Seducing the Baker (At First Sight) (3 page)

“I sent the proposal back unsigned. The feature doesn’t fit with my plans for growing the business. A year from now or maybe two I might take a chance. I’ve seen too many in this field move to fast and fail.”

His eyes narrowed. “You didn’t read the proposal carefully. All expenses are covered by Good Eatin’ and you’ll be paid for the recipes the magazine prints.”

“That’s not why. You’ve seen my entire staff. I’m baker, decorator, bookkeeper and sometimes salesperson.” She scowled. “I’m even the cleaning crew with Bonnie’s help.”

A buzzer sounded. “Move. I need to pull the pans.” She pulled on gloves and went to the oven. One by one she transferred the trays from the oven to the cooling rack.

“Cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg,” he said. “What are they?”

“Add a touch of vanilla and you have Pumpkin Pie.”

He inhaled. “I could be tempted to try every flavor.”

“Think of the calories.”

He arched a brow. “I can think of ways to work them off.”

Grace removed the last tray from the oven. She had no intention of asking how. “Since you’ve come for that reason why don’t you leave? I’ll give you a box of today’s favorites. Share them with your significant other.”

“There’s no one.”

She returned to the work table and assembled the dry ingredients for another batch. She placed flour and a sack of chocolate powder with the eggs and butter. “You should leave.”

“Why?”

She pulled cayenne and powered jalapenos from the spice shelf along with vanilla beans. “I’m making Chocolate Fire and I don’t want a cleaning bill for your light gray jacket and trousers.” He had definitely succeeded in the ten years since he’d left the group home.

“We need to talk about the offer.” He crossed his arms.

Grace slid past him for the baking powder, salt and milk. “I know the opportunity would be great. I’m just not ready to take the risk.”

“Your cupcakes impressed Allie Blakefield. That’s hard to do. Besides restaurants Good Eatin’ features small establishments producing good food. Have dinner with me and we can discuss the pros and cons.”

Again his temperature-raising grin appeared. “I can’t. We’re open until nine tonight. Then there’s clean up, planning for tomorrow and a run to the bank.”

“What time do you close tomorrow?”

“At six.”

“I’ll be by then. We’ll go to dinner. You choose the place.” He closed the distance between them. His lips brushed hers. “Years ago you said no. I was a fool and crude. Won’t happen again.”

Grace froze. Her knees locked and kept her upright. His whispered words and hot breath swirled over her. She felt as if she’d been sucked into a whirlpool with no escape. He’d been trouble as a teenager. As an adult he’d become dangerous.

* * *

Jules strode past the counter and waved at the clerk. “Be seeing you.” Ideas bubbled like champagne. He had until dinner tomorrow to find the perfect plan to achieve his goals, a night with Grace and her signature on the contract for the Good Eatin’s spread.

He slipped on the lightly falling snow and regained his balance. What an asshole he’d been years ago. Something about Grace had made him want to grab her and run. His usually smooth line had vanished the moment they kissed. Beneath his present tactics he found the other self lurked.

This time called for finesse so neither of them would be sorry. He started the Jeep.
Step one, dinner.
Did he really want to take her to dinner at a restaurant? He flipped a mental coin.
Business or pleasure.

By a slim margin business won. Grace had a list of reasons the feature was wrong for her. He needed answers for her every objection.

His thoughts turned to pleasure. If he hadn’t kissed her he might have won both objectives this afternoon. He’d caught a hint of desire beneath the aromas of the bakery. If she hadn’t opened the sack of chocolate powder he would have been more aggressive. No need to ruin his clothes while conducting a seduction.

He tapped the steering wheel and dragged his thoughts back to dreams. Her place would be perfect. To take her to his city apartment could involve a battle of wills and not be what he wanted. He pulled from the parking space and drove down Main Street. A sign beckoned.
Five Cuisines.
Allie’s husband was the owner and he’d heard the food was fabulous. He parked and walked half a block past antique stores to reach the door of the restaurant. Inside he read the menu. He placed at order to be picked up at five forty-five the next day.

More plans formed. His dick throbbed.

Patience. Anticipation is good.

As he strode toward the Jeep he stopped suddenly. Sashaying in his direction he saw a bleached blonde who looked familiar.
Was it?
He hoped not. He stopped and stared into the window of the shop. A mirror set in an elaborate frame allowed him to observe without revealing himself. As the woman strolled past he knew who she was.

She glanced in his direction.
Charlene Paton.
Tight jeans, a fuzzy jacket that emphasized her breasts. Turtle-like he hunched his shoulders.

Keep walking.

She sauntered past, paused and continued walking. There went the girl he’d refused a hundred times. This trip to his former home turf continued to drop bombs.

Once she vanished around the corner tension oozed from his body. At least she hadn’t drawled her usual “Hello” infusing the word with an invitation.

His answer had always been “Hell no.”

During his two year stint in the group home for boys Charlene had stalked him. He’d used every evasion tactic he could invent to avoid being lured by the “I’m willing and ready” odor she had exuded.

Anger simmered like a geyser preparing to erupt in a plume of hot mud. Two weeks before he’d aged out Charlene’s lies had nearly sent him to jail for theft. A call to Tony’s father had brought the man, his father’s friend, to the rescue.

What was the name of Charlene’s dupe?
Erik no Derek, another inmate of the boy’s group home.
Derek had envied Jules’ computer, cell phone, clothes and the other items Jules had managed to bring from home after his mother’s suicide.

Jules started the Jeep. For a time he drove using a random route form the village heading away from Tony’s house. When he reached the lake his jangling nerves and the shadows of the past were tucked away. He turned around. Snow swirled in the air covering the ground with a skim of white.

At the door Lauren let him in. “You look angry. Business not progressing?”

“Just taking longer than I want.”

“There’s more.”

“Nearly ran into Charlene Paton.”

“Ugh. Was she with Derek? I heard he’s back in town.”

Jules shook his head. “She was alone and parading in those tight jeans she always wore. Tony home?”

“In the family room entertaining Jamie. He thought you’d fled back to the city.”

“Just drove around to clear my head.”

“Go relieve him so he can start dinner.” She walked to a door at the end of the hall. “What are you planning tomorrow?”

“Watching my alma mater thrash Tony’s.”

“We’re going to a play in the evening. Want me to find a ticket for you. It’s a local group but they’re pretty good.”

“Don’t bother. I’m having dinner with an old friend.”

“Who?” She arched an eyebrow.

“That would be telling.”

She opened the door. “Some female you hit on in high school?”

He ignored the question and dashed downstairs. Tony sat on the carpet building a tower of blocks for Jamie to knock down.

“This is a scene I never thought I would see. From playboy to daddy in weeks.”

Tony added a block. “This will happen to you. You might find you like married life.”

“Don’t hold your breath.”

Tony rose and slapped Jules’ shoulder. “Glad you came. Why the trip to the village? Never thought you suffered from nostalgia.”

“You’ve got that. Business for Good Eatin’. Lauren sent me to relieve you for chef duties. When do we eat?”

“An hour or so. Have fun with Jamie.”

Jules held up a hand. “Wait. What do I do if …you know…he makes a mess?”

Tony pointed to a box. “Press the button and yell for Lauren. That’s what I do.”

Jules took Tony’s place on the carpet and continued the build. Jamie knocked the tower down. When the child lost interest in the game he crawled across the floor. Jules put the blocks in the toy chest. He turned. Jamie had crossed the room. Jules caught him just as he reached the stairs. “No you don’t. No, no.”

“No, no,” Jamie yelled.

Jules laughed. “They are going to kill me for teaching a word you shouldn’t know until you’re two."

“Up, up.”

Jules scooped the small boy into his arms and sat on the sofa. He thought of how much his friend had changed since Lauren and Jamie had entered his life.

A question wound the way to the surface. Did he want a family? He patted Jamie’s back. Would finding the perfect woman fill the empty hole in his life? He’d dated at least a hundred women and none of them had come close to making him want to leave the dating scene. Jules switched on the TV. Now wasn’t the time to make any decision.

Some time later the door at the top of the stairs opened. Lauren stepped down. “You look comfortable but I need to get Jamie ready for dinner.”

Jules rose and met her on the steps. She took the child.

He followed her upstairs. She pointed to a door. “Rather than go upstairs you can wash there. Tony’s in the kitchen.”

Jules entered the powder room and then strode to the kitchen. The aroma of onions and cilantro drew him into the state of art kitchen. Tony flipped tortillas on the grill and put them on a plate in the warming section of the center island.

“Smells great.”

Tony raised a glass. “Margaritas are in the fridge. Pitcher full. Help yourself. You can also bring out the soup and the sour cream.”

Jules followed the direction and sipped the tart drink. “Nice.” He ladled gazpacho into bowls and topped each with sour cream.

Lauren popped Jamie into the high chair and fed him some of the soup. She handed him a biscuit to keep him from grabbing the spoon.

Tony turned toward Jules. “So tell me about your business in the village. What went wrong?”

“How did you guess?”

“You kept quiet. Spill.”

“She’s a very stubborn woman.” Jules tasted the soup. “Delicious. How goes the wedding plans.”

Lauren rolled her eyes. “Like a tornado. I’m handling Christmas. The wedding is his. On Sunday part of the meet and greet includes a cupcake tasting.”

“From Sweet and Spicy, I hope.”

“Where else?” Tony said. “We like to support local businesses especially when the owner is Lauren’s best friend. How do you know about the bakery?”

Jules straightened. “So the delectable Grace is the maid of honor.” Tomorrow evening he needed to take care when dealing with her.

“Jules, are you with us?” Tony asked. “The bakery. Why?”

“I have to persuade her to let Allie do a spread in Good Eatin’. So far it’s a no go.”

Lauren leaned forward. “On Sunday we’ll add our persuasions. Would be a great boost for business.”

Tony chuckled. “Might mess with her five year plan.”

Jules hoped their help wouldn’t be needed. Did Grace’s apartment have a fireplace? If so that would be perfect for the indoor picnic he’d planned. His thoughts drifted to persuading her to sign the contracts and celebrating with a sex session. Hastily he pulled his thoughts away from his plans and chatted with his friends.

Finally he pushed the plate away. “Great fajitas. They’re the best I’ve ever eaten. The shrimp really tasted great. So were the others. I’m stuffed.”

Lauren rose and picked up Jamie and motioned to Tony. “I’ll do the bath and dress him but it’s your night for a story.”

“On my way.” Tony took a bottle from the fridge. “You’re on KP, my friend.”

“No problem.” Jules watched them walk away. A moment of envy breached his walls.
Why?
He certainly wasn’t ready to settle to one woman in his life.
Grace. Impossible.
Finding no answer he stored leftovers and loaded the dishwasher.

As he cleaned the counter Lauren joined him. “Wow, almost finished.”

“I work fast.” Jules dried his hands and walked to the kitchen door. The flurries of earlier had become a steady fall. “Hope I don’t end up snowbound.”

Lauren laughed. “Predictions call for at least two inches. I worry about Grace. For weeks I’ve nagged her to buy new tires for her van. She’s nearly riding on the rims.”

Jules turned from the door. “I’ll make sure she arrives home safely. A good deed might earn some points.”

“Good thinking.” Tony paused in the doorway and tossed Jules a key. “Front door so you don’t have to wake us up.”