Page 10 of Pieces of Us
“Yup. Bye, Linc.”
“Bye, Mel.”
I pull my Audi into a spot outside of the bakeshop and turn off the car. I force my shoulders to relax from my ears and try to release the stress of my day and the expected stress of having to spend the next hour eating cake with Linc.
I open the door and a bell rings above my head. I breathe in the sweet smell of cakes and pastries. Linc turns in the chair where he’s already sitting at a table. He must have just come from the office; he’s still in work clothes—navy dress pants and a polo shirt. His strong arms stretch the sleeves, and the pants hug his ass. He has the biggest ass of any man I’ve ever slept with. I couldn’t keep my hands off it that night months ago. I wonder if it’s the only thing he concentrates on at the gym.
He stands and pulls out my chair as I walk to the table. I roll my eyes; I don’t like when he tries to be a gentleman.
“I can get my own chair, Linc.”
“Hello to you, too. And I know you can, but I still like to do it.”
I feel bad about my reaction, so I sit. “Sorry, hello. Am I late?”
“Not at all. I was just early. I told them I was waiting on you, so they should be out soon with the first round of flavors for us to try.”
“Good. Audrey told me no plain vanilla, no plain chocolate, and she wants some sort of fruit.”
He nods. “Got it. It’s a little stressful picking out someone’s wedding cake. I was surprised when she asked if we could do it. What if we pick the wrong one and she or Jax don’t like it?”
“Don’t worry about all that. If Audrey didn’t trust your taste or mine, we wouldn’t be here. She’s like that, a big picture person. She’s good at delegating and trusting people to make good decisions.”
“I hope you’re right; I like her. She’s really good for Jax.”
“She’s one of my favorite people in the world. And Jax is growing on me. I think he’s good for her, too. She needs someone to make her feel secure, and he does that.”
The attendant walks out from behind the bakery counter with a tray, setting it on the table. “Well, Linc, looks like your partner in crime has arrived.” She extends her hand to me. “I’m Janet. I’ll be helping you pick a cake today.”
I shake her hand. “Good to meet you, Janet. I’m Melonie. Did Audrey send over her suggestions?”
“She did. That’s why, to start, I have a Peach Meringue, Strawberry Divine, and Blackberry Blackout sampling tray for you to try.”
She places the tray in front of us. Goodness, it’s a lot of cake for just the first round. She places a smaller tray of forks on the table and turns to go back to the kitchen.
Linc’s eyes are wide as he stares at the confections. “It’s so much cake. I shouldn’t have eaten lunch, and I’m a guy who likes to eat.”
A small laugh escapes me, and I hand him a fork. “You’re not supposed to eat it all, Linc. You just take a bite or two of each.”
“Thank God. Which one should we try first?”
I tilt my head. “The Blackberry Blackout caught my eye.”
“Let’s do it.”
We both take a bite, and oh my God, it’s good. I can’t help the moan that comes from my mouth as I close my eyes. Lunch seems like forever ago, so the hit of chocolate and sweet berries is amazing. I’m savoring my bite as I hear a fork clatter against the tile floor. My eyes shoot open, and I see Linc bending to pick it up. He forces a tight smile as he places it on the table.
“Sorry, sort of fell out of my hand.” His chest expands with a deep breath. “Um, did you like that one?”
I go back for a second bite. “It’s really good. But I love berries. What did you think?”
He shifts in his chair. “Good. It’s really good.”
I give him a sideways glance. He’s acting weird.
He grabs a new fork and passes me one. “Can we try the peach?”
We each take a bite, and while this one is good, it doesn’t top the blackberry.
