Page 81 of Forever Home

“What do you mean?”

Placing the pan upon the counter, she pauses, taking a deep breath before turning to face me completely. I’ve gathered so farthat Vicki has worked with Jaxson for a long time and I also know that she isn’t into him. Her flavor being more, feminine of nature.

“He’s had it rough with women over the years. And the last one…” she lets out a low whistle, shaking her head before a laugh escapes her lips. “That one was over the top.”

“Damn… really?”

“Oh yeah,” she smiles, glancing at me. “But… you’re different. In a good way.”

“How bad was it… with his ex?” It’s not that I really want to know, but I can’t stop my curiosity after the way Vicki explained the woman was over the top.

“Well,” she finally replies after a moment of hesitation. “Caitlin is a special kind of special…” her comment causes me to laugh as she shakes her head with a smile. “I’m serious. She is what the people around here would call a stage five clinger on steroids. The woman went as far as showing up here after the filming was done to try and corner him… thankfully though he wasn’t here.”

“Wait, she showed up here?”

“Yep,” she replies with a sigh. “About a week ago.”

Hearing that the woman showed up here when Jaxson was with me doesn’t really set my mind at ease. If she is that kind of crazy over him, they must have had something serious. I mean, why else would she go to those kind of lengths. And if that is the case, is that the reason why he won’t put a label on us?

As much as I wish that whatever is going on with him and me potentially will be more… it’s up to him to figure out if that’s what he really wants. I live in Willowcreek and his entire life is here in New York. No matter our past connection, I don’t ever see him wanting to pursue something serious with me. Because he won’t ever leave his life here, and I have no interest in moving away from Willowcreek.

Silence falls between us as we casually begin to clean up. Hours of preparation and baking come to an end as the restaurant closes and people slowly begin to say goodnight before heading out. To be in a kitchen like this, working side by side with other skilled artists, is incredible. I’ve never laughed so much in my life and felt like I finally belongedsomewhere. Even if the restaurant is in New York, the push to finally open my own place only grows stronger.

“Hey guys, I’m heading out!” Vicki calls out as she makes her way back through the double doors to the kitchen from the main area of the restaurant. My eyes meeting hers for a moment as I watch her gaze widen, and her lips part. “Holy shit… you’re fucking good.”

Taking in the cake in front of me, a small smile plays at the corner of my lips at its design. It is one of the better cakes I’ve made over the years and I can’t deny that even I am kind of impressed with how it turned out. “Thanks. I hope the bride likes it.”

“She better.” She replies walking towards the stainless steel table I’ve been working on. “Why don’t you open your own place? You’re too good to be working in a small shop in Willowcreek.”

The thought has crossed my mind many times, but the ache of leaving my mother isn’t something I’ve been able to get rid of. “Uh—maybe one day. It’s something I’ve thought about. I just don’t have time to really do that right now.”

“I see,” she mumbles to herself with a raised brow. “Well, you need to make time. You have to much talent to let it go to waste.”

Giving her a thankful smile, she waves her goodbye and I’m left with the thoughts of our conversation. Perhaps, she is right. As much as I love being in Willowcreek working with my mother having my own place is what I’ve always wanted.

Though, when I think of it logistically… a wedding cake bakery isn’t exactly going to get that much business in Willowcreek.

“Were you able to get things sorted?” Jaxson’s smooth voice says from behind me. His hands settle upon my waist as his lips brush against the side of my cheek. The entire evening, he bounced back and forth between where Vicki and I were working and his normal station. The feeling of his eyes upon me is a sensation I’ll never get enough of.

Hell, every time I looked up, I caught him staring. It only makes sense as to why Vicki would make the comments that she did. “We did…” I reply casually. “You better be careful. Someone may see.” I say sarcastically.

“First off… no one’s here... and second, why would I care if someone sees anything?”

Looking up at him from over my shoulder, I raise a brow and laugh at his comment. “Because this is a place of business and being professional is a must?”

Bullshit answer, I know, but it’s the first thing that came to mind. Not that any of our meet-and-greets have ever really been professional in any capacity. Usually, there was something sexual in nature that came from the two of us working together. At least, that’s how it was back in Willowcreek when we were filming.

He laughs at my comment before gripping my chin with his thumb and finger, slowly bringing his lips to brush against my own. “I guess it’s a good thing that everyone has gone home and only the two of us are here.”

The two of us?

I open my mouth to speak, but instead, he quickly catches me off guard by turning me around and hoisting me onto the silver stainless steel table I’d been cleaning. He doesn’t waste time as his body comes to stand between my open thighs, his hand brushing up my neck only for his fingers to grasp the tight bun on the top of my head, pulling my body closer to him. His lips slowly brush over the bare skin of my exposed neck as my fingers grip at his collar.

“Seeing you in my kitchen working today… fuck,” he groans, gripping my hair tighter. “You have no idea what it was doing to me. What it’s still doing to me.”

“Could have fooled me,” I reply in a taunting tone. “You seemed so… preoccupied.”

“Is that right?”

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