Baked With Love

by Tina Martin

  “Apparently some people do, and I wish they would throw some this way. Gemma’s first chemotherapy treatment was seven-thousand-dollars, and that’s after insurance.”

  “Oh my gosh.”

  “I’ve already taken out a second mortgage on the house, business isn’t all that great at the bakery as you know, and sometimes, I don’t know what I’m going to do. So it must be nice to have that much money to blow.” Gianna grinned and shook her head at the unfairness of life. Some people had it like that and some people didn’t, but hey, maybe they made better choices. Pursued the top paying careers that afforded them the opportunity to drive the nicest cars. Live in the nicest homes. Live without a care in the world while other people struggled to acquire life’s basic necessities. “So, how many profiles did you send this guy?”

  “Three. He was very particular, too particular if you ask me. He said he wanted a woman who would be loyal. She had to have a thing – something she enjoyed doing. And she had to have strong family ties. He said he was close with his family and couldn’t have a woman disrupting his family in any way.”

  “Hmm…” Gianna said. “That’s strange.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m wondering why he didn’t say he wanted a beautiful woman with hair flowing down her back. You know, what all the men say—a woman with big boobs, a big butt and a figure eight body. That’s what most of them want.”

  “First of all, that’s not what most men want.”

  “Okay, then let me be more specific. Most black men.”

  Felicity shook her head. “I could argue this point all day with you but I’m not going to go there. But I did find it odd that this particular guy didn’t list any physical characteristics he wanted. Out of all the men I matched, all three of them, he was the only man who didn’t mention anything about a woman’s looks—almost like he’s not really interested in the service. I don’t know what to make of it. It’s driving me insane.”

  “What are you going to do about it?”

  “I told him to meet with me tomorrow if he was serious about finding a wife and he said he would, so, I guess we’ll see then.” Felicity stood up.

  “Guess so.”

  “Well, I’m going to head home. I know you need your rest after the harrowing ordeal you went through today.” Felicity chuckled.

  “You laugh, but I need to recuperate after that.”

  “Yeah, because he just might show up again tomorrow. Hadn’t thought about that, had you?”

  “No,” Gianna said and her heart immediately started beating faster.

  “Maybe tall, dark and handsome really do want your cupcake.” Felicity laughed as she opened the front door.

  “Ugh…I hate you,” Gianna said.

  “Love you, too, Gianna,” Felicity told her then waved before she got inside of her car.

  Chapter 4

  Ramsey woke up this morning with the taste of butter pecan frosting on his tongue knowing that his craving for sweets really stemmed from a desire to see the cupcake lady again. He had to know her name and anything else he could pick up on along the way.

  He got up, showered and dressed in one of his finest suits. He didn’t have to wear a suit today. It’s not like he was going to the office. He just wanted to look extra dapper – hoping to get cupcake lady all rattled again.

  He parked his black Audi A8-L in front of The Boardwalk Bakery, stepped out and buttoned his suit jacket with his left hand and proceeded inside. The bell tinkled this time, and he was surprised to see the cupcake lady – the woman he couldn’t stop thinking about who was also the only woman he’d dreamed about since losing Leandra. She was standing behind the cash register. Alert. Focused.

  He felt a pull to his abdomen when she looked up and connected her translucent, honey-colored gaze to his. Her eyes grew bigger. His abdomen grew tighter. In his dream, he saw her face as clearly as he was seeing it now. Yesterday, she was a nervous wreck. At a loss for words. He wondered if she was like that all the time or if she was just that way around him. He got his answer as her eyes grew even bigger as he approached the counter.

  Gianna frowned slightly, then cleared her throat. She placed both hands on the counter. Cleared her throat again. Her face flushed. She tried to swallow again, but her throat was so dry, she couldn’t. Felicity told her not to let a man make her flustered. That was easier said than done.

  “Good morning,” he said as he stood at the counter, facing her.

  Oh, God. I’m going to pass out. She placed her left hand over her chest and threw up her index finger signaling that she’d be right back. She left the counter quickly and stood in the kitchen area where he couldn’t see her panting.

  Okay. Get yourself together, Gianna. You can’t have an anxiety attack at work. He’s just a man. A tall, gorgeous man towering over six feet, but still a man. It’s not like he’s interested in you. He’s probably married. Has a girlfriend. No way he can look that good and still be single. It’s impossible. Besides, he only wants cupcakes.

  She took a bottle of water from the refrigerator and guzzled half of it down to relieve the dryness in her throat. She was fine before he showed up. Now, she was having hot flashes. “I’m too young to be having hot flashes,” she whispered to herself.

  Gathering the strength to get on with it, give him what he came for and get him out of her establishment as fast as she could, she returned to the register. He was still standing there with a smirk on his face, looking better than he looked yesterday. How was that even possible? Amazing. Today, he wore a navy blue, tailored suit with a sky blue shirt underneath and a matching necktie. His black leather shoes were so shiny, she could probably see her reflection in them.

  “Let me try this again,” he said. “Good morning.”

  She had yet to blink.

  His smirked turned into a smile. “Miss?”

  “Huh?” she frowned.

  He chuckled. “Okay, you’re really bad at this.”

  “At what?” she asked, seemingly spellbound staring at his mustache and lips – too timid to connect her gaze with his since he was standing so close.

  “Customer service. Being friendly. Greeting your customers. I could go on.”

  “I’m not usually bad at this,” she said. “It’s just…that…um…I…” She took a breath. “I didn’t expect to see you back here again today after what happened yesterday.”

  Curious as to what her response would be, he asked, “What happened yesterday?”

  She shrugged and glanced around the empty bakery. “You know…I kinda screwed up with you…didn’t make a good first impression. You thought I was psycho.”

  He laughed. “I didn’t think you were psycho. I thought you were unduly nervous, the same way you are now.”

  “So, why’d you come back?”

  He placed his hands on the counter and leaned towards her. “The cupcake has me coming back.”

  Gianna swallowed the lump in her throat. “Ri-right,” she said. She should’ve known he hadn’t come back to see her. Clearing her throat, she asked, “What can I get you today?”

  “Do you remember what I had yesterday?”

  “Yes. How could I forget? You were one of my few morning customers.”

  “I want the exact same thing I had yesterday, but make it a double order.”

  “A double order?” she asked trying not to frown, but the grimace wasn’t any better. She should’ve known he was taken, probably by some ravishing supermodel type chick with an accent. “Is someone joining you this morning?”

  The corner of his mouth lifted. “Do you think I’m going to drink two large coffees and eat two cupcakes?”

  “You could. You look like a giant. You could probably eat a dozen cupcakes in one sitting.”

  He flashed her a playful grin. “You really speak your mind, don’t you?”

  She covered her mouth with her hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I was saying that out loud.”

  He laughed. “How can you not
realize you’re talking out loud?”

  “I’m, um…I’m not very good at talking.”

  He lifted a brow. “You’re not very good at talking?”

  “No,” she answered.

  “Is that why you’re turning red right now?”

  “Probably,” she forced out.

  “Do you normally have trouble conversing with men?”

  “No. Just you.”

  “Why me?”

  After a half shrug, she replied, “I don’t know.”

  “But you don’t know me.”

  “That’s what makes this so weird. I’m weird. I told you that, didn’t I?”

  He couldn’t recall if she mentioned that to him or if he’d come to the conclusion on his own. “The reason I want a double order is because, yes, someone is joining me.”

  “Oh, okay. Colleague? Client? Girlfriend?”

  “No. You.”

  Gianna’s eyebrows raised before she frowned. “You’re kidding, right?”

  “No.”

  “I can’t join you. I have to work.”

  Ramsey looked around, then connected his gaze with hers. “There’s nobody in here.”

  “Doesn’t matter. I’m baking biscuits. I mean, cupcakes. I have to put frosting on the ones that are already done, fill the display case and prepare for the noon rush.”

  “Excuses, excuses,” Ramsey said, glancing at a platinum watch on his left wrist. “It’s 9:05 a.m. You have time. Come sit with me.”

  Gianna chewed on her bottom lip as she considered it for a moment. She didn’t know this man. Just because he bought cupcakes didn’t make him a good guy. And she wasn’t much for small talk with people she didn’t know, especially wickedly handsome strangers.

  “You’re thinking too much.”

  She looked up at him. He was so milk chocolatey, her mouth watered for something sweet. Skip the butter pecan cupcake. She needed some chocolate in her life. Chocolate in the form of a cupcake – not the man. The cupcake. At least that’s what she told herself.

  She took a butter pecan cupcake from the display and set a coffee cup on the counter beside it.

  “Decided not to join me, huh?” he asked.

  “I may…I have to check the oven.”

  She rang up his purchase, and he gave her another twenty dollar bill, same as yesterday.

  “I see you still don’t have a tip jar,” he observed.

  She smiled, handing him his change. “Haven’t gotten around to it. If you don’t like carrying around change, you should just use a credit card. I accept those, too.”

  “Duly noted,” he said. “But you can keep the change.” He picked up his cup and the little, pink-rimmed paper plate that his cupcake was on. “I’ll be over here waiting for you.”

  “I’m sure you will,” Gianna mumbled under her breath as she went to the back, completely flustered, her stomach twisted in a million knots. Walking in circles, she said “I can’t sit with him. I’m a nervous wreck. A klutz. He’ll think I’m nuts. How am I going to get out of this one? Think Gianna. Think!”

  When the oven buzzed, she yelled. The man had her so shook, her own oven scared the daylights out of her, so much so that she jumped clean off the floor.

  “Everything okay back there?” Ramsey asked.

  “Ye-yeah. Everything’s fine.”

  “I thought I heard a scream. You didn’t hurt yourself, did you?”

  “No. I’m fine.” Gianna took out a fresh batch of cupcakes and set the tray on a cooling rack. Then went in another batch.

  Talking to herself again, she said, “Okay, Gianna. Just go out there and say a few words to him. It’s no big deal. He’s a customer. A dreamingly handsome customer, but still—a customer. Remember, he’s not interested in you. He only wants your cupcakes.”

  Gianna pulled in a breath – a breath full of flour dust particles and began coughing. When she was able to get her coughs under control, she took one of the frosted, chocolate cupcakes and walked to the front. She sat down at the two-chair, round table across from the insistent gentleman.

  “Where’s your coffee?” he asked with a smile on his face, pleased that she joined him.

  “I don’t drink coffee. It makes me jittery and, as you can see, I’m already a nervous wreck all on my own. No caffeine needed.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “I just am.” She dipped her index finger in the chocolate frosting on her cupcake and brought it to her mouth, sucking it off.

  Ramsey watched as she repeated this over and over again. He was certain she wasn’t trying to be seductive, but that’s the thing that made her actions that much more alluring. He couldn’t look away. Jeez. She needs to stop. Please stop. You’re turning me on. His legs bounced up and down underneath the table. I need a distraction. He cleared his throat and asked, “What’s your name?”

  “Gianna.”

  “Gianna,” he said, smiling. He thought she had a pretty name, one he would love saying over and over again. It suited her. “What’s your last name, Gianna?”

  She lifted a brow. “Why?”

  He chuckled. “Don’t worry. I won’t cyberstalk you or anything like that. Just curious.”

  She pulled her finger from her mouth in one long, slow lick and said, “It’s Jacobsen. And you would be?”

  Thoroughly intrigued. Instead of saying what he was thinking about her, he answered, “Ramsey St. Claire.”

  “Ramsey…sounds masculine.”

  “Well, I am a man, so…”

  “I know. What I meant was, it sounds strong. Like the name of a man with strength. One that means business.”

  “Then I guess my parents could predict the future by naming me because I’m just as you describe. Strong, and I always mean business.”

  “Do you?” she asked licking more chocolate from her finger. She glanced up at Ramsey when he didn’t respond, then looked at him again holding his gaze. “What?” she asked. She’d just swiped another glob of chocolate on the tip of her finger and was about to take it to her mouth again.

  “You make it look so good, I want to try it,” he said. Before she had a chance to protest, he reached for her wrist and pulled her finger towards his mouth.

  She frowned. “What are you doing?”

  “This,” he responded right before he opened his mouth, pulling her finger between his lips and closed his warm mouth around her finger.

  Her throat nearly closed up. She couldn’t believe what was happening. A tingling sensation – one of which she’d never experienced before – traveled through her and pooled at her stomach. When her head had stopped spinning, she snatched her hand away from him. “Don’t ever do that again! What’s wrong with you? Are you some kind of sick pervert with a cupcake fetish or something?”

  He wanted to laugh, but he managed to maintain a straight face when he said, “No. I’m sorry, Gianna. I just wanted to taste. That’s all. Forgive me.”

  Her frown deepened. “You tasted my finger!”

  “I apologize. Usually, women like getting this kind of attention from me.”

  “Well, I don’t know you?” she said her cheek reddening with every passing second. “What was this? Some kind of test to see how far you could go with me?”

  “No. I can assure you—”

  “Assure me that you will never touch me again! I don’t know you. Just because you’re some dark chocolate god doesn’t give you the right to touch me.”

  His eyes narrowed playfully. “Did you just call me a chocolate god?”

  “Okay, I’m done,” she said standing.

  “Wait,” he said touching her forearm before quickly snatching his hand away. “I’m sorry. I won’t touch you again. My mistake.”

  Ramsey took a bite of his cupcake, glancing up at Gianna as she took a bite of hers. With all the chocolate frosting from her cupcake gone, she was eating the actual cake part of it. She was right about herself, he concluded. She was weird. “Tell me, Gianna—how long have you owned this place?�
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  “Two years.”

  “You must really love cupcakes.”

  “I love baking them more than I like eating them. I used to do this as a hobby.”

  “Then you decided to turn your hobby into a business.”

  Staring at the size of his hand, she missed his question. That hand was wrapped around her dainty wrist just a few minutes ago. Her finger was inside of his mouth. She glanced up at him and caught his eyes again. “Did you say something?”

  The sound of the doorbell tinkling had her looking there. Gianna smiled warmly when she saw the visitor was Jerry.

  “Excuse me for a moment,” she told Ramsey, then walked over to Jerry. She embraced him. The man had on the same filthy clothes from yesterday. “Good morning, Jerry.”

  “Moanin’, sweet thang.”

  “How did you like the cupcakes?”

  “They were good as always. The carrot cream cheese was my favorite, though. You need to make a batch of those for rush hour today, sugar.”

  “I’m already on it, and I set aside some for my favorite customer. Be right back.”

  Gianna disappeared off into the kitchen for a moment, then she was back with a half dozen cupcakes. “Here you go. Enjoy.”

  “Thank you, sweetie.”

  “You’re welcome, Jerry. Be safe out there, okay?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said while exiting.

  Since there were still no other customers in the bakery, Gianna returned to her seat across from Ramsey. She glanced up at him, catching his inquisitive gaze. She quickly looked away. She still couldn’t believe he’d licked her finger.

  “How do you know that guy?” Ramsey inquired. Even though it was none of his business, he felt like he needed to know.

  Gianna’s eyes brightened. “How do I know Jerry?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh. Two years ago when I got motivated to get this place up and running, Jerry used to sit out front. Every day when I came by to do some painting or some other task to fix up the bakery, he was there. He looked homeless to me, and I figured he was since he would always have on the same clothes and sit in the exact same spot. So, one day, I walked over to him and sat down. I introduced myself and found out that he was indeed homeless and he was worried about having to find a new place to stay since he thought I would request that he relocate from the area in front of my new place of business. Instead, I gave him a red velvet cupcake.”