Chapter 10
BURKE
Iexamine my reflection in the mirror and decide that the sweater is too much, so I pull it off and throw it on my bathroom floor.
A simple long sleeved shirt in dusty blue is the way to go.
The sweater was like I was trying too hard and the whole point is to look like I’m not.
Another spritz of cologne and turning off the lights.
It’s only two o’clock and I know I’m going to be early but…I don’t have anything other than the truth and I sure as hell won’t say it out loud. I’ll think of something to say on the drive over. I can only hope she buys it.
Maggie sits at the kitchen counter when I walk in, staring at her phone and watching brain rot. She’s done with finals and home for the holidays, so she’s taking every advantage to do nothing.
“Hello Magnolia,” I greet and kiss her head.
She throws me an evil glance as she shovels a spoonful of something that looks like confetti soaked in milk.
My daughter has never been a fan of her name.
Yes, we named our girls after flowers and maybe Magnolia is a bit “out there”, but I love it and it fits her perfectly.
Unique, strong, beautiful. However, she has always asked that everyone call her Maggie.
I’m sure one day she’ll change her mind.
I ignore her growl and grab the ziploc bag that I filled and hid especially for today. The girls and I have been gnawing on the other bars for the last twenty-four hours since we perfected the recipe, so I knew I had to set some aside or they’d all be gone by morning.
“Hey,” Maggie exclaims, her words muffled from all of the cereal. “You sneak. You hid those from us.”
“Hide what?” Daisy asks when she comes walking in.
“Dad hid those cranberry pecan bars.” Maggie is now standing up from her seat, the dripping spoon still in her hand, and Daisy looks at me with fire in her eyes.
“How dare you, father. We were looking for some this morning. Now, hand them over.” Daisy holds out her hand and does little grabby fingers, but I tuck the bag behind my bag.
“I hid them because I knew you girls would eat them all and I’m taking some to Regal. I want to do a little taste test and thought I’d ask Santiago and Serena.” I open the fridge, one hand with a death grip on the bars, and reach in for a soda.
“We already did the taste test. They’re good. Product approved. Now give us the bars old man, and no one gets hurt.” Maggie holds her spoon, pointed directly at me, and Daisy is right beside her with finger guns locked on me.
I hold my hands up, both occupied with goodies, and shake my head. “Listen. I don’t want any trouble. I just want to get my stuff and get out of here.” I start walking backwards slowly in the direction of the garage.
“Don’t make any sudden moves, Steele. We don’t want to hurt you. You’re old and could very likely throw out your back. Just slide the bars over and we’ll let you leave.” Daisy moves one step closer and I move back.
“I can’t do that. I need these and you’ve had enough. You have an addiction and you need some help. I can give you that. We’ll make it through together, and find something else for you to love.”
Maggie shakes her head. “We’re not addicted. We can quit any time we want. But now is not the time. So set the bag down and slowly back off.”
“What’s going on?” Aster walks in on our stand-off and Daisy turns one of finger on her. “Woah. Chill Daisy.”
“Dad has cranberry pecan bars and he’s taking them to Santi and Rena,” Daisy growls.
Aster’s eyes turn dark blue like stormy clouds and calmly she puts her hands into her pockets and pulls out her high powered hand gun. We haven’t had a stand-off like this in years and I’m afraid they have youth on their side and I have a bad knee.
“You heard them. Leave the bars and we’ll let you live to make more.” Aster holds her hands up like she’s a tactical member readying for a take down.
“Fine,” I lie. “You win. You can have them. I’m going to set them down and go. Okay?” They all nod, still locked on me, and I slowly start to bend my knees as if I’m going to drop the bag. But instead of dropping it, I make a quick jerk towards the mud room and bolt.
“Get him!” One of the girls shouts and I slam the door behind me, flicking the lock just in time. “Hey!” They bang. “Open up.”
I run to my truck and here one of them says, “We’ll surround his truck. Move move move.”
I jump into the driver’s seat and press my remote to open the garage door and fire up my truck.
My tires squeal as I throw it in reverse and barely miss taking out the door.
I look out the driver’s side window and see the girls running towards me.
Their hands are shaking at me to stop and their faces are red as they yell.
I don’t take my foot off the gas and speed down the driveway.
As I drive off, I can see the three of them chasing after me, yelling and throwing me some not so nice sign language gestures.
I laugh because even though my life seems to be in chaos right now, I can always count on my girls to remind me what’s most important. In this case, it’s getting away with the goods.
I walk nervously into the Regal kitchen and find it empty. I know where Serena’s office is, but I’m suddenly feeling like maybe I shouldn’t just barge in. I’m a guest here, not an employee, and I can’t just wander around. I decide it’s best if I just send a quick text.
Me: Hi Serena. It’s Burke. I was wondering if I could borrow you for a taste test.
I hit send then immediately panic.
Me: I mean, could I ask you to come taste me.
“Fuck!”
Me: Come taste something for me that I made. A new product. I’m in the kitchen.
I shove my phone in my back pocket and drop my head to the stainless steel counter. Would it be weird if I took off running and told her my phone was hacked? I’m flustered and there’s absolutely no reason for me to be acting like a tongue tied, bumbling boy.
When I hear the clicking of heels nearing, I jump up and wipe away the sweat that forms on my forehead. Just the thought of her has my heart racing. I watch the doorway and when she appears, I almost choke.
Serena appears in a long cream colored sweater dress and cognac colored boots.
The color of the dress makes her olive skin glow, and the slicked back bun –I think Aster called it a chignon one time– brings all the attention to her beautiful face.
Her cranberry colored lips –fitting– black winged eyeliner and thick lashes are simple but striking.
This woman could be wearing a face mask and smell like a three day old hangover and she’d still be the most beautiful one I’ve seen.
“You got something for me to taste?” She chuckles, rolling her lips between her teeth to keep from full on guffawing.
The sparkle in her eye has me relaxing and I drop my head between my shoulders. “That was bad. I’m sorry. I left the house in a hurry and I guess my brain is still trying to catch up.”
Serena walks closer and stands across from me, her hands pressed flat to the cold surface. “Everything okay?” She asks, looking concerned.
I wave her off and open up the ziploc bag.
“Yeah. Just me and my girls having some fun that turned into a tense stand-off.” She arches a brow in question, but I don’t explain any further.
“Anyway, I was hoping you could give me your opinion on a new recipe.” I pull out the wax paper covered bars and set one in front of her.
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll steal your idea?” She jokes.
“Nah. I trust you.” She lifts her big brown eyes to meet mine and the look is one I have yet to see on her. It’s vulnerable.
She clears her throat and takes the bar in front of her. “So tell me what this is.” Her delicate fingers unfold the wrapper, revealing the chunky pecans and cranberry bits. “Oh my gosh. Are those cranberries?”
I nod. “Yes. It’s our new crunchy pecan and cranberry bar. Aster and I came up with the idea after we bought too many cranberries for Thanksgiving dinner.”
Without hesitation, Serena breaks off a piece and pops it into her mouth.
I watch as her muscles work, chewing and swallowing, and make the foolish mistake of looking at her eyes.
I see a brief flash of wonder in them before they’re rolling closed.
It’s a horrible image because I can envision that’s what she looks like when she reaches an orgasm.
“Oh my god, Burke,” she moans and it feels like a kick to my balls because I’m reminded of just how long it’s been since I’ve heard a woman purr like that.
“I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but this may be better than the ice cream.
” She takes a bite of another piece and when she licks her lips, my cock twitches.
Jesus, I need to get laid.
“Better? Really?” I rest my elbows on the counter, pushing my growing bulge out of eyesight. “Well then I’ll tell Aster this one has the green light.”
She smiles and I’m floored at just how quickly we went from rivals to tolerating one another to…I guess you call this a friendship. I’ve never really had female friends so I can only assume that this is what it’s like.
“Green lights all the way. I can’t want to smell this baking in the halls.” She reaches over to grab another one, then pauses.
With a grin, I push another one to her and when she picks it up, she brushes her fingers against mine.
We both freeze. It’s a small touch but it feels like a thousand volts of electricity surging through my body.
Her smile falls and I see her chest moving up and down with heavy breaths.
Her breasts are pressed together and my thoughts wander to what it would feel like to slide my dick between them.
The spell is broken when she quickly stands, abandoning the bar, and clears her throat. “S-so,” she stammers. “Is Aster coming to help you?” Serena stares at her hands, inspecting her cranberry colored nails like we both didn’t just feel a spark.
“Not today. I came in to ask your and Santiago’s opinion on these.”
“Oh. Did he already come and go?”
I shake my head and look into her eyes. “No. I haven’t texted him yet. I wanted you to try them first. I really value your opinion.”
“You do?” She’s in disbelief.
“Yeah. I do. You’re a savvy business woman. You’re honest –sometimes brutally– and incredibly intelligent. We may be rivals but that doesn’t mean I don’t respect you.”
Serena walks slowly around the steel workspace, dragging her hand on the surface as she moves.
“We’re not rivals, Burke. I know it may feel like it, but we’re not.
We’re equals. We’re peers. We’re proud San Sabans with the same goal; to provide for our family and support our community.
” She comes to stop right in front of me and we share a quiet moment.
We’ve traded flirtatious looks, joked and even let a few gentle touches pass between us.
She cracked the hard shell that I built around me after my divorce, and it’s the time I’ve wanted to let someone in.
There’s no denying the tension between us, but I think we’ve both just brushed it aside, not wanting to admit what was simmering.
I feel chills run up and down my spine. This woman has me, for lack of a better word, absolutely nutty. I’m twisted up worse than tree roots over her. I feel silly because honestly, it could be nothing more than just flirting for her, and here I am with googly eyes for a woman far too young for me.
“I know I’ve never told you, but I admire everything you are doing. You’re a wonderful role model for your girls, and I hope that this new venture is really huge for you. I want your business to thrive, Burke. I truly do.” Her voice is low and smooth.
Our bodies step closer and a small tendril breaks free from her sleek hair. Without thinking, I take it between my fingers and rub it before pushing it behind her ear. I hear a small gasp fall from her lips. A small voice whispers in my ear to go for it.
My hand falls from her hair and I brush it across her shoulder and down her arm. She shivers and I tell myself now is the moment. I begin to lean in and she starts rising to her toes, both of us knowing what is about to happen and not wanting it to stop.
“Hey Burke.” POP. That’s our bubble exploding when Santiago enters the kitchen.
Serena and I jump away from each other like teenagers whose parents have just turned on the lights.
“Hey there. How’re you, man?” I walk over to shake his hand and tell him about the taste test.
The entire time he and I are talking, my eyes stay glued to Serena’s and hers to mine. My eyes are telling her that we aren’t finished. With a wink and smirk, she walks out of the kitchen and leaves behind a craving for more.