AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Seven
Harper
It’s a beautiful day. I mean picture perfect, sun is shining high in the sky, you can taste the salt on the ocean breeze day. My favorite kinda day.
Free is opening the shop for me, which gives me an extra two hours this morning to run my errands. I’ve already stopped at the bank, the post office, and am heading to the market to grab a few things to stock in the fridge for my lunches and snacks. Just opposite the market is the bakery that opened a handful of years back by a fellow Rockland Falls alumni. Jasmine Clifton had her grand opening of Sugar and Spice nearly five years ago. She was a couple of years younger than I was in school, but I remember her as the person we all went to for the best bake sale treats.
Her window catches my attention immediately. There are three gorgeous, intricate wedding cakes on display of all shapes and sizes. Since we don’t have any hotels, nor resorts for things like destination weddings, the ones that do happen in town are usually on the smaller side, at one of the many small churches or maybe even on the beach. There’s nothing more beautiful than a beachside wedding.
My stomach growls as I stare at the detail on the three cakes. One is pure, bright white with a softer off-white lace overlay. It’s simple, classic, and stunning. The second cake is tall with brightly colored flowers flowing from the top tier and down the sides like a beautifully flowing stream. The third cake is small, with only two fat tiers, but the intricate sugar sand and seashells sets it completely apart from the others. Anyone having a beach wedding would want this cake at their reception.
I have no idea how long I stand there and stare, but I don’t care. The cakes are stunning, but I bet they taste even better. I mean, it is almost lunchtime, and I have yet to eat. The sign in front of the cakes draws my attention. Cake samples available for bride/groom.
I bet they have chocolate.
“Whatcha doin’?” a voice whispers in my ear, making me jump a foot in the air.
“Jesus, Latham, creeper much?” I ask, turning his way and holding a hand to my racing heart.
“Not my fault you were lusting over the cake and didn’t hear me approach.” He shrugs his wide shoulders, his blue Douglas Hardware polo molded to his impressive arms and chest, but what really draws my attention right now is his throat. It’s thick and dusted with a coarse matting of dark hair. It makes me want to lick it, and I’ve never wanted to lick a neck before.
Until now.
“Don’t you have babies to scare?” I ask, giving him my back and turning to face the yummy cakes.
“‘Fraid not, sweetness. I have nothing but free time and no one to torture but you.”
“Lucky me,” I grumble without turning back to face him.
I see his shadow fall over the window and feel the heat radiating from his body as he steps up behind me. And I can smell him. It’s a combination of musky soap and fresh cut wood. It surprises me how much I actually really like the scent. I like it so much I actually sway his way, just the slightest, but of course, he notices, offering me that stupid cocky smirk, reflecting in the window, I want to punch right off his face. And then kiss his full lips. The combination makes my body tingle.
Stupid, traitorous body.
“I bet that’s chocolate cake,” he whispers. The bastard knows my weakness.
“Who cares?” I ask, though my voice holds no conviction.
Latham chuckles. “I bet you do. If memory serves me correctly, you would do anything for chocolate cake.”
“That was one time in fifth grade,” I argue, crossing my arms over my chest.
Stepping into my personal space, he practically plasters his body to mine. His breath tickles my neck as he asks, “What was it that you did again?”
Not one to back down, even though I really could use a little distance between us so I can think, I reply with a sweet smile. “I duct taped Nicholas Leitz to the swingset.”
“And why did you do that?”
Closing my eyes, I sigh in resignation. “So I could have the last piece of chocolate cake.”
“It was his birthday, Harper!”
“I know!” I bellow, making him laugh. The next thing I know, we’re both laughing right there on the sidewalk. The way his entire face lights up when he smiles makes me forget for just a few seconds that I hate him. We both stare at the cakes, neither one of us really saying anything else.
Suddenly, he grabs my hand and pulls me toward the door. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?” I ask, even though I already know the answer.
The bell chimes as we enter the cool bakery, the scent of sugar and cinnamon permeating the air. My mouth instantly starts to water. “Holy mother of all things chocolate, do you see this?” I ask, my feet carrying me to the display case. Chocolate scones, s’mores brownies, double chocolate fudge, and Bavarian cream chocolate iced donuts. I don’t care if I have to spin for two hours every night for the rest of my life, I’d do just about anything for that donut.
