Baked With Love 2

by Tina Martin

  The line went disconcertingly quiet.

  “Gianna?”

  He frowned when she didn’t answer him. Then he heard her sniffle. Heard her whimpers. He stood up and said, “Excuse me for a moment, Gemma. I’ll be right back.”

  “Okay,” Gemma replied.

  Taking the call outside, he said, “Gianna, I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “I’m not upset, Ramsey,” she said in distorted words.

  His eyes were closed when he said, “Then why are you crying? You’re breaking my heart.”

  “Because these things you do for me…I don’t…I don’t know why you’re doing them and I feel like I don’t deserve your kindness.”

  “I want you, Gianna. I want to get to know you. I want you, and your sister, to be a part of my family.”

  “Why?”

  “Everyone deserves a family, don’t you think, and you’re a part of mine now whether you sign those papers or not. You always will be, so you may as well say yes.”

  She sniffled again.

  “Just hearing you upset is doing something to me. I don’t want to see you or hear you upset anymore. You deserve more, and now you have it. I don’t want you to sign a prenuptial agreement or anything to that effect. What’s mine is yours and I’m prepared to give you the world, Gianna.”

  She sniffled again.

  “I’m not asking for an answer right at this moment. In fact, as hard as it is for me to do, I’m staying away from you this weekend so you can have some time to think about it. But I will see you on Monday, not because I need an answer, baby, but because I’ll need to see you.”

  Gianna remained quiet, speechless, not knowing what to say to this man.

  “Gianna?”

  She sniffled. “Yes?” she replied softly.

  “Did you hear me?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m going to go back inside with Gemma now. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Okay.”

  He pressed the red ‘end-call’ button on his phone and released a long, slow breath, then he walked back inside the restaurant.

  Gemma smiled at him as he approached the booth.

  “Is everything okay with Gianna?”

  “Yes. She’s okay.”

  “What about you?”

  He flashed a grin. “What about me, Gemma?”

  “You have a weird, glazey look in your eyes.”

  “Glazey? You and your sister love making up your own words, huh?”

  She giggled.

  “Nah, but I’m okay. Your sister just gets to me…to my soul.”

  “Why?”

  “You wouldn’t understand it if I explained it to you.”

  “Can you try?”

  He thought he owed her that much. “Do you remember when I told you I know what Gianna is going through in reference to your situation with the cancer and all?”

  “Yes.”

  “I was in Gianna’s place. I was the one taking care of my sick fiancée at the time. Her name was Leandra. She had lung cancer like you, and the surgery, I think, would’ve saved her life. But there wasn’t enough money back then…I couldn’t afford it,” he said frowning. He’d always been angry with himself for that. Could never forgive himself for failing her. “I couldn’t afford to save Leandra even though I loved her. I loved her deeply, Gemma. I just couldn’t…I couldn’t save her. We were young, in our mid-twenties. I was still in college. I didn’t have a steady job. I was working part-time while going to college full-time. My parents had exhausted all their funds and resources to help pay for Leandra’s chemotherapy. Her parents didn’t have money like that, so it was all on my family to take care of her. Unfortunately, chemotherapy didn’t work for her and she…she died. After eight, long, agonizing months, she died in my arms and I don’t mean that in a figurative sense, Gemma. She literally died in my arms. I was holding her when she expelled her last breath.”

  Gemma felt a chill run through her. “Oh my God. That’s so tragic.”

  “I’m not going to let you suffer the way she did and I’m definitely not going to allow Gianna to suffer the way I did. That’s why I need you to be on board with your new plan of care because once it’s started, we’re going in full force to kick this cancer in the butt.”

  “I’m ready,” Gemma said.

  Ramsey smiled, then reached across the table to shake her hand. Her small hand clasped onto his and he slowly shook it.

  “Ooh…I like your watch,” she said, glancing at it.

  “You want it?”

  “No, silly,” she laughed. “That’s a Rolex. I could buy a car with that thing.”

  Ramsey looked at the watch that he’d paid $15,000 for. “Yes. You could. As a matter of fact, you need a car, so—” Ramsey undid the clasp on his watch and put it on her arm. The watch was loose, dangling around her tiny wrist. “When we get you better, you’ll get a car.”

  She giggled. “Now, you’re reaching. I have to get better, first.”

  “And you—we—have a good shot at this, Gemma. Do you see how much happier you are today than you were last night? In fact, this is the happiest I’ve seen you since we met.”

  “I know. I feel it, too.”

  “You know what’s changed?” he asked her. “It’s hope. Last night, I gave you hope. Today, you’re much better. See how that works?”

  “Yes. I see,” she said, fiddling with the watch.

  “You have big arms, Ramsey. This watch is waaay too large for my arm. Look, I can even get it over my elbow.”

  Ramsey chuckled.

  “And I don’t want to trade it for a car. It means something to me. It means…hope.”

  “Then, by all means, keep it, sweetie. You’ll get a car either way.”

  Gemma stood up and walked to his side of the table and while he was still sitting, she wrapped her fragile arms around his neck and said, “Thanks for being the big brother I never had.”

  “Thanks for being the little sister I never had.”

  Chapter 13

  Gianna almost broke her neck getting inside of the house to talk to Gemma. She was so in a hurry, she tripped over the top step and bumped her head on the storm door. “Ouch!” she said, rubbing the area where she was sure a bruise would form.

  Gemma opened the door. “What in the world? Sounded like somebody was trying to break into the house.”

  “That was my head hitting the storm door. I was trying to get in here so fast, I tripped.”

  “Why? Curious to hear about my breakfast with your boyfriend, huh, or shall I say your fi-an-cé?”

  “Whatever, Gem. One thing is for doggone sure…I’m not making any hasty decisions when it comes to this proposal. I’m sure he took you to breakfast to convince you to convince me, huh?”

  “No. He actually just wanted to tell me about it and ask for my opinion. So, I gave him my opinion.”

  Gianna took a long look at her sister. Something about her was different, in a good way. She appeared more lively and upbeat. “How are you feeling, Gem?”

  “I feel good.”

  Her forehead creased. “You do?”

  “Yes. I do. It’s like, ever since Ramsey told me about treatments that can cure me, I for once feel like I can beat this thing.” Gemma sat on the sofa and brought her knees up to her chest.

  “Ramsey told you about what treatments?” Gianna asked, joining her sister on the sofa.

  “Surgery, among other things.”

  “Things we can’t afford.”

  “We can now. He already said he’d pay for it. He said he’d do anything for you and by proxy, that means me as well.”

  Of course he’d said that. He told her the same thing.

  “And you agreed to this?” Gianna asked.

  “Yep. Sure did. We shook on it and then I hugged his thick, good-smelling neck.”

  Gianna’s mouth fell open. “All this time I’ve been trying to get you to try, Gem, and you talk to me like you were ready to give up. Then, all of
a sudden, Ramsey comes along and you’re ready to be all in.”

  “You know why, Gianna?”

  “No, explain. Please.”

  Fiddling with the platinum, diamond encased watch on her dainty wrist, Gemma said, “You were struggling. I was the cause of those struggles, and I knew you couldn’t afford to take care of me and the bills and everything else. So yes, that’s why I was giving up. But Ramsey gave me hope. That’s what this watch represents. Hope.”

  “He gave you his watch?”

  “Yep.”

  “Let me see that.”

  Gemma handed the watch to her sister.

  Gianna looked at it and said, “This is a Rolex.”

  “It is a Rolex, Captain Obvious. What gave it away? The letters R-O-L-E-X?”

  Gianna giggled. Gemma was getting her sense of humor back, it seemed. Coming down off laughter, Gianna explained, “I’m just wondering why he gave you such an expensive watch.”

  “I’m sure he has others, now give me my hope back.”

  Gianna laughed when Gemma snatched the watch from her grasp.

  After sliding it back on her arm, Gemma said, “He wants to take me to the cancer treatment center in Atlanta. He says he’ll make the appointment and everything. Of course, I wanted to discuss it with you, first.”

  “I would love for you to go there, Gem. Trust me when I say if I could afford it, you’d be there already.”

  “Now, you can afford it.”

  “No, Ramsey can afford it.”

  “And thus, you. He already looks at you like you two are an item. I don’t know what kind of spell you put on him, but he thinks the world of you, Gianna.”

  “I honestly didn’t do anything to warrant any attention from him. I’m usually a nervous wreck whenever he’s around me. Today, I met his brother, Regal, and found out that Ramsey paid the lease on the bakery for the next ten years.”

  “Oh shoot…you know what that means.”

  Gianna blushed. “It means he paid the lease for ten years.”

  “Which, in turn, means that whatever he’s starting with you, he’s looking for it to be long-term.”

  “And that’s why I have to put a stop to this. I can’t have him doing all this stuff for me on a whim because he feels some special connection to me. Connections get short-circuited and a man like Ramsey St. Claire who can have any woman he wants gets bored easily.” Gianna stood up. Stretched. “Anyway, I’m going to talk to him later to let him know I need more time to think this stuff through and I can’t do that with him hovering over me, being my bill fairy and kidnapping my baby sister for brunch.”

  “Kidnapping…ugh…you love to over-exaggerate, don’t you? And don’t call me a baby. Just say I’m your younger sister. Little sister is even acceptable.”

  “I like baby sister better.” Gianna stood up and kissed Gemma on the cheek. “I’m going to take a shower. I’ll be back down to make you some soup.”

  “I already did it.”

  “You did?”

  “Yep.”

  “Then I guess I’ll be back to make myself some dinner.”

  “And I’ll be in my room. If I fall asleep, don’t be all up in there kissing my cheek either.”

  Gianna laughed. “I’ll kiss your cheek all I want, lil’ girl,” she said, then headed upstairs.

  Chapter 14

  She wanted to call Ramsey before she took a shower, but she decided to take a shower first, hoping to settle her nerves in preparation for his sexy, over-the-phone, smooth-as-silk voice. She didn’t want to be talked into doing anything and he was the kind of guy who could talk a woman into doing anything he wanted her to. That’s why she had to get a handle on her nerves. Put on her game face. Or game voice. Whatever…

  She had to prepare for Ramsey like she was studying for a quiz. Her plan – to tell him she couldn’t marry him. That wasn’t much of a plan but that’s all she had. While she supported Felicity’s dreams of opening her own matchmaking company, the whole Wedded Bliss concept of getting married to someone and getting to know them after the fact was a bit of a reach for her mind to grasp. But then again, so was Ramsey. Garnering the attention of a man like him was a long shot, and he’d come to her, not vice versa. He strolled into her bakery and had let it be known that he found her interesting. That he liked her. That like somehow morphed, grew legs and turned into a marriage proposal.

  Before she lost the last few nerves she had left, she dialed his number, listening as it rung, waiting to hear him answer with his usual, hey, Cupcake greeting. The phone rang again and her heart raced. She pushed out an even breath then said softly, “Why am I stressing? Chill out, Gianna. He’s just a man. Don’t let him get you all flustered. He’s not actually here. He’s just—”

  “On the line, sweetness,” Ramsey said.

  “Oh my God!” she shrieked.

  He chuckled. “What were you doing, Gianna? Preparing yourself to talk to me?”

  “Ugh…” she turned red in the face. Shouldn’t she be used to him by now? And why the heck was she flushed? He wasn’t actually there.

  “Gi-a-nnaaaaa?” he sang.

  She panicked, hung up the phone and hid her face behind her hands. “What’s wrong with me?”

  The sound of her phone buzzing unnerved her even more. She knew it was him calling back. “Okay. You can do this,” she told herself. She picked up the phone telling herself to ease into the elephant-of-a-conversation they needed to have but when she answered the phone, tact and ease flew out the window as she spewed out, “I can’t marry you.”

  “Tell me why.”

  “Because I can’t.”

  “You can. Tell me why you don’t want to.”

  “Well, for…for obvious reasons.”

  “I don’t want to hear the for obvious reasons copout when the reasons to me aren’t so obvious. I want you to tell me why?”

  She frowned. “Okay. We hardly know each other.”

  “I feel like I’ve known you all my life.”

  “But you haven’t. Not even for a month yet, and I don’t want to feel like you’re coming to my rescue like you’re a Wonder Pet or something.”

  “A what?”

  “Never mind,” she said, realizing he didn’t get her cartoon reference.

  “And I’m not coming to your rescue. I’m helping you.”

  “Same difference.”

  “No, it’s not, Gianna. You’re helping yourself. You’re running a bakery.”

  “Yeah, a bakery I wouldn’t have if you hadn’t swooped in and paid off the lease.”

  “You’re welcome, by the way.”

  “Ramsey—”

  “You’re welcome, by the way,” he repeated.

  Ugh. “Thank you,” she finally said.

  “Anything for you, Gianna. And I mean, anything.”

  Gianna sighed. How was she going to get him to reason when he was being so freakin’ nice in a take-charge kind of way? She had to try because she knew she couldn’t marry him. Taking another approach, she said, “Okay…give me one week to—”

  “No,” he said before she could get the full request out.

  “You don’t even know what I was going to say.”

  “I heard give me one week, and I didn’t need to hear the rest.”

  “Ramsey, please let me finish.”

  She could hear him release a sigh.

  Absorbing his frustration, he said even-toned, “Okay. I apologize. Please, continue.”

  “Thank you. Now, what I was saying was, I need a week to think about this—one full week without seeing you or talking to you. That way, you can be sure that this marriage thing is what you really want and I can make a good decision without feeling rushed. That’s all I’m asking.”

  “Are you finished?” he asked curtly not wanting to interrupt her again if she wasn’t.

  “Yes. That was it.”

  “The answer is no,” he responded.

  “Ramsey—”

  “I will not go a fu
ll week without seeing you. Are you kidding me? I haven’t seen you Friday, Saturday and I hadn’t planned on seeing you tomorrow because I wanted to give you time to think. But a week…no. Not going to happen.”

  “You’re being unreasonable.”

  “Maybe I am.”

  She sighed heavily.

  “What’s so bad about being married to me, Gianna? Huh? Am I not your type?”

  “I don’t have a type. I’ve never had a type.”

  “Then tell me what the problem is.”

  “I told you what the problem was. You just refuse to listen to me.” She held her head out of frustration. “I’ll talk to you later. I have to go.”

  “Why all of a sudden?”

  “Because you’re not listening to me, Ramsey.”

  “Don’t hang up on me again. I am listening to you. Just because I don’t accept what you’re saying doesn’t mean I’m not listening. I want you, Gianna.”

  “And you always get what you want, right?”

  “Yes. That would be correct.”

  She thought quietly.

  Trying to think of reasons he assumed was causing her so much anxiety – things she was probably too embarrassed to mention, he said, “I won’t touch you. Kiss you. I won’t initiate anything unless it’s your wish.”

  Yeah…that’s what you say now.

  “Gianna?”

  “Yeah?” she said, sounding defeated.

  He didn’t like the tone of her voice. Not at all. “Alright, let’s put that topic on hold for a minute. How’s Gemma?”

  “She’s okay. She had a good time with you today. And you didn’t have to give her your watch.”

  “I know. She liked it, so…”

  “So, you just gave it to her.”

  “Yeah. I did. And, FYI, I made her an appointment at the cancer treatment center a week from today for an initial consultation with a doctor and he will determine whether or not she can have the surgery.”

  “You said a week from today?”

  “Yes. Actually, the appointment is on a Wednesday. If she’s eligible, she’ll have the surgery a week after that and then stay at the center until every trace of cancer is gone. First, though, we need to get past the initial consultation.”