Boyfriend for Hire (12 page)

“This is the love of my life, Tawny Torres.” His voice came out all raspy, slow and deliberate, sliding like liquid love over her skin. Calling her the love of his life might have been laying it on a little thick, but Tawny saw the baker pat her own heart at David’s words.

Well, if anyone from work were to stop in—and as this was one of their preferred bakeries, chances were high—they would, no doubt, hear the story.

“Sweetheart, this is an old friend of mine, Mandi.”

Awkward silence filled the air as the woman’s jaw flapped open and closed. Tawny murmured some polite greeting before turning back to David. “Honey, the baker has our cakes ready to taste. We shouldn’t keep her waiting.” She gave Mandi an apologetic look and was thankful the other woman left without causing a scene. After the way she greeted David, she hadn’t been expecting a quiet exit.

To David’s credit, he didn’t watch his ex leave. Didn’t stare longingly after her. Nor did he act anything except the faithful boyfriend to Tawny. Maybe this would work after all.

Laura, the baker, introduced herself and led the couple over to a table set for two and invited them to have a seat. “Normally, our tasting consists of six flavors. However, your friends, Cherry and Jason, couldn’t agree on a flight.” Pretty sure David wore the same expression of confusion she did, Tawny looked up at the woman, who explained a flight was what they called their combination arrangements. So instead of sampling six flavors today, they would have double to select from.

An assistant brought out a tray and set it on the table in front of them. She lifted off the silver dome to reveal eleven beautiful mini cakes. Five and half bites of wicked goodness for each of them, or in Tawny’s case, a good addition of an inch on the hips.

“It’s a good thing I haven’t bought my maid of honor dress yet, or the seamstress would be letting it out.” She perused the table, checking out the decadent desserts. Next to each plate stood a tent card with the flavor. “They all sound too good. Do you have any recommendations on what order we should sample them?” she asked Laura.

The woman beamed with pride. She waved a hand over the left side. “Over here we have our classic cake flight. It’s your carrot cake, chocolate, chocolate chip, lemon, vanilla, and red velvet with the appropriate fillings. On this side, we have the white cake flight. Vanilla with lemon instead of chocolate, white chocolate with raspberry, silver pound cake with apricot, champagne with strawberry, and my personal favorite, coconut with lemon curd. The lemon with strawberry actually falls into both flights, which is why you only have eleven to sample instead of twelve. Start where you like, but make sure to drink water between flavors.” She stepped back from the table. “I’ll give you some time to enjoy, and if you have any questions, I’ll be within hearing range.”

“Which one do you want to taste first?” David’s hand hung over the plates, waiting for her.

“Why don’t you take the classics and I’ll start with the whites and we can meet in the middle with the lemon and swap.” Her mouth watered as she took the first plate. Sinking her fork in, she cut the cake in two. Dense white chocolate melted on her tongue with just a hint of tang from the raspberry filling.
Oh. My
. Almost better than sex.

“Oh man. You’ve got to try this.” David pointed to the cake left on his plate.

Tawny reluctantly rinsed her mouth. She swooped in to fork a taste but David lifted the cake with his fingers, holding it to her lips. She arched her brow at him. If he so much as even tried to follow through with the time-honored tradition, his lap would become a pool. When she opened her mouth, he gently laid the dessert against her lips. Nutmeg, cinnamon, and the sweet taste of carrots exploded in her mouth. Rich, yummy cream cheese followed and Tawny groaned. The place was aptly named, for every bite was wicked sin.

“That’s good, but you’ve got to try this.” She watched his eyes roll back in his head and laughed at his groan. “I know, right? If the rest of these are this good, we’re in trouble.”

Back and forth they went, sampling and feeding each other wedding cake. Moaning in ecstasy over the culinary orgasms taking place in their mouths.

They debated over which to try next, the vanilla with chocolate or the pound cake. “Damn, only two left.” Then it hit her. She wasn’t so much disappointed that they didn’t get to continue this food fest as she didn’t want the time with David to end. When was the last time she’d laughed this hard? Or simply let herself enjoy the moment and not worry that she was wasting time better spent on getting ahead at work or making progress on her life plan? Even the picnic, which she had enjoyed tremendously, couldn’t beat the past thirty minutes. Sinful desserts and an equally sinful smile aimed in her direction were hard to top.

The pound cake with apricot filling went first, but Tawny couldn’t quite picture it for her wedding cake.
No, not your wedding cake. Cherry’s. Remember?
her brain whispered
.

Lost in the pleasure, reveling in David’s attention and rich, deep laugh, Tawny had forgotten why she was there. Back on track, she thought of her best friend. Chocolate. Cherry was a chocolate kind of girl through and through, she just wasn’t sure about Jason’s taste buds.

“Last one.” David held up half of the vanilla with chocolate buttercream. A twinkle in his eyes along with the oh-so-serious line of his mouth had Tawny holding her breath as he lifted the cake to her lips. His hand hesitated, his brow shot up, and she bit into the cake before he had a chance to do what his eyes promised.

He went for his share and Tawny’s hand snaked out, stopping him. “Uh-uh, my turn. It’s only fair, you fed me half of the sample.” Delicately she snagged the waiting piece, trying to avoid sticking her fingers in the frosting or filling.

David grinned as she brought the cake to his mouth. The twinkle never left his eyes. With his attention fully on Tawny, she couldn’t resist. At the last moment before she shoved the cake in his mouth, she shifted so that part of the cake met her target and the rest (the lickable frosting) decorated his face.

Shock ran through her.
What did I do?
Never in all her life had she dreamed of doing such a thing. A ridiculous and outdated tradition, in her opinion. That is, until this moment as she gazed into David’s squinty eyes, saw his own surprise and a touch of humor staring back at her. What was it about this man that allowed him to bring a long-forgotten side of her to the surface? Responsibility, caution, common sense thrown to the four winds with a fond
au revoir
as they sailed out of her mind and life.

The woman she’d fought to become, one who would succeed in business and make her parents proud, was replaced by the brash teen she’d long ago locked away.

One she needed to lock back away. The lesson that girl had taught her must never be forgotten or repeated. “I’m so sorry.” Clapping her hand over her mouth. Shaking her head as David reached for a napkin. “Honestly, I have no idea why I did that.”

Silence. Not a word, a smile, nothing to show he accepted her apology. Who knew Mr. Laid-back had buttons to push? She kept murmuring “sorry,” over and over again. Internally, she called herself every kind of idiot on the planet. Why did she have to go and ruin the easygoing atmosphere? She reached for her own napkin to clean the gooey confection off her fingers, and David’s hand shot out. Strong fingers bound her wrist.

“Let me,” his voice rasped.

Her toes curled.

Slow and deliberate, he brought her fingers to his mouth. His tongue wrapped around her finger, dragging it into the wet, warmth of his mouth as he sucked off every last drop.

Every muscle south of her neck clenched.

He moved on to the next digit. His gaze locked onto hers, nailing her to the chair.

Her head fell back as her eyes drifted closed and a soft moan slipped out.

“Oh!” A startled squeak shattered the brittle air surrounding them.

Tawny’s eyes shot open and she met the flushed baker’s assistant.

“Did you need any more water?” the young girl stammered. “Laura will be out in a moment. She had to take a quick phone call.”

They thanked her while she filled their glasses before scampering away to the back.

“I like the chocolate buttercream. What about you?” David’s gaze dropped to Tawny’s hands, clasped tight in her lap.

“It has potential.” She struggled to keep her breathing even as her eyes strayed to his lips.

“Definitely.”

Quick footsteps alerted them to Laura’s arrival. “Ginny tells me you’re done sampling. Have you made a decision?”

Boy, had she. David Farber was bad news.

Not that he was the problem. Oh no, it was her and her lack of willpower around the man.

Tawny stood, putting distance between her and David. “Yes, for the bride and groom’s cake, we’d like to go with the white chocolate with raspberry filling. David, don’t you agree?”

He stood and closed what little space she’d created. “Personally, I’m fond of the chocolate buttercream. But yeah, for Jase and Cherry, that’s perfect.”

They also put in an order of cupcakes. The guests were going to die for the champagne with strawberry filling, red velvet, and Tawny’s second favorite, the coconut with lemon curd. She’d have to starve for a week before the wedding, but who cared. Every bite would be a mini orgasm, and well, she wasn’t getting any other kind, so she planned to take full advantage.

Laura put the order in her book and closed it. “Hey, you’re the new event planner with NE Event Solutions, aren’t you?”

“Uh, yeah. How did you know?” Had they taken out an ad or something?

Laura gave a little laugh and waved off Tawny’s confusion. “Kerri was in here this week and was talking about you. Said you were going to work with her on the Camellia DeSalvo wedding.” She walked around the short counter with a small box in her hand. “Kerri is going to recommend us as their baker. Anyway,” she handed Tawny the box, “these are for you two. You both seemed to enjoy the vanilla with chocolate frosting, so there’s one for each of you for a late-night snack. We appreciate your business, and if you could pass my thanks on to the bride and groom, it’d be appreciated.”

Oh man, the last thing Tawny needed was a late-night reminder of David and frosting. Then again, she could call it safe sex. No strings attached, no chance of getting your heart broken when it’s just you, a cupcake, and your wildest fantasy.

Hand in hand, to keep up the pretense, they stepped out into the afternoon sun. Too late for lunch, not that she had room for food. Too early for happy hour, not that she needed alcohol with the path her thoughts were wandering down. Probably best all around if she dropped David off at his place. Give them some distance, and time for her to pull herself back to the person she wanted to be. No, needed to be.

Without warning David whipped her around to face him. His hands slipped down her back to cup her butt. What the heck?

He dipped his head to nuzzle the soft spot beneath her ear. “Go with it, we’re being watched by our baker friend. Wouldn’t want her reporting back to your coworker that we’re not the happy couple, right?” His voice dropped down low and husky.

She let her head drop back, laughing like he’d said the funniest thing ever. “I think it’s safe to get in the car now.” His warm, soft breath tickled, sending delicious shivers down her body. Damn, if only they could engage in a nice, uncomplicated affair.

“Tawny Maria-Isabella, what are you doing?”

The two of them jumped a mile apart. Oh, fudge-buckets! Of all the streets in Providence, the two of them had to walk down this one.

“Mom, Gram, what are you doing here?” She found herself with her hands locked behind her back, fingers twisted, once again a naughty kid caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

The squinty eye of displeasure shifted between Tawny and David. Pursed lips said more than a thousand words ever could.

Squirming under no response, she pointed to the bakery. “We were sampling cakes for Cherry.”

“Not all you were sampling.” Gram gave a small chuckle. “Find anything you like?”

Pretty sure she wasn’t talking about cake. “Everything we tried. Um, I mean every flavor they gave us to try was divine.” She told them what they’d ordered, hoping to get her mom’s mind off the show they’d given the neighborhood.

“Kitty, we’re going to be late for our yoga class. Tawny Maria-Isabella, I expect you at dinner tomorrow night. We have
things
to discuss.” Her mom didn’t budge. The corners of her mouth remained firmly in the downward dog position.

Think quick, chica.
“I’m sorry, Mama, I can’t tomorrow. Have to work all day and have a dinner appointment. New client. Big, expensive wedding to plan. Wouldn’t want to blow my first assignment at my new job.” Her fingers ached from twisting them.

“Make time.” And with that final command, the two disappeared into Conley Wharf.

Chapter Eight

F
or once, as Monday reared its ugly head, Dave didn’t mind. It brought him another day closer to his date with Tawny. Pseudo date, she’d called it. Didn’t matter, he planned to take full advantage and sweep her off her feet. By the end of the night, she’d be begging for his kiss. More than likely he’d be the one doing all the begging. He didn’t care; it’d be worth every second to feel her lips on his.

And if he didn’t do something to ease the ache soon, he’d turn into a walking zombie. Saturday, running into Tawny’s mom killed the playful buzz they’d had going on. Tawny insisted on dropping him off at home. Refused his invitation to drinks, dinner, or a back rub, and claimed she had work to do. Unfortunately, it hadn’t killed the sexual buzz. Sunday he’d worked himself from dawn until well past quitting time, ripping rotted boards up with the intention of being too tired to dream.

Much to his effing dismay, when it came to keeping Tawny out of his brain, there was no such thing as too tired.

Memories of her firm ass and soft breasts plagued his nighttime hours. Hell, they filled his daytime hours too.