by Angelo, Judy
“It’s not only a cake,” she retorted. “It’s my cake, the cake I was making for my grandmother. It was supposed to be special.” She sniffed and took a couple of deep breaths, apparently trying to calm herself. “I followed the recipe to the letter. I don’t know what went wrong. I didn’t exceed the time on the packaging. The cake was only in the oven like twenty minutes.”
“And what was the temperature setting on the oven?”
“The temperature what?”
“Okay. I think we’ve found the key to your problem.” Roman shook his head then chuckled. “You probably had the temperature setting way too high and that’s why you burned your cake.”
Serena heaved a sigh. “Why can’t I do anything right? What am I going to do now? I wish somebody had taught me about these things.”
For a moment there was silence and Roman could just imagine her biting her bottom lip as she seemed to do when she was deep in thought. She was obviously at a loss when it came to domestic matters and why shouldn’t she be? He was sure she hadn’t had to cook anything in her life. And now she had taken it up on herself to bake a cake for her grandmother by herself. He could only admire her for that.
On an impulse he said, “This cake of yours, how soon do you need to have it ready?”
“I told my grandma I wanted to come by around four o’clock this afternoon. I wanted to surprise her with something homemade but who am I kidding? I’ll never be able to do this by myself.”
“I may be able to help.”
“You? How?”
Roman chuckled into the phone. “I’m an excellent chef, if I may say so myself. I learned at the hands of the best.”
“Would you…show me?” Serena’s voice sounded hesitant but hopeful.
“It’s only a little after eleven right now so if you can hang in there while I locate this file and finish what I’m doing I’ll help you bake your cake. Do you have all the ingredients or do I need to pick up something on the way?”
“N…no, I have what I need. Do you know where I live?”
“Sure. I had to check your file to get your home number and I see you listed at one of the apartments just a few miles east of the office. I don’t mind swinging by. In fact, I’d love to get my hands full of flour again. It’s been a while.” Roman smiled to himself as he remembered the last time he’d done any cooking. It had been at the family Thanksgiving gathering three years earlier at his parents’ house. He’d been appointed chef for the day. Since then, though, he hadn’t had a chance to do any real cooking since he was always traveling and his housekeeper took care of his meals when he was at home.
But then he thought of something and his smile disappeared. Was he being presumptuous to invite himself over to the girl’s apartment? It was stupid of him to even make the offer.
“On second thought, maybe it’s not such a good idea,” he said, his tone apologetic. “I’m sure you want to do this on your own-”
“No way. I’m not going to let you back out of this. You made the offer and I’m taking you up on it. You’ll come over…won’t you?”
It was that hesitation in her voice, that soft hint of pleading, that got him. Serena had always played tough but she was vulnerable in so many ways. How could he say no?
“Alright, I’ll be there in an hour or so. That is, assuming I find the file. I’ll give you a call before I head out.”
“Great,” she said with a happy laugh. “I’ll have everything ready and waiting. Promise.”
After Roman hung up he sat for a moment tapping his fingers on the desk. He liked the sound of that. Ready and waiting. Maybe he liked it a bit too much. Was he making a mistake in seeing Serena outside of the office, even if just to help her?
Roman sighed. Maybe he was overreacting. He’d been busy with traveling and the office for so long he could do with some down time. Amusing himself with cake baking would certainly be different. And with Serena nearby it would definitely not be boring. It might even end up being fun. He was looking forward to it.
CHAPTER NINE
Serena could not believe that she had just invited her boss over to help her bake a cake. Which employee dared do something like that? An employee like her, it seemed, one who was desperate. It was not like her friends were anywhere near and could come over to help and the birthday celebration was this afternoon. She’d grabbed at his offer and, nervous as it made her, she did not regret it. If she had a delicious cake to take to her Grandma Sylvie’s house it would all be worth it.
She busied herself tidying up the kitchen, getting rid of the burned cake and setting out the ingredients for the next one. Then it was time to tidy herself. With a grimace she got rid of the apron. There was no way she wanted him to see her looking like a housewife. A girl had her image to think about. She got rid of the gray sweat pants and the oversized white T-shirt and changed into a primrose yellow shirt and jeans. She wanted to apply some make-up but then thought better of it. She didn’t want him to think she was getting all dolled up because of him. Instead, all she did was apply a little lip gloss and put her hair up in a ponytail.
The hour flew by and all too soon Serena heard the buzzer. Ready or not, Roman was here. She pressed the button to let him in then glanced in the mirror to make sure everything was in the right place. Then, with a deliberately nonchalant air, she sauntered to the front door. Perfect timing. As she rested her hand on the knob there was a knock. She pulled it open and when she saw Roman Steele standing in the doorway her heart did a backflip.
She’d thought he was sexy in his business suit but today the sight before her eyes made her mouth water. Roman was dressed casually in a navy blue polo shirt and jeans. The light material of the shirt stretched across his broad chest, accentuating his muscled torso. This was the first time she’d seen his arms exposed and those, too, were well muscled. It looked like he worked out a lot. She could just imagine those arms around her, pulling her close.
“Aren’t you going to invite me in?” Roman smiled down at her and chuckled.
“Oh. Yes, come in.” Serena stepped back and held the door open so that Roman could enter. “Sorry about my bad manners.”
“No problem,” Roman responded, his eyes resting on her, and she could swear she saw something close to admiration in his expression. But for what?
“So, where do I start? Point me to the kitchen.”
Serena gave him a quick smile. She had no problem getting started right away because it was almost one o’clock and she needed everything to be ready by at least three thirty. “Just follow me,” she said and led the way.
Serena could sense that working in the tiny kitchen with Roman was going to be quite an experience. The fragrance of his woodsy cologne filled her nostrils and the nearness of him made her constantly conscious of the virile man in her tiny apartment. She’d never worked this closely with a man before. The fact that the man was Roman did not make anything easier.
“I see you have everything prepared,” Roman said as he eyed all the items laid out on the counter. “Let me wash my hands and we’ll get right to work.”
Serena nodded and stepped back so that he could prepare himself then as he worked she stood over in the corner and watched. Never in a million years would she have imagined Roman as being an expert in the kitchen but he did everything with such competence that she could only stare in admiration.
“Were you formally trained in cooking?” she asked.
Roman laughed. “No, not this kind of cooking. I can cook up a good business deal but this is something I learned at the hand of my mother. I’ve always enjoyed it.” He beckoned to her with a nod. “Now come on over. It’s time for you to get your hands dirty.”
Slowly, Serena walked over to stand by Roman’s side. She almost felt intimidated by his size. Even more disconcerting was his nearness. His male presence filled the tiny room, making every inch of her body aware of him.
Roman turned with the bag of flour and held it out to Serena. “Here. Take this and me
asure out one cup.” Serena reached out to take the bag from him and their fingers touched. She jumped back and stared up at him.
“Are you alright?” Roman cocked an eyebrow as he looked down at her.
“I’m…I’m fine,” Serena said then took a step away from him. She’d felt it, a shock that ran through her the moment his fingertips touched hers. Had he felt it, too? She couldn’t tell but she knew that having him so close was driving her crazy. She had to put some distance between the two of them.
She rested the bag on the counter. “I’ll be right back. I just need to check something.” Before he could stop her she exited the kitchen and made a beeline for her room.
Serena knew she was being crazy but how was she going to handle being so close to this man to whom she was so attracted? She had to get a hold of herself. She had to stop acting like an idiot before the man thought something was wrong with her. She took two deep breaths then headed back to the kitchen.
She’d only been gone three minutes but already Roman had all the ingredients in the bowl and had turned on the mixer. When she walked in he turned and smiled at her.
“I know what you’re up to,” he said and his grin widened.
“You do?”
“You had no intention of helping me with this cake, did you? You slipped out so that I’d get started and I’d be done by the time you got back. I know your trick.”
“Oh, that. You…you got me. Guilty as charged.”
The rest of the baking project went without incident and soon the cake was in the oven, scheduled to sit there for thirty minutes. Now what were they going to do? “Would you like to watch some television?” Serena asked. “There’s a basketball game on.”
Roman nodded. “Sounds good to me.”
And so it was that Roman ended up sprawling comfortably on her sofa watching the big screen TV while she perched on a bar stool watching him. He was so absorbed in the game, the Knicks versus the Lakers, that she wondered if he even remembered she was there. But she could never forget his presence. His aura filled the room. She needed to get out and away from him. He was having too much of an effect on her.
“I’m going to check on the cake.” She slid off the stool and was heading for the kitchen when his voice stopped her.
“Don’t you dare. If you keep opening that oven my cake is going to go flat.”
“Your cake? I thought it was mine.”
Roman cocked an eyebrow. “And who did all the work? Certainly not you.”
Serena turned on her heel and gave him a threatening look. “You’d better not tell my grandmother that.”
Roman laughed and lifted his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay, you’re the boss. It’s your cake and I had nothing to do with it.”
“I’ll give you some of the credit,” she conceded with a smile. “Just a little.”
The light banter eased the tension for Serena and the rest of the waiting time flew by quickly. Before she realized it, it was time to get the cake out and get ready to go to her grandmother’s. “You’re coming, right?” When he seemed to hesitate she continued. “You can’t back out now. You promised.”
“If you want me to,” Roman said, staring at her intently, no longer seeming interested in the basketball game. One hundred percent of his attention was focused on her.
Serena squirmed a little under his gaze but she knew she wanted to spend the rest of the afternoon with him. A very pleasant hour had already passed and she did not want it to end that quickly even if she would have to share him with her grandmother.
In the office they’d had to be very professional, almost formal, but here on a Saturday afternoon she began to see a more relaxed side to Roman. He was absorbed in the basketball game, cheering on the Knicks while she rooted for the Lakers and soon they had a good rivalry going. She loved it. She’d never been a fan of sports but with Roman there to share the game with her it was fun.
“I do want you to come.” Serena gave Roman a smile. “Grandma Sylvie would love to meet you and I think you’d like her, too.”
He nodded. “I need no further convincing.”
“Okay, let me get changed and we’ll get going.” As she hurried to her bedroom she hoped he did not see the silly grin on her face.
CHAPTER TEN
Roman held the door open as Serena slid from the passenger seat of his black Mercedes Benz. From the city it had taken them a little over thirty minutes to get to her grandmother’s house. Throughout the journey Serena sat in the passenger seat with the cake cradled on her lap. You would think it was the most precious thing in the world. But he wasn’t knocking her. He could see that this gift, small as it was, meant a lot to her and that her grandmother was a very important person in her life.
With Serena on her feet Roman opened the back door and carefully took out the large gift-wrapped object that Serena had placed in his hands. He could guess that it was a picture of some sort because he could feel the pattern of the engraved frame.
As they walked up the winding gravel driveway Roman looked around, admiring the surroundings. They were out in the country and it was beautiful, with wide open fields and woods that formed a backdrop to the sprawling ranch house.
Serena must have seen him staring because she said, “My house is not far from here. I often ride over to visit Grandma Sylvie. It’s so exhilarating, galloping across the fields.”
“I can imagine,” Roman said. In his mind’s eye he could see her on the back of a horse, her hair a dark curtain flying behind her as she rode. He had no doubt that she was an expert horsewoman. He wondered if one day he would have the privilege of riding with her.
They climbed the steps and crossed the wide porch that circled the house. Serena rang the bell and within seconds the door swung open and a petite white-haired woman was smiling up at them.
“Serena, darling.” The woman tilted her head and gave her a kiss on the cheek then her eyes left her granddaughter’s face and rose to meet Roman’s. Her smile widened. “And who do we have here?”
For some reason, maybe because of the twinkle in her grandmother’s eyes, Serena blushed. “This is Roman Steele, my boss.”
Sylvie gave a polite nod. “Welcome, Roman. I’m pleased to meet you. Won’t you come in?”
When they got inside Serena handed over her prized possession, the birthday cake.
“Oh, my,” Sylvie exclaimed. “What a wonderful surprise. I’ll take it to the kitchen and we can have some in a little while.” As she headed down the hallway she called out, “Make yourselves comfortable. I’ll be right back.”
Serena directed Roman to an elegantly furnished living room filled with family portraits.
“Please have a seat,” she said, indicating the couch. Instead of sitting, she went to stand by the mantelpiece.
This drew Roman’s attention to the painted portrait above the fireplace. It was the picture of a beautiful blonde-haired woman on horseback. “Was that your mother?”
Serena nodded. “She loved riding.”
“As you do,” Roman said, seeing the wistful look in her eyes.
At that moment Sylvie walked into the room. She smiled at them. “That’s my Patricia,” she said then tilted her chin towards Serena. “Serena looks just like she did when she was this age.” Sylvie gave Roman a sad smile. “We lost her when Serena was six years old, still just a baby. Richard has been both mother and father to her since then.”
“And you too, Grandma.”
“Yes, I’ve been there, but the job of raising you has always been your dad’s. And outside of spoiling you rotten I think he’s done a wonderful job.” Sylvie’s laugh was like the tinkle of bells. “She’s got him wrapped around her little finger,” she said to Roman, “but it’s only because he’s had to endure two major scares in his life. One of them left him without his wife and me without my daughter.”
Roman frowned. “Two major scares?”
Sylvie nodded. “Yes, he almost lost Serena, too.”
“Grandma
, you don’t have to-”
“It’s okay, Serena,” Sylvie said as she walked over and put her arm around her granddaughter’s shoulder. “We need to speak about these things. It’s not healthy for us to bury our pain. This is the only way we can find healing.” Sylvie’s eyes grew misty. “Serena had leukemia when she was eight years old. She spent quite a bit of time in hospital and Richard almost went crazy with worry. He couldn’t bear to lose this one part of Patricia that she’d left behind.” Sylvie wrapped her arms around Serena’s waist and pulled her close and there was a tremulous smile on her lips. “But my Serena pulled through. She was a fighter, this girl. There was nothing that would keep her down.”
Roman nodded and looked at the two women, so very different in ages but so much alike. Both were petite and although Sylvie’s hair was white and the signs of age were on her face, the sparkle in her blue eyes told him that she had been just as feisty as the young woman who stood beside her. He could now understand, too, why Richard had gone overboard in satisfying the desires of his daughter. It seemed he was trying to make up for all that she’d gone through, the loss of her mother and the threat to her own life.
But still, the pampering had to stop somewhere. Serena was a woman now. And what a woman. As he stared at her all he wanted to do was bury his face in the valley between her luscious breasts.
Roman’s thoughts were cut short when Sylvie released Serena and clapped her hands smartly. “Okay, let’s get something to eat. You both must be starving.”
They all headed for the kitchen where she’d already placed a basket of fried chicken in the middle of the table, a bowl of salad, a tray with corn on the cob and a steaming bowl of mashed potatoes.
“Mmm, looks good,” Serena, said rubbing her stomach. “I could eat a horse.”
“You know what the sad thing is, Roman? She really could eat a horse and she wouldn’t gain a single pound.” Sylvie shook her head and feigned a look of indignation.
“What are you complaining about? You’re not fat.” Serena laughed.
