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She’s trying to act tough, but it’s obvious she’s hurt. No one wants to be left out. I know her pain. “I don’t know why, but I do care. Before we go out there, I want to ask you a question. Remember when you said you don’t lie—“
“—I don’t lie.” She rolls her bottom lip between her teeth which is a tell in itself. I’m sure she doesn’t lie on purpose, but will she tell the truth now?
I press my body until it’s flush with hers. “Did you draw my cock?” I rock my hips and press my hard-on into her soft belly.
Her hands come to my chest, and I wait for the push, but it doesn’t come. Instead, a low breathy answer whispers forth. “Yes.”
“Oh sweetheart, that’s what I want to hear.” My lips cover hers, and I taste heaven for the first time. My tongue dips in gently at first until she moans, and then I explore every piece of her sweet mouth. Her hands no longer press against my chest, but grip my shirt like she’s hanging on for life.
She turns her head until the kiss breaks. Breathless, she asks, “Why me?”
There is only one answer. “Because you’re perfect.” I brush her lips with mine. “The bathroom is to your right if you need it.” I adjust my erection and back away to the door. “Come out when you’re ready.”
The whole exchange lasts a minute. It feels like a lifetime. It’s not enough.
I leave her behind, but I’m not like the others because I have every intention of coming back again and again and again.
When I walk into the kitchen, I make no excuses for my delay. I don’t have to, it’s my fucking house and Madison is the only one I want here. What really pisses me off is they alienated her because she’s not a chef. How many times have I been alienated because I wasn’t something? Too many times.
I pull the cork from a bottle of chilled wine and pour six glasses. No more than a minute later, Madison walks in and greets everyone.
“Hey.” Her cheeks are flushed and her lips cherry red. I stand taller because I caused both.
Chad steps forward and holds out his arms like he’s asking for a hug. “I’m sorry we left you. It was an oversight. You’re not at our hotel so we didn’t think.”
“Not a problem.” She looks at Chad and then at me. Seeing two glasses of wine in my hand she rounds Chad and walks to me. That’s my girl. That thought hits me like a rolling pin to the chest because after one kiss I know I’ll never kiss another.
“I’m sure you’re all wondering whose cake won the most votes.” I open the oven and check on dinner. Everything looks good. “What cake do you think my customers prefer?”
Chad pipes in with gusto. “Mine of course. Who doesn’t love chocolate on chocolate?”
Paige raises her hand. “I don’t. It’s too much. Which is why I made the carrot cake.”
I hold up a sealed envelope like it’s the CPA-counted results for a beauty pageant. “I love all cakes, but your average person likes a taste of home. For some that’s chocolate. For some it’s ginger.” I look at the faces in front of me and connect with Madison. “For some it’s lemon.” I hand the envelope to Cliff. “Care to do the honors?”
He plucks it from my fingers. “Is there a prize?”
“There’s always a prize. Tonight’s winner gets me exclusively for an hour tomorrow.” Their eyes light up like kids. Everyone’s eyes sparkle but Madison’s. She already thinks she lost, but what she doesn’t know is she can have me exclusively all the other hours.
I don’t have a clue who won because the bakery manager takes care of it, so when Cliff tears open the envelope we all wait for the answer.
I know it’s not him when his shoulders slump. “The winner is…” he points to Chad. “Not you.” He points to Grayson. “Not you.” He points to Madison. “Not you, sweetheart.” His use of the term sweetheart angers me. He has no right.
“This isn’t an Academy Award. Just tell us.” I pull the paper from his hand. “The winner is Paige with thirty five tokens.”
Paige does a happy dance around the kitchen. Her face is joyous, but Madison’s is murderous. My girl is jealous. I can work with that.
“Second place is Madison with thirty-three tokens.” The whole group goes silence until Grayson says, “That’s because you made her cake.”
I hold up my hand. “In all fairness to Madison, I only gave her a recipe. She did the rest, and as you guys who have more experience know, the process is as important as the ingredients.” I walk around the island and place my hand on Madison’s shoulder. She leans into me, and I like that. “Congratulations Madison, there may be a sous chef in you.”
She beams and then nearly knocks me flat on my ass with her reply. “God, I hope so.”
No one picks up the underlying message shared between us except me, and I suddenly can’t wait to send everyone but her home.
I lick my lips savoring the taste she left there.
“Next is Grayson with twenty-seven, Chad with twenty-two, and last is Cliff with eighteen.”
