“And it’s awesome. I’m calling dibs.”
Kat rolled her eyes. “We have three more wedding cakes and two groom’s cakes to go.”
Inside, Jamie cringed. Well, crap. My bomb is a dud.
They dug into the next cakelette. More eye rolling, more moaning followed.
“I demand to change my dibs to this one.” Brigit licked her fork. “This blue velvet cake is like a tropical explosion in my mouth. The pureed pineapple mixed with vanilla pudding and…is that shredded coconut, too?” She licked her lips. “Whatever it is, it’s delicious.”
“Are you sure you like it?” He gave a weak shrug. “It’s not like a typical wedding cake.”
Kat laughed. “She’s anything but a typical bride.” She elbowed her sister then gestured with her fork. “I’ll take this last one with the apple jelly and pecan filling. I would’ve never thought to put it with a lemon cake, but oh my gosh…it’s so amazing.”
Fifteen minutes later, the platter sat on the folding table, all but licked clean. How could they have liked any of that? Yet, they turned to him, smiles on their faces as they daubed the corners of their mouths.
Kat set down her empty water glass. “So the German chocolate with chocolate bars and cherry pie filling for Dante.”
Brigit nodded. “That works perfectly because Carter will love the fudge cake with cinnamon graham crackers and whipped marshmallow filling.”
He shook his head. “Don’t they need to taste it for themselves or something?”
“Carter is working a retrieval case in Georgia.” Brigit glanced at the empty platter. “He said, and I quote, ‘Whatever you like, I’ll like.’ So, retro s’more cake it is.”
“Dante’s delivering a fire engine in Wyoming. I would’ve gone, too, but I needed to stay here and do wedding stuff.”
Brigit elbowed her sister. “Yeah, yeah. The way I heard it, Granddad threatened you…he didn’t want to have a shotgun wedding because you got preggers.”
“He did not!”
“Did, too.”
“Whatever.” Kat picked up her purse.
Jamie took a breath. They’re like watching a damn Ping-Pong match.
“So, the wedding will be in the town square,” she told him.
“Can’t go wrong with an early evening June wedding outside.” Brigit smiled. “All those fairy lights glittering will be magical to dance under.” She threaded her arm through her sister’s. “The whole town will be there.”
His gut clenched. “What?”
“They won’t all come,” Kat assured him.
“Sure.” Her sister shrugged. “Lots of Cedarians go on vacation in June. Their loss.”
Kat frowned. “Cedarians?”
“We live in Cedar Valley. I can’t call it the Valley. It’s been done.”
“Hmm. Anyway”—Kat turned to Jamie—“we’ll get you an average count.”
“Okay?” Damn, they’d outflanked him. He couldn’t let them down, but he knew little to nothing about making cakes—much less wedding cakes. He needed backup, and fast. Time to track Clyde Brown down at Dan’s Garage and rehire him. Or call Mary Corbin and get her to put a Help Wanted ad in the gazette.
His cousins strolled to the front of the shop just as the bell over the door jingle-janged.
Jamie glanced toward the entrance. The curvy blonde who batted his quadcopter to the sidewalk entered, her chest heaving enticingly beneath her dark-green sweater. Did she run here, or was she still pissed from their argument. He hoped for the latter—for some reason, he enjoyed the fire flashing in her gold eyes.
Blondie gave the shop a quick scan that ended with her focus on him. He forced his gaze back to his cousins. Play it cool, Jamie. Can’t let her know you’re into her. But damn….
“So you know what we like,” Brigit said.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Kat laughed. “Good. We’ll be in touch soon.”
His cousins waved and exited the shop, heading for a four-door green Jeep and leaving him alone with Blondie.
Jamie arched a brow and lobbed the first volley. “So you’re stalking me?”
“Keep dreaming, baker boy. I just stopped by to check the place out, maybe pick up a muffin or something for breakfast.” She waved her hand in his direction. “I didn’t even know you worked here.”
He jerked his thumb over his shoulder toward the empty display cases. “Sorry. We’re sold out.” Not that I ever put anything in there to begin with.
“I can see that. You must do a good business here.”
“Come back tomorrow morning, and you can check it out for yourself.” What the hell, man? You don’t have clue one on how to make muffins or pastries.
She smiled.
Goodness gracious, and what a smile. The room spun a little as his blood headed south.
“I just might do that.”
Turning on her heel, she headed out the store. His attention focused on her amazing backside—long waves of blonde hair, narrow waist, and a rounded ass that hypnotized him as it swayed back and forth with each step she took. After she disappeared down the sidewalk, he shook himself to break the trance. Da-yum.
Yeah, he had a definite hard-on for this woman. And crud, he needed to ask her name. He couldn’t keep calling her Blondie. But then it might just piss her off and light that hot little fire inside her again…. He could test that theory when she came back here tomorrow. In the morning. For a muffin or pastry.
He rounded toward the display cases. Empty. Crap.
Okay, so another mission to Sacramento lay ahead of him—Operation Baked Goods. He’d load up the used Camaro he’d purchased a few days after his arrival. Of course, he may need to rethink the vehicle angle if he planned to continue making trips to Sacramento to load up on bakery stuff. Maybe he’d invest in a van or SUV. Thank you, Aunt Bethany, for your frugalness and foresight.
After locking the shop door and flipping the sign to Closed, he headed toward the back door. First stop? Dan’s Garage, where he’d convince Clyde to come back to Desserts du Jour. The guy had worked with Aunt Bethany, knew her habits and recipes. Jamie needed him to get the shop going again.
Wait. Get the shop going again?
Realization bowled him over. He’d never really believed he would reopen the shop—especially since he knew zero about baking or how to run a bakery. But it seemed he may just be a little more permanent than the folding table he’d set up for the cake tasting.
He glanced around the shop to which fate had led him, and an odd comfort warmed him to the bone. Hell, yeah. I’m gonna get the shop going again.
He grabbed his keys and headed out back to where he’d parked his car but paused just after he stepped outside into the sunshine.
Muffins and pastries. What kind does she like? He had no clue. Okay, shotgun it. And no sense stopping with those. Add cookies and cakes and pies, too. I’ll fill the damn display cases so full, she won’t be able to decide what she wants.
He climbed into his Camaro and started the engine. Operation Baked Goods was officially underway.
No way in hell will I look like an idiot.
Chapter Six
I’m such an idiot. Lily scrunched lower in her nondescript rental sedan and peered out the tinted driver’s side window at Desserts du Jour beyond. What am I doing here?
Unable to sleep, she’d gotten in her car and parked just up the street from the bakery—on the premise of a stakeout to insure Jamie MacKay’s safety. Yeah, right. She’d been out here since before sunrise. Since before anyone in town awoke. Since before even the birds started to chirp.
Her phone call with Jacquie at Omega had turned up little information. The computer guru assured her she was on the job, but the border cameras had picked up over three hundred people fleeing just moments after the explosion. She had facial-recognition software running, but the size of the database was insane—over four hundred million faces. She could narrow down the search parameters some, but it would still take time. And e
ven then, the terrorist may not have crossed within view of the cameras. The sooner Jacquie found the terrorist, the sooner Lily could stop watching Jamie.
That guy is infuriating. Lily leaned against the headrest and closed her eyes. Every word that comes out of his mouth irritates, aggravates, and just plain out annoys. It’s like everything is a challenge with him. An image of him in Gondola, where he’d met her yesterday, filled her mind. He stared her down with those amazing blue eyes that got her tingling in all the right places—even now.
The image shifted to the bakery. When she’d entered, he’d glanced in her direction, a sexy grin on his face. But had that smile been because of her or his two dates batting their eyes adoringly at him. She’d all but destroyed his drone then followed up with an argument while sitting like an idiot with a breadstick in her hand. Pretty clear why he’d been smiling—his dates. Both of them toned but curvy. God, she’d never been that thin—never had, never would. Didn’t matter how much she dieted or exercised, she’d always be on the plump side.
Know what else doesn’t matter, Lily? What the guy thinks of you. He’s a job. When this one’s finished, there’ll be another.
Right. So for the next three to six months he could irritate her all he wanted. Challenge away. Didn’t matter how damp her panties got. She had a full-size washer and dryer in her cabin and—
Tap, tap, tap.
Eyes flying open, Lily jolted at the sound of someone knocking on her window. Even as she turned toward the intruder, her hand went to the concealed-carry Glock in her purse.
“Did you sleep out here all night?” Bright blues peered at her through the window.
Jamie. Leaving her weapon where it was, she reached up and shoved her hair out her face. God. Just having him this near threw her off balance. She glared at him as she lowered her window. “What if I did?”
“Why would you?
“That’s not really any of your business.”
“True.” He straightened. “Guess I need to put in a call to the local sheriff. If no one ran you off, someone’s not doing their job. You could be up to no good.”
“Pft. Like I look dangerous.”
He cocked his head. “From where I’m standing, you look real dangerous.”
“Seriously?”
The corner of his mouth twitched. Wait, was he flirting with her?
After glancing up the street, he jerked his thumb over his shoulder and slowly backed away from her car. “You might as well come inside. Have a doughnut while you wait.” He turned and walked across the street.
Lily gulped. Damn, those jeans looked good on him. She rolled up the window, got out, and locked the car. By the time she crossed the street, he’d already gone inside the shop. She followed him, pushing the door open, the bell jingling overhead.
Cell phone to his ear, he stood behind the display cases that were lit and filled with pastries, cakes, and pies. “Just tell me what you’d like, and I’ll get it for you.”
She scanned the trays of amazing-looking delights. Not to mention the one behind the counter.
Stop it, Lily. He’s a job. Besides, he’s got two girlfriends to keep him busy.
Spotting her absolute most decadent favorite pastry, she pointed. “I’ll take the—
He held up a finger. “Cedar Valley Sheriff’s Department?”
What? She whirled toward him.
“Yes, I’d like to report some suspicious activity.”
She stepped in his direction, a squeak erupting from her throat. “Don’t you dare!”
“Yes, there was a dark sedan outside Desserts du Jour all night. With a female inside. Blonde with gold eyes and….” He set his finger over the phone mic and looked at her. “How tall are you?”
“Hang up that phone, right now.”
“They need to know your height for the police report.”
“I’m not telling you that, so you may as well hang up.” She narrowed her eyes on him. “Now.”
A grin bloomed across his face as he pulled the cell phone away from his ear and angled it toward her—revealing the black screen. “Gotcha!”
Anger and relief twisted inside her. “I can’t believe….”
He laughed. “Had you going there for a moment, didn’t I?”
She gritted her teeth. He’d never even dialed the sheriff’s office. Just pretended to in order to irritate her yet again. She pasted on a smile. “Yep. You sure did. I really thought you were about to report me.”
He chuckled then moved behind the pastry display. “Which one was it you wanted?”
“The cherry-cheese coffeecake, please.”
“Coming right up.” Reaching to the side, he got a plate then opened the case and used a set of tongs to scoop a generous slice. The sight of the rich cream cheese smothered with cherry filling made her mouth water. He set it on top of the case with a second slice next to it. “Coffee? I made a fresh pot in the kitchen.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
After picking up the plates and silverware, Jamie led her to the kitchen. He would’ve preferred she walk in front of him so he could check out her delicious curves again, but it couldn’t be helped—she didn’t know where the kitchen was located. He pushed through the swinging door, holding it open with his heel so she could enter.
What was it about her that called to him? That made him think all kinds of hot, naughty things he wanted to do with her? He watched her walk past, trying to pinpoint the quality. Her shoulder-length wheat-blonde hair? Her gold eyes that reminded him of a lioness? The full lips he’d thought about kissing the first time he saw her face? Or maybe her heart-shaped ass that jiggled so enticingly—like it did now as she moved deeper into the kitchen?
Probably none of her features individually did it for him. But all together? Lord have mercy! This woman was a knockout. All he could think about was stripping her naked and licking every inch of creamy skin, paying close attention to the pinker parts.
Releasing the door, he shuffle-stepped to adjust the hard-on pressing against his zipper into a more comfortable position then joined her at her side.
“Wow.” She let out a whistle. “Love what you’ve done with the place.”
“Yeah, needs some work. Which is why we’re back here instead of out front.” He set the plates on the prep counter then grabbed the two folding chairs he’d leaned against the wall and set them up. “I haven’t figured out what I want to do yet, and I didn’t think you’d want to sit on the floor.”
“If it’s as clean as everything else, then I wouldn’t have minded at all.” She smiled and ran her fingertips over the steel prep table. “I mean everything’s so spotless, it doesn’t look like anything’s been whipped up back here at all.”
Oh, crap. Did she put two and two together and figure out I bought those pastries and pies? “Well, you know what they say. Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Really?
Turning toward him, she propped her backside against the prep table and arched an eyebrow. “Are you going for godliness?”
A challenge? Locking his gaze with hers, he approached, stopping right in front of her, then leaned forward. As she angled backward, he set his hands on the table on either side of her hips. “Is that what you want?”
Her breath hitched, and she licked her bottom lip—probably a nervous reaction on her part, but the sight of her little pink tongue sent him over the edge. Unable to stop himself, he tilted his head, bent forward, and—
Jangle-jing!
“Y-you have a customer.” Her breathy comment stopped him a hairsbreadth from her lips.
Oh, how easy it would be to just tip forward a bit and taste her mouth. Instead, he straightened and held her gaze. “I’ll be right back.”
He turned and left the kitchen, irritation nipping at his heels. Yes, this was a place of business, but to be stopped like that, right before he got down to business? He’d get rid of whoever it was as fast as he could.
“Jamie MacKay?” Some teenager stood just inside
the entrance, staring at him with wide eyes.
“Last time I checked,” he snapped. “And you are?”
“Clyde Brown. You left me a message to come by.”
Aw, crap. Clyde. He’d totally forgotten that when he went to Dan’s Garage, the kid hadn’t been there, so he’d left a message. “Right, right. How’s your mom?”
“Doing much better, thanks.” His gaze moved to service counter. “Looks like you’re doing pretty well, too. Man, those cases are jam-packed.”
“Yeah, about that.” Jamie glanced over his shoulder to make sure the blonde hadn’t wandered this way…and good Lord, he was going to kiss her without knowing her name? His mother had taught him better manners than that. “That stuff isn’t mine.”
The kid frowned. “Not yours?”
He gestured toward the pies and cakes. “I bought them in Sacramento.”
The kid eyed him like he was a nutjob. “O-kay.”
“I want to get this place back up and running, but I don’t know how to bake. I was hoping you could help me out with that. You know, come back to work here and show me whatever my aunt showed you.”
His eyebrows popped upward. “Aw, man. You’re offering me a job. Well, thanks and all, but since my mom got better, I’m heading off to college. Washington State accepted me.”
Surprise smacked him upside the head. Just a couple of weeks ago, Mr. Penny had said Clyde’s mother was sick and he wouldn’t be going anywhere. Jamie had been positive hiring the kid was a sure thing, prepared to double his salary if necessary just to pull his butt out of the fire he’d found himself in. So, when did Clyde’s mother get better, and why hadn’t he heard about it? Cedar Valley wasn’t that big a town. Did the rumor mill break down? Shouldn’t Mary Corbin at the Cedar Valley Gazette have written a damn article about the woman’s miraculous recovery?
“Go Cougars.” The congratulatory remark sounded halfhearted even to his ears, but the kid didn’t seem to notice.
He chuckled. “Yeah, man. Go Cougars.”
Well, crap. Now he didn’t have any help at all. A Help Wanted ad in the local gazette seemed his only option. It’d take a while to get applicants—if anyone applied at all. He’d definitely have to get a van if he had to keep making runs to Sacramento to fill the pastry cases. Unless…. “Do you happen to know anyone who knows how to bake and needs a job?”
The Omega Team: Lethal Intent (Kindle Worlds Novella) (MacKay Destiny Book 7) Page 4
