by Tina Martin
He took a seat at his usual table and waited to see how long it would be before she made an appearance. He knew she heard the bell. So, where was she?
He got his answer when he saw her walk to the front wearing a logo embroidered apron and a hairnet. She looked at him – just looked – not showing any sort of emotion. Without him having to ask, she fixed him a large cup of coffee and took a banana cream cupcake from the display case then began walking over to him. While she was headed his way, she couldn’t escape the heat of his deliberate stare, nor could she pretend she didn’t feel the extra breaths escape her lungs or the way her heart drummed in her chest just by the sight of her husband. He was hers and she took great pride in knowing that. Still, there were things about him that would take some getting used to.
“Hi, Ramsey.” She set the coffee and cupcake on the table in front of him.
Ramsey, analyzing her, didn’t like the look on her face. Normally, whenever she saw him, especially at the bakery, she’d smile. This time, she kept a straight face and the warm demeanor that was typical of her was nowhere to be found.
“Gianna?”
“Yes?” she asked as she walked toward the counter.
“Can you come back over here for a minute?”
“Ramsey, I have cupcakes in the oven,” she said in an exasperated breath.
“Okay, then come back after you take them out.”
Gianna continued on to the back, took the vanilla cupcakes from the oven, then put in some chocolate ones. She immediately headed back for Ramsey because she knew if she hadn’t, he would be back there with her.
As she neared the table, he reached out for her and so instead of sitting, she walked over to him and stood between his long, opened legs as he folded his arms around her, his head touching her stomach. And then he looked up at her.
Smiled.
So did she, her hands gliding across the wool texture of his beard, and then she traced his lips with her index finger.
“We need to talk,” he said his lips moving against her fingers.
“We do,” she agreed.
“Do you have a minute?”
“Yes.” She took the seat across from him.
Ramsey took a sip of coffee, but his gaze never left her.
“You look especially GQ today,” she told him. “You must’ve had an important meeting.”
“I did. I’m scheduled to meet with my wife today. You may know her. She’s beautiful. She has the prettiest eyes, luxurious brown hair and she always smells like cupcakes.”
Gianna smiled small, almost like his words didn’t have a ring of believability to them.
Ramsey peeped that and said further, “I remember all the times I sat here, waiting for you and when you would look up to see me, your face would light up with the biggest, prettiest smile. Today, you saw me and there was nothing. No smile. No glow. You just looked at me.”
“I know. I...uh...I have so many things on my mind, Ramsey.”
“So much that you can’t give me a smile?”
“Well, we aren’t exactly seeing eye-to-eye these days.”
“Because of your secret meeting with Geraldine,” Ramsey said.
“No. Because of your response when you found out about the meeting, Ramsey. You lost it.”
“I didn’t lose it, sweetheart. I went into protective mode. I tried to explain that to you at dinner the other night, Gianna. It’s highly unsettling for me to think about you being alone with Geraldine. I don’t trust the woman. She abandoned you. She left you to raise Gemma on your own. Kept your father a secret for years. You poured your heart out to this woman and all she did was sip cappuccino and cross her legs like she didn’t have a care in the world. And look at us—even now, we have this rift between us because of her.”
“It’s not only that, Ramsey. I—”
A customer walked in just as Gianna was about to make an attempt to explain herself and her feelings. She looked at Ramsey. “How long can you stay?”
“I’m free for the rest of the day, so I can stay til’ whenever.”
“Okay. Let me go take care of her. I’ll be right back.”
Gianna rung up the lady’s order – a medium coffee and the cupcake of the day. She paid and went on her way, then Gianna rejoined Ramsey at the table. “As I was saying, I feel like everything I do, I have to run it by you for your approval.”
Ramsey shook his head. “You don’t, Gianna, but when I ask you what your plans are and you purposely don’t tell me, that’s a problem. What if this meeting with your mother went to the left? What if you had a panic attack? That’s not what happened, thank God, but I’m always trying to think ahead, baby. I know I can be overbearing at times but you—Gianna—you’re my life. My everything. Without you, I cease to exist.”
Gianna frowned. “Don’t say that.”
“It’s true.” Ramsey took a moment to think about her and how much she meant to him. She could get to him in ways other people couldn’t. She had access to his heart, and he knew she was the key to his happiness. He reached across the table, held her warm hand in his and said, “I’m in love with you.”
Gianna smiled nervously.
“I am. I don’t know how to soften that. I don’t want to soften it. I want to love you with all of my heart. Protect you.” He squeezed her hand. “I would do anything for you, Gianna. You know that, don’t you?”
“Yes, Ramsey.”
“Then, let me.”
A smile of appreciation beautified her face. “Okay. I’m sorry I kept the meeting with Geraldine a secret from you.”
“And I’m sorry reacted the way I did. It’s just something about the woman that rubs me the wrong way.”
“Everything about her rubs me the wrong way,” Gianna said, then giggled. “But, she said she has a drinking problem and wants to get help.”
“Do you believe her?”
Gianna shrugged. “Don’t know. Jerry came by here yesterday. I mentioned it to him just to see what he thought about it.”
“What was his take on it?”
“He doesn’t trust anything she says.”
“I’m with him on that.” Ramsey released Gianna’s hand, then sipped more coffee. “How is he doing by the way?”
“He’s good, I think. He looked good.” Gianna smiled. “He actually paid me for his cupcakes.”
“I’d say that’s progress.”
“Me too,” she said smiling, holding Ramsey’s dark gaze for a moment, then shying away from him.
“I know you have to get back to work,” Ramsey said. “We’ll talk later, okay?”
“Okay, Ramsey.”
Ramsey stood tall, all six-feet-five of pure, unfiltered male. He extended his hand to her, encouraging her to grasp it as he helped her stand. He closed his arms around her again, gave a gentle squeeze, then looked down at her, cradling her face in his right palm. He lowered his mouth to hers, kissed her softly, before seeking the taste of her tongue, clinging to it with his. Any more force and he’d consume it, and her, in one hungry, appetizing session. Since she had to finish off her workday, he’d get all he could and hope it would hold him over until she got home.
And so he lost his tongue in her mouth’s recesses and sucked on her tongue until he had the full flavor of it, right along with her lips. He heard her moans. Ate them. He felt her body quiver. It turned him on. For a split second, he’d forgotten they were at the bakery until he heard the doorbell chime. He suctioned his lips away from hers and whispered, “We’ll resume this later.”
“Okay,” she said, seemingly spellbound, lost in his eyes.
He ran his thumb across her lips. “Don’t work too hard today.”
“I won’t. Bye, Ramsey.”
“See you later, baby.”
And just like that, marital beef was squashed, the sun beamed brighter and all was right with the world. Gianna watched him walk away, completely enamored just by his signature walk alone. He was the whole package and she couldn’t wait to
go home to open it.
Chapter 8
He could have had someone do it for him – pick out the freshest bouquet of red roses, but he went to the florist on his own and chose the perfect bouquet for his lady. With his kind of money, a jeweler would happily show up at his house, but he took the initiative to drive to the jeweler – the same one he’d purchased their wedding rings from – to purchase a gift for Gianna. He saw several pieces he wanted to buy for her, but knowing Gianna, she’d be overwhelmed with too much all at once. He settled on a two-carat, three stone drop diamond pendant. He could picture her wearing it already.
For dinner, he’d instructed Carson to cook shrimp, lobster and steak prepared any way he wanted it. While Carson cooked, Ramsey situated candles on the dining room table, turned on some smooth R&B then shot the breeze with Carson in the kitchen until he heard the moment Gianna came in the front door. He sprang into action, taking the bouquet of roses to the door.
“Welcome home, baby. These are for you,” he said, handing her the roses, but she didn’t take them.
Gianna covered her mouth with both hands in sheer excitement and surprise.
Ramsey smiled. Every time he bought her something – no matter how big or small – surprise and shock took over her features. Like when he surprised her with a yearly membership for massages, or when he gave her a bag of plain M&Ms. “Ramsey, they’re beautiful,” she said.
“Not as beautiful as my breathtaking wife who smells like cupcakes right now,” he said embracing her with his face buried in her neck, taking deep inhales of her scent.
He released her then gave her a peck on the lips.
“You’re going to make me cry,” she said, her eyes already tearing up.
“Don’t cry, baby.”
She fanned her eyes, withholding the emotion. “Thank you for the roses.”
“You’re welcome.”
Gianna heard the soft music playing, smelled seafood and why was Ramsey all dressed up, even more dapper now than when she saw him earlier?
“Ramsey, why’d you change suits?”
“I wanted to look as fly as possible for my queen.”
“You look fly in just about anything you wear, especially those boxer briefs that cling to you just right.”
Ramsey nibbled on his lip. “Keep that up and we’ll forgo everything I planned for you tonight and head straight to the bedroom.”
“You’ve planned something for me?”
“Yes. First, step out of those shoes,” he urged.
Gianna took off her shoes, left them by the door and then took Ramsey’s waiting hand. He led her to the candlelit dining room where she saw food already on the table – a feast fit for a king – lobster, shrimp, steak and a fancy salad. And then there were buttered rolls, corn on the cob and creamy mashed potatoes.
“Wow. What is all of this, Ramsey?”
“A special dinner for us. I mean, all of our dinners are special, but I think we’ve been a little stressed lately, so tonight we’ll take our time, discuss a few things and enjoy ourselves over some good food.”
A smile came to Gianna’s face – one Ramsey delighted to see. He pulled out her chair and confirmed her comfort before he sat down. He fanned out a cloth napkin, spread it in her lap.
“I feel so underdressed,” she said as her eyes traced the precision cut of his beard. “You went to the barber, too.”
“I did. I know how you can’t get enough of this beard. I figured I’d enhance it for you.”
Gianna touched his face, feeling the firmness of his jaw beneath her hand. She smiled, thoroughly pleased.
Ramsey reached for the bread as Carson stepped into the room.
“Hey, Carson,” Gianna told him.
“Good evening, madam.” He served her a sample of the food, set the plate in front of her, then proceeded to prepare a plate for Ramsey.
“Thank you, Carson. You’ve really gone above and beyond tonight.”
“That’s why you pay me the big bucks, Sir.”
Ramsey cracked a smile, then after Carson left the room, he looked at Gianna until his stare prompted her to look back at him. “Let’s eat.”
Gianna went for the shrimp first, savoring the flavor of it. Carson was an excellent cook. He was talented at everything he did.
When Ramsey saw Gianna tearing into the shrimp, he asked, “How is it?”
“Oh my goodness,” she mumbled. “It’s so good. I didn’t realize how hungry I was.”
“Well, you are eating for two.”
“Right,” she said.
Ramsey ate a chunk of butter-dipped lobster then said, “So, first on the agenda—”
Her loud moans while eating the shrimp disrupted his thoughts. He looked at her and watched her stuff another shrimp into her mouth, chasing it with a spoon full of mashed potatoes.
Gianna stopped chewing when she glanced up at him and caught his gaze. Embarrassed, she covered her mouth with her hand. “Sorry...”
Ramsey’s eyes crinkled in the corners. “It’s fine, Gianna. My girls have to eat, right?”
She nodded, steadily chewing.
“As I was saying, first on the agenda is the bakery. In roughly two months, our little girl will be here. Have you thought about how long you’re going to take off work?”
Gianna held up a finger, took a long sip of water then responded, “Not sure. I was thinking three months, but I already can’t imagine going back to work and leaving my little cupcake behind, even after we’ve bonded.”
“I know, and you probably won’t, so where does that leave us?”
Gianna sighed. “Since I haven’t made up my mind, let’s just plan for three months and whatever happens up to that three-month mark, we’ll deal with it then.”
Ramsey smiled. “That sounds like something I would say. You’ve been hanging around me too long.”
“I think that’s the other way around, Mr. St. Claire.”
Ramsey served himself more mashed potatoes. “Whatever you—we—decide to do, we’re going to have to hire someone to help you at the bakery. There’s no way around it. We’ve been talking about it for a while, but now it’s to the point where we can’t put it off any longer. That’s why I had my secretary put out some ads.”
“You did?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
Ramsey didn’t see the relevancy of the question but still, he answered, “Not long ago, and we already have a good number of applicants. I was thinking we could hire a college student part-time to work the register and someone else you can train for the baking portion of the job.”
“That sounds good.”
Ramsey raised his brows. “Excuse me?”
“What?”
“I’m astounded you don’t have any objections.”
“Nope. Not one. I’m going with the flow,” Gianna said.
“Then, moving right along, we need to talk about a nanny.”
“Uh…no we don’t.”
Ramsey chuckled. “What happened to going with the flow?”
“We don’t need a nanny, Ramsey.”
Amused, Ramsey asked, “Why do you look so serious all of a sudden?”
“Because I am serious. I’m so anti-nanny.”
“You’re anti-nanny?” he repeated, so tickled, he could hardly get the words out. “May I ask why you’re…um…anti-nanny?”
“I’ve seen enough movies to know that hiring a nanny spells disaster. Either this nanny person is going to turn all psycho and try to kidnap my baby, or give you google eyes and hint that she could be better for you than me.”
Ramsey threw his head back with laughter. “Oh, my sweet Gianna. Did you say google eyes?” He laughed some more.
“You laugh, but I’m serious. You’re too hot to be having some woman around constantly playing mommy on a daily basis, checking you out. Wishing…”
“You’ve been watching too many movies, woman. And here I was thinking it was Gemma who was addicted to movies.”
<
br /> “Are you under the assumption that things like that don’t happen in real life?”
Ramsey wiped his mouth and said, “I’m sure they do, but any outsider I bring in the house will be fully vetted all the way down to their social media posts. And as for another woman giving me googly eyes, if that happens, I wouldn’t be aware of it. I only have eyes for you, sweetness.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really,” he said, his posture relaxed, still somewhat tickled by her.
“Even though I look all puffy?” Gianna grinned.
“If you think you look puffy, it’s definitely all in your head. You’re all stomach and I love it. I love the way you look. The pounds you’ve gained. I put that baby inside of you. Why wouldn’t I love it, and you? Make no mistake, Gianna—I gave you my name and I am one-hundred percent dedicated to you. That should never be a question.”
Gianna smiled, flooded with warmth.
“Let’s put the nanny subject on ice for now and talk about the layout of the house instead.”
Ramsey reached for the steak when he saw Gianna making an attempt to get the tray. He served her a piece.
“Thanks.”
“Welcome.” He watched her eat for a moment and smiled. Nibbled his lip. The littlest things she did made him want her, and she wasn’t even aware.
“The layout,” she said, reminding him of what he wanted to discuss next.
“Ah, yes,” he said, breaking his trance. “Our room is on the third floor. There are two rooms available on the second floor, but I wouldn’t want the baby down there alone.”
“Me either, although, it would only be an issue at night when we’re in our room.”
“Yep.” Ramsey ate some salad. Thought for a moment. “We could do some work to fix the third floor, like adding an extra room.”
