“It wasn’t as easy as it sounds, especially for someone like me.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That I was an idiot who needed a good ass-kicking.”
My grin widens. “Zahra mentioned she helped knock a little sense into you.”
“She did a lot more than that.”
I can practically hear the smile in his voice. Bitterness rises, ready to exploit my insecurities regarding my own relationship, but I shove it down.
“I assume you didn’t call me to gush about your girlfriend.”
“No, but who says I needed a reason to call?”
“You’re a Kane. You don’t do phone calls unless there is something you want.”
He laughs harder this time, making me grin. “I was hoping to speak to you about the tres leches recipe.”
“Seriously?” I thought he would call to check in on the house sale or to ask me a question about Cal.
“Seriously,” he repeats back in my tone, which makes me clamp down on my tongue to stop myself from laughing. “I was hoping we could come to a reasonable agreement.”
“Why do you want it so badly?”
“Because I know talent when I see it, and you’re the real deal.”
Heat crawls up my neck before spreading all the way to my cheeks. “Really?”
“Yes. Cal mentioned you’re interested in opening your own bakery, and I respect that kind of ambition. I’m sure you’ll go far with your skills.”
My phone slips from my grasp from how clammy my hand becomes. I don’t breathe, let alone interrupt him as he continues.
“But I’m interested in developing a new land that features Princess Marianna and a few other characters that I can’t share a lot about yet unless you agree to help.”
“Do any of these characters happen to be from Colombia?”
“Would that convince you to say yes?”
“Depends. Are you still offering me a million bucks for the recipe?”
“Let’s make it five.”
“Five million?”
“Cal was right when he called me out on only offering a mil. I just wanted to see if he pays more attention than he lets on, and he proved me right.”
My mouth drops open. “You did that on purpose?”
He laughs. “Yeah.”
“What is wrong with you?”
“Zahra’s still trying to figure that one out, although compared to Declan, I’m the nice one.”
I shut my eyes to center myself. “This is a lot to wrap my head around.”
“Should I not mention the job then?”