"Delaney." I frown. "What is happening right now?"
"Content." She says the word like it should explain everything. "Big Mike authorized a social media blast for the partnership program. We need shots of our ambassadorin action."
Cade holds up the camera, waggling his eyebrows. "Smile pretty, Lane."
"I always smile pretty. It's literallymything."
"Zoey!" Paige calls out, finally off her phone. "We need you out here, babe. Just a few quick photos. Very casual, very authentic."
Zoey emerges from the kitchen, her apron half off and a pen still tucked behind her ear. She takes in the Snow Leopards invasion, the camera, Delaney's manic energy. Her expression goes blank.
"I'm sorry,what?"
"Community content." Paige is positioning herself like a director on a film set, gesturing for Zoey to move closer to me. "The partnership in action. You two looking like you actually enjoy each other's company. Quick, quick! We don't have much time!"
Delaney snaps her fingers. "Samuel, get the banner!"
Samuel digs into the promotional bag, rummaging through what looks like branded merchandise and Snow Leopards swag. He pulls out a rolled-up banner, unfurls it and his face goes completely blank.
"What the hell isthis?"
We all turn to look.
The banner readsSNOW LEOPARDS: WE GO HARDin bold purple and gold lettering. But the font choice is... unfortunate. The letters are curved and swooping in a way that looks deeply,deeplysexual. And the image beneath the text—what's clearly supposed to be a snow leopard mid-pounce—has been positioned in a way that makes it look like something else entirely.
Cade loses it first. Full-body, doubled-over, tears-streaming laughter that echoes off the bakery walls. "Oh myGod. Who approved this?!"
"Put it away." Delaney pinches the bridge of her nose, her composure cracking for the first time since I've known her. "Put itaway, Samuel."
"I'm framing this," Cade wheezes. "I'm framing it and hanging it in the locker room."
"You will do no such thing." Samuel stuffs the banner back into the bag. "This never happened."
Zoey is staring at the spot where the banner was, her lips pressed together in a thin line. For a second I think she's horrified.
Then her shoulders start shaking.
"Are you—" I lean closer. "Morrison, are youlaughing?"
"No." But her voice is strangled, and when she finally looks up, her eyes are bright. "I'm just... The Snow Leopardsgo hard. That's. That's really something."
"Professional sports marketing at its finest," I offer.
She snorts a grizzled laugh, and the sound does something to me it absolutely shouldnot.
"Okay, moving on." Delaney has recovered her composure with impressive speed. "Forget the banner. We'll do photos without it. Colt, Zoey—front and center. By the display case is best I think."
Paige herds us into position like we're unruly livestock. I end up standing behind the counter with Zoey beside me, the nearly-empty display case providing a backdrop that probably doesn't scream 'thriving business partnership' but whatever.
"Closer," Delaney instructs, studying us through narrowed eyes. "You look like strangers at a bus stop. Colt, for goodness sake. Put your arm around her!"
I hesitate before sliding my arm around Zoey's waist.
"There we go… Now Zoey, lean into him."
She does as she's told, and the moment her body curves toward mine, I feel the heat of her through layers of fabric.
Fuck, she's warm.