Sour Candy | T. Drake ✔

[27] Baking Lessons

When Tim didn't turn up at Dora's Coffee Haunt in the morning that Saturday, Dora thought he must have forgotten about the baking lessons altogether. Tim didn't forget a lot but whenever he was burdened with other tasks, things seemed to slip from his mind a little.

However, an hour after the shop hours had started, Tim came in at last. It seemed as if he had come straight from work as he was in a suit which was rather unexpected. His hair were neatly combed back from his forehead and he looked rather different.

He went straight to the kitchen, kissing Dora on the cheek as his usual way of saying good day then said he would be back in a moment.

He went upstairs to drop his bag and came down soon after, minus the black coat and tie.

Though Dora couldn't stop looking at him; he looked absolutely dashing in the collared white shirt and black pants.

"Someone's looking real professional today," she remarked as she took the tray of cupcakes out of the oven.

"Sorry I got late," he replied, "Fox called up an early morning meeting just to torment me and I had to attend it."

"No worries," she smiled, "you still in for the baking lessons?"

"Absolutely," his bright blue eyes shone as he rolled up the sleeves of his shirt to his elbows and took the apron Alex had thrown at him.

She nodded, telling him to take out the bowls from the cabinet. Though when he straightened, she remarked, "don't come in wearing a suit next time."

He was surprised at the abrupt remark, looking down at his outfit as if there was something he had messed up in the outfit, "why? Anything wrong with it?"

"You're one hell of a distraction," she mumbled and saw his smile widen.

"Excuse me," Alex cleared his throat, "keep your flirting down, you're not the only people here in case you forgot."

Dora took off the baking glove and smacked his arm with it, "stop teasing, Al."

He shrugged, "I can't help it. You two start blushing like lovestruck cherubs and it's adorable."

"Wait... Have you been spending a lot of time with Jason lately?" Tim asked, "he uses this phrase a lot."

"Yeah, borrowed it from him. Though it does fit you two, right?"

"Stop... Teasing... Or... Else..." Dora repeated, brown eyes narrowed in a warning.

"Fine Grandma," he chuckled, "have fun, I am going out to the counter for a while."

With Alex gone, Dora turned back towards Tim who was looking at the measuring cups in fascination, lining them out on the counter in ascending order.

At times he is such a kid, she thought to herself, a smile tugging up on her face as she watched him arrange the cups.

"These are measuring cups," she told him, "and this one here is a spatula."

"Are we going to make batter today?" He looked at her eagerly.

"We will be making a marble cake," she replied, "so yes, the batter will be required though you have given me your word that you won't eat it all up."

He nodded, "yeah, I remember. I will just memorize how to make the batter so that I can make it myself whenever I feel like eating it."

She was shaking her head slightly, "you'll get a stomach ache, I swear..."

"I'll be fine, Dora, let's start."

She fetched the other ingredients as well and started by making him identify each of them first.

"No Timmy, this is flour. While this one is baking powder. And put the icing sugar down, I see it's in your hands."

"It's even sweeter," he pouted, "I like it."

"No more eating icing sugar or no more lessons for you," she warned at which he obediently put the packet back at the counter.

She started telling him the basics, pouring the flour and sugar first as she started to make the batter. Tim's chin rested on her shoulder as he watched carefully, memorizing each step.

"Can I at least taste it?"

"Sure," she scooped out a spoon and handed it to him, "that's all you're getting for today."

"Thank you," he tilted his face towards her and kissed her cheek lightly, "I'll make do with it."

A smile flickered on her face, "really? Aren't you being very obedient today?"

"Precisely because if I correctly learn everything you teach me, I will learn how to make batter and that's the first thing I'm going to do when I go back home."

"Alright then, let go of me for a minute, will you? I can't do everything with you stuck on my back like a spider monkey," she wriggled out of his grip as she reached forward to take the packet of cocoa powder.

"Wait what?" He looked as if her words had hurt him, "was spider monkey the only thing you could compare me to at the moment?"

She shrugged nonchalantly, "why? Is there a problem?"

"Have you actually even seen those creatures, Dora?" The frown deepened on his face, "if I look like a spider monkey then all your compliments from earlier would go to waste."

She laughed at the adorable expression on his face and pinched his nose, "I just said you were holding on to me like those creatures hold onto trees."

The light smile flickered back on his features, "ah I see. Do you know why they hug trees like that?"

She shook her head, focusing back on the batter she was stirring, "nope. Why is that though?"

"Because the tree is their home. As for me, you're my home. Like, a person I feel most comfortable with," he replied, hugging her like earlier once again.

"Awww," she playfully shoved him, keeping the sugar out of reach because she could sense he was going to try taking the pack, "and of course, I didn't mean you looked like a spider monkey because you don't, thank heavens."

He nodded, face tilting as his blue eyes connected with hers, "indeed. How do I look though, if you don't mind me asking?"

Her eyes flickered in mischief as she stepped closer, her hand resting on his chest, "to be honest, right now you look too hot for me to even handle having you around me."

"Oh..." His cheeks shaded slightly, eyebrow raised as he watched her intently.

She leaned closer, capturing his lips with her own as she pushed him back towards the counter, the collars of his shirt held tightly in her hands. His hands were gently placed on her waist as he pulled her closer, bending his head down for her.

"When I said have fun, I hadn't meant this," Alex remarked, throwing a pack of paper towels at them to make them pull apart.

"Alexander, you annoying little raccoon!" Dora picked up the floor mop, chasing after Alex who was laughing as he quickly ran up the stairs.

Tim's face had turned redder than beetroot due to the current situation but a smile was playing upon his lips as well as he watched Dora follow her brother upstairs, floor mop within her grasp.

"I warned you not to tease us yet you never listen!"

"I told you to stop flirting and did you listen?" Alex's voice trailed back.

"Just you wait, Al! You haven't faced my floor mop yet so you clearly have no regard for my threats. Once you do, I'm sure that will change."

***