Quiet rage flashed in his eyes, but this outwardly controlled fury was so much worse than yelling and shouting could ever be.
    “Excuse me?” Ian was always shocked when his father swore, but his reverting to Scottish insults was a particularly bad sign. And Ian was not “talking piss” by any stretch of the imagination.
    “You heard me.” His father’s hands shook until he gripped the office chair’s armrests. “You’re not going to be inheriting anything until you settle down and start a family, you hear me? It’s long past time you find a wife. I’ve told you so before.”
    “What?” Ian almost stepped back. Where the hell did this come from? His father hadn’t mentioned Ian finding a wife in years.
    “Let me make it perfectly clear.” His father lifted one hand and pointed it at Ian, punctuating each sentence with a fast stab in his direction. “Until you’re married and have supplied me with a grandson, you are not going to inherit anything. This is a family business and has been handed down