Chapter 22
“Ineed to get the cake frosted and all the little decorations I’ve made need to go on, but this kitchen isn’t laid out like mine was and I’m going to lose my mind! I still need to bake another batch of strawberry vanilla cupcakes, they need to cool and then I’ll need to decorate them. I’m going to be here all night Seb, there’s no reason you should have to be. So go?—”
“I’m not going anywhere.” He pulled her into his arms and felt the tension relax from her muscles.
“I’m covered in sugar and flour and God knows what else. You’re going to get your fancy clothes all dirty.”
“Like I give a shit. Holding on to you is worth having my entire wardrobe covered in batter.” He breathed in her scent, gently landing a kiss in her hair. “Do I need to remind you of the theme today? You don’t always have to be so strong. You can lean on me.”
“This is who I am, Seb. That girl you saw in Colorado, the one who cried upstairs in her hotel room earlier, that’s not me. I don’t like being weak. I don’t like being wrapped up in my emotions. It’s just better to push everything down and stay strong. That, I’m good at. That, I can do.”
“Sprinkles, look at me.” He waited for her eyes to meet his. “The strongest I’ve ever seen you was when you were crying under the moon, telling me about everything you went through. Telling me about your daughter. That was brave. That was strong. Sharing your emotions with someone is the scariest, and bravest, thing you can do. I don’t want you to push it down. That’s not healthy. I want you to talk to me.”
“I need to get back to work. If I want to get any sleep before Daisy’s shower, and I do because this day has emotionally wiped me out, then those cupcakes need to get in the oven, and I need to start on the frosting.” Emma pushed away from his chest. “You should go. Natalie is stopping by in a little bit to help anyways.”
“Listen, I can either sit here all night watching your beautiful backside zip all around the kitchen, or you can put me to work and we can get you out of here and into bed maybe a little earlier than you were planning.”
Emma eyed him up and down. “Well, I do know now that the billionaire bakes, and that he can make something really yummy.”
“No,” he laughed. “This billionaire thinks the actual baker could show him a thing or two, and he might be a worthy apprentice.”
Emma walked over to him and gently kissed his cheek. “Thank you for wanting to stay.”
“Always.” He placed his hands on her hips and held on, pressing a kiss to her lips. “Mmm, you already taste so fucking good, Emma. How am I going to survive watching you taste everything tonight.”
“If you behave, maybe I’ll make a little extra and we can take it upstairs with us,” she winked as she pushed away from his chest. “But only if you behave between now and then.”
“This is going to be pure torture,” he groaned.
“I’m here!” a flustered Natalie walked into the hotel’s kitchen an hour later, just as Emma was pulling the cupcakes from the oven. “Wow. This place is amazing. We’ll knock out whatever you need to get done in no time.”
“Natalie, it was nice of you to volunteer to help Emma.” Sebastian’s voice must have caught Natalie off guard, because the way her eyes went wide made Emma laugh.
“Mr. Montgomery. I didn’t realize you were here also.”
“It’s all hands on deck to make sure Daisy gets her sunflower cupcakes for tomorrow.”
“Hi, Mr. Montgomery!” Addie peaked out from behind her mom. “Hi, Emma!”
“Hey munchkin, we thought you were too cool to hang with us today.” Sebastian held out his hand and Addie slapped a vigorous high-five into it.
“Her babysitter flaked on me last minute.”
“I thought your husband was going to spend some time with her,” Emma said.
“Yeah, he was supposed to. Unfortunately another case came up and he had to fly out this afternoon. So, like I said, her babysitter flaked on me.”
“That stinks, I’m sorry Nat.”
“It is what it is. Now, what do you need me to do so we can get you out of here at a decent time?”
* * *
Daisy’s baby shower was in full swing, bursts of laughter and fussing over the mom-to-be kept Emma’s mind busy.
“The desserts turned out so cute, Em!” Daisy smiled as she looked over the table filled with the treats Emma, Sebastian, and Natalie worked hard on the night before.
“Well, before you thank me, I think you should know I had helpers. And yes, that does include a certain boyfriend of mine.”
“I can’t believe you were even able to do all this after what happened to your bakery.”
“The kitchen is my happy place. I’m drowning in insurance paperwork and all the hoops I need to jump through to get my payout for rebuilding, but last night I got to jump back into the kitchen here, and that made my heart so happy. I’m glad everything turned out okay, even if I did have to redo half the cupcakes Sebastian attempted to frost.”
The women all laughed.
“The billionaire and the baker, that sounds like the best cheesy romance story,” Kara, Daisy’s sister-in-law, joked.
“I’m sure it’s even better than that, right Em?” Grace asked and Emma blushed.
“Have you seen him? Of course it’s better than anything I’ve ever read, or experienced before.”
“We need to have a get together with just us girls as soon as possible, because I need all the details, and I mean ALL. THE. DETAILS. when my mom isn’t around.” Kara smiled wickedly and Emma laughed.
“Remind me to tell you what happened at the hot spring on his property in Colorado,” Emma winked at Kara.
“Girl, you’re killing me,” she whined.
“As much fun as this is, I have to scoot and say hi to everyone,” Daisy said as she gave each of the women a hug. “Thank you for all of your help putting this together for me today. I love you guys so much.”
Emma, Grace, and Kara found their way to a table near the wall.
“I really think the baby is a girl,” Grace said.
“Yep, I agree. Definitely a girl. I’m so excited for a niece! Growing up with Hank was torture, I’m glad I’ve got a new sister and a baby girl would be just an absolute bonus!” Kara said, making Emma and Grace laugh.
“Yeah, but little boys are also so sweet,” Emma couldn’t help but chime in. “I mean, seeing baby Jack in his overalls and bib just about melts my heart! Although, I think you are both right. It’s definitely a little girl in there. Daisy’s sassy side has been powerful this whole pregnancy.”
The women all laughed. “You know, she has been putting Hank in his place a lot lately,” Kara smiled.
“He needs it. He’s so protective of her, and now that she’s pregnant, he definitely thinks she’s made of glass.”
“I don’t know. I think that’s kind of sweet.” Grace raised her hands when Emma shot her a look of disbelief. “All I’m saying is, it’s freaking sexy when a man stands up for his family. I could barely keep my hands off of Jackson when he’d get all growly about my safety when I was pregnant with Jack.”
“Oh man, you guys are going to be pregnant again before Jack even turns one,” Kara joked.
“Don’t say that!” Grace grimaced. “I’m barely feeling back to myself and I want to figure out what I’m going to do now that Bell Ridge is home.”
“You did real estate in Florida, right?” Emma asked.
“Yep. I was good at it, too.”
“You could get licensed here. I know Sebastian is looking for a new realtor to work with for Montgomery Equities. I could throw your name out there if you wanted.”
“Em, really? That would be amazing. I was just telling Jackson I’d love to start my own little company. I know it would mean putting Jack in daycare, but to feel successful on my own again would be everything.”
“Then it’s settled. I’ll let Seb know and see what he says. And you get studying so you can pass the exam.”
Grace pulled Emma into a tight hug. “I’m so glad we are friends, Emma.”
“Me too, Grace.”
“It’s time for presents!” Hank’s mom yelled out over the party.
Emma watched as Daisy fussed over each new outfit and baby book she was gifted. Her best friend was radiant, and Emma already knew that Daisy was going to be the best mom. Kara handed the gift Emma’d brought to Daisy, and Emma held her breath.
Daisy’s eyes lit up as she unfolded the handmade quilt Emma ordered as soon as she found out Daisy was pregnant. There was a sweet mama and baby cow in the center surrounded by a hundred different sunflowers.
“Emma,” Daisy said with tears in her eyes. “It’s perfect. I love it so much.”
“When the baby comes and we finally know their name, I’ll have it embroidered there on the bottom for you.”
“Thank you so much,” Daisy stood and Emma walked into her embrace. “I love you, Em.”
“I love you too, Daisy.”
* * *
“How did it go?” Sebastian was leaning against the wall outside the special events room, looking so handsome Emma wanted to jump into his arms and never let go.
“It was actually such a nice time. Hank had a few off-duty deputies there keeping an eye on us, and Daisy loved everything we made, especially your lopsided cupcakes.”
Sebastian laughed, and her belly erupted into butterflies.
“I’m glad I could help, and that I didn’t completely ruin her big celebration with my sub-par cupcake decorating skills.” He opened his arms and Emma settled into his chest, loving how safe she felt as his arms wrapped around her body.
She let out a deep sigh, tiredness settling into her bones now that the adrenaline from getting all the sweet treats right and making it through the baby shower was waning.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She lifted her head off his chest and pressed a tentative kiss to his lips. “I told you I would be.”
“Are you sure?” Those gray eyes of his searched her face for any sign she might be lying, but she wasn’t. The baby shower had been full of love and laughter, and she couldn’t be upset after feeling that warmth extended to her.
“I promise I’m not about to fall apart because I celebrated my best friend having a baby.”
“I know you’re not going to, Em. But I also know how heavy this is weighing on your heart.” He swept a few stray hairs away from her face. “Have you thought more about telling Daisy about Luna?”
“I don’t want anything to take away from her happiness. I don’t want to jeopardize our friendship.”
“She would want to be there for you, and you know that. There’s something she understands on a deeper level than I can, because both of you have carried life inside of you. I think it would be good for you to talk to her.”
“I know you do, I just need a little more time. Today is all about celebrating her and the baby, and I don’t want to overshadow that with my sadness and fear. I’ll tell her one day, just not today.”
“Fair enough.”
“Grace mentioned she wants to start working again.”
“Oh, yeah? What’s she thinking of doing?”
“Real estate. I guess she had a pretty successful business in Miami before that douche bag ex of hers forced her to leave it. I know you’re looking for someone to work with for Montgomery Equities, and I told her I’d let you know she was getting back into the field.”
“Yeah, that’s actually great, Em. I’d love to work with Grace. I’ll set up a meeting with her and see where we can go from here.”
“You know, I completely misjudged you at first. I’m sorry for thinking you were a pompous, self-absorbed player who was taking advantage of everyone in Clarence County.”
Sebastian laughed again. “Hell, Sprinkles, don’t hold back.”
“Have you ever known me to hold back?” Emma rolled her eyes, but her cheeks still stung with the blush that crept over her skin. “I thought those things before I got to know you. I’m grateful to know the real Sebastian, not the one I had made up in my mind.”
“Are you completely wiped out from our late night and need to nap, or do you think you could spare a few hours to spend some time with me?”
“Mmm can I have a little bit of both? Snuggles in bed, with you, sounds amazing right now.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I think I can manage that. Shall we head up to your room?”
“Text the guys and let them know we’ll be at your place. I’ve got plans for you that I don’t want them to overhear.”
His eyebrows jumped up and a smile stretched across his face.“You got it, Sprinkles.”