He’s not a sweets kind of guy, he likes subtle sweet, but I also happen to know he loves dark chocolate, the kind bordering on bitter but not quite baker’s chocolate level. I’ve been working on a new double dark chocolate with almond butter in the center cupcake, and I just so happen to have a test batch in the back. I’ll get him a bear claw as well, he should like that. I can’t help but bounce as I get excited about him trying it. I need to frost them though. “One second! I have something I want you to try. Take a seat.”
He lightly chuckles and the sound goes straight to my core. He nods. “Okay.”
I spin on my heel. “Shannon, please make him his chai latte as well.”
“Yes, ma’am,” she says as she moves to make the order.
Hurrying to the back, I take the cupcakes I baked this morning out of the cooling fridge, along with a piping bag I already have the chocolate frosting in. It’s not overly sweet, it’s something he’ll love. I always like coming up with new things for the shop, and with this one, I had him in mind.
Ricki and Lindsey work on a batch of bagels and snicker at me. Everyone in the bakery knows I have a crush on Cason and would do anything to make him stay around longer. I didn’t even have to say anything, it appears my longing for him is obvious to everyone but him, or at least he’s kind enough to not let on that he knows. Probably so he doesn’t have to reject me.
My hands shake with that thought and I mess up on making the perfect swirl. I move onto the next one. He needs to have a perfect-looking one, nothing else will do. He only gets my best. Once I have two perfect ones, I put one into a small cake travel box and the other for him to try here. I then grab a still-warm Bearclaw from the new batch and cut it in half to put it on the plate as well and make it look nice.
Carefully, I carry it all out to him. He sits at his table, his laptop case on the floor at his feet, a large mug with his chai latte on the table next to him; half of it is already gone. My lips quiver with a nervous smile. I want him to like this so bad. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
I set the plate down in front of him and take a seat in the chair on the other side of the table. “You know how you’ve never had Reese’s Peanut butter cups?”
He arches a brow. “Because I’m allergic to peanuts? Yes.” He sounds unsure of where I’m going with this.
“I know you’ve always wanted to try one, and though it’s not hard chocolate, I wanted to give you something close to the experience. Don’t worry, I used almond butter, not peanut.”
Cason’s fingers move to hover over the cupcake. “Are you saying that you made this cupcake for me?”
I nod. “If you like it, it’ll be going on the menu.”
A smile pulls at his lips. “That’s sweet of you, Jo, thinking of me like that.”
“I always think ab?” I cut myself off before the thought can fully leave my mouth. Heat radiates up through my neck, why did I have to say that?
He cocks his head to the left. “What?”
I shake my head. “Nothing, please try it.”
His gaze never leaves mine as his long fingers pull back the white paper cup from it, and he takes a large bite, hitting the center in one go. It should give him a good bite of the almond butter I piped into the middle. His eyes roll to the back of his head with an expression of pure pleasure. He makes a small moan in the back of his throat and I have to squeeze my thighs together as my panties become wet. My clit aches and I wish he was making the sound while tasting me.
Cason’s brown eyes open and meet mine as he licks some frosting from his lips. The action only serves to make me want him more.
“Jo, that is absolutely incredible. It’s so good! People with peanut allergies will be buying all you have. I know I will.”
I beam at him. His praise means everything. “I’m so glad you like them. Is it okay if I call them Cason’s Choice?”
He keeps eye contact with me as he brings his index finger up to his mouth to suck some frosting off it. I think he might be trying to kill me. At this rate I’m going to have to rub one out in the employee’s restroom. I’ve never done anything like that before, but my clit aches so bad I’m not going to be able to get any work done.
As he pulls his finger away from his mouth his smile widens. “I would be honored, Jo. I’ll have to tell all my clients to come here and try one.”
I set the box down on the table. “This one is for later; if you want it.”
He pulls the box toward him. “Of course I want it, you made it for me. By the way, you look really pretty today.”
God, I wish I could just grab him by the hand and run out of here with him. Have him take me somewhere, anywhere, so I can tell him how I feel and let him have his way with me. Even if it can only happen once, in secret, I would take it. “Thank you.”
“You’re always beautiful, but blue makes your eyes pop.”
I must be as red as a tomato. “Now you’re just trying to butter me up.”
His gaze flicks past me and over to Sacha.
I glance over my shoulder at the man. His eyes are closed, but that doesn’t mean anything. I can get why Cason is worried, if it gets back to my father that he might’ve been flirting with me, all of this could end. Why does he have to be a Bancroft, and why do we have to follow a stupid promise? So what if our families mixed, would that be so bad? We would have double the fortune. I don’t understand why it’s a rule.
