Red came down the stairs to the most wonderful smells every morning. Granny's baked goods were to die for and she taught Red everything she knows.

Desperate to keep her young granddaughter out of trouble and off the streets Granny had turned her loose in the kitchen. From the tender age of twelve, Red has been helping her Grandmother make such delicious concoctions like Mocha Cupcakes with Espresso Frosting drizzled with caramel, Almond Honey Cake with Strawberry Ripple Cream, Tuscan Lemon Sage Muffins, and Walnut Streusel Bread.

They were just a few of Red's favorites.

"You're up early." Red gave her grandmother a kiss on the cheek while trying to avoid being burnt by the tray of blueberry scones Granny held in her oven-mitted hands.

"Well earlier than usual," Red amended, as baker's hours are always early.

"Darn arthritis is flaring up again. Couldn't sleep. So, I thought I'd make myself useful." Granny put the tray on the rack to cool and grabbed another to bake.

Red put on her apron, eager to get started helping when her grandmother stayed her hands.

"You haven't forgotten what today is have you?"

How could she? It was Mother's birthday. They celebrated it every year.

"It's tradition," her Grandmother said handing her a Red Velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting sprinkled with red hearts.

Red used the pilot on the stove to light the single candle and placed it on top. Red Velvet cake was her mother's obsession, and no one made it better than Gran. Her mother had such a craving for it when she was pregnant, that although it started out as a joke, it ended up how Red got her name.

They sang to her mother and blew out the candle. Red cut the cupcake in half and they each ate their share.

Red came to be under her Grandmother's care when a stray bullet had killed her mother. Some gang dispute, that leads to a drive-by, forever changing her life. Red heard the shots, the breaking of glass, and ran down the steps only to stop in horror at the sight of seeing her mother lying dead on the floor. Red could do nothing, in an instant, she was gone.

Granny, determined her granddaughter would not share the same fate, had Red move in with her. She worked tirelessly starting with baking and selling her cookies to the local schools for the children's after-school programs. Soon they requested muffins for the morning programs. Before Granny knew it she had her own cottage industry going. Requests for bake sales, birthdays, and special events started pouring in. The proudest day of her life was when she had made enough money to get her granddaughter out of the hood.

Red worried, watching her grandmother wince in pain once more as she bent over to put something in the oven. Granny years were taking their toll and although she rarely complained, just by the sheer number of doctor visits and pills she had to take, Red knew her Grandmother's health was failing. She quickly swiped away a tear before her grandmother could see, and felt grateful when she heard the bell to their shop ring out.

"I got it!" She hollered to Gran before stepping through the curtain to greet the first customer of the day.

At first, she didn't see anyone but then a head popped up over the bakery case.

"You have quite an impressive collection here. I believe I may have a hard time picking."

Red blinked twice. He was gorgeous. For a moment she was dumbstruck. She wanted to say something but her brain just shut down, and then he smiled at her. This only made things worse as it made him even more attractive if that were even possible.

The bell rang again and into the store bounced her best friend of all time, Goldie. She was about to wave "hi" when her foot caught on the mat by the front door and she went sailing. She collided right into the handsome customer and they both went tumbling into the café table and chairs.

"Goldie, if you broke another of my chairs I swear...!" Granny ranted as she came out of the backroom to observe the damage.

Red dashed around the case in seconds, lending a hand to the man who somehow managed to save Goldie, the table, and chairs from receiving any harm. Unfortunately, he wasn't so lucky. He hit his head pretty hard on the corner of the table.

"Well, that smarts." He took his hand from Red's and gently touched his scalp, coming away with blood on his fingertips.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Red took the pro-offered towel from her Grandmother and dabbed it lightly at his scalp. His stature made it a bit of a reach but she managed.

"I'm fine. Thanks for asking!" Goldie sat on the floor with her arms folded, trying to appear offended.

"Good! Then get your bottom off my floor and get back here. I have work for you to do," Granny bellowed before disappearing behind the curtain again, knowing Red had things under control.

Goldie stuck out her tongue and made a face at the closed curtain. Red laughed while helping her friend stand. "You are so lucky he saved you and the table and the chairs, or she'd be garnishing your wages again."

"It's not my fault. I swear I'm cursed to make a mess wherever I go." Goldie pouted and Red just shook her head at her. It was sadly true.

"Goldie!" Gran hollered from the back.

Goldie quickly thanked the stranger and ran into the kitchen. Another crash of what sounded like steel baking pans falling over resounded, followed by a muffled, "Sorry!"

Red looked back at the attractive stranger now seated at the table. She grabbed a carrot cake muffin with cream cheese filling and placed it in front of him.

"On the house," she told him. She left him again to bring back a cup of coffee.

Still holding the towel against his head, he took a bite of the muffin. When he groaned, Red became concerned his head hurt more than he let on but when he made the same sound after taking a second and third bite, she realized he was just enjoying the muffin and laughed.

"This is divine," he confessed after his fourth and last bite.

"I had a feeling you might like it."

Red always seemed to know what her customers wanted, even before they made up their minds and sometimes even convincing them to take something else after they had decided. It was a gift.

Red put cream and sugar in front of him. She bit slightly on her lower lip and stared at the towel before asking, "May I?"

He shrugged and she took it as her permission to check his wound. It had stopped bleeding already and there would be no need for stitches but he would have a lump there for certain.

"So, will I live?"

Red giggled. "I believe so," but then took two of Gran's sample chocolate chip cookies and put them on his plate. "To be sure, take two of these and call me in the morning."

His eyebrow rose slightly. "Does that mean I get your phone number? Because if it does, it was totally worth it."

Red wore the shade of her name. "I didn't mean to say..." she stumbled and he laughed.

"I know you didn't but let's not abandon the idea. I may just need your expertise." He took a bite of the cookie and moaned again. "Dear Lord, does everything in here taste this good?"

"No." Red laughed, for a well-built man he was a total foodie. "Some things are even better."

To which he just rolled his eyes and let out a long slow sigh in response.

"I guess before I give you my number I should start with my name, Red Ramirez." Red held out her hand and he took it.

"A Latina, you just keep getting more interesting."

Red couldn't figure why that would be interesting. More than half of the neighborhood was Spanish.

Seeing the confused look on her face he explained. "Not too many Latin or Spanish Bakery owners, that I have experienced anyway. Now, restaurant owners, that's a whole other game entirely, and I do love an authentic Spanish meal."

"Ah." Red offered. "Durand."

"Excuse me?"

"My Grandmother's name is Durand. Ramirez is the fault of my father."

"That makes much more sense. The French are famous for their pastries. And Red?"

"I guess you can say it's a nickname that stuck." Red grimaced hoping it would end there but it didn't.

"Short for?"

She sighs. "Red Velvet."

"Seriously?" He could not keep the amusement from his eyes though to give him credit, he did try to tame his grin.

"You know for someone who wants my number you're saying very little about you." Red never felt comfortable talking about herself so she wished to change the subject.

"I find that usually works in my favor, as most people who know me tend not to like me?" His features contorted into a frown as he realized just how true that statement was.

"Now, who's intriguing? May I at least have a name?"

He cringed. "Hunter."

"Is there a last name that goes with that?"

He scowled. "Yes."

"Do you think you might tell me what it is?"

"Maybe?"

Red just couldn't figure this guy out, but pressed, "You think you might say it sometime soon?"

"Not necessarily."

"Okay, I'll make it easy for you." Red placed her hands on her hips and gave him her best no-nonsense stare. "No name. No number."

"You drive a hard bargain there Red Velvet. Okay..." He swallowed hard like he just ate something distasteful though his mouth was empty. "It's Woodsmen."

"What did he say his name was?" Granny could be heard asking Goldie in the backroom. Both obviously spying on Red and Hunter, from behind the curtain.

"Hunter Woodsman," Goldie muttered back loud enough for Gran to hear her, knowing Gran to be hard of hearing at times.

"The food critic!" Granny exclaimed.

Goldie just shrugged. She had no idea, but what she did know is, he's really cute and seemed very interested in her best friend.