Page 29 of Fragile Heart

“Let’s get baking, Chef Quinn.” She gives me instructions on what dry ingredients to mix together and watches me intently, making sure I put the exact amount of each in the giant mixing bowl. She even makes me weigh it on a food scale, which seems excessive, but I humor her nonetheless.

Once we’ve mixed everything together and divided it equally into the cupcake pan, I tell her my news about Omega.

Just like I expected, her face lights up. “Oh my God, Hudson! That’s so amazing!”

I shrug and do my best to suppress my smile, playing it off like it’s no big deal even though I’m pretty excited about it. “I don’t have it yet. I still have to talk to them and everything.”

“You’ll get it. I know you will!” She takes a few steps closer to me, wrapping her arms around my neck and hugging me. I instinctively pull her closer and put my arms around her waist. Her vanilla scent invades my senses, and I have to focus on not inhaling too deeply. “I’m so excited for you.” She pulls back suddenly, and I instantly regret letting her go.

Her excitement for me warms my chest. I can’t remember the last time someone was so excited for me. Vaughn and I always celebrate together, but it’s different with him. He’s going through the same process as me. We often just shake things off like it’s no big deal because we have to be hardened in this industry. But here is Quinn, making me feel like she’s actuallyproudof me. I don’t even think my own mother is proud of me.

I give her the details I know, and she listens intently, smiling.

When the oven timer beeps, she slips on her oven mitt and pulls out the cupcake pans. We start making the frosting while the cupcakes cool.

After mixing it, she dips her finger in the mixing bowl and scoops up some frosting. “Try it,” she says, holding her frosting-covered finger out in front of me. I take her finger into my mouth and suck the frosting off without hesitation. I don’t know what possessed me to do that, but I don’t regret it.

Her lips part as her eyes lock on to my mouth. I use my tongue to get every bit of frosting off her finger. I watch the heat build in her eyes, but she quickly blinks it away.

I finally release her from my mouth. “That’s the best frosting I’ve ever had.”

She puts her hand down quickly and says, “Thank you.” I can tell she’s trying to act unfazed, and hell, I am too. It’s been too long since I’ve been with a woman. Frosting shouldn’t make me horny, but I have the start of a hard-on as I stand in my friend’s kitchen. I take a step away from her to let us both cool down.

Once the cupcakes are at room temperature, she puts the frosting in one of those pastry bag things and makes flowers on the top of the cupcakes. Fucking flowers. As if it’s the easiest thing in the world.

“Can you show me how to do that?” I ask after I watch her do a few. I know mine won’t look as good as hers, but I still want to try.

She hands me the bag and tells me what to do, but my first squeeze on the bag results in a giant frosting blob on the top of my cupcake.

Quinn lets out a little laugh, and I glare over at her. “It’s ok.” She comes closer and grabs my hand. She applies pressure to my fist to get the frosting out. I’m trying to pay attention, but all I can think about is how she smells like vanilla and that her hands are so damn soft.

I close my eyes to get myself together before painfully returning my attention to the frosting. With her help, we’ve managed to make my blob look like a semi-decent flower.

“Ok, do you want to try one on your own?” Her blue eyes meet mine, and I nod.

After making a few more sad-looking flowers, Quinn takes over and finishes the rest. I watch her work. Her hands are steady, and she’s so confident in her ability. She should be. These look really great.

“So, are these all for Holly, or can I have one for all my hard work?”

“We can each have one.” I grab one she decorated, she grabs one of mine, and we peel the cupcake liner down before taking a bite.

“Quinn, these are so good. Why haven’t you opened your own bakery yet?” I ask before taking another bite.

“I still might one day. I’m just not there yet.”

“What’s stopping you?” Her cupcakes and cookies are some of the best I’ve had. I’ve witnessed firsthand that everyone in this town loves her baking. She could make some serious money if she just got up and going.

“I don’t know.” She looks up at me, searching my face like she might find her answers there. Almost like she wants me to tell her she has to do it. But I’m not going to do that. I can’t. She’s got to want it bad enough. She needs to want it for herself.

That’s a lesson I’ve learned the hard way in my own life.

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