Truly, Madly, Sweetly (Sweet Love)

by Kira Archer

  Gina burst out laughing at that one. “They are hideous.”

  Nat mock-gasped. “They are awesome! Wait…which ones?” She’d been collecting oven mitts for years and had a truly spectacular and unique collection.

  “All of them. Especially that pair that looks like that Spat guy.”

  “Spat?”

  “You know, from Star Trails. Spat…Sport…Spit…”

  “Star Trek? My Spock mitts? Those are so cool! They look like Spock doing the live long and prosper sign. Who could hate those?”

  “Uh-huh. I’m just sayin’, give the guy a break over the mitts. It takes a very special person to love those things.” She patted Nat’s head like she was an eccentric pet and then jumped up.

  “And I’ve gotta be honest, I mess with you and your numbers and organizing stuff, too. Kinda makes me like the guy better.”

  Nat gasped again and chucked a hairbrush at her friend, deliberately missing, of course.

  “All right, enough of that. We’ve got better things to do tonight than worry about the biggest pain in your ass at the moment. You ready to go?”

  This was an Eric-free evening so Nat tried to put thoughts of him out of her head. No tension, no arguing, no drooling, and no chance of being seduced out of her very willing panties at just a look from him. It was going to be nice to have some fun and not have to keep her guard up.

  She grabbed the shawl that went with the dress and wrapped it around her shoulders. “Yep, let’s go!”

  The party was only a couple blocks from their own building, so Nat and Gina hoofed it. The second they walked in the door, Gina pulled her over to the liquor table and pressed a glass of wine into her hand.

  “Here you go,” she said. “This will help loosen you up a bit.”

  Nat laughed and took a sip. “Just being away from baking and the bakery is already doing wonders. Wow,” she said, looking around the loft. “This place looks amazing!”

  All the furniture had been arranged around the periphery of the room, leaving a large space in the middle where a makeshift dance floor had been set up. The apartment had been draped in glittering beads and metallic drapes, mirrored surfaces everywhere. Catering staff in tuxedos wandered around with trays heaped with delicious-looking food and another table near the kitchen was groaning under the weight of a huge art deco birthday cake and more finger foods.

  Nat snagged some sort of cream puff from a passing waiter and popped it in her mouth, nearly groaning in ecstasy as the sugary custard filled her mouth. “Oh my God, that is so good,” she said.

  Gina didn’t hear her though. Her attention was focused on something across the room.

  “What are you looking at?” Nat asked.

  Gina grimaced. “Well, if you came here to escape Eric, you might not want to look over by the terrace.”

  Natalie spun around. Eric stood leaning near the open terrace door looking absolutely mouthwatering in a dark pinstriped suit. He’d even added a little twenties-style mustache. Nat was not a fan of facial hair, but damn, Eric pulled it off. She took another sip of her wine, though the tingles spreading through her had nothing to do with alcohol. There was no escaping the man. It might make it a little easier if her body wasn’t so obviously thrilled to see him. His fingers played with the rim of his glass and her nipples tightened into hard little buds of desire, emanating tiny shocks of electricity through her body every time the silky fabric she wore moved over them.

  “Who the hell is that?” Gina asked, nodding at the woman Eric was talking to.

  Nat hadn’t even noticed her. Which was hard to believe considering that all his attention was focused on the tall, leggy blonde. And he looked like he was having a great time.

  “I have no idea.”

  Gina snorted. “Typical. Of course he latches onto the blonde Barbie with the big boobs.”

  Nat frowned. The woman was the exact opposite of her in nearly every way. Fake boobs, fake teeth, fake hair, dripping in what looked like very real diamonds. Obviously, someone who would fit right in at his parents’ country club. Nat shook her head, ashamed at her instant judgment of the woman.

  “She might be a perfectly nice person,” Nat said, trying her damnedest to be fair. She tore her gaze from them. It would be a lot easier if she didn’t have to watch Eric flirting with her.

  “Yeah, well that perfectly nice person is hanging all over your boy,” Gina pointed out.

  “He’s not my anything, Gina. We just work together. Temporarily.”

  “Um-hmm,” Gina said, obviously not buying that one. “Hang on a sec.”

  Nat popped another cream puff while Gina performed a little light recon, chatting with one person or another with a few nods in Eric’s direction before she made her way back to Natalie.

  “Her name is Courtney Collins.”

  “Courtney?” Nat wondered if it was the same Courtney he’d had to pick up from the airport. From the way she was hanging on him, she certainly seemed like a close friend. Very close.

  “Yep. She’s been after Schneider for years. And from the looks of it, she might be making some progress.”

  Nat turned back to the terrace, unable to keep from looking. Courtney had put her hand on Eric’s arm, laughing hysterically at something he was saying. The hand crept up a little higher, resting on his bicep. Eric did nothing to move away from her.

  “Bitch,” Nat muttered under her breath.

  She sighed and forced herself to turn her back on Big Boobs and Bozo.

  So much for taking it slow and getting to know one another before building a relationship. Apparently, they’d been taking it a little too slow. Not that they’d ever said they were exclusive. Or even dating. But still. It hurt.

  Well. She was going to enjoy her night, no matter what was going on near the balcony. She was in a room full of friends she hadn’t seen in weeks, had an excellent glass of wine in her hand, her favorite tunes were playing, and there was a table full of junk food in the kitchen. She did her best to put Eric from her mind and went to mingle.

  …

  Eric kept the grin plastered on his face, trying his best to look interested at the inane drivel pouring from Courtney’s mouth. If she wasn’t the daughter of his father’s business partner, Eric would have bailed on her after the first word had left her mouth. She was gorgeous—most guys’ wet dreams just waiting to happen. And Eric knew she had a brain in her head. The girl had gone to Harvard, for shit’s sake. But for some reason, every time they got within ten feet of each other, she turned into a giggling airhead who made Eric want to gouge his ears out. As far as he could tell, it was Court’s version of flirting. The only thing it made him want to do was take a flying leap off the balcony.

  While Courtney babbled on about the latest scandal at their parents’ country club, Eric let his eyes roam over the crowd. Maybe he’d get lucky and find someone he knew who could rescue him. He’d only come to see an old school friend of his, the boyfriend of the birthday girl. So far, he hadn’t seen anyone else he knew well. A few acquaintances (he winced at a particularly loud giggle from Courtney) but no one else he really cared to spend the evening making small talk with.

  Still, he’d promised his friend he’d make an appearance and for the time and money he’d put into his authentic twenties suit, he was bound and determined to stick it out for at least another half hour. Though, a few more minutes with Courtney and he might just run screaming from the building, no matter how much the damn suit he was wearing had cost to rent.

  One of his favorite Parov Stelar songs came on and Eric itched to get out on the dance floor. How rude would Courtney think he was, if he just handed her his glass and walked away? She’d probably complain to her mother who would complain to his mother who would call him and chew him out for the better part of an afternoon. Not worth the trouble. He sighed and took another drink.

  Then he heard a laugh that he’d recognize anywhere. He looked over Courtney’s shoulder, leaning over a bit to get a better view. S
omeone spun out of the way, and there she was. Natalie. Spinning and shaking that seriously sweet ass of hers, laughing as she and Gina bounced together to the music.

  “Excuse me,” Eric said, pressing his glass into Courtney’s hand, barely hearing her squeak of protest.

  He pushed through the crowd on the makeshift dance floor until he was close enough to touch her. He reached out and grabbed her hand. She jerked, her look of alarm fading into one of annoyance when she saw him. Hmm. What had he done to piss her off between leaving the bakery and showing up here? He hadn’t even spoken to her. Not that he was going to let her obvious irritation stop him. She was the only one he’d wanted to see tonight and his luck in finding her here was too good to pass up.

  “You look amazing.” He let his gaze wander over her again. The dress hugged her in all the right places, the fringe moving tantalizingly with every breath she took. “I didn’t know you’d be here,” he said, pulling her a little closer to talk in her ear so she could hear him.

  “You didn’t ask.”

  True. Okay, new tactic. “Having a good time?”

  “I was.”

  Irritation of his own started to bleed over his happiness at seeing her. “Did I do something to piss you off? Recently, I mean?”

  Her lips twitched. Eric leaned down a bit, making her keep eye contact with him, and her smile spread a little wider. He laced his fingers with hers. That was better. He spun her out a bit and pulled her back in, his blood pulsing with the beat of the music and the memory of the last time they’d been on the dance floor together. The hope for a repeat performance had his heart pounding in his chest, straining toward Nat.

  So far, so good. She let him pull her closer, started to sway with him. And then she froze, her gaze fixed over his shoulder. She pushed away from him.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “I think your date wants you.”

  “She’s not my date. And I want to dance with you.”

  He grabbed her hand and spun her out, then pulled her back to him with a twirl. She squeaked in surprise, a little laugh escaping her kissable lips before she could stop it. God, but she was adorable. If they weren’t surrounded by people, he’d lock those long legs of hers around his waist and keep her there until those giggles turned to cries of pure pleasure.

  “Come on, Cupcake,” he said, wrapping his arm around her waist and dipping her low. He placed his lips close to her ear and whispered, “Dance with me.”

  He brought her back up, his hand on the small of her back, keeping her pressed tightly to him. Nat narrowed her eyes but they glowed warm like drops of amber in sunlight. She draped an arm around his neck and started to sway with him. He spun with her, faster and faster in time to the music, twirling her out, back to his chest, out to the other side, until the people around them began to step back and give them room to really move.

  Nat’s smile stretched from ear to ear and she let go and really got into it. Eric’s blood pounded through his body, his heart thumping along with the beat, his eyes only on Nat as she moved with him. He grasped her around the waist and hoisted her up, swinging her from one side of his body to the other, then over his head. She planted her hands on his shoulders and kicked her legs into the air.

  Eric never thought he’d thank his mother for those dance classes she insisted he take, but the swing dancing lessons were certainly paying off. He brought Nat back down and wrapped his arm around her again, keeping her close to him while the song wound down. She was breathless with laughter and exertion.

  “Where did you learn to dance like that?”

  “My education was very thorough,” he said, winking at her.

  She laughed again. “Apparently.”

  The song ended and Natalie stepped away from him to clap along with the others. He instantly missed her warmth against him and wanted to pull her back. Before he could, Nat’s expression changed subtly. The smile stayed in place but seemed more brittle, forced, no longer reaching her eyes.

  He knew what was wrong before the problem at hand spoke.

  “That was very entertaining, Eric. You certainly don’t disappoint when you say you’re going to show a girl a good time.”

  Eric turned to Courtney, surprised at the strength of the anger that coursed through him.

  “I never said that, Courtney.”

  “Well, not in so many words, but you did promise your mother you’d keep me amused for the evening.”

  His gaze flicked to Nat whose smile had almost entirely disappeared.

  “That’s not quite what I—”

  “You don’t mind if I steal him back now, do you?” Courtney asked Nat.

  Eric opened his mouth to protest but Nat beat him to it. “He’s all yours,” she said.

  “Nat, wait,” he said, but she had already disappeared into the crowd. Before he could go after her, Courtney pressed a tumbler into his hand.

  “I got you a fresh drink,” she said.

  “Thanks,” he mumbled, his eyes still searching through the throng of people dancing and chatting. “If you’ll excuse me…”

  “Oh no, mister. Not this time. Your mother promised me you’d pay attention to me tonight. Besides, there are a few people here you must meet.”

  Courtney grabbed his hand and towed him off the dance floor toward the den. Eric caught sight of Nat again near the door and he pulled his hand free from Courtney’s grasp. Nat looked over at him, their eyes locking for a brief moment before her gaze flicked to Courtney. She frowned. Gina came over, handed her a shawl, and opened the door. She paused just long enough to shoot him a glare before they pulled the door closed behind them.

  He started toward the door, meaning to follow her and find out what the hell was going on in her head, make sure she knew that Courtney was nothing but a nuisance he had to put up with, but the nuisance in question put her hand on his arm.

  “Eric, I’d like you to meet…” Eric didn’t even hear the guy’s name. His mind was still focused on Nat.

  Nat was definitely peeved about Courtney, which both confused Eric and thrilled him at the same time. He wasn’t sure why she cared. She’d made it very clear she didn’t want a relationship with him right now. They were friends. With the potential for something more, sure. But just friends, all the same. Though if she was jealous, maybe she was ready for something more between them. Which was a thought he very much enjoyed. Though, trying to figure out what the hell was going on in her head was making his head throb.

  It took several more minutes to extricate himself from Courtney and her throng, and by the time he did, Nat was long gone. With her not there, Eric had no desire to be either. He made his excuses to the hosts and grabbed his jacket, slipping out the door when Courtney’s back was turned.

  Maybe a nice long walk would help clear his head. Natalie burned so hot and cold Eric had no fucking clue what to do about her. Their night together more than a month ago had proven she was more than hot for him. It hadn’t just been sex. But what it was, exactly, he wasn’t sure.

  His dad’s lawyer had discovered some mess with Nat’s ex that had both his parents on red alert. After Nat and her ex had broken up, her ex had published a cookbook that Nat had insisted was hers. Only she didn’t fight to get her name on the cover. According to the info his dad had, she’d just wanted money. Once her ex had ponied up some cash, she’d dropped the whole thing. Eric wasn’t sure what to make of it.

  On the one hand, he couldn’t imagine Nat trying to claim something that wasn’t hers. On the other, if she had been the true author, why wouldn’t she fight to get her name on the cover? Or at least credit as a contributor? Why take what was a ridiculously small settlement compared to what the book had since made? None of it made any sense to him.

  But there was something between them he’d never felt before. Something he couldn’t ignore. Yet, she’d spent every day since then making sure they kept as much distance between them as possible. Except for the brief moments when she couldn’t seem to
help herself. After which, she had pumped the brakes even harder. If she was angry over him being at a party with another woman…maybe she did want to take it to the next level.

  He sure as hell hoped so. And he was damn well going to find out.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Natalie watched Eric tie the apron around his waist, admiring the way the fabric hugged his toned body. When he looked up she hurriedly glanced at the wall, not wanting to be caught staring.

  She’d been keeping her distance since the party, but after only two days she knew she wouldn’t be able to maintain it. And she didn’t even want to, if she was honest with herself. She didn’t know what Eric had been doing with that woman at the party. But she also had no right to get her panties in a wad about it. They weren’t even dating, let alone exclusive. She’d keep her eyes open. But punishing him for talking to some other girl wasn’t exactly fair. Besides, it was too hard trying to work with him and stay mad at him at the same time.

  “You know,” he said, “I don’t really need baking lessons. We’ve been cleaning this place all day. I don’t know why you want to mess it all up again. I mean, I know I botched the job last night but I probably just misread something. All you have to do is follow the recipe, right?”

  “Well, I would’ve thought so.” She glanced at the pile of burned cupcakes on the counter. “But something obviously went very, very wrong. I said make a dozen cupcakes. Not hockey pucks,” she said, whacking one against the countertop.

  Eric grimaced and if she didn’t know better, she could swear that he blushed. But he turned away before she could see for sure. All right, maybe she’d give him a break and let up a little. She tried hard to keep a straight face. Maybe he was just bad at following directions. Because really, it wasn’t that hard to follow a recipe. You read it and then do what it says. But apparently, it wasn’t that easy. For some people.

  “Yeah, well, like I said, obviously something went a little wonky last night. But that doesn’t mean it’ll happen again. I mean how hard can this be?”