Will it be a recipe for romance? Or a friendship up in flames? The perfect dual POV, friends-to-lovers cozy fantasy, with HEA guaranteed!
Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from A. T. Qureshi’s The Baby Dragon Bakery, which releases on September 2nd 2025.
Lavinia has it all. A loving family (complete with adorable pet baby dragon). A place at university training to be a magical animal vet. And a part-time job at the enchanting Baby Dragon Cafe. The only thing she doesn’t have is her one true love: Theo.
Theo is the local baker and her best friend. On paper, they’re perfect: he’s funny, she’s witty. He’s sweet, and she’s a little salty. That’s why they’ve been friends for as long as they can remember. They’ve never been without one another – and it’s clear to everyone that they’re meant to be.
Everyone except Theo. Because when Lavinia finally makes her move, he pulls away.
Lavinia is devastated. Has this friendship gone up in smoke? Or will Theo finally realise that he wants them to be more than friends?
The music changed from an upbeat dance tune to something slow and soft. Couples began slow-dancing, a romantic aura seeping into the environment. Lavinia shivered, biting her lower lip.
They continued walking, down a path under glowing string lights, until the music grew quiet. They were off to the side, alone, away from the party, its noises fading into the background. From here, they had a gorgeous view of the rolling hills and the mountains in the distance. It was a clear night, and the sky was studded with thousands of stars, twinkling and shining. It was where their home—Starshine Valley—got its name from.
Theo whistled. “Look at that view.”
“It’s stunning,” she said. She loved their hometown, the comfort and familiarity of it.
They sat down, content to admire the landscape. The night felt cooler now, away from the dance floor and the lanterns. When a sudden breeze ruffled the trees, Lavinia squealed, huddling closer to her best friend.
“I told you to bring a sweater,” Theo laughed.
“You know, instead of being a know-it-all, the gentlemanly thing to do would be to offer me your jacket,” Lavinia told him pointedly.
“I left it behind,” Theo replied, showing her his empty arms. “Come on—it isn’t that cold.”
“Do you see what I am wearing?”
She was wearing a corset midi dress made of maroon satin, and the thin fabric was doing nothing to ward off the night’s chill. She was short and curvy, and while in her teens she had been insecure about her weight, now it was something she embraced. She loved to choose clothing that accentuated and flattered her body shape.
Theo looked down at her outfit, and as his eyes traveled back up to her face, his gaze snagged on the bare skin of her collar and shoulders, courtesy of the strapless dress. Lavinia’s straight dark brown hair was held back with a stylish headband so there was nothing to obstruct her decolletage.
He clenched his jaw, and heat coursed through her.
With some apparent difficulty, Theo looked up. He rapidly blinked.
“Right,” he said, clearing his throat. “Should I go grab my jacket, then?”
“No, that’s okay,” she said, voice high. He looked away, turning his gaze to the stars in the sky.
Lavinia’s heart pounded. Was she imagining it? Moments like this, she thought that maybe, just maybe, he was as attracted to her as she was to him.
“Look,” Theo said, pointing up at the stars. “Doesn’t that look like a bow and arrow?”
“Where?” Lavinia asked. She shifted her focus to the sky, trying to see. “I can’t see it.”
“Right there,” Theo pointed. She put her face beside his to see what he was seeing, but she couldn’t make out the shape.
She pouted. “I don’t see it!”
Theo laughed. “Look,” he said, taking her hand. He brought her finger to the sky and drew along the stars, making the shape of a bow and arrow. Finally, she saw it.
“See?” he asked, turning his face to hers just as she turned to him, and then, they were mere inches apart.
The crooked grin tilting his lips froze, the mirth in his expression giving way to something else, something deeper. She took in a shuddering breath, inhaling the warm scent of his cologne.
His brown eyes darkened. Right then, she thought that he did feel the same way as she did. While she had known of her feelings for a few months now, she had never acted on them, too afraid to ruin the equilibrium between them, but maybe it was time. If Lavinia wanted to find love by the winter—the way her mother had—this was her perfect chance.
Her heart pounded with both trepidation and anticipation, fear and courage mixing together. His lips parted. They were so close she felt the heat of his body just beside hers, the breath exhaling from his lips. Desire spread through her, and courage overtook fear.
She drew closer, holding her breath. He inched toward her, and she felt the warmth of his body. Emotion spiked through her, too complex to comprehend, but it didn’t matter, he was going to kiss her, she could see it on his face, feel the intention in his body.
She closed her eyes, heart soaring. She pursed her lips, drawing closer.
Suddenly, she felt cold air.
