“Wouldn’t be good business if the customer fainted from lack of food in my store. Indulge yourself.”
A rush of heat hit his groin as her words sunk home. His cock sprang to attention and Adam was glad the counter hid the evidence.
“Indulge yourself.” Adam could think of quite a few ways to indulge himself with Kate at present, and none of them involved the cinnamon roll she offered. He shifted his stance, trying to ease the pressure in his trousers.
“Thanks.” The words seemed safe in the grand scheme of things. Thankfully, Kate seemed unaware of his discomfort.
Adam wasted no time in polishing off the cinnamon rolls as Kate read over the papers he’d brought. Everything she needed was on them, or so Adam hoped. Planning for a baby shower was harder work than he’d thought, as he’d listed out the questions for her after asking Tessa.
“You don’t have anything written on type of food,” Kate looked up at Adam.
He wiped his hands on the napkin before answering. “Tessa said surprise her. As long as it has chocolate and peanut butter, she’ll be thrilled.”
Kate made a note on her own notepad before bringing her gaze back to his. “This says the baby shower has one hundred and fifty guests invited.”
Adam nodded. “Yes.”
“But that’s only three days away from today.”
“Is that a problem?” Adam frowned. Now was not the time to experience any problems. He’d do whatever it took to make Tessa happy.
“I owe you an apology and a dry cleaning bill. Nothing more. If you want me to pull this off without a hitch, I want fifty percent of what you were going to pay the other caterer. That’s only fair under the circumstances.”
“How about one hundred percent?” Adam asked Kate.
“What?” She looked confused, her pen still held in midair over the notebook.
“I’ll pay you exactly what I was paying them. Which is…” Adam pulled the contract from his pocket and laid it on the counter. “Here, how’s this sound?”
* * * *
The pen fell from Kate’s fingers and she gasped aloud as she stared at the bill. The amount on the paper was way more than anything she’d ever gotten before. It was almost to the point of obscene. It was more than enough to keep her business afloat for another two months.
“Agreed.” She’d be a fool to say no now.
“Is that a timer going off somewhere?” Adam lifted his head and looked over her shoulder.
“A timer?” For a second Kate couldn’t think, her mind still wrapped around the money he was offering. “A timer? Oh crap, the fritters.”
Kate leapt off the stool and headed into the back of the bakery with Adam at her heels. She grabbed the oven mitts, turned off the timer and quickly pulled the pan from the oven. After checking them over, Kate let out a sigh. The apple fritters had survived her forgetting about them.
“Is there anything you make that doesn’t smell amazing?” Adam hovered over the tray.
Kate smiled. “No, there isn’t.”
“Modest, too, I see.” He looked at her and smiled.
“Let me prove it to you. I’ll assume you’re still hungry.”
When he nodded, she pulled a plate from the cupboard, put an apple fritter on it, then crossed to the freezer and pulled out a carton of vanilla ice cream. After placing a scoop on the fritter, Kate carefully dusted it with confectioner’s sugar and then handed it and a fork to Adam.
“Prove me wrong.” She then slid a glass of milk over to him.
Kate sat down on the stool at the kitchen island and watched Adam dig in.
Watching the man eat was an erotic adventure all by itself. He closed his eyes after taking a bite and she could see the muscles in his throat go in and out every time he swallowed.
Her breath hitched when Adam licked his lips. What she wouldn’t give to jump across the island taste the apple on his lips, lick the smear of confectioner’s sugar from his upper lip and run her hands over the well-toned body of Adam Belfour. Her nipples tightened under her t-shirt and Kate nearly moaned aloud.
She wanted this man in the worst way and her body knew it.
Adam pushed the plate back a few inches and sat back with a satisfied smile. “I could get seriously used to this.”
Kate knew she was risking everything, but couldn’t help herself as she leaned over and wiped the sugar remnants from his lip with her thumb, then popped it into her own mouth.
His gaze honed in on her finger and Kate froze. Heat pooled between her legs, moisture wetting her panties and it was all she could do to hold his stare.
Adam reached over and took hold of her finger, bringing it back to his own mouth. He slowly licked it from base to tip, his tongue slowly teasing and tormenting Kate in equal measure.
“I…you…” Kate couldn’t form a coherent sentence.
Shivers raced across her body as the tension built between her thighs. She wondered if he’d give the same delicious attention to her pussy as he was to her finger. Somehow, she knew he would. This man would never leave a woman feeling unsatisfied. It wasn’t in his DNA.
Adam walked around the table, never letting go of her hand until he stood directly beside her.
Kate could feel the heat emanating off him in waves, engulfing her, threatening to consume them both.
“Sweetheart, being this close to you causes two problems,” Adam said, lowering his head and tracing the shell of her ear with his tongue.
“What two problems?” Kate hated the way her voice came out all airy and breathy. At the moment, his touch seemed anything but problematic.
“One,” he guided her hand to his bulging erection and Kate gulped as her fingers came in contact.
“And number two?” She looked up into his face, knowing she was blushing brighter than a red velvet cake’s frosting.
“Two, is the fact I want to strip you naked and have my way with you right here on the counter. And when we’re done with that, we’ll do it again and again, and again.”
“Oh my.” Kate didn’t know what to say. No one had ever talked to her like that before. Not that she didn’t like it, she just didn’t know how to react. In fact, the idea was giving her goose bumps and making her feel extremely warm in places she didn’t think possible.
For a brief second Kate could almost feel the chill of the marble island under her bare back, the smooth surface of the marble combined with the hot, angled planes of Adam’s body. The hard press of his erection nestled between her thighs, taking her higher than she’d ever been.
If only…
Adam took a step back and looked down into her face. Kate stared at him, all the while nibbling on her lower lip. How was it a simple oops I smashed my cupcakes down the front of your expensive suit coat had somehow turned into this?
This guy could run circles around her, both personally and professionally. Why her? She wasn’t high society. While she did know which end of the fork to eat from and what silverware to choose while dining such didn’t put her anywhere near the class of woman Adam Belfour was used to dating. Or sleeping with for that matter.
Yet right now, none of that mattered. All that mattered was two people alone, with pleasure on their minds.
The ringing of Adam’s cell phone broke the silence and he pulled it from his pocket, staring at the number.
“I’m sorry I have to take this.”
“Sure, I understand.”
When he lifted the phone to his ear, Kate breathed a sigh of relief. She’d almost broken her own rules. Silly as they might sound, she was the one who invented them. And Kate would have gladly thrown them out the window.
If the phone call wouldn’t have happened when it did, she and Adam might be doing the wild thing on her pastry table.
Kate sighed, knowing deep down part of her wished the phone had never rung. But it did, and that was the cruel reality of the situation.
* * * *
What the hell was wrong with him, Adam thought as he dropped the
front door key to his condo on the sofa table. He had no business coming on to Kate like that. She was…she was…what was she? Right now Adam couldn’t find the words to string together a coherent sentence, but he knew he wasn’t leaving here without a taste of her honeyed lips.
The man who had no trouble avoiding commitment was now practically begging for one.
He had turned back to find Kate wiping down the island, neatly avoiding his gaze. Whatever they’d shared was gone.
He would have made love to her right there in her kitchen, had she only given him a sign. And if the damn phone hadn’t rung, they would have been. Adam knew it, he could see it in Kate’s eyes. She wanted him as much as he wanted her.
Shucking off his clothes and walking into the bathroom, Adam stepped into the shower. He let the hot water run over him, soothing his frustration, easing his tense muscles. He slid the bar of soap over his body and then sat it back on the shelf. Running his hands across his flat stomach, Adam let his mind wander back to earlier that evening.
He could almost see it now. He’d slowly peel each piece of clothing from her body. Tug the straps of her bra off her shoulders, reveal the creamy swell of her breasts before tasting each rosy nipple in turn. Teasing them, licking them, letting the taste of her fill his mouth. Then lower still to her pussy.
“Oh God.” He pumped his cock slowly, then harder, feeling the imminent orgasm threaten. He closed his eyes and thought about Kate. How wet she’d be, how he’d make love to her with his mouth and his fingers, dipping his tongue into her pussy to taste the sweetness of her.
He gripped his cock firmer, pumping harder, leaning back against the wall. His cum spurted out, mixing with the hot water, swirling down the drain as Adam stood, spent, his breath coming in ragged pants.
Adam knew they would be fantastic together in bed. And he knew before the shower was over, she would, before this was all, over be in his bed. Naked and willing.
Chapter Four
Kate sat the last cupcake on the tiered stand and stood back to survey her handiwork. The dainty hand rolled fondant handles on the cupcakes designed to look like baby carriages were arranged in a semi-circle on the dessert table. Their soft hues of green, pink, yellow and blue blended in perfectly with Tessa’s decoration schematic.
Everything was in readiness for the quickly approaching shower. Guests were due at the country club any minute and Kate didn’t want to get caught standing at the massive array of baby gifts already piled on the front table.
She finished her preparations and then headed back to the kitchen. Tessa gave her the signal, she’d serve the salad, followed by the meal, then onto dessert.
The wait staff at the country club had been advised to follow Kate’s lead and her every order. She felt like a queen presiding over her court when they all stood before her, awaiting their assignments.
So this is what it would be like to have a full staff at her beck and call. While it was nice every once in a while, it took the thrill out of doing the majority of the work herself. She was very proud of what she’d accomplished in only five years and hoped that today’s event was only the beginning of great things to come.
Voices caught her attention and Kate peered around the corner. The guests were arriving, finding their seats and oohing and ahhing over the dessert table. Which was exactly what she wanted them to do.
Kate smiled and accepted the handful of business cards Tessa had given her. Each woman wanted Kate to do an event for them. Each woman was a big name in the community and had a husband who was an even bigger name.
If Kate let herself get too full of it, then it was quite possible the entire house of cards could come crashing down around her. Or in this case, her Christmas gingerbread house might just be the ruin of her.
“Kate, you did a wonderful job. I’m so thrilled you told Adam yes. This was just the best shower ever.” Tessa pulled Kate close and gave her a big hug.
“It’s I who should be thanking you for the chance. I had such fun making everything and I’m so glad you and your guests enjoyed the desserts
“The cupcake carriages were a huge hit,” Tessa told Kate. “I’ve never seen anything like them before.”
“Oh before I forget, I’ve got a little something for you to take home with you.” Kate lifted a bag off the table behind her and handed it to Tessa. “All of your favorites are inside.”
“You are an angel. I swear when this baby turns one, you’re the only one I’m calling to do his or her birthday parties.”
“Tessa, that’s so sweet of you.”
“And I do hope my brother will start bringing you around so I can see you as well.”
Kate shook her head. “I don’t know. I thought he might pop in today to see how things were going, but…”
“Come on, I know you two are a couple. And you don’t want anyone to know just yet. Richard and I were like that in the beginning. We didn’t want to share each other with anyone else.”
“I… Adam and I aren’t a couple. We barely know one another,” Kate stammered, knowing her cheeks were flaming red.
“It’s okay, I’ll keep your secret. For now.” Tessa smiled and patted Kate’s arm before she, too, left for home.
Kate stared after Tessa. She knew she’d blown it. No matter how many times she relived the night and it was plenty of times, Kate knew she’d let the opportunity slip through her fingers by not grabbing Adam Belfour and planting a big, wet kiss on his lips when she had the opportunity in her store.
After helping the staff clean up the room and stowing her containers and supplies in the back of her Jeep, Kate gave the room one final look.
What would it be like to part of the country club set? To have all her events here and not stuffed into someone’s living room and kitchen. Let alone be the one having those events with Adam by her side. Maybe her bridal shower and then her wedding, and after that a baby shower.
With a twinge of regret for even allowing herself to think so hard about it, Kate left the building and headed back to her shop. Reality was a tough cold biscuit to swallow.
* * * *
Adam tried to focus on the computer screen, rereading the same page he’d been diligently trying to make heads or tails out of for the past hour. So far nothing was making sense. All he could think about was Kate and how he’d blown it. He’d pushed too fast and she’d backed away.
Since then, he’d done everything in his power to try and forget her, but it wasn’t working. She haunted his days and worse yet, teased him with her body in his dreams at night.
Dreams that left his cock rock hard and aching for release upon awakening. Dreams that he wanted to make into reality and enjoy every taste, touch and tease.
Leaning back in his chair, he swiveled around to face the view outside. Even that failed to calm his restless nerves.
“If you want something, you need to go after it.”
His sister’s voice floated across the room, reaching his ears. Adam turned his chair back around to face her. “Your point and I’m certain you have one.”
“Listen, if she’s half as miserable as you are, then the two of you deserve one another.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means she’s doing a pastry class at her shop tonight. Class ends at nine, then she’ll be all alone. Or do I have to spell it out for you even further, big brother?”
For a minute all Adam could do was stare at Tessa. “You know, I’ve suddenly got the urge for some apple fritters. Thanks, sis,” Adam said as he stood up and hugged Tessa.
“All I ask is that you name me as the baby’s godmother when the time comes.”
“Count on it,” Adam confirmed with a grin.
“Go get her then. Time’s a wasting.” Tessa headed to the office door, and then grabbed her back and grimaced. “I can’t wait till this baby gets here. I swear I’ve been pregnant for two years.”
Adam slipped in the front door of Sinful Sweets as quietly as possible and stood
silently in the corner. He hoped Kate wouldn’t see him till class ended. Right now she was busy rolling out pastry dough and showing the class how to make sure it wouldn’t stick to the counter.
“If the dough feels wet and sticky, add a little more flour.”
He continued to watch her fingers fly over the dough, kneading it, pressing it down, and folding it. His cock hardened almost instantly as he thought about those same skilled fingers working him over. It was all he could do not to groan aloud at the thought.
After a few minutes, Kate started cleaning up and thanked the class for coming. It was then she noticed him. And he knew it immediately when the smile slipped from her face.
* * * *
Kate closed the door after the last person left and flipped the lock.
“You know it’s dangerous to leave the door open. You never know what might walk in after hours.”
“So I’ve been told.” She walked past him, her nerves sizzling with awareness and her heart pounding in her chest.
What was Adam doing here? And why now?
“Is there something I can help you with?” she asked, trying to keep her tone as casual as she could.
Adam nodded. “Actually yes. I came to apologize for the other night. I had no right to think you were as attracted to me as I was to you. I’m very sorry for the way I behaved and hope you will forgive me.”
Kate chewed on her bottom lip.
If he only knew the truth. How if given the chance, she would have gladly jumped his bones. But now it was too late, or was it….
“Apology accepted. Would you care for some dessert? I have apple fritters still warm from the oven, with vanilla ice cream on the side.” Kate headed back into the kitchen.
“Sure, if it’s no trouble.”
Adam followed hot on her heels and it was all Kate could do not to smile. The old phrase the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach certainly pertained to Adam Belfour.
Flavorful Seductions Page 3
