Chapter Fifteen – Kian
Kian
Kissing Cadie Waterford had become my new favorite thing, well, after watching her have an orgasm. I could kiss her for hours. Smell the vanilla and slight hint of chocolate that always seemed to be on her. Get lost in those green eyes of hers.
I had never felt this way about any other woman before. Sure, I’d been attracted to plenty of women. But something was different with Cadie. She was strong, but there was also a vulnerable side to her. She had secrets, but didn’t everyone?
As we walked down Main toward Batter Up Bakery, Cadie texted Opal, asking if we could stop in since I was in the mood for something chocolate. Opal instantly texted back yes and reminded Cadie to turn the alarm off.
Once we were in the bakery’s kitchen, I pulled Cadie to me and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around my neck, and the kiss became more passionate. I had to force myself to keep my hands from ripping off her clothes and making love to her right there. Opal was cool with us baking, but I highly doubted she would be cool if we had sex on her work table where she made her pies .
I pulled my mouth from hers and nearly dropped to my knees when she let out a moan of protest.
“As much as I want to keep going, I think we should stop before we soil my aunt’s kitchen.”
Cadie giggled and patted my chest. “You’re right. Okay, so you want something with chocolate, huh?”
“I do.”
She nodded and looked up in thought.
“So what are you going to make me?”
She walked to the large pantry and took out Oreo cookies and a semi-sweet chocolate baking bar.
“Are you making chocolate-dipped Oreos?”
She chuckled. “Nope, I’m taking it one step further.”
“What could possibly be better than Oreos dipped in chocolate?”
Turning to face me, Cadie’s eyes went wide. “Have you never had Oreo balls?”
“Can’t say that I have. What are they?”
“Oh my gosh, Kian, are you serious?”
I shrugged. “I don’t think I’ve ever had them.”
She smiled. “You’re in for a treat then. Can you get me a package of cream cheese, please?”
“Sure,” I said, making my way to the refrigerator. I took out the cream cheese and handed it to her. “What can I do to help?”
She slid the food processor over to me. “You can grind these up for me while I get the pan ready.”
“Grind them up?”
“Yes, just hit pulse a few times.”
I saluted and got to work .
“Now we’re going to mix the cream cheese with the Oreos and make some balls. Can you grab the two scoops in that drawer right there to make balls.”
“Okay, I like where this is going!”
She laughed as she put the Oreos and cream cheese in the mixer. Next, we made balls and placed them onto the baking sheet Cadie had covered with wax paper before placing them in the freezer to chill.
“What should we do while we wait for them to freeze?” I asked.
Cadie grinned, but before she could answer, the bakery’s back door opened, and Opal walked in. I silently thanked the stars above for keeping my self-control in check.
“Hi, Opal,” Cadie said as I got up and kissed my aunt on the cheek. “Is everything okay?”
“Oh, yes, I decided since you were here, I was going to swing by and do some bookkeeping I’ve been neglecting.”
She looked around the kitchen and then at me. I was washing the mixing bowl. “You know I can help you with anything if you need it.”
She waved my comment off. “How is the book coming along?”
I grabbed a dish towel and started to dry the bowl. “It’s not happening as fast as I thought it would.”
“Give yourself some grace, Kian. It will happen.”
Cadie smiled at Opal and then at me.
“What are you kids making?”
Cadie and I spoke at the same time. “Oreo balls.”
Looking confused, Opal faced Cadie. “You’re a seasoned baker and you’re making him Oreo balls?”
Laughing, she replied, “It’s quick and easy. ”
Opal held up both hands. “No judgment here. Did you enjoy the dance?”
“I did,” Cadie said as she put the food processor back together and stored it. “I love how this town does such cute things!”
Opal nodded and hung up her coat. “You’ll really enjoy the spring musical festival. I just hope the weather starts warming up a bit.”
“I’m excited for the farmers’ market.”
“Oh!” Opal said as she pressed her hands to her chest. “The fresh fruit we get is unreal. I can’t wait to start using fresh local fruit in desserts.”
“I should start melting the chocolate!” Cadie stated as she rubbed her hands together.
“You kids enjoy; I’m going to go work for a bit.”
An hour later, all three of us sat at one of the tables, devouring the Oreo balls.
Letting out a moan of utter chocolate pleasure, I looked at Opal. “Why did you never make these for us?”
She stared at me in disbelief. “Because all the other pastries I made were shit?”
Cadie let out a choked laughter.
“No, but these are divine!”
“I can’t eat another one, or I’m going to get sick,” Cadie said as she pushed the plate away.
I licked my fingers. “The chocolate is melting on them.”
“I’ll just put these in the refrigerator. Now, you kids head on home and let me get some work done.”
Cadie frowned. “It’s so late, Opal.”
My aunt glanced at her watch. “Nonsense, it’s just ten. I’ll work for a few minutes more, then I’ll head home, which you need to do if you’re going to be opening tomorrow. This is our last Sunday that we’ll be open.”
“What?” I asked as I looked between each woman. “You’re closing on Sundays now?”
Opal smiled. “I am, all thanks to Cadie. She was right; I do deserve some time off.”
Cadie’s cheeks turned pink.
“I think that’s a great idea, Aunt Opal.”
“Some things are going to be changing here. I was going to wait and talk to you privately, Cadie, but now is as good of a time as any.”
“For what?” Cadie asked nervously.
“I’d like to make you the manager. You’d be taking on more responsibilities, but I have no doubt you’ll do wonderful.”
I stared at my aunt. “You’re making Cadie the manager? I mean…are you sure?”
Cadie and my aunt both turned and shot me dirty looks. I held up my hands. “No offense, Cadie, but do you think you can handle it?”
Folding her arms over her chest, she narrowed her eyes at me. “As a matter of fact, Kian, I do. Do you not remember me telling you I owned a bakery?”
Shit.
“You owned a bakery and can bake, but can you run one?”
“What in the world is wrong with you?” Opal asked.
“I just mean, is she ready for this, Aunt Opal? Are you ready to trust her with the bakery you built? Why did you even sell it?”
Cadie’s mouth dropped open. “Like I said before, it was time for me to move on for personal reasons. ”
With a shake of my head, I let out a gruff laugh as I rubbed at the instant tension in my neck.
“Did it really do well like you said, or did you have to sell because it was failing? You haven’t really been upfront about your past, Cadie.”
“Kian Carter!” Opal stated, her hands going to her hips. “That was rude of you.”
When I pulled my gaze off my aunt and looked at Cadie, I swore she looked as if she might cry. I instantly felt like an ass. I wasn’t even sure what in the hell had gotten into me. Opal had never given anyone that much control over the bakery, and maybe a part of me was worried she was making a mistake. But another part of me knew Cadie could handle it. So why was I being a dick?
Cadie turned away. “Opal, I know you need to work, but is there any way I can get a ride with you?”
“Don’t be daft, Cadie; I’m heading to the house, so there’s no need to have Opal leave here and drive out of her way.”
Without saying a word, Cadie walked toward the kitchen, and a few moments later, I heard the back door slam.
Opal spun around and pointed her finger at me. “You are the biggest idiot I have ever met. Why would you say that to her?”
“It’s true! Why make you drive out of your way.”
Throwing her hands up and letting out a growl, Opal looked as if she wanted to strangle me. Instead, she rubbed at her temples.
“First, you questioned her ability to manage the bakery, accused her of running her bakery into the ground, then called her foolish. I’m surprised the girl didn’t hit you upside your head. ”
“I wasn’t calling her foolish, just the idea of you taking her home when I’m going that way.”
Opal exhaled. “I would have thought you were more intelligent than that. After all, wasn’t it Yale where you attended school?”
I scrubbed my hand down my face. “Fine, I messed up. I just don’t understand why she won’t tell anyone about her past.”
“Who is the daft one now? Did you ever stop for one second to think there may be a good reason Cadie doesn’t want anyone to know about her past? You’re frustrated because you don’t know about her history, and you just took it out on her.”
It hadn’t occurred to me. But when Opal voiced it, a million things ran through my head. Was she running from someone or something? Had she done something illegal? Maybe she was in an abusive relationship, and she ran.
“Fuck,” I whispered.
“There goes your thinker working. I knew the moment the girl walked into this bakery she was running from something…or someone. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out.”
“Do you think she broke the law?”
Opal laughed. “No.”
“A guy?”
She shrugged. “That is her business, Kian. Not ours. Now, I think I’m going to just bring my laptop home and work on the books tomorrow. Cadie is opening the bakery and working so that I can have the day off.”
I watched as my aunt turned on her heels and walked away. I pushed my hand through my hair and cursed .
Making sure the front door to the bakery was locked, I turned out the lights and called out to Opal. “The front door is locked, and all the lights are out.”
She walked out of her office. “Perfect timing. Will you walk me to my car?”
“Of course. How do you think Cadie made it back to the house?”
“Most likely called an Uber.”
I sighed. If anything happened to her because of my big mouth, I would never forgive myself.
Opal squeezed my arm. “She’ll be fine, Kian.”
I barely stepped through the front door when Sally started in on me.
“What in the world did you do to Cadie?”
Groaning, I shut the door, removed my jacket, and hung it up. “Where is she?”
“She’s in her room. When she couldn’t get an Uber, she called me to come and get her.”
“Damn it.”
“Again, what did you do?”
Sighing, I walked into the living room and over to the bar where I readied myself to pour a strong shot of whiskey. “I stuck my foot into my mouth.”
“It looked like the two of you were getting along so…well…so pleasantly.”
“We were. We are .”
She huffed. “Clearly not. She left here with you but called me to come and pick her up. ”
Holding up my hand, I said, “Don’t worry. I’ll apologize to her tomorrow.”
Sally shook her head as she turned and headed toward the steps.
“Wait…do you think she is still up?”
“We haven’t been home that long,” Sally stated before disappearing.
Tipping back the whiskey I poured, I headed in the same direction, but I was going to make a pit stop at Cadie’s room first. I owed her an apology.