Chapter 15
chapter fifteen
Caeli.
“What are you working on?” Brayden leaned over my shoulder and peeked at my computer screen. I smiled when the light scent of cedar and citrus wafted my nose. He spent most of the day helping Nox smoke meat to sell tomorrow on the truck but had just recently showered. I spent most of my day working on the proposal for Ami’s grown and sexy cupcake line.
“A business proposal.”
“You working on a new business?”
“An extension of what we do, so not new, just an add on.”
He rounded the sofa and filled the space next to me. The difference in our weight sent me crash landing into his side but he remedied the awkward position by draping an arm over my shoulder.
“Bourbon Bliss, Happy Henny, Champagne Charm, Limoncello Love, Appletini Adventure. I don’t know if these will work for the lunchtime crowd if you plan on actually adding bourbon and Hennessy.”
“There will definitely be real liquor in them, a lot of it.”
“Then you might want to save those for cupcakes after dark.”
“Ohhh, I like that. I’m going to write that down.”
“You stealing my shit?”
“If you didn’t trademark it, then no. You’d have to prove in court that it’s actually your shit.”
Brayden laughed while I switched to my notes app and typed Cupcakes After Dark under the list of potential names.
“You’re cute so I’ll let you have it. And seeing you in business mode is sexy. What is all this?” He motioned to my screen.
“After Ami made the mojito cupcake, she got this grand idea to come up with an entire line of adult flavors. We want to use them for specialty events like weddings, bachelorette parties, brunches, dinner parties. The possibilities are endless. Think grown and sexy sweets.”
“When I think about grown and sexy sweets, I think about you and thinking about you tasting sweet is going to lead to me needing a sample, so maybe I shouldn’t.” Brayden placed a trail of kisses over my shoulder and the curve of my neck which had me moaning my approval but I pulled away because I needed to finish this proposal tonight.
“Maybe don’t think about grown and sexy sweets right now. I need to finish this.”
The vibration of his laugh danced across my skin. “I think that’s dope though. You have prospects already or you just pulling it all together?”
“For now, just getting it on paper. I thought about listing the option in Taste Divine under their catering services. Since it’s just dessert, Ami and I can handle something small but the goal is to be able to host events for clients in the future, so we’d do the whole thing. When she told me her idea, I had this entire visual of presentations, displays, cupcake minis in adult flavors and drinks to match. It could be a whole thing.”
“It could definitely be a whole thing. You really love this part of it, don’t you?”
“What part?”
“The business side of things. Just that easily your mind went a million miles a minute, processing how you can turn something simple into an entire profitable business line.”
I grinned and shrugged. “It’s my thing. Ami’s the creative, she comes up with the ideas and I dive into the logistics of how to make them work. But that’s no different than you and Nox. You’re the business and logistics of Smoked & Spice.”
“I am but it’s very different. When we first got started, neither of us knew a damn thing about how things worked. We had a mentor who guided us through the process. He helped us with the business proposal that we submitted to the bank, when we were initially trying to get a line of credit. For the first few months, he worked with me on the financial side of things, making sure I understood P&Ls and bookkeeping. When you make money, all you know is clearing totals everyday. You don’t really think about what you have to pay out to keep things running smoothly. I didn’t know shit about ensuring we made a profit until he had me doing checks and balances. It’s crazy how little you understand about how business works until you’re in the thick of it. I’m grateful we had him because had it just been me and Nox winging it, trying to make things work, we wouldn’t have survived our first year.”
“I took business classes that helped, but a lot of what Ami and I did was trial and error. There was so much we didn’t understand but we made it work. It would have been great to have someone so hands on.”
“You had your aunt right?”
I gently shook my head. “Not for the business side of things. We inherited the house and some money but the business part was all me and Ami.”
“But at least you figured it out.”
“We did.” I smiled proudly. “So your mentor, how’d you meet him?”
“Nox is cool with Jordan who started UrbanEats. His dad, Thurston Powell, is our mentor.”
“Ah damn, now it all makes sense. Ami was rambling on about how she and Nox were in the same circle but never met.”
“Yeah, Nox is pretty consistent or at least more consistent than me with UrbanEats.”
“Same. Ami goes way more than I do. It’s crazy how neither of us had never met.”
“Small worlds can sometimes be big too.”
“Agreed. So Jordan’s dad was the one who got you guys on point with business. That’s dope. I’m sure you have a lot of respect for him.”
“I do. He’s pretty much the only father figure I’ve ever really had outside of my grandfather. Took me to get my first suit and everything. He don’t play about that shit.” Brayden grinned. “But I’ve switched up a little since then. I’m more of a tailored cut than a classic. I have to keep it sexy.”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh hey, there’s that ego again. Let me slide over to make room.” I pretended to pull away and he tightened his arm around my shoulders.
Brayden kissed my cheek and lifted from the sofa. “The brisket is done. I’m going to fix our plates. How much longer you have with this?”
“Um…” I chewed the corner of my lip. “I think I’m pretty much done. I just need to run these numbers to make sure they work. Adding alcohol as an ingredient increases the cost. I have to make sure I consider that for the sale price.”
“Aight, do your thing, Princess.”
“I’m back to Princess?” It had been a while since he called me that and I didn’t hate it anymore.
“You never stopped being my Sugar Princess, I just usually say it in my head when I’m sampling the sugar…” His eyes slowly crawled down my body for a brief second then he was gone, leaving me with more motivation to get this proposal done so there wouldn’t be anything preventing him from sampling later.
An hour later we were in the kitchen sitting across from each other devouring a dinner I was willing to sell everything I owned for. Brisket that all but dissolved on my tongue, maple syrup baked beans, and coleslaw. By the time my plate was empty, I felt the need for a nap.
“This was so good.”
Brayden smiled proudly and forked another thin slice of brisket into his mouth, chewed slowly, then lowered his eyes to my plate. I had pretty much devoured my portion and only had a few tablespoons of baked beans left.
“I can see that.”
I narrowed my eyes and scooped the baked beans into my mouth, dropping my fork onto the plate before I leaned back, rubbing my stomach. “Are you food shaming me?”
“Not at all. I love a woman that has a go hard or go home mentally when it comes to good barbecue and that was some fire ass barbecue you just experienced.”
“I would counter that with something slick but you’re right, it was. I have to apologize for referring to your specialty as burnt meat. It’s so much more than that. World renowned actually. I have to give you your props.”
The sound of his laughter brought a smile to my face but then again, everything about this man brought a smile to my face.
“I like you.”
He arched a brow and finished what was left on his plate, and after a second, he leaned back in his chair. “Is that a new revelation or one you’re just now choosing to vocalize?”
I smiled slowly and shrugged lazily. “Not new per se, only a new realization as to how much I like you.”
“I see. Would you like to expound?”
“I would not. Once I say it I can’t take it back and if you don’t share the same sentiments then that poses a problem.”
“For you or me?”
“Me, of course.”
He silently stared in a way that had me wishing I hadn’t brought up the topic but then he put me at ease.
“I’m the one that said you and I are permanent, Caeli. I also made it clear that I was the only man you would have from now on. How much more clear can I be about us?”
“I just…I don’t know, this is so new but it doesn’t feel new. It feels…”
“Good. Comfortable, like we’ve been doing this all our lives.”
“Yeah…” I said on an exhale.
“As long as what’s between us feels good then the newness doesn’t matter. I like you too, Caeli and what I would like even more is for us to let things be what they are no matter how fast or slow they transpire between us. If you need to pull back…”
“I don’t,” I quickly rushed out.
“If you do, then no explanation is necessary. Just be honest and open about how you feel and I promise to do the same.”
My entire spirit relaxed. “I can do that.”
“Good, then we’ll be just fine. Now, unless you need more of this…” He motioned to my empty plate. “We can head upstairs because I’m in desperate need of a sugar rush.”
Oh…
“Nope, I’m good.”
He pushed back in his chair, stood, and rounded the table, extending a hand to me. “The dishes can wait.”
The dishes can definitely wait…