by K. M. Scott
“For not thinking I’m like everyone else.”
I can’t tell if her eyes get wide out of fear that she might be wrong and I am like every other guy or fear that’s she right. As long as I have another chance to get to know her even more, I’ll show her just what I am.
And how much I want her.
“Wakey, wakey,” I hear a voice say above me. “Are you going to spend all day in bed?” it taunts.
Am I dreaming, and if I am, why am I dreaming some asshole is waking me up? I need to reconsider what I eat right before I go to bed if this is the quality of dreams I’m having.
Slowly, I open my eyes to see Alex standing at the side of my bed. Covering my eyes with my arm, I groan.
“Go away.”
“We’re supposed to go jet skiing today, remember? Time’s wasting. I’ve got until four to have fun, so get up out of that damn bed and let’s get going.”
I lower my arm and see he’s still here. His hazy figure doesn’t move from where he stands. He’s planning on forcing this issue. I don’t even remember making plans to do anything today. What day is it?
“Give me ten minutes and come back then. Thanks,” I say before rolling over and covering my head with the pillow.
He rips the pillow from my grip and tosses it across the bed out of my reach. “Nope. Time to get up, sleeping beauty.”
With a sigh, I try to not let all the aggression building up inside me out on my best friend, but it’s hard. Very fucking hard.
“You sound like my father. Are you sure you’re not his kid? Because you’re both fucking slave drivers,” I mumble into the bed.
“Come on, Cade. It’s nearly noon, for Christ’s sake. It’s a beautiful day, although you’d never know since you keep this place like a fucking morgue. The sun’s out, the water’s waiting for us, so let’s go.”
I struggle to sit up, still half-asleep and exhausted from getting home after four. “You have no respect for the dead. None whatsoever.”
“Did you work at Club X last night? Your father must kept you there until he locked the doors,” Alex says with a chuckle.
Like any part of that reality is even slightly amusing.
“Fuck off and go jet skiing by yourself, dick.”
From across the bed, he hurls a pillow at me, hitting me in the head and knocking me over. “Get up, man! And you haven’t told me anything that happened with Hailey yet. Did you get anywhere with her?”
“Things went great. I have a date with her tonight. Why are you interrogating me first thing in the morning? Did you at least bring me something to wake up with? Coffee? Energy drink?”
“I’m not your butler, man. Get your own caffeine. So you got a date with her tonight? Good.”
Setting my feet on the floor, I slowly stand from the bed as I gradually come alive. “Yeah, good. She’s going to pick the place and the time. I’m letting her do all the work.”
“Why?” Alex asks, like he’s horrified at the suggestion that I’m not dictating every minute of our time together.
I scrub the last remnants of a wonderful, albeit short night’s sleep from my face and pad across the room toward the bathroom. “Because I thought I might not give her any reason to fucking run away again. Sometimes you don’t come in like a goddamned wrecking ball. Sometimes you use the velvet hammer to get what you want. I think I know why you’re single, dude. These are simple concepts.”
By the time I get out of the bathroom, I’m wide awake. Well, as wide awake as I can be without some serious infusion of caffeine.
“You know, some people actually call or text before coming over to wake people up, dude,” I say as I walk toward the kitchen. “Try it sometime.”
“Sorry. I’m not used to you working, Cade. I just figured you’d be lounging around when I got here.”
Alex sounds almost like he feels bad, so I give him a whatever shrug and grab a water from the refrigerator. Standing in the doorway, he watches me drink, but I have the sense he’s got something on his mind.
“I feel like one of those animals in the zoo with you staring at me like that. ‘The wild Cade, newly awake, saunters down to the watering hole, noticing in the distance a far too alert Alex keeping a watchful eye on him.’ What’s up?”
For a moment, he hesitates to answer my question, piquing my interest even more. I know Alex as well as I know myself, so the fact that I have no idea what may be on his mind makes me think I’m not as awake as I thought I was.
“Are you going to tell me, or am I supposed to read your mind? I mean, we’ve known each other practically since birth, but I don’t think we’ve developed that skill yet.”
“Are things going to be different with this one?” he asks in a tone so full of what sounds like judgment that I’m stunned for a second.
“Things? Like what things? Are you asking if I’m going to buy different clothes to go out with Hailey or if I’m planning on trying out some new sexual positions? Because it would be a no to the clothes but maybe to something freaky, assuming she’s into that.”
My smart ass answer doesn’t satisfy him, if the scowl he gives me is any indication. I know what he’s talking about. I just don’t want to tackle that issue regarding Hailey yet. Things are going good between us so far. There’s no reason to think they’ll crash and burn.
Like they do with every woman I date.
“She’s a nice girl, Cade. She’s talented and sweet, and from what I saw last night, she’s not a bitch, even when it calls for her to be one.”
I take another swig of cold water and try to keep my cool, even though I’m quickly losing it. “I know she is. And she told me how you stood up for her when that friend’s sister tried to say she isn’t a chef like you. What’s this about, Alex?”
It’s been a long time since we had a knock-down, drag-out fight, but I have a feeling that might be happening instead of the jet skiing today by the way he’s looking at me right now. His eyes narrowed, he looks pretty fucking judgmental, and I’m not feeling that.
“Say what’s on your mind.”
He doesn’t need any more than that to tell me what he’s thinking about me with Hailey. “Well, how about we go over your recent history with women, shall we? There was Cassie, who you couldn’t get enough of but she found out you lied to her about who you were and she said adios. Before her was Emma. That crashed and burned pretty quickly, and why? You lied to her about who you were. How about before her? Amber, I think. And what happened there? Lied.”
“Fuck off, Alex.”
I push past him to go into the living room, but he follows me, continuing with his dissertation on my love life. “And the worst of it is you lie about bullshit stuff. Why lie about how you could afford the Jag? It’s not like Cassie thought you were some Silicon Valley whiz kid who had come up with the replacement for Facebook, Cade. And Emma? With her, you lied about this condo and said you shared it with me, which was ridiculous.”
“You’re here often enough that it was only technically a stretch of the truth.”
“And what was it with Amber? Well, that was a huge whopper. You lied about being single since you were still with Sarah. So I guess you can include her in with Amber’s lie.”
I point the water bottle at him, intent on at least defending myself on that point. “We were technically not together anymore. She had ignored my calls for three days. That said to me we were done. So you can’t count either of those as lies. And in my defense, I didn’t lie to Sarah and that ended, so I think your entire thesis about my lying leading to the end of all of my relationships is total bullshit.”
“Yes, you did. You told her you were going to be managing your father’s club, which we both know you never planned to do. So you did lie.”
That very lie I told Hailey last night flashes through my mind, and I turn my head so I don’t have to face Alex. As I said, we’ve known each other for nearly our entire lives, and while we can’t read each other’s minds, I doubt he’ll miss the look I know
is on my face as I remember telling her I manage the club.
“Dude, you lied to her already, didn’t you? What’s wrong with you? This sounds pathological.”
I wave away his concern, pretending it’s nothing. “I just told her I was doing something I’m not exactly doing. That’s all. We barely know each other, so it’s not a problem.”
“You lied about managing Club X, didn’t you? Why do you do that? It’s not like you’re some poor guy mooching off his parents and living in their basement. Look at this place. You own it. Like your car. And the jet skis. And everything else you have because of your trust fund. Most guys in your place brag about that kind of shit, and yet you insist on lying. Why?”
I spin around, not worried about what expression I have on my fucking face now. “Stop busting my balls. I don’t have to let any woman know about my finances. Do you go around sharing your bank account balance with every woman you get into bed with?”
“That’s not the point and you know it.”
“If all you’re going to do is lecture me, then leave me alone. You sound like my father.”
The insult hits just like I wanted it to, and Alex shakes his head. “I sound like me. She’s sweet, and you’re already lying. This isn’t even about you hurting her because, fuck, I barely know Hailey. This is about you sabotaging every relationship you have. You love the chase. You’re notorious for it, and I have no problem with that. But you’ve got a problem, Cade. This lying isn’t okay.”
On my way back into my room, I yell back to him, “You know the way out. Don’t slam the door when you leave.”
A minute later, I’m back in bed and I hear my best friend close the front door when he walks out. Nice start to the day.
Chapter Twelve
Hailey
My father stops at my dough table and raps his knuckles off the metal rack next to it. “You’ve got a visitor out front, honey.”
I lift my head from the cupcake I’ve been frosting and look at him in shock. A visitor to see me? “Who?”
“One of the guys from the other day. I don’t remember his name. They both look alike, so I’m not sure which one.”
Quickly, I tear off my gloves and look at my reflection in the metal case next to me to see if I got any cupcake batter or frosting on my face or in my hair. I don’t see any, but I want to make sure, so I turn toward my father.
“Do I look okay? Too much a mess?”
A slow smile lights up my father’s face. “You look beautiful, like always, honey.”
Pushing the hairs that have escaped my ponytail from my face, I roll my eyes. “You’re not helpful, Dad. Okay, I’m going to go out there.”
“Knock ‘em dead, honey.”
I throw him a look like I can’t believe he said that and hurry out into the dining room before stopping dead just outside the doors. I’m still wearing my apron. Damn! I hurriedly pull it over my head and toss it onto the counter near the sink.
Now I look presentable enough to see Cade.
Looking around the restaurant, I don’t see him, though. I don’t see anyone who looks like a male in his mid-twenties. The only customers around are the usual old men who sit at the counter forever drinking cup after cup of coffee and a family in one of the booths near the windows.
“Hailey, hey,” a male voice says behind me.
I turn around and see Alex, not Cade. Why is his cousin here? Oh, God. He’s here to tell me Cade doesn’t want to be bothered with me because I waited too long to text him. I was going to do it after I finished that batch of cupcakes.
“Hi, Alex. What are you doing here?” I ask, hating how rude that sounds considering how nice he was about what Sabrina said at dinner last night.
“I had some free time this afternoon since my plans fell through, so I thought I’d stop in and see what you’re making today. I looked in the case but didn’t see anything. Did they sell out already?”
“No. Well, yes, but I was just working on some more cupcakes. I can show you them if you like.”
Alex gives me a warm smile and nods. “Great. I’d love to see them.”
“Okay. Come back into the kitchen,” I say as I turn to head back to my station. Then I realize he’s probably used to the best chef’s kitchen, which is definitely not what we have here, so I stop and spin around to face him.
“I should warn you this probably isn’t what you’re used to a kitchen looking like.”
“It’s not the kitchen that makes great food. It’s the chef, so don’t worry.”
Forcing a tortured smile I know isn’t reaching my eyes, I move toward the kitchen silently praying to God Hector cleaned up and my father hasn’t made another mess back there. It’s bad enough my area looks like a cake factory exploded around it.
My hands are shaking by the time we walk through the doors. The moment I step foot inside, I frantically scan the kitchen for anything horrible, but it looks okay.
Well, okay for what I’m used to. What Alex works in probably looks like a million bucks compared to here.
I listen for any gasp of horror coming from him as we make our way to my table, but I don’t hear anything but the usual sounds of the kitchen. The afternoon cook, Sylvie, is humming some tune she said reminds her of when she was a girl back in Austin, the ice machine is making that ka-chonk-a-chonk noise that tells me someone needs to kick it again, and my father’s radio way back in the corner plays some Beach Boys’ song I recognize but can’t for the life of me remember the title right now.
“My area is back here,” I say, pointing to where I left the cupcakes I’d been working on in the corner nearest to the doors.
Before I can say anything else, Alex stops in front of my table and looks down at the last of the peach cupcakes I’d just started when my father said I had a guest. “That looks exactly like a rose, Hailey. It’s uncanny. If I didn’t know it was a cupcake beneath that frosting, I’d say you’d sculpted an actual flower. What flavor did you use for the cake?”
His compliment makes me beam with pride. “I decided to do a peach cupcake for this color icing. I’d offer you one, but our customers bought them all up this morning and I’m saving this one for something special. I have vanilla ones, though. Would you like one of them?”
With a smile that reminds me of his cousin, he nods eagerly. “I’d love to try one.”
Reaching around, I grab a white rose cupcake and hand it to him. “It’s just a cupcake, you know. Nothing terribly special. These are more of an artistic project for me. I saw a picture of some online and wanted to see if I could do it.”
“Can we sit in a booth and talk for a few minutes?” he asks. “I won’t take up too much of your time.”
I hope he can’t see how surprised I am that he wants to sit with me when I smile and start moving back out to the restaurant. “Sure. That would be great.”
When we’re settled in a booth in the corner away from everyone else in the dining room, Alex takes his first bite of the cupcake. “This is delicious. You have to put something special in these because they don’t taste like ordinary vanilla cupcakes.”
“I do. Sour cream. It makes them taste so good, doesn’t it?”
“Mmmm…that’s it. I thought maybe I tasted a hint of almond, but sour cream makes sense. This is fantastic, Hailey. I hope the next time you make the peach ones I’m around and can grab one before everyone else buys you out. I bet they’re out of this world.”
As much as I want to talk shop with him and explain how I use pieces of fresh peaches in the batter, I’m too curious about why he’s here and why Cade isn’t with him to let myself gush about my recipe ingredients. Maybe he came alone because Cade’s busy, or is it that he’s not interested in me or my cupcakes?
“So what would you like to talk about?” I ask quietly, bracing myself for his response being that he’s here to be the one to break it to me that his cousin doesn’t want to see me again after all.
He reaches across the table to grab a napkin from the dis
penser and wipes his mouth. “So good. Well, let me get right to the point. I showed my father and uncle the picture of the chocolate lace cookie I had here last time and they want to know what they’d have to do to be able to get your desserts on a regular basis for CK. Our customers would love them. We’d be willing to pay you well, of course.”
Relief washes over me as he makes his offer, every word making me smile even as I know I have to decline. “I wish I didn’t have to say no, but I can’t do it, Alex.”
He frowns, but I don’t think he’s unhappy as much as disappointed. “Is this because you don’t think your desserts are good enough? They are, Hailey. Trust me.”
Hearing him say that makes me want to burst into tears I’m so happy, but he’s wrong. While I may not be the most confident baker in the world, that’s not the reason why I have to say no to him and his family.
“Thank you, but no that’s not why. I just don’t have the time or facilities to make more than I do for my parents here. I’m trying to help them bring in more business.”
I look around the restaurant at the mostly empty tables and booths and sigh. “I thought if people had something to come in for, they’d come back again and again. So far, it hasn’t turned out like that, but I’m still hoping. I have to keep making my desserts for them, so after that, I don’t have enough time or the right equipment to say I’ll be able to contract with you to make enough for CK. I’m sorry, Alex. Please tell your father and uncle I’m so flattered. Last night was my first time at your restaurant, and to think that a place like that would want to sell my desserts is almost too incredible to believe.”
“I understand. What you’re doing for your parents is a good thing, Hailey. Just keep us in mind if you ever get the chance to branch out, okay?” he asks with a smile that’s like a cherry on top of this beautiful cake his visit’s been.
“Absolutely.”
When he doesn’t continue the conversation, I can’t stop myself from mentioning Cade for the first time. “You know, I saw your cousin last night after my friends and I left the restaurant. We’re supposed to get together again tonight.”
