Page 74 of The Cupcake Standard

“Let’s do it.” We ran for the car, laughing as we drove away.

I waited for Derek to explain why he was leaving which he finally did. “So my dad needs someone in Canada to solidify a business deal.”

“Why you?” Frustration made my words clipped. Is the whole universe against us having decent sex? I mean, quickies are great, but…

“I speak French.”

I blinked. Surely, I misheard that. “What?”

He rattled off a sentence in a different language.

Very sexy. I filed that knowledge away for later.

“My parents’ shipping business is predominately on the Great Lakes, so French was one of my minors. Sometimes they’re short of a translator and they call me.”

“When will you be back?” Next Friday is his party. Worry gnawed at me, wondering if all my hard work had been for nothing.

Something must have given me away because he laughed and patted my leg. “Don’t worry. I told Dad in no uncertain terms I had to be back for your party next week. I’ll be there. I promise.”

My phone rang, and it was Gina, demanding to know where we all went. I threw out a half-hearted apology, filled her in, then told her about Derek leaving. “So I’ll call you after he’s gone, okay? To see how everything is.”

She agreed, still sounding pissed, and we hung up.

I was quiet in the elevator. It’ll be weird in the apartment without him. We hadn’t even had time to talk about this new level of our relationship or explore each other fully or…anything.

He must have felt it too because he frowned. “Sit with me while I pack?”

So I perched on his bed, watching his suitcase fill up while the apartment grew emptier. There were so many words I wanted to say, but the lump in my throat wouldn’t let them through.

“Greg will be here soon.” The bed bounced as he plopped down opposite me, his suitcase all zipped up. With a loud sigh, he flopped backward, head landing in the middle of the bed.

I followed suit, our faces inches from each other, gazing into his blue eyes.

“I’m sorry we haven’t had more time.”

Well, that sounded awful. I frowned. “Yet. This isn’t forever.”

“Good. I still want to explore.” His eyes twinkled. “Us pirates are good at that. And plundering. I think I’d like plundering.” His phone chimed. “That’ll be Greg. Want to ride with me to the airport? Maybe I could plunder you in the backseat.” He waggled his eyebrows.

My nose wrinkled at the thought. “Not sure I could do that to Greg.”

“The divider is tinted. And soundproof. He’d never know, and I’d make sure he knew not to roll it down, for any reason.” The teasing was gone, replaced with a need so intense I didn’t have it in me to say no.

“Give me two seconds. I’ll meet you by the door.” I raced to my room to put on something more accessible. Rummaging through my closet—and by rummaging I meant flinging, shoving and tearing—I finally found a simple sundress with an elastic off-the-shoulder top and a knee-length hemline. I stripped down, threw the dress on and nothing else, then stuffed some panties in my purse for the way home.

Derek met me in the living room, his suitcase ready to go. His whole face lit up as I sashayed toward him. Those blue eyes roved over my bare skin, lighting a fire in their wake. “I haven’t seen that one yet.”

I shook my head with a malicious grin. “It’s easy access.” I snapped the elastic band holding up the bodice. A flash of something I couldn’t quite read crossed his face.

His blue eyes bored into me, then he gave a firm nod. I watched, puzzled, as he pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed. “Yes, listen, something’s come up. I’ll still be there, but I can’t leave for at least three hours. Greg will make the arrangements. Okay. I’ll see you then.” He hung up and sent a text, then set his phone on the island.

Wait, what just happened? “Derek?”

Derek stepped toward me, cupping my cheeks in his hands and staring down at me. “You deserve so much more than a goodbye quickie in the car on the way to the airport. My father can wait. I have some exploring to do.” He paused. “If that’s all right.”

Hope cascaded through me, a lightness spread through my chest, and a smile sprawled over my face. “Only if there’s plundering, too.” I stared up at him, unable to comprehend the fact that we actually had time. “What do you want to do first?”

He kissed my lips, softly. “You.” His hands slid down to my shoulders, one staying there, the other continuing on to the small of my back to press me against him. “Then maybe I can do you again.” He kissed me again, hungrily, our tongues dancing together as I opened for him, groaning into his mouth. “And if there’s time, maybe I can finish with you.”

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