Page 6 of Cakewalk
“Okay, then.” I backed away slowly, as if she were a rabid rodent. “Either way, I think you should sit here and rest for a bit. I’m sure seeing your cake all over the sidewalk gave you a mild heart attack, and you shouldn’t be straining yourself with the baby and everything.”
“You’re hiding something.”
I blushed.Ugh. How does she always see right through me?“I have a crush!” I announced a bit too loudly. “The guy, the businessman, he was kinda cute. That’s why I’m acting weird. You know how I get.”
“You haven’t had a crush since eighth grade.”
“Okie dokie, I’m going to go clean up now. I really insist that you sit down, right there, and don’t move for at least another five minutes.”
“That’s very specific. And why’s the first aid kit out?”
“Beats me!” I then ran off into the kitchen before she could interrogate me further.
I pressed my back against the door, just in case she tried to follow me in, then scanned the wide open kitchen for Griffin. It was dark, so I flipped on the light switch, revealing Griffin bent over the stainless steel sink. He was shirtless, rinsing his hair under the faucet.
For the first time, I was seeing him without a coat of frosting on him—or any clothes on his upper body, for that matter—and nothing had prepared me for what a stud this man was.
He wore a suit very nicely, but damn, he ought to be walking around in a tank top. It was a crime to cover up those broad shoulders and defined chest, not to mention the ink work he had displayed all across his back and shoulders. From my vantage point, I couldn’t quite see the details of the tattoos, but either way, it wasnotwhat I expected from a guy who looked like a prim and proper businessman on the surface.
I almost forgot all about my mission to get him the hell out of here as I stood mesmerized by the subtle ripples in his muscles as he scrubbed himself clean. It wasn’t until he shut off the faucet and looked up at me that I remembered what I was even doing here.
He lifted a formerly white, now very pink rag in his hands apologetically. “I might’ve ruined this towel, but I didn’t see any disposable ones.”
“That is literally the least of my worries right now,” I said once I managed to peel my eyes away from his muscles and tattoos. “My sister’s in the front, and I kinda didn’t tell her there’s a man cleaning up back here.”
“Why not?”
“I just panicked! But she’s actually not as mad as I thought she would be. Though I almost would rather have her choking me out right now compared to how she’s acting.”
“Is she all right?”
“She’s…” I paused. “Defeated. Ugh. I never thought I’d see her, of all people, give up. She even suggested closing the place!”
Griffin frowned. “Just now?” I nodded, and he continued. “That would be a shame. I hope she doesn’t.” He grabbed his clean white undershirt, which had been shielded from the frosting by his suit, and I felt myself deflate as he started buttoning it up over his chest. “I already made the calls,” he said, nodding at my phone placed on the countertop. “Madison will have her replacement cake by about eight.”
I snatched my phone and glanced at the open apps. He had either been a perfect gentleman, or he knew how to cover up his tracks, but it didn’t appear that my photo gallery had been opened.
“I hope you don’t mind,” he started. “But I added my phone number to your contacts. I should be able to call you once I put my SIM card in a new phone.”
I checked for myself, almost not believing it. Did I seriously somehow manage to charm my way into getting this guy’s number?
“So that I can send you whatever the refund cost is,” he explained.
“Oh.” Right. Of course he wasn’t just giving me his number for recreational purposes. What was I thinking?
He continued, “I’ll head back to the city for a change of clothes and a new phone. Then I’ll sort out the refund.”
I wondered for a moment if he had his own personal limo idling somewhere nearby. Either way, he’d need a stealthy exit. “There’s a door that leads to the back alley for deliveries. You can make your getaway through there.”
He walked up to me, tilting his head. “Are you sure I can’t apologize to your sister personally?”
“If you were anyone else, sure. But considering you’re the big bad developer she’s been railing on about for a good year, it’s really for the best that you never, ever meet her. Like, ever.”
He sighed wistfully. “I’m not like all the other ‘fat cats,’ but I understand. I suppose this is goodbye.”
My heart dropped.
He looked deeper into my eyes then, and a devilish smirk started to spread over his face. “Though itisa small town. And I do like cupcakes. And I could use a place to rent.”
