Mr. Gumble gestured to the table. “As usual my client is late. Perhaps you can put your offer on the table. I told her Mr. Grayson refused to marry her.”
“Damn straight,” Jules said.
Tony took a seat at the table. “The paternity test comes before any discussion.”
“She won’t agree.”
“Then we’ll go to court.”
Jules sat beside his friend. How long would Charlene make them wait?
Ten minutes later the door opened. She strolled inside. Jules stared at her too tight jeans and a shirt with a deep vee showing more cleavage than he wanted to view.
She smiled. “Jules, hello.”
“Hell no.” He almost laughed at her expression.
“Ready to admit defeat.” She walked to the table, pressed her hands against the surface and leaned forward.
Jules leaned back in his chair. "Don’t think that’s on the agenda.”
She drew a deep breath and nearly spilled out of her blouse. “We’ll see.”
“Sit down,” Mr. Gumble said.
Tony opened his briefcase. “There’s nothing to discuss without the paternity test. By the way, we’ve learned your son is staying with a Mrs. Maron in Rock Point.”
“You’re not going to hurt my son.”
“A cheek swab doesn’t hurt. Without the paternity test no judge will award you a cent.”
Charlene turned to Mr. Gumble. “Is he telling the truth? That ain’t the way this was supposed to work. What about my word is good? That’s what you told me.”
“And you swore Mr. Grayson vanished before you could tell him you were pregnant.” The heavy-set man scowled. “Without that test you’re throwing away a lot of money.”
Charlene leaned across the table. “This is all Grace’s fault. She’ll be sorry. I’ll tell people she’s poisoning them with her cupcakes.”
Jules smacked the table with his hand. “Do not go there. You’ll end up in jail.”
She sneered. “How?”
“Joe Trent, owner of the Village Diner believes you’re Grace’s partner. You deliver cupcakes to him five nights a week. Usually a dozen and sometimes more. Pays you cash. You lie to Grace. She thinks they’re for the girls at the group home. I have a file on your actions. Mr. Trent believes you and your family are Grace’s partners.
“We should be.”
“What have you done to earn a partnership?”
Charlene’s face flushed. “It’s not fair for her to earn all that money. She owes us.”
“Life seldom is unless you’re willing to work. You’re a leach sitting back and profiting by other people’s labor.”
Tony nodded. “A pattern you’ve chosen to follow. Ten years ago you accused Jules of theft. My father took action.”
Jules nodded. “You lied and your parents nearly lost their positions as house parents.”
Tony turned to Mr. Gumble. “You have no case.”
“I can see that.” He grasped Charlene’s arm. “Get out. I’ll send you my bill.”
Tony rose. “Ms. Patterson, I’ll be helping Derek. A court might grant him custody of his son.”
“You can’t do that,” Charlene screamed. “All I want is what should have been mine.”
Jules laughed. “That’s exactly what you’ll receive. Nothing.” He followed Tony from the room.
Tony turned and grinned. “Your little surprise was great. Are you going to tell Grace what you learned?”
“On my way to her.”
When they reached the street he started the Jeep and listened to the engine idle. Would she forgive him for his flight? Would she understand why he’d panicked? The time had come to stop running away and run toward.
He parked beside her van and sauntered through the alley. Five or six customers stood at the glass cases. Jules strode past and entered the kitchen. Grace stood at the worktable icing cupcakes. He continued toward her.
“Grace.”
She turned. A stream of icing hit his face. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Pungent wintergreen, sweet icing and Grace. He deepened the kiss. This was the time and the place.
* * * *
The aroma of wintergreen and the man drew Grace into a swirl of passion. She should be angry with him. Instead her desire for him grew with each sweep of his tongue across her lips. Her mouth opened. Their tongues curled driving desire higher. His hands roved over her back.
He raised his head. She gulped a breath and gazed into his brown eyes. “Charlene lied.”
“She did.”
“I’m glad you escaped her.” She touched his chin. “You’re lucky I was just finishing. I could have ruined your suit.”
“Wouldn’t have mattered.”
His grin returned. She traced the dimple. “What are you thinking?”
“There are other places to use icing.’
“I’m sure you’ll find some.” She put the pastry bag down.
“Can you leave? I want to talk to you somewhere where we won’t be interrupted.”
“I’ll put this tray in the cooler and check with Bonnie.”
Jules followed her into the shop. Grace turned and saw his intent expression. After the kiss what came next? Her body throbbed with need and the shop was open for another half hour.
“Jules and I have something to talk about but I’ll be back to clean up.”
Bonnie shook her head. “Leave. I can close and do the cleaning.” She paused. “What about the leftovers?”
Jules paused at the counter. “I’ll take a dozen.” He pointed the ones he wanted. “Do not give any to Charlene if she’s bold enough to return. The ones she takes for the home are being sold to the diner.”
“I could take them there,” Bonnie said. “He could be a good customer.”
“No deliveries to him until you have an agreement,” Jules said.
Grace nodded. “I have an idea. Drop these off at the food bank. Call them and tell them the cupcakes can be frozen. That’s where we’ll take the extras from now on.”
Jules held Grace’s coat. Once she’d buttoned up, he took his box and they left the shop. He held her hand as they walked to his Jeep. “Get in.”
“Where are we going?”
“Home.”
“I can’t run to the city.”
“We’re not.”
As he started the Jeep and pulled out of the lot, she realized they headed to the condo. “Since when is my place your home?”
“As of today. I’ll move my clothes over the next few days and settle in until we find a bigger place.”
“Aren’t you assuming?”
“Maybe but I’m sure you won’t make an ass of me. You’ll make me a happy man. I left a bunch of condoms at your place that have to be used before they spoil.”
Grace giggled. “You’re so full of it.”
“I know but you love me the way I am.” He pulled into the driveway and used an opener to lift the door.
"Where did you get that? Did you break into my van?”
Jules patted her hand. “From Tony. Seems Lauren took the spare when she moved in with him. Forgot to return it to you.” He closed the door, came around and lifted her to the ground. He kissed her long and hard. He tugged her to the door. “The dude is needy.”
“Jules.”
“I’m coming.” Inside he set his overnight case on the floor, took off his coat and boots. He opened the bakery box. “Later. Right now I bet I can beat you getting naked.”
Grace shook her head. “Explanation.”
“Later.” He kissed her. “Take the bet.”
“All right.” Grace knew what he wanted. She quickly shed her clothes. She ran toward the stairs. “I win.”
Jules eased past her. “I’ll hit the bed first.”
Grace ran and ducked around him to dive onto the bed. She rolled to her back. Jules landed beside her and dotted her chest with icing. He knelt so his knees straddled her thighs. He spread icing down her belly. “Thought of this th
e first time I saw you again.”
He bent and ran his tongue over her breasts. He raised his head and kissed her.
He tasted of wintergreen and sugar. “Jules.”
“Relax. I’m aiming for a sugar high.” He kissed and licked the other breast and continued down her belly.
Grace felt heat flow to her core. “Condom, hurry.”
“Soon.”
He thrust his tongue into her mouth. She felt his penis slide over her labia. Though she tried to buck him off she failed.
He raised his body, took a condom from the stack she hadn’t moved. He rose to his knees and with one hand grasped his erection and sheathed himself.
Grace watched his movements. Her breath caught. Desire welled. Jules laced his fingers with hers.
Grace raised her legs to circle his hips. Slowly he pressed inside. Jules began to thrust and retreat. She caught the rhythm and the heat began to build.
Perspiration dripped from his face onto her body. The slap of flesh on flesh filled the air along with the groans and moans. The smell of evergreen and the scent of wintergreen mingled with the aromas of desire.
Her inner muscles tightened around his member. She pressed her feet against his rear. The burn ignited and she flew. Jules shouted her name. He murmured words she couldn’t believe she’d heard.
He rolled to his side and pulled her close. “I love you.”
“I love you,” she whispered.
He kissed her. “We need to shower, get dressed and leave.”
“Where are we going?”
“To buy tires for your van.”
“What?”
“And a ring. I want to show the world you’re mine.”
“Forever.”
Their mouths met in a kiss both sweet and hot.
* * * *
Two days after Christmas Jules stood beside the cupcake tower in the dining room of Tony’s house. He lifted one and walked to the door to watch the guests gathered to celebrate Tony’s and Lauren’s wedding. He bit into the cake and groaned. His marvelous fiancé had aced this one. The coffee and chocolate flavor blended into a perfect mocha.
Across the room he noticed a flash of red and saw Grace in an animated conversation with Allie and Greg. The food on the long buffet table had been supplied by Greg’s restaurant, Five Cuisines.
As though Grace felt his stare, she turned and walked toward him. His heart pounded. Would the sight of her every fail to stir the dude?
She reached his side. “Looks like you approve.”
“It’s a perfect cup of mocha in a cake.”
“How many have you eaten?”
He pulled her into his arms. “Five.”
A flash went off. Jules turned and saw Megan and Steve at the tiered display. Steve chuckled. “Caught you.”
Megan laughed. “If Jules told you five, he can’t count. I figure at least seven. Has to keep up with this one.”
Jules shook his head. “Tattle-tale.”
Across the room, he heard Jamie squeal and saw Mark’s son Davy building a block tower for the infant. Christa crouched near the boys and applauded the action of the pair. Mark sprawled on the floor near them. Jules felt happy for his friends who had discovered each other after so many years apart.
With a cupcake and camera in hand, Steve crossed to take more pictures of the gathering of friends.
Where were Matt and Cassie? Then Jules spotted them walking toward the dining room with Stella and Peter Blakefield, an older recently married couple.
He heard Jamie. “Up. Up.”
Jules turned and saw Lauren and Tony dressed in their traveling clothes. Tony scooped the infant from the floor and strode to where Jules and Grace stood. “He’s yours,” Tony said. “Think you can handle this.”
Jules grinned. “As long as I have help.”
“Grace volunteered,” Lauren said. “Don’t feed him too many cupcakes when you visit the shop. You have a list of sitters for when you need a break.”
Grace nodded. “We do.”
In a flurry of hugs and kisses, Tony and Lauren left. The guests followed them to the door and pelted them with birdseed. Before long the other pairs drifted away, all taking selections of cupcakes. Grace boxed the top tier and carried it to the freezer.
Jules packed away the leftovers and followed Grace to the kitchen. Jamie yawned. “Tired, pal?” He turned to Grace. “Need a bottle for this child. Do you want to feed him?”
She took one from the fridge. “Why don’t you get in practice?”
He slid an arm around her shoulders. “Do we need to move the wedding date? I wondered if letting the dude go naked was a good idea.”
“Not yet.” Grace kissed his cheek. “I really want to hire and train the new baker before I need a time out. Maybe we can revert?”
Jules laughed. “But the dude has so much fun. Any time you say, we’ll go for a license.” He nuzzled her neck. “After the new year, the books will be mine. You can start training Bonnie as a decorator and I’ll manage the till.”
“Really.”
“We’re partners for life. Remember.”
“I know.” She walked beside him upstairs. Together they readied Jamie for bed.
After reading him a story, they stepped outside. “Things will be interesting. Trust me.”
“I do.” He swept her into his arms.
The End
Spicy Seduction Page 8
