Chapter Three
Melonie
I t’s Thursday afternoon, and after a morning full of client calls followed by emails and spreadsheets, my brain is fried, and my eyes are burning. I chose to become a CPA when I was fourteen and sat in on a meeting my dad had with our accountant. I love numbers and helping people, so I knew it would be perfect for me. While I love my job, today has dragged on forever. I back my chair away from my desk and rub my eyes. I only have an hour left, so I set an alarm on my phone for 5 o’clock and promise not to look at the time again until it goes off.
I stand from my chair and raise my arms above me, stretching my back. I can’t wait for Audrey’s wedding, just to have a week off. Ever since my company went through a merger, I feel like my workload has doubled. But after I had watched some of my colleagues be let go in the process, I always remind myself that I’m blessed that my position wasn’t one that was on the chopping block when they made the deal.
As I flop back down into my chair, my phone vibrates on my desk. I force my eyes to the notification, ignoring the clock. I see Linc’s name on a text, so I open the message—he wants me to call him.
When Linc pulled me aside at Jax and Audrey’s engagement party, I let him talk. I let him believe that I forgave him. I realize he feels bad for what happened. In his mind, he was protecting Jax. But it still hurts a little. And I still grow a little angry with myself every time I look at him and imagine that night. It’s annoying how my vagina betrays me.
I bring up his contact information and hit call. At least talking to him is better than working at the moment.
“Mel?” No one else in my life has called me Mel. But Linc insists on nicknames, and I don’t hate it. At least Mel is better than “bubbles.”
“Hey, Linc, what’s up?”
“You sound cute over the phone.”
“Linc, if you’re going to try to flirt with me, I’ll hang up. Now, why did you need me to call you?”
“I got our first task. Are you free tomorrow after work?”
“I can be. What do we need to do?”
“Audrey said we can go do the cake tasting. She said, and I quote, ‘I don’t need to eat all of that sugar’.”
“Oh, so, she thinks I want to? I have to fit into a dress in like two months, too.”
His voice changes from a playful tone to one a bit more serious, an octave lower. “Mel, you’ll look beautiful no matter what. Let’s go eat cake.”
Linc is one of the few men in my life that has openly and honestly complimented my body. He doesn’t know it, but the sex we had that night was so amazing because I felt sexy and safe with him at that moment. I could let go and enjoy myself instead of feeling self-conscious.
“Okay, we’ll go eat cake. Send me the address and time, and I’ll be there.”
“Great! See you tomorrow.”
“Yup. Bye, Linc.”
“Bye, Mel.”
I pull my Audi into a spot outside of the bakeshop and turn off the car. I force my shoulders to relax from my ears and try to release the stress of my day and the expected stress of having to spend the next hour eating cake with Linc.
I open the door and a bell rings above my head. I breathe in the sweet smell of cakes and pastries. Linc turns in the chair where he’s already sitting at a table. He must have just come from the office; he’s still in work clothes—navy dress pants and a polo shirt. His strong arms stretch the sleeves, and the pants hug his ass. He has the biggest ass of any man I’ve ever slept with. I couldn’t keep my hands off it that night months ago. I wonder if it’s the only thing he concentrates on at the gym.
He stands and pulls out my chair as I walk to the table. I roll my eyes; I don’t like when he tries to be a gentleman.
“I can get my own chair, Linc.”
“Hello to you, too. And I know you can, but I still like to do it.”
I feel bad about my reaction, so I sit. “Sorry, hello. Am I late?”
“Not at all. I was just early. I told them I was waiting on you, so they should be out soon with the first round of flavors for us to try.”
“Good. Audrey told me no plain vanilla, no plain chocolate, and she wants some sort of fruit.”
He nods. “Got it. It’s a little stressful picking out someone’s wedding cake. I was surprised when she asked if we could do it. What if we pick the wrong one and she or Jax don’t like it?”
“Don’t worry about all that. If Audrey didn’t trust your taste or mine, we wouldn’t be here. She’s like that, a big picture person. She’s good at delegating and trusting people to make good decisions.”
“I hope you’re right; I like her. She’s really good for Jax.”
“She’s one of my favorite people in the world. And Jax is growing on me. I think he’s good for her, too. She needs someone to make her feel secure, and he does that.”
The attendant walks out from behind the bakery counter with a tray, setting it on the table. “Well, Linc, looks like your partner in crime has arrived.” She extends her hand to me. “I’m Janet. I’ll be helping you pick a cake today.”
I shake her hand. “Good to meet you, Janet. I’m Melonie. Did Audrey send over her suggestions?”
“She did. That’s why, to start, I have a Peach Meringue, Strawberry Divine, and Blackberry Blackout sampling tray for you to try.”
She places the tray in front of us. Goodness, it’s a lot of cake for just the first round. She places a smaller tray of forks on the table and turns to go back to the kitchen.
Linc’s eyes are wide as he stares at the confections. “It’s so much cake. I shouldn’t have eaten lunch, and I’m a guy who likes to eat.”
A small laugh escapes me, and I hand him a fork. “You’re not supposed to eat it all, Linc. You just take a bite or two of each.”
“Thank God. Which one should we try first?”
I tilt my head. “The Blackberry Blackout caught my eye.”
“Let’s do it.”
We both take a bite, and oh my God, it’s good. I can’t help the moan that comes from my mouth as I close my eyes. Lunch seems like forever ago, so the hit of chocolate and sweet berries is amazing. I’m savoring my bite as I hear a fork clatter against the tile floor. My eyes shoot open, and I see Linc bending to pick it up. He forces a tight smile as he places it on the table.
“Sorry, sort of fell out of my hand.” His chest expands with a deep breath. “Um, did you like that one?”
I go back for a second bite. “It’s really good. But I love berries. What did you think?”
He shifts in his chair. “Good. It’s really good.”
I give him a sideways glance. He’s acting weird.
He grabs a new fork and passes me one. “Can we try the peach?”
We each take a bite, and while this one is good, it doesn’t top the blackberry.
He watches for my reaction. “You don’t like this one as much.”
“It’s good. It’s just not the blackberry.”
We grab the last two forks to try the strawberry cake. This time, Linc goes back for a second bite.
“You like that one, don’t you?” I point at the plate.
He nods his head as he pulls the fork from his lips. After he swallows, he says, “Yeah, it tastes like summer to me.”
“So, blackberry and strawberry are on the short list?”
“We can just hold on to the blackberry. I trust your taste.”
“This is a group project, Linc. Your opinion matters, too.”
“All I know is you moaned when you tasted the blackberry and then didn’t go back for seconds on the other two. We’re keeping the blackberry.”
“How embarrassing is it that you heard me moan over cake?” I look down at the napkin in my lap as I feel heat rise in my cheeks.
He turns toward me in his chair. “I’ve only heard you make that noise one other time. Believe me, Mel, you shouldn’t be embarrassed about that moan.”
My eyes dart around his face, and the heat I had felt in my cheeks a moment ago turns into an inferno. All I can manage is a strained “okay,” then I look straight ahead and take a sip of my water. Where is this woman with the next tray of cakes?
She finally returns to clear away everything but the plate of blackberry, then brings us the next round. This time it’s black forest, lemon raspberry, and apple spice. Linc and I work our way through the options, both agreeing to hold on to the lemon raspberry.
After Janet clears the last few dishes, Linc and I stare at the two pieces of cake on the table.
“Lemon is really different from devil’s food cake,” Linc observes, and I can’t say he’s wrong.
“Oooo!” Linc startles in his chair at my exclamation. “I remember Audrey talking about the first night she and Jax were together in Jamaica. She had this unforgettable devil’s food cake for dessert. This could be like a throwback to their first date.”
“Well, that does it. Blackberry blackout it is.”
“I feel a bit of relief that our choice might mean something. I’m glad I remembered that.”
“I just hope I’m sitting next to you at the wedding when it’s time for cake.”
I slap his arm with my napkin. “You just want to hear me moan again.”
He leans back in his chair. “You bet I do.”