Chapter 16 #2
Her cheeks turn a beautiful shade of pink. “I do not.”
“You do!” I proclaim through my laughter. “That’s okay, I won’t tell your secrets. I’m a vault.”
She shakes her head, the grin still stretched across her gorgeous face. “I’m going to plead the fifth.”
“Probably for the best,” I state, opening the boxes and waiting for her to choose her food. “Dinner is served.”
Just as I grab my first slice of pizza and add it to my plate with a breadstick and a couple of wings, my phone chimes. Usually, I’d ignore it and give the woman in front of me all my attention, but with everything going on with Gramps, I should at least check it to make sure it’s not family.
As if sensing my hesitation, Joy says, “Go ahead and answer.”
I pull out my phone and tap on the messaging app. I click on Ray’s name and scan the message.
Ray
Eve and John would be honored to have you make an arch for their wedding. I’m attaching a photo of the altar area so you can get a visual. If you want to go in and take measurements, just say the word.
Me
Sounds good. I’ll start drafting a design soon.
Ray
The bride and groom want it to be a surprise, so if you need any direction, Joy will help you.
Me
Sounds good. Thanks!
I snicker and flip my phone down on the table, picking up my pizza and taking a bite. “Sorry about that.”
“Everything okay?” she asks, chowing down on a breadstick with cheddar cheese dipping sauce.
“Yes. That was your dad, actually.”
That seems to catch her attention. “My dad? What did he want?”
“Your parents asked me to build an arch for the wedding. Something simple, not elaborate, that the happy couple can put in the landscaping in the backyard when it’s all said and done.”
Joy grins happily. “I love that.”
“Your sister gave the go-ahead, but they’re leaving the creative part up to me. They want to be surprised on their wedding day.”
“Oh, I can’t wait! Can I help?” she asks, practically vibrating in her seat.
“You want to help me build it?” I ask, trying to hide how turned on that thought makes me.
Her eyes are sparkling, and it has nothing to do with the decorations and lights covering every square inch of her bakery. “Yep. I’ve helped my dad do little things, but I’ve never actually taken a bunch of wood and helped build something from scratch.”
“Well, you got it. Can you come to my grandparents’ house tomorrow after work? I’m going to do some sketches and you can pick which one you think your sister would like the most.”
“Oh my gosh, yes. I can’t wait to help. Wait, you’re going to let me do more than just pick a design, aren’t you?” Her gorgeous green eyes narrow as she stares at me.
“Of course I am. You wanna help, then I’ll let you help. My only rule is you end with the same number of fingers you started with.”
That makes her giggle. “Deal. No way do I want to lose one of these puppies,” she agrees, wiggling her fingers before reaching for her pizza.
“I’m quite partial to all ten of those too,” I tease, leaving the innuendo hanging like the garland over the doorways. My memory is filled with recollections of feeling those fingers and her hands wrapped around the length of my cock after we woke up this morning.
Again, she blushes and diverts her gaze.
We finish eating, chatting about work and the upcoming holiday, and I realize I’ve never felt this content. This settled. This comfortable with a woman, especially one I’ve only been seeing a short period of time.
But that’s the thing. I’ve known Joy my entire life, and being with her just feels…right.
After we clean up our pizza mess and place the leftovers in her refrigerator, I turn my attention her way. “What do you have left to do?”
“Well, I’m featuring hot cross buns with apricot jam and a fresh honey bun with honey glaze on my specialty menu this week, so I need to finish prepping the dough so it can rise overnight. I also need to make the eggnog buttercream frosting for my chocolate and spiced cupcakes.”
I stop where I stand and give her my complete attention. “I know I just stuffed myself with pizza, but I could totally find room for a honey bun right now.”
Joy giggles and moves to her workstation after washing her hands. “Well, they won’t be ready until tomorrow morning, but I will save you one.”
“Better make it two,” I tell her, retrieving the stool and moving it toward where she works. “I can already tell I’m going to love them.”
Shaking her head, she pulls out the recipe she’s looking for and gets to work.
“Can I help?”
She looks up at me and grins. “Of course. Just make sure you finish up with the same number of fingers you started with.”
Barking out a laugh, I move to the sink and scrub my hands with soap and water. Once they’re dry, I stand beside her. “What should I do?”
Under her direction, I help make dough for tomorrow’s pastries, and together, we follow that up with preparing the frosting.
It smells amazing. I’ve always loved eggnog, even though I haven’t had it in years prior to coming back to Snowflake Falls.
In fact, I’m not sure I’ve had it since I left here all those years ago.
It was a part of the holiday season, a tradition for everyone in town.
When I left, the holidays had an entirely different look and feel, and I just don’t remember having eggnog after we relocated.
Once it’s ready to go, I remove the bowl from the big industrial mixer and offer the baker a grin. “I think it’s good.”
She nods and swipes her finger across the paddle attachment and slips it inside her mouth. “Oh my God, it’s perfect.”
I gape at her. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted to do that? But I was trying to be all sanitary and shit.”
Joy giggles and shrugs her shoulders. “It’s not like I just stuck my finger inside the bowl of frosting. The paddle will be cleaned next, so since it’s not going to be used again, it’s fine for a little sample.”
Without asking for permission, I do exactly what she did. Only I don’t take a tiny little sample. I slide my entire finger along the length of the paddle, gathering as much frosting as I can. The moment the sweetness hits my tongue, I moan in pleasure. “Damn, Joy. That’s delicious.”
“It is, isn’t it.” It’s not a question, but a statement.
She quickly transfers the frosting to an airtight container and places it in the refrigerator. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll have to let it return to room temperature and rewhip it, but the flavors will be even stronger thanks to leaving it to rest overnight.”
“I’m gonna need one of those cupcakes with my honey buns,” I tell her, taking another small swipe of frosting off the paddle.
“You’re gonna have a sugar rush,” she tells me, walking over to retrieve the bowl from where I stand.
As she grabs for it, I stop her. An idea forms in my head. “Leave it.”
“For?” she asks, her cheeks turning a delightful shade of pink. We’re standing very close together, and all I want to do is take her in my arms and have my wicked way with her.
“Dessert.”
One eyebrow shoots upward in question.
“You, Easy-Bake,” I reply, sliding my frosting-covered finger down her neck. I follow it with a long swipe of my tongue. The mixture of frosting and the taste of her skin sends all my blood south of my belt. “You’re my dessert.”
I’m about to put the frosting remnants to good use.