And that was the trouble. Alec couldn’t control Lila. Truth was, he mentally kicked his own ass for even going there to begin with. He knew she was spoiled and vain and he’d been miserable and desperate.
“I won’t let Lila hurt Heather.”
“I know, but I also know this isn’t going to be easy. She’d informed me she plans on catering this party.”
“Well, she’s not.” Alec would do the cooking and baking himself before he let Lila have any part of this. The Krewe of Bacchus was the one thing he took pleasure in. It was how he let off steam. And it was family tradition, one he took seriously. The Fat Tuesday party was a much sought out invitation and he wasn’t going to let a spoiled society brat ruin it for him.
“Glad we’re on the same page.”
“We are.”
“So I guess it’s safe to say The Royal Cupcakery will be providing our desserts.”
“Yeah, it’s safe to say that’s going to be the case. And it’s also safe to say Heather will be my date for the evening.” Alec wasn’t being cocky; it was a fact. He wanted to get to know her now, now she was all grown up and with high school behind her. He knew his life had changed this afternoon and he wasn’t going to let this chance of happiness escape him a second time. Heather was going to be his. For the first time in a very long time, excitement coursed through his bloodstream, leaving him looking forward to his future.
CHAPTER 4
Heather’s palms grew sweatier the closer eight o’clock came. She really had no reason to be anxious. She was going to bake cupcakes and let Alec sample them. That was it, nothing more.
Her high school crush was beyond handsome, she could now add successful—which wasn’t a surprise—and he’d dated the competition. The situation was a mess and it was not something she wanted to dwell on. Heather needed to focus on the task at hand, net the commission and hopefully keep her heart safe. Besides, he never knew she existed ten years ago. He could have changed a lot since then.
Going about gathering all the ingredients she needed for the two different cupcakes, she let her mind wander. She’d had her tarot read the other day in Jackson Square. The cards said her life was going to be shaken up and when everything settled, she’d have her heart’s desire. Well, so far everything had been upside down and sideways. Thankfully, Alec had been understanding and was still willing to give her a second chance.
By rote, she blended the ingredients for the batter and then prepped the cupcake pans with her signature cupcake liners. Then she filled the liners half way with the Praline Pecan batter before slipping them into the pre-warmed oven. This time she set the timer and then got to mixing the King Cake batter. These were a little more labor intensive and she probably should have done them first but figured at this point it didn’t matter.
Once both samples were baking in the two different ovens, she set to making the glaze for the King Cake cupcakes and the brown sugar praline buttercream for Praline cupcakes. The Praline were her favorite, a recipe from her great grandmother, and she really hoped Alec would like it too.
The bell rang over the front door at the same time her timers went off and she took a moment to pull the golden cupcakes out of the oven before going to the front of the store. She stopped short coming through the swinging black lacquered doors which hit her in the bum as they closed, pushing her further into the store. Her breath caught in her throat seeing Alec standing there in worn jeans and a black t-shirt stretching across a very wide chest. Funny, he didn’t look that broad when he was in a suit.
“Hi. Sorry, I’m a little early.”
Heather nervously wiped her hands on the dish towel she held in her hands. “It’s okay. I just took the cupcakes out of the oven, so they’ll be too warm yet to ice or eat.”
“That’s fine.” Alec moved further into the store looking around at the displays of assorted cupcake themed items. “Have you had dinner?”
“Ah, no.” Heather looked down at her flour covered jean shorts and lavender tank top. Her apron hadn’t protected her clothes very well. Why, oh, why couldn’t she look put together just once? The last time they were together—just that afternoon—she had been dripping wet from the rain, with mascara running down her face. Not to mention tossing cupcakes around a very posh looking office. Now, she was covered in flour, and she knew without being told, her hair was slipping from its ponytail. She thought she’d have had time to change and get cleaned up before he arrived but she’d lost track of time and honestly, at this point, it didn’t matter.
“Listen, it’s late and I haven’t had a chance to eat anything. Why don’t we go next door and grab a bite to eat and then we can come back for dessert.”
Heather’s stomach took that moment to complain rather loudly and she placed a hand to her middle in an attempt to silence the noise.
Alec grinned. “I’m not going to take no for an answer.”
“I’m not dressed for Mr. B’s.”
“You look great. But fine, we could walk to ACME Oyster House.”
Heather’s mouth began watering when she thought of their red beans and rice. “Okay, that sounds good. Let me just clean up real quick. I’ll be right back.”
She slipped upstairs to her apartment and quickly changed into a sundress and ran a brush through her hair before returning to the kitchen. She made sure all the ovens were off then checked that cupcakes were cooling nicely before grabbing her purse and heading out into the store.
Heather stopped short when she reached the swinging doors again and watched Alec move around looking at the display cases. Watching as he moved around the shop. Her heart fluttered as she noted how his faded jeans cupped his backside perfectly and how his dark t-shirt seemed to accent his broad shoulders . . . She caught herself before she could sigh with female pleasure.
“I’m ready.”
Alec spun around and smiled. “Brilliant.”
Heather was nervous, which was ridiculous since this wasn’t a date. She wasn’t going to have to worry about eating garlic or onions because there was going to be no kiss at the end of the evening. And she didn’t need to worry that she hadn’t shaved her legs. He wasn’t going to separate her from her panties because, once again, this wasn’t a date. It didn’t matter that she’d dreamed of Alec Carlisle in high school, fantasized about him coming to her house, vowing he would forgo looking at cheerleaders and the popular girls, since she was all he ever hoped to be with. Yeah, once again, life was not a fairytale or a romance novel and those things never happened so Heather had moved on after graduation. And she’d move on again after this event because there was no way he remembered her from school. The only impression she ever made on him was today when she’d redecorated his office with butter icing. Not a terribly brilliant impression. So she had this one meal to re-do her first impression which everyone knew was impossible but she would give it her best effort.
She walked over to him and smiled. “Thanks for giving me a second chance.”
“You don’t have to thank me. I should be thanking you.” He winked as he put his hand to her lower back and guided her to the front door. “Because of you, Lila left sooner rather than later.”
“Yeah, about that—I’m really sorry. I hope I didn’t cause you too much trouble.”
“Sweetheart, you did me a favor. Trust me. It was nice to see Lila brought down a peg.”
Heather thought he was crazy but who was she to judge. “Oh, okay.” She laughed a little nervously. “Let’s just say Lila isn’t someone I’d want on my bad side.”
“She’s not all that bad and don’t worry, I won’t let her hurt you.”
Heather locked the front door and they began the walk up to ACME a block away. Royal Street was crowded with tourist and when they reached the corner, she noted there was already a line. ACME was a highly popular restaurant in the Quarter.
“Hope you don’t mind waiting. I’m actually looking forward to their loaded poboy.”
Heather cocked her head and resisted the
urge to sigh when she caught his smile. Still boyish, and he still had the sexy dimples she’d found so irresistible years earlier.
“No, that’s fine, I love their bread pudding.”
“Ah, a dessert girl.”
“Guilty.” She admitted.
They took their place in line and watched as tourists made their way up and down the street. In short order they were at the head of the line and Heather was glad for that as her stomach would not cease complaining.
Once they were seated, the waitress arrived with a huge smile. “Hey, Alec, long time no see.”
“Hi, Shelby.” Alec shook his head at the proffered menu. “I already know what I want.”
“Of course you do.” Shelby tapped her ink pen against her chin. “Let me guess, you’ll start with on order of the Boo Fries, followed by the loaded poboy.”
Alec sat back and laughed. “Guess I’m terribly predictable.”
“It’s the same thing you order each time you come here.”
“Well, there you go.”
Heather enjoyed watching him interact with the waitress. He’d always been that way, easy going and able to talk to anyone. She’d found that admirable when they were younger, as most people would stiffen and become guarded, never knowing if he’d be dismissive or standoffish based on the fact his family was so rich.
“What will you have, darlin?” The waitress asked, pen ready to take the order.
Heather glanced over the menu quickly and decided on the red beans and rice and a glass of iced tea.
Once their orders were taken, Heather looked around, unsure what to say or do.
“Hey, relax.” Alec reached over the table and ran his fingertips across her knuckles.
She jumped at the contact, his gentle touch sending sparks zinging throughout her body. The dream of being the focus of Alec’s attention was finally coming true and she was acting like a tongue-tied twit.
“I suppose you don’t remember me at all.” Heather said after the waitress delivered their drinks. She took a sip of her iced tea to give her nervous fingers something to do.
“Now see, that is where you’d be very wrong, Heather Ryan.” Alec sat back and smiled. “I remember you from high school. In fact, you’re a very difficult woman to forget.”
“Right.” She shook her head. “I somehow find that hard to believe. You were…rather busy.”
Heather was stunned and wanted to believe what he said but she remembered high school, how he moved through the hallways, everyone saying hi to him and wanting to be his friend. He’d been popular, not because he was rich, but in spite of it. Everyone loved him, but she was not what you’d call a mover and shaker within the school hierarchy of popularity.
Alec laughed. “Well, I can’t argue with that. I did have a lot on my plate. However, I remember you. You sat three seats in front of me in four of our class’s senior year. In fact, I had to bribe Hollister McGiven to switch seats with me in Government so I could sit next to you. You were so different from everyone else. I didn’t understand it at the time but I just had to be near you. I was young and stupid and took chances. Just not the ones that counted. I assure you, I’m no longer that stupid, adolescent boy.”
His words shocked her. He’d never spoken more than a dozen words to her at any given time. That he’d manipulate a situation to be near her was beyond her understanding. She’d had no idea. Then again, she’d been hyper aware he’d sat behind her, and shy awkwardness prevented her from so much as turning around and smiling at him. She was an adult now, much more secure in who she’d become and decided to prove that to him.
“I’d be fibbing if I didn’t admit that you’re words surprise me. You were so popular and handsome and you were dating the most popular girl in school. I had little reason to believe you’d known I existed.”
“Again, that was my stupidity.”
Heather’s mouth went dry and her heart pounded in a stuttering rhythm. She opened her mouth to reply but closed it again when their dinner arrived.
She tucked into her red beans and rice, unsure where the conversation should go after his declaration and her admission. But Alec’s easy-going nature made her relax and she was surprised at how easy it was to talk with him. He teased her a little, she knew, because she felt the heat creep over her flesh, but she reveled in it.
When Alec offered her a bite of his Boo Fries, French fries covered in brown gravy and cheese, she thought nothing of it until the gentle brush of his fingertip against her lower lip brought her fully aware of the intimacy of the act of his feeding her. He held her gaze with his beautiful brown eyes for a long moment, neither of them speaking but seemingly volumes were spoken. She swore her life was never going to be the same.
CHAPTER 5
Alec resisted the urge not to groan out loud when Heather leaned over and parted her lips for the gravy covered fry he offered. Her sweet lower lip, rose pink and plump, called to him and he couldn’t help but caress the silky flesh. His groin tightened, forcing him to adjust how he was sitting. When he’d watched her come out from the back of her bakery, in the tight lavender tank top and jean shorts, flour dusting her cheeks and, her dark hair pulled up into a ponytail, he’d thought she was, without a doubt, the most beautiful creature he’d ever set eyes on. In that instant, he decided to make up for his stupidity ten years earlier . . .
Well, it had taken ten years to reconnect with her and he wasn’t about to let her get away from him again. Any question as to whether his crush had been a high school infatuation was easily put to rest earlier in the day in his office.
“You’re beautiful,” he said as he held Heather’s gaze, charmed by the warm blush that colored her face. She was everything he didn’t have in his life. She was artless in her actions, even today when confronted with Lila, she’d held her own and tried her best to make an unhappy harpy…happy…something completely impossible to do. Before Fat Tuesday, Heather was going to be his.
“Thank you.” Heather pushed her plate away and dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. “And thank you for dinner. It was really good.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Are you ready to go and taste the cupcakes? I still have to ice them but that won’t take long, I promise, unless you have something else you need to do this evening.”
“Yes, I’m ready and don’t worry. I cleared my schedule for the night. I’m all yours.”
She blushed again at his words and he resisted the urge to chuckle. He paid the bill and together they stepped out into the unusually warm spring evening. The Quarter had come alive and a cacophony of sounds filled the night.
With a gentle hand at the small of her back, Alec guided Heather through the crowed until they made the short walk back to Royal Street. Any excuse to touch her and he realized that his attraction to her was way more than what he had originally thought. He wanted this woman with a need he’d never experienced before and he was smart enough to know that this time, she wasn’t going to get away from him.
As the crowds thinned her realized he didn’t have an excuse to keep touching her and with a deep reluctance he let his and drop and instantly felt the loss of the connection to her.
Once they reached her shop, Alec took the keys from Heather and unlocked the door. The scent of warm sugar filled his senses. It was a homey smell and would be something he would forever associate with the woman by his side.
Heather made her way through the darkened store with ease and over to a light switch. He followed close behind, resisting the urge to sweep her into his embrace. Never before had he been so overwhelmed by desire for another woman. If he didn’t know better, he’d swear he was bewitched.
“Come on into the kitchen.” Heather smiled and led the way. “I’ll get the buttercream made but in the meantime you can try the fairy cakes I told you about.”
“That would be great.” Alec took seat at a butcher block table and watched Heather move with sure grace over to a plastic covered rack where she pulled out a smal
l tray with little cupcakes.
“Like I said before, these are smaller and they aren’t iced, however if you’d like, I can come up with a glaze for them. That could make them too sweet though. The choice is yours.”
Alec listened to her nervous speech and when she got close enough, he gently grasped her wrist and removed the cookie sheet holding the fairy cakes from her hand and set them on the table. He met her gaze for a moment before pulling her between his spread legs. She didn’t resist, but the look on her face told him she was unsure of the moment.
“Relax, sweetheart. I trust that whatever you’ve put together is going to be fantastic.”
“Shouldn’t Seth be here too?”
A smile curved his mouth, “Don’t tell me you have a thing for Seth.” He shook his head sadly. “They all want Seth.”
Heather laughed. “No, I don’t want Seth, and somehow I doubt you lack for any kind of companionship.”
“You’d be surprised.” Alec reached over and dipped a finger in the buttercream.
“Hey, get out.” She smiled as she smacked the back of his hand.
“Don’t you know swiping the yummy stuff is part of the fun?”
Heather couldn’t help it. She laughed at his boyish enthusiasm for his minor theft. “Ah, no I wasn’t aware that snarking frosting was considered fun.”
Alec shook his head and gave her a sad look. “Well, then sweetheart, you haven’t lived.” He dipped his fingers back into the praline buttercream and held out his index finger with the sweet offering. “Go ahead, try it. You’ll see what I mean.”
The breath caught in Heather’s chest as she leaned over. She held his magnetic gaze for a moment before sucking the tip of his finger into her mouth. The sweet praline caramel and the salty flavor of Alec’s skin mingled into a taste sensation that caused her body to respond wildly. Her heart pounded a frantic rhythm and desire burned like a nova, searing through her and leaving her shaking and confused.
The Trouble with Cupcakes Page 3
