"I think I can help you with that?" Hunter told her.

Red looked at him confused. "What do you mean?"

"For the longest time I've been wanting to get back into the restaurant business, but I didn't want to open just another barbeque pit. I wanted something with a little more flair, more taste choices. Red?"

Hunter pulled her away slightly to look down at her. This couldn't all be for naught. She had to come into his life for a reason. He just felt.

"Will you... will you go into business with me?"

"What?" Red could not believe what she was hearing. "You and me?"

"Yes."

"But what about Gran?"

"I thought of that and I thought perhaps we might open a diner. It can have a small bakery. Gran can still make her cakes and you and I ... well, I just know we can make this place something special."

Nervous Red giggled slightly, the thought made her heady. Not only would that mean that she, Gran, and Goldie would all have a place to work and create but also that Hunter would be staying around and she could see if... "YES!"

"Yes? You'll do it? Don't you even want to talk to Gran about it first?"

"No," Red said. "I mean we will but what's the worst that can happen? She says she doesn't want to do it. Then I'll offer that baker working with Elias a job. I'm sure she'd jump at the chance. I can't keep living with this disappointment. Your offer saves me, it fixes everything and I even have the perfect name. We can call it the RedWood Diner."

"Hey, why does your name get to go first?" Hunter teased but he soon held his hands up in surrender, chuckling at the look on Red's face.  "Just kidding. I love the name. I love this whole idea. I love you!"

Red could tell by the expression on his face he did not intend those last words to come out. "Ummm..." Hunter runs his finger through his hair. "Sorry Red. I just got a little carried away. You know all the excitement and everything."

"So, you didn't mean it?" Red tried not to sound disappointed.

"Honestly, how could I? We barely know one another right? I mean what can I claim it was... love at first bite?"

"Yeah, that would be silly," Red admitted. She laughed half-heartedly, trying to shrug it off, but there was a big part of her heart that wished it were true.

"So how do we get this idea going?"

"I've already been scouting out locations while I was here. I'll show the two I like best and whichever you decide upon, it's a done deal. We just need some builders, a designer, and a menu and I think we are good to go."

"But Hunter I couldn't possibly afford?"

"Look we'll go into this together. You've got to sell or rent out the bakery space right? I can make up the difference. We go into this 50/50 a true partnership."

"How is that fair? You will obviously be laying out more cash than me."

"But I'm also getting your and Gran's expertise. No, it must be an equal partnership Red or no deal."

"You drive a hard bargain, Hunter but I accept," she said holding out her hand to him. He shook it. "Let's go tell Gran." Red felt the excitement of this new adventure coursing through her.

They were pleasantly surprised to learn that Gran was all for the idea. In fact, she thought they should get started right away and she knew the perfect men for the job.

"The Boar Brothers? Of course. Do you think they'll do it?"

"They will if they ever want to eat my apple pie, dumplings, and cobbler again."

"Gran, blackmailing the Boar Brothers?" Red grinned.

"These are tough times, Red. One must pull out all the stops and I would go with whoever they recommend for the designer."

Red kissed Gran's cheek. "You're certain you're okay with this?"

"Of course, I am. Hunter, you have yourself a deal."

Several months later Red was taking the Granny's Cakes sign down from their shop. "All set?" she asked looking down at Hunter who diligently held the ladder.

"Hand it here," he said and took it from her.

"This is harder than I thought," Red confessed.

"Ready?" he asked handing her the FOR SALE sign.

"Yep." She took it and put it in place and climbed down, thankful she was doing so right into Hunter's arms.

Hunter couldn't resist, he kissed her and she smiled. "Let's go, they're waiting." He placed the ladder and Granny's sign in the back of his truck and he and Red jumped in. They traveled past Elias' bakery and as predicted the line circled the block.

They drove to Old Town and pulled into the newest hot spot to get a bite to eat, 'The RedWood Diner' complete with bakery. Granny and Goldie were already waiting inside.

"Come on you two, we have a lot of hungry customers waiting," Granny said.

"Be right there," Red told her, taking Granny's sign she hung it in a prominent place in the back office.

Hunter came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her. "Do you miss it?"

"Honestly, no. I found my own path and it led me to you. Gran is happier. She still gets to make her cakes without all the hassle of running her own place and who knew Goldie would make such a great manager. She knows just the right thing to do. So, no I couldn't be happier."

"I'm glad to hear that," Hunter said turning her his arms, "but I would like to renegotiate some of the terms of our partnership?"

"Oh?" Red tried not to look worried, she knew Hunter had put most of the money for the new place upfront, Red and Gran invested what they had but it took time to get the bakery up on the market and to find a new place to live. "And what might these changes entail?"

Hunter shrugs slightly. "I was hoping for something a little more binding?"

"Binding? But we have a contract? Gran and I both signed. You know you can trust me not to break our agreement. Don't you?"

"That wasn't quite what I meant," Hunter said with a sly grin. He spotted the bag on the desk and smiled. Gran had everything ready as promised. He leaned over and grabbed it, handing it to Red. "For you."

"Me?" Red pulled open the bag and pulled out a Red Velvet cupcake topped with an engagement ring.

"Oh Hunter!" she exclaimed.

"What did she say?" Granny asked Goldie who was leaning against the office door.

"She hasn't answered yet," Goldie whispered back.

Red laughed hearing them both. She walked over and opened the door, and Goldie came tumbling in.

"We weren't spying!" Gran announced and when Red lifted her one eyebrow. Gran declared, "Okay, fine! Spying was all her idea."

"What?" Goldie's look of shock was priceless as she picked herself up off the floor and dusted off her jeans. "You said...!"

"Ummm... Ladies? Can you two possibly argue later? I'm still waiting to find out if Red Velvet will marry me?" Hunter stated and Red's eye's had gone wide, she almost forgot she hadn't answered him.

She turned to him and smiled. "Yes, if you truly want me. I'm yours."

Hunter pulled her back into his arms, "If I want you? Red I've been in love with you since the moment I saw you back in Gran's bakery. I don't know what you did to me that day. It's like a magic spell was cast over my heart and I knew there is no one other than you."

"I love you!" Red announced, she had said it before, a dozen times but this time it felt if she didn't say it her heart would burst. 

"I love you too!" Hunter said grinning. Red reached up and claimed his lips.

That kiss! Hunter totally understood the euphemisms Wolf used to describe Red. She was the sweetest most delectable person he had ever met. Her kiss was luscious and decadent and one taste left him forever under her spell and wanting more, so much more.

Goldie and Gran decided to let them have their moment.

"Did you ever tell her that Wolf stole your Red Velvet recipe? That Humphrey knew it the moment he tasted it?" Goldie asked.

"No," Gran said with a smile. 

"Why not?" Goldie wanted to know.

"If I had she would have never taken her own path."

The End

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Makes 2 1/2 dozen cupcakes.

Ingredients:

2 1/4 c. cake flour

2 Tbsp. cocoa powder

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. sugar

1/2 c. butter, softened

2 eggs

1 c. buttermilk

2 Tbsp. red food coloring

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. white vinegar

Icing:

1/2 c. butter, softened

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

2 c. powdered sugar

2 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin tin with paper baking cups.

2. In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.

3. In a separate bowl, cream together sugar and butter.

4. Add eggs one at a time until well blended.

5. Add buttermilk, food coloring, vanilla and vinegar to the creamed mixture.

6. Slowly add flour mixture, mixing until well blended.

7. Beat on medium-high until batter is smooth, about 2 minutes.

8. Spoon batter into paper baking cups about 2/3 the way full.

9. Bake 16-18 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

10. Let cool in pans on wire rack 5 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.

To prepare the icing: Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.

Gradually add sugar and vanilla, beating until well blended. Spread frosting evenly over cooled cupcakes.