Page 2 of Cupcak
“Yes. The deal.” She squares her shoulders then clears her throat, and when she looks back at me, I’m pleasantly surprised that no vestige of her previous uncertainty remains. In its place is a sweet and beguiling smile. “Since we’re close to closing time, I can offer you the last two dozen cupcakes for a steal. Take these back to the office and your employees will be putty in your hands.”
“What makes you think I have employees?” She’s right, but I’m interested in how she came to that conclusion.
“You have an air about you that is commanding yet approachable. Which is why I know you’re the kind of boss who likes to incentivize their employees. And a happy worker is a good worker, am I right?”
“You’re very right.” Grinning, I nod, thoroughly enjoying her pitch. I can’t help but marvel at her composure and how quick she was to get her wits together and her head back in the game.
She grins right back, and it dazzles me. “OK. So, what’ll it be, Mr—”
“Grant. My name is Drake Grant.”
* * *
Fifteen minutes later,I walk out of the mall, a big paper bag in hand. Inside it is a large box with two dozen cupcakes, neatly packed and sealed. I haven’t bought a cupcake in…forever. And I don’t plan on eating one of these either. But that girl…I think she could sell sun cream in a rainstorm.
I chuckle under my breath, still unable to believe that I’d been coerced into buying all twenty-four of the cupcakes. She even talked me into leaving a nice, fat tip.Sweet talked, is more like it. And if I’m being completely honest, I loved every minute of it.
“Those two are bubblegum flavored with a marshmallow center and rainbow sprinkles on top, but I think your favorite will be those chocolate ones sprinkled with a cookie crumb.” She’d spoken so animatedly as she threw a laughing glance over her shoulder and bent to get me a bigger box to put the blasted cupcakes in. I’d been so distracted by the sight of her lush backside that I merely nodded along. I probably would have bought four dozen cupcakes at that point. Hell, the girl had already talked me into buying bubble gum and sprinkles. And I hate bubble gum and sprinkles.
I can hardly hold in the laugh that bubbles out, and ignoring the odd looks thrown at me, I hoist the bag closer, rainbow sprinkles and all, and walk across the street and down the block to my building.
“Mr. Grant.” The doorman rushes forward to get the door.
“Hey there, Pops.” I grin at him and get a surprised but tentative smile back. I always make it a point to greet Pops, and Fred, the other doorman, but I doubt I’d ever smiled at them—I’ve always got something on my mind. But today, I’m feeling on top of the world.I’ve got sprinkles, dammit!
Grinning even wider, I quicken my pace and all but jog up the short steps, past the reception, through the showroom that takes up the ground floor of my car detailing company, and ride the elevator up to my office.
What started as a part-time job in my garage has become something larger than I ever imagined, with several detailing shops and a range of branded car care products that are sold in stores nationwide and online. Turns out, people really love cleaning their cars, and I’ve made an empire out of it.
I exit the elevator and push open the door to my floor, taking a detour to the office kitchen. I once again have to fight a grin as I watch an intern’s mouth drop open as she sees the big box of cupcakes I carefully lay out on the counter.
“That one’s bubblegum with a marshmallow center and rainbow sprinkles,” I inform her, and her eyes bug out like I’ve spoken Klingon. Nonplussed, I turn to leave, but I pause and turn back to look at the cupcakes. I don’t think I’ve eaten one since I was a kid…
What the hell, why not?
I grab the chocolate with a cookie crumb the cupcake girl suggested, and walk out the kitchen toward my office. I ignore the curious, bemused stares I receive from my employees, my cupcake in hand as I shut the door behind me and settle down into my chair.
Gingerly, I pull away the wrapper and take a small bite. Rich chocolate, dark and bitter. Smiling, I take a bigger bite, and to my surprise, gooey caramel fills my mouth, the salty sweetness an oddly satisfying reprieve from the denseness of the dark chocolate.
Well damn.This girl not only knows her product, but she can read her customer as well. I’m going to have to go back to the mall tomorrow and offer her a job working for me.
I know potential when I see it, and this girl has oodles of it. Granted, it’s raw potential, but with a few lessons and a little direction, she could be the next...I trail off as my mind fills with the image of her sweet curves. Sweeter than the cupcakes she conned me into buying.
I’m probably twice her age. But I have to have her—as an employee, preferably as a lover. But one way or another, she will be mine. I’ve no doubt about that.
Emmy
Ihum to myself as I go about setting up for the day, inhaling deeply as I lift the lids off stacked boxes lined with rows and rows of cupcakes, slices of cake, cookies that are as large as my face, and finally, cake pops. I love and hate this part of my job—unloading the goodies every morning and setting up. My mouth waters as I level a lust-filled glance at the beautifully decorated baked goodies. Invariably, I end up helping myself to a cupcake, the double chocolate one with a salted caramel center that I absolutely love and recommended to the silver fox yesterday.
He made such an impression on me with his bright eyes and dazzling smile that I found myself enjoying some particularly naughty dreams about him last night. Why, I think I’d give up this heavenly cupcake for the chance to act out some of the clever things he was doing with his tongue. Yum, yum, andyum!
I sigh in equal parts guilt and pleasure as I settle for the cupcake instead of the man—who’s definitely far too old for nineteen-year-old me, anyway—and bite into the moist treat, feeling the caramel ooze into my mouth. As I delight in the intense flavor, I reach into my apron and pull out enough cash to cover my sugar hit breakfast, dropping my money into the register. I have a feeling Mrs. Morgan would happily let me sample the cupcakes for free, but I’d feel guilty doing it, so my employee discount is regularly the first sale of the day.
Totally worth it, though. Taking another bite, I close my eyes, savoring the flavor as I lean back against the stand and sigh once more. I’m pretty sure it sounds more like a moan, but who really cares? There’s never anyone in the mall this early, anyway.
“That’s the same kind I ate yesterday,” a deep, familiar voice sounds. “And you were right, it was exactly the kind of flavor I prefer.”
Startled, my eyes fly open and widen as I take in the tall drink of water standing in front of me, smiling–gorgeous Mr. Drake Grant from yesterday. I blink twice to make sure this isn’t my dream coming back to me in the day time. But when he continues staring at me, I realize this is actually happening. But why is he here?
