by Tina Martin
Heading over to the sink, she washed her hands, then stared at the island full of stuff.
“I’ll be your assistant today.”
Gianna hid a smirk. He looked good wearing an apron over his bare chest, but boy was he sexy. Looked like he could pose for a bakery calendar with a name like Hot Men Who Bake or Baking Me Crazy.
She chuckled as she reached for a large mixing bowl. “Do you remember how to make to the batter?”
“I know I need some flour,” he said, opening the bag.
“Yep, and baking soda. Mix that up first.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, looking at her. He liked how serious she was about her work – loved that she wanted it done right. He was the same way when it came to his design work. Every detail had to be perfect or he’d scrap the whole thing. Start over.
While he worked on that, she mixed butter, granulated sugar, adding egg yolk and vanilla extract. Then she instructed him to add some of his flour mixture.
“About how many will this make?” he asked.
“Probably three dozen. And we need a total of eight.”
“Cool, so we’ll have to do this all over again?”
“Yes, but I think I’ll have you start on the frosting.”
“Okay. Tell me what I need to do, baby.”
She smiled, trying to get accustomed to his terms of endearment. She was his baby. She’d never been anyone’s baby. “Okay, it’s really simple. Just get that bowl,” she said, pointing to the clear one. “And you’ll need the cream cheese, butter, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla extract.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes. Blend the butter and the cream cheese really well, then add the sugar and vanilla extract. Once everything is at a creamy consistency, you can cover it and put it in the refrigerator.”
He grinned. “You like telling me what to do, don’t you?”
“How else are you supposed to know how to make cream cheese frosting?” she asked.
“Right. Let me get to work before I get fired.”
Gianna grinned and shook her head. She placed cupcake liners in three pans and filled them, putting all three in the oven. Then she started making another mixture for the second round.
Working quickly, she filled another three pans and then prepared the last batch. It was enough to fill three more pans. Even though she only needed two more, she liked making extras just for backup.
She glanced at her watch. She wondered if Ramsey told Judy to come to his house to pick up the cupcakes. She wanted to ask, but he was seriously concentrating on making the frosting, mixing and blending so well, she could see the muscle in his arm flex and move while he worked. He was beating the crap out of that frosting and she loved his commitment to the project. “Ramsey.”
He looked to his right to see the smile on her face.
“Yes?”
She chuckled. “If you beat that cream cheese frosting any more, you’re going to jail for assault and battery.”
His beautiful smile showed. “Why are you intent on sending me to jail? First you accused me of breaking into your house, and now you got me for assault and battery. On some cream cheese frosting.”
Gianna laughed harder. “Sorry. It was kinda funny, but I admire your dedication.”
“Just keep in mind that I’m this dedicated to everything I do. I don’t want it to come as a surprise to you later.”
“Then I appreciate the warning.”
“You’re welcome, sweetness. Now, I want you to taste this to see if I did it to your specifications.” He took a spoonful of the frosting and while holding the spoon in his left hand, he dipped the index finger of his right hand in the frosting and then held his finger in front of her mouth.
She was already laughing when she said, “Ain’t no way I’m licking your finger.”
“Go on,” he said, then chewed at his bottom lip. “I licked yours. It’s about time you got your revenge on mine.”
Giggling, she said, “Trust me, I don’t need revenge. Give me the spoon.”
“Nope. I want you to taste my finger. I mean the cream cheese.” He chuckled. “Go on, Gianna. What is there to be shy about? Huh? I’ve had your tongue in my mouth before. You’ve had my tongue in your mouth, and now you don’t want to lick my finger?”
Gianna nervously considered his request. He was right. What was there to be nervous about? If she could handle his tongue, why not his finger? “Okay, okay.” She opened her mouth and leaned toward his finger but instead of putting his finger inside, he spread frosting on her lips. Before she could protest, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers, sucking frosting from her lips, the sensation causing his mouth to water for more. He lifted her up off of the floor and found a clear section on the island where he placed her, crawled on top of her and made the island their bed as he delved deeper inside of her mouth, kissing the sweetness right off of her.
Gianna moaned as her hands touched the back of his head, pulling him in to her, fully giving in to his seductive cream cheese kiss. And she thought about what a chocolate kiss would taste like. A lemon kiss. The possibilities were endless. Right now, though, she needed to focus on this kiss because he certainly was. Several times, she’d felt his tongue at the back of her mouth. What? Did he want her to swallow him? Jeez. He loved to kiss deeply and she just tried her best to hang on. To breathe. To…
“What in the world is happening here?” Romulus asked as he stepped into the kitchen with Royal, Regal, Gemma and Carson.
“I don’t know,” Royal said. “Looks like some weird cupcake orgy.”
Gemma chuckled. Carson had introduced her to Ramsey’s brothers immediately after he’d let them in a few minutes ago.
“They were supposed to be in here making cupcakes,” Gemma said. “Instead, they’re making little cupcake babies.”
Carson grinned. He’d never seen this side of Ramsey. Gianna brought out a different side of him.
“That’s the sweet, innocent cupcake girl?” Royal asked, laughing.
“Yes. My sister is sweet and innocent. It’s your brother bringing out this side of her.”
“The freaky side,” Romulus said.
Royal chuckled.
“Yo, Ram, can you come up for air?” Regal asked.
Unfazed by their presence, Ramsey kept on kissing Gianna but he could feel her uneasiness with knowing they had an audience. He didn’t care about an audience, but since she did, he suctioned his mouth away from hers, smiled at her and then looked up at his brothers and Gemma and said, “Hey, I’m not done here just yet. Carson has breakfast ready. Wait for us in the dining room. I gotta get me some more of this,” he said, dipping his head to a giggly Gianna yet again. “What are you laughing for, girl?”
“You’re too much,” she said.
He hovered over her.
“How are you going to kiss me like that in front of your brothers? I’m so embarrassed.”
“Why? You’re mine. I’m yours. This is our house. I’ll kiss you wherever I want to kiss you.”
“I don’t want their first impression of me being an image of me swallowing your tongue.”
He smiled wickedly. “See, this is what you get for not spending the night with me last night.”
“Oh, is that what it is?”
“Yes. I couldn’t do this last night, couldn’t sleep for wanting to taste your lips, so the only way I could get to sleep was to think about fulfilling one of my fantasies when we got up in the morning.”
“Fantasies?”
“Yes. Kissing frosting off of your lips.” He eased off of her then when he was standing on the floor again, he helped her down. “Let me run upstairs and get dressed so we can eat some breakfast with my brothers.”
“And why didn’t you tell me they were coming over?”
With a sneaky grin, he said, “It slipped my mind.”
“Nothing slips that sharp mind of yours.”
When they reached the second floor, he said, “I didn’t tell
you because I didn’t want you to panic. Meeting my brothers shouldn’t cause you any trepidation.”
“I didn’t even see their faces since you had me pinned to the island.”
Ramsey smirked. “You didn’t miss anything. They’re all ugly.”
“Now, I know that’s a lie. Regal could be your twin and you’re so handsome, sometimes I can’t stand it.”
“Keep talking like that and they won’t see us for breakfast. It ain’t nothing for me to run back to the kitchen, grab the rest of that frosting and really get things poppin’.”
Backing away from him, Gianna said, “Go get dressed, Ramsey. I’ll meet you downstairs.”
He chuckled. “Okay, Mrs. St. Claire.”
Gosh, he knew how to make her blush, and she did so until she was in her guest bedroom. For the first time in her life, she was experiencing a level of happiness that only he’d been able to provide and that brought a smile to her face. She walked to the bathroom, pulled the hairnet from her head but left her hair in a bun. She wiped leftover buttercream from her face and the light trail of it that Ramsey had licked to her neck. Her body shivered at the way he’d done so. He was already proving to be more than she could handle.
* * *
“Regal, you’ve already met Gianna,” Ramsey said as he stepped into the dining room with Gianna’s hand in his.
“Yes, and I just met Gemma,” Regal said.
Ramsey squeezed Gianna’s hand. “Okay, so Gianna, this is my brother Romulus.”
“Nice to meet you, Gianna,” Romulus said, lifting his hand in a single wave.
“Nice to meet you, too, Romulus,” she replied.
“And the troublemaker, I mean troubleshooter sitting next to Gemma is Royal,” Ramsey told her.
“Nice to meet you, Gianna. Glad to see you survived that encounter with the wilder beast this morning,” Royal quipped.
Gianna was mortified, watching the smile form on the brother’s faces while her cheeks turned red. After looking at them all together, she could see the similarities in their appearances now. You could look at them and tell they were related. They all had those same black eyes. Similar builds. Romulus and Royal were a shade lighter in complexion as Ramsey had told her during one of their earlier conversations.
Ramsey pulled out a chair for Gianna to sit. Then he sat next to her. Royal was to her right. And Gemma sat next to Royal. Regal and Romulus were on the opposite side of the table.
Ramsey spoke up and said, “In case you were wondering why they’re here, Gianna, I asked my brothers to come over for a status meeting. They’re going to take the cupcakes back to SCA when the meeting is over. First, though, we’ll eat breakfast.”
“Okay,” Gianna said, glancing around the table at the brothers again.
“Alright. Let’s dig in,” Ramsey said. “We have a lot to cover and a lot of cupcakes to frost afterward.”
He looked at Gianna and left a kiss on her cheek, then handed her a basket of biscuits.
Gianna took one and passed them to Royal.
Royal took one and was handing them to Gemma, but her eyes were going closed like she was falling asleep. He leaned closer to her and said, “Hey, sleepyhead, do you want a biscuit?”
Gemma eyes opened when she heard his voice so close to her ear. She looked at Royal and said groggily, “Oh, yes. Thank you.” Taking the basket from him, her hand touched his and he frowned.
“Are you always this hot?” he asked her quietly so the rest of the table didn’t hear him. He knew her story, knew she had cancer and that Ramsey and Gianna were trying to help her get better.
Gemma grinned lazily. “I appreciate you trying to be nice, but I walk around with a scarf tied around my head because I’m losing hair from one dose of chemo that didn’t work. There’s nothing hot about me.”
“I’m talking about your temperature, Gemma,” Royal said scooting closer to her.
“Right. Of course you are.” Because why would a hot guy like you think I’m hot?
He placed his palm on her forehead and said, “You’re burning up. I’m not a doctor but I know when someone has an elevated temperature.”
“I’m fine,” she said. “Will you stop?”
“What’s going on?” Gianna said leaning forward to get a good view of Royal and Gemma.
“Your sister has a temperature?” Royal said.
Gemma glanced up and saw all eyes were on her now. Irritated, she said, “My God, will everyone just eat?”
Gianna stood up and walked over to her sister. She looked at her. Her eyes were bloodshot red, filling with tears. “Gem, you are burning up. We’re going to have to get you to a doctor.”
“No, I just need to lie down,” Gemma said attempting to stand up, feeling weak. Dizzy.
Royal stood up, too, wanting to assist her in the event she needed help.
Ramsey rose to his feet as well.
“Gem,” Gianna said, holding her arm, “I have to take you to the doctor. You shouldn’t have a fever this high. I can feel the heat radiating from your body.”
“I just…I just wanna go to sleep,” Gemma said before her eyes closed and she began falling face forward but Royal caught her.
“Gemma!” Gianna screamed.
“Carson, call 911,” Ramsey instructed. “Royal, let’s get her on the couch. Rom, bring some wet towels. We need to get her temperature down, asap.”
“Yes, she has a pulse and she’s breathing,” Carson said to the operator. “But she sort of fainted, and she looks like she’s out of it. Her eyes are closed and she’s not moving, not making any sounds…”
Gianna kneeled next to her sister, holding her hot hand, in tears. “Gemma, please don’t leave me. Please, please, please,” she cried.
Ramsey wrapped his arms around Gianna. “She’ll be okay. We’ll make sure of it. The ambulance is on its way, sweetheart.”
Regal ran to the front door, on lookout for the ambulance.
Romulus brought in the wet towels.
Royal took a towel and placed it on Gemma’s forehead. Then he draped one around her face. Her neck. He checked her pulse. It was there, but weak. “How long for the ambulance, Carson?”
“It’s a few minutes out,” Carson responded, relaying what the 911 operator told him.
Royal readjusted the towels, flipping them to the cool side and lowering them on her forehead and neck again.
“I hear the ambulance,” Regal said, still standing at the front door.
“They’re almost here, Gemma,” Gianna said, sobbing. “They’re almost here, sweet girl.”
And Ramsey squeezed her harder, trying his best to soak her pain into his heart in hopes of taking it away from her although he knew that wasn’t possible. Still, it wouldn’t stop him from trying. “It’s going to be okay, Gianna?” he said softly. “Help is on the way, baby. It’s going to be okay.” He needed everything to be okay, because losing Gemma would break Gianna’s heart, just like losing Leandra had broken his all those years ago and left it broken. He couldn’t bear the thought of Gianna having that same overwhelming, traumatic heartbreak. The same loss.
* ~ *
Gemma was on the verge of visiting the cancer treatment center when she fell ill. What next? Is it too late to save her life? How will these new developments affect Ramsey and Gianna’s new relationship? Find out in the final last installment, Baked With Love 3, coming soon.
Want more entertaining, suspenseful stories with just the right touches of romance? Then go to www.tinamartin.net today or click on any of the book links below to find your next favorite read!
The Boardwalk Bakery Romance
Baked With Love
Baked With Love 2
The Blackstone Family Series
*All books in this series are standalone novels and are full, complete stories. Read them in any order.
Evenings With Bryson
Leaving Barringer
Forever Us: Barringer and Calista Blackstone (A short story follow-up to Lea
ving Barringer. You must read Leaving Barringer before reading this short story)
The Things Everson Lost
A Lennox in Love Series
*All books in this series are standalone novellas and are full, complete stories. Read them in any order.
Claiming You
Making You My Business
Wishing That I Was Yours
Caught in the Storm with a Lennox (A Short Story Prequel to Claiming You)
Mine By Default Mini-Series:
*This is a continuation series that must be read in order.
Been In Love With You, Book 1
When Hearts Cry, Book 2
You Belong To Me, Book 3
When I Call You Mine, Book 4
Who Do You Love?, Book 5
Forever Mine, Book 6
The Champion Brothers Series:
*All books in this series are standalone novels and are full, complete stories. Read them in any order.
His Paradise Wife
When A Champion Wants You
The Best Thing He Never Knew He Needed
Wives And Champions
The Way Champions Love
The Accidental Series:
*This is a continuation series that must be read in order.
Accidental Deception, Book 1
Accidental Heartbreak, Book 2
Accidental Lovers, Book 3
What Donovan Wants, Book 4
Dying To Love Her Series:
*This is a continuation series that must be read in order.
Dying To Love Her
Dying To Love Her 2
Dying To Love Her 3
