Adore Me

by Darcy Lundeen

  Meredith thought about it for a moment, then decided, all right, do it. The man was easy to be with, a fun conversationalist, and surprisingly knowledgeable about subjects they both enjoyed, like baseball and books. All very good things. As she nodded, she deliberately avoided thinking about his dark eyes, great butt, that amazing chin dimple of his, and the way she sometimes felt a little breathless when they stood close, as they were doing now.

  “Sounds like a reasonable trade,” she said.

  His waiting expression blossomed into a huge smile, and he held out his hand. “Wonderful. Shake on it?”

  “Definitely. Still want that coffee?” she asked, forcing herself not to dwell on the warmth of his hand as he grasped hers and tightened his hold for a lingering moment before releasing her.

  “More than ever,” he said, his voice deep and mellow and that chin dimple of his winking at her in the most enticing way.

  “Perfect,” Meredith murmured and found her pulse quickening with anticipation as he slid his arm around her shoulders, and they walked together up the stairs of her building.

  ****

  “You know what I thought the funniest part was?” Vlad asked.

  The movie had just ended, and they walked slowly down the street to a nearby restaurant.

  Meredith considered his question for a moment. “Where they were stuck in the elevator, and he was too scared to climb out and get help, so she had to do it,” she finally said.

  “Nope. Where her parents visited and found him under her bed naked.”

  “Seriously? God, you are such a guy.”

  “Why?”

  “Because that’s what I’d expect a guy to say.”

  “Okay, guilty. I am a guy.”

  She made a face at him. “I’m aware of that. But you still surprise me.”

  “How so?”

  “I always thought tech geeks were intense and totally focused on their computers. But you’re so laid-back.”

  “I learned long ago that being too serious can only cause stress, and stress makes you stressed and—” He stopped abruptly, his smile dimming, then completely disappearing as though a sudden memory had drained the laughter from his soul.

  “And what?” Meredith nodded, her voice soft. She desperately wanted to know what lay behind the sadness in his expression, but she didn’t want to pressure him.

  “Sometimes dead,” he murmured.

  She sucked in her breath. All right, now she understood. “Someone you knew?”

  “My favorite uncle. Marty. God, I loved that guy, but he was always working his butt off and trying to do things for everyone. Running here, running there. Massive coronary. Dead at forty-two. Nobody saw it coming, not even his doctor. It taught me life’s short and happy’s better than stressed and dead. I think it’s one of the best lessons you can learn when you’re ten years old.”

  She saw his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed hard. This was a Vlad she hadn’t seen before. She liked the new depth she sensed in him, but not the sorrow, and she automatically grasped his hand, squeezing gently to offer comfort.

  Her touch seemed to bring him out of the past, and he flashed a half-smile to let her know it was okay, he could handle the memory without being torn apart by it.

  “Hey, don’t get me wrong,” he told her, the familiar laid-back Vlad finally reemerging. “When there’s something important to me or to someone I love, I can be as focused and unrelenting as a junkyard dog. That’s why I practiced dancing like mad before I went to the senior prom, so I wouldn’t embarrass myself in front of everyone. And I was the star of the evening, even if I do say so.”

  Meredith grinned, trying to imagine him amazing everyone at a senior prom. “You’re a dancing star?”

  “Hey, don’t you believe me?”

  She cut the grin, nodded, and held up her hands to placate him. “Of course I do.”

  Vlad narrowed his eyes. “So why do I get the feeling you’re really a total nonbeliever?” He pointed a finger at her. “Okay, nonbeliever, I’ll prove it. We’ll find a club, and next Friday I’ll demonstrate. Agreed?”

  His smile was back in place, as bright and disarming as before, and Meredith knew there was only one answer she could give to having a third date with him.

  “Definitely.”

  ****

  The music sped up, becoming faster and faster as the song the DJ played in his booth near the dance floor reached a crescendo. Locked in Vlad’s arms, Meredith moved faster too, laughing as he swung her around the floor with the other couples.

  Then it was over. The final blast of sound erupted in an ear-shattering climax, and the set came to a close. Breathing as though she’d run a marathon, Meredith almost collapsed against Vlad, grateful he was there for support.

  They clung together for a moment, then he gestured to the open doors of the terrace across the room.

  “Care to cool off for a while?”

  Meredith nodded. “Love to.”

  They walked out into the night air and stopped near the marble balustrade surrounding the terrace.

  It was their third date in less than two weeks. Whirlwind didn’t begin to describe their relationship. Yet to Meredith it felt so right. After all, they liked the same music…enjoyed the same films…agreed on which sports teams were worth watching and which provided nothing but a good yawn…even saw eye to eye on most political subjects.

  She looked up at the sky, gleaming with a wash of distant stars and a brilliant half-moon. Then she turned to him and found him already looking back at her, a vague smile on his lips

  “I like your dress. Blue. It matches your eyes. Beautiful.”

  “Thank you.” Her voice was soft, almost a sigh.

  His smile widened at the sound of it, and he bent toward her.

  She knew her face was still shiny with sweat from their dance. But he didn’t seem to care because his fingers gently pushed away the hair that had fallen across her brow, then his thumb smoothed over her cheek. Somehow she could already sense that he was going to kiss her and that this would be a real kiss, unlike the almost chaste brushing of lips they’d shared before.

  It was, and she fell willingly into it as his arms enveloped her and she reached up to return the embrace, then to tighten it until their bodies were molded against each other.

  Inside the club, another song started, this one slow, dreamy. She felt his feet begin to move to the music and automatically followed. Still kissing, they danced in small, swaying steps. Meredith breathed in the cool evening air and the woodsy aftershave of the man in her arms and for the first time in ages felt something deep inside of her blossom with happiness.

  And, ooh, could the guy kiss!

  ****

  Meredith virtually floated into Divine Desserts, a dreamy smile on her face as she entered the kitchen to say good morning to Dana.

  And why shouldn’t she be smiling and floating? It was her one-month anniversary. An entire wonderful month filled with Vlad Wiznitsky. At least one, sometimes even two, evenings a week of having dinner with him, seeing movies, attending concerts (but, thankfully, none that featured Cosmic Collision), and sharing a few hot-as-a-furnace snuggling sessions, even though they hadn’t gone the full, totally-naked distance. Yet.

  She knew what she felt for him wasn’t love…not at this point, anyway. But she had a feeling that someday it could be, and the thought terrified her because she’d never felt quite this way about any of her other boyfriends. Of course, she’d known men she wanted to be with, several of them. But those episodes had always quickly run their course. Somehow she was sure this time would be different.

  “Oh God, you’ve got that low-six…oops, sorry, that high-six-million-plus look in your eyes again,” Dana said from across the room.

  Meredith slumped back against the kitchen counter, cut the dreamy smile, and groaned. Was she that obvious? All right, stupid question. She knew the answer. “Hey, I remember when you first started going with Jake. Want me to remind you what
you looked like whenever you thought about him…which was almost constantly?”

  Dana held up her hands in surrender. “Okay, guilty as charged. I apologize. I guess we all look that way when the love of our life finally appears on the scene.”

  The love of her life.

  Was Vlad really that person? Meredith didn’t know because it was still too soon. But, damn, it sure felt like he could be the one.

  She smiled at Dana. “No apology necessary. You’re right. It really is bad form to walk around the workplace grinning like a love-struck goof.”

  “No way. Love is never out of place.”

  Meredith glanced at the wall clock, then at the batter Dana had been mixing. “Except maybe when paying customers are waiting.”

  “Whoops, right you are.” Dana went back to her mixing. “This is one of the two birthday cakes we have scheduled. Then there are a dozen strawberry tarts on order and a black-and-white mousse cupcake cake for that couple’s tenth anniversary.” She shook her head. “Afraid that’s it for now.”

  Meredith sighed. “Not much, but at least it’s something.” She turned to go. “I’ll be in my office for a few minutes making sure the computer hasn’t had another canine meltdown.”

  She went into her office, sat down at the desk, and fired up her computer, silently praying the evil hacker hadn’t struck again.

  He hadn’t, and Meredith smiled with relief. At least that was another positive thing to add to the good news of her relationship with Vlad.

  Her cell phone rang, and her smile widened even more when she heard the distinctive ringtone. It didn’t belong to Vlad, but there was still no question who was at the other end.

  Her Aunt Gertrude.

  Younger than Springtime, a song from an old Broadway musical—that was the tune that always signaled her aunt’s calls, because Gertrude Gaynor had once declared she’d never grow old. And so far, she hadn’t.

  “Hi, Aunt Gertie,” Meredith said as she clicked on the phone.

  “Aunt Gert, if you please,” answered the oh-so-distinctive voice. “Gertie makes me sound like I lived in the nineteenth century.”

  “Got it. Gert, no Gertie. So how’s everything?”

  “Absolutely perfect. Even the vaguely arthritic twinges in my knee have a youthful vibe to them. How goes it with you, favorite niece of mine?”

  Meredith looked down at the bills. Actually, not so good. But when she answered, she forced a deceptive lightness to her voice. “No complaints.”

  “New company’s doing well, too?”

  “Oh, definitely.” If you didn’t count next month’s rent and utility bills.

  “So you don’t need new customers?”

  Meredith snapped to attention at that. “Well, sure. New businesses can always use more sales.”

  “Thank God. I was afraid I might have made a mistake.”

  “What mistake?”

  “You know the country club I belong to? Well, one of the other members, Nanette Ogilvy, a fairly well-heeled and elegant type, has a daughter, Julia, who’s engaged. She’s been looking for someone who can create a magnificent wedding cake for the occasion. She doesn’t know we’re related because of our different last names, so I told her I know of this new company that makes the most delicious desserts, including to-die-for wedding cakes. My pals, Margie and Lynn, even chimed in to rave about how your creations were the best they’d ever had. And when she seemed interested, I gave her your name and number. Don’t know if she’ll ever follow through, but if she does, and she likes your work…” Gert gave a small, conspiratorial chuckle. “…and there’s no way she can help liking your work…she’ll probably pass the information along to some of her happily moneyed friends. Anyway, I just wanted to give you a heads-up in case she does call.”

  “That’s fine, Aunt Gert. I mean, there’s always room for more customers. I really appreciate it, and I’ll let you know if anything happens. Oh, I’m also sending a few boxes of pastries to you and your friends to say thank you.”

  “Wonderful, now I can shop for a whole new wardrobe, one that’s in a bigger size, of course. But the hell with it. Your baking is always worth a few extra pounds. Love you, sweetheart. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  Meredith clicked the phone off. Incredible. Another potential customer. Even better, possibly a wealthy customer with equally wealthy friends she could tell about the new baker, who could whip up the most exquisite sugary creations in the entire western hemisphere.

  Meredith sighed and shoved the cell back in her pocket. Forget it. That kind of miracle would probably never happen.

  Chapter Four

  Three days later, as she waited for Vlad to arrive for dinner, it happened…or at least began to happen.

  The call came to her home business line, and she rushed to answer it.

  “Ms. Crismis?” someone asked when Meredith picked up. The voice was female—calm and well-modulated, but with a definite touch of authority behind it.

  “Speaking,” Meredith answered.

  “Wonderful. My name is Nanette Ogilvy. An acquaintance of mine, Gertrude Gaynor…perhaps you know her?”

  Meredith sat on the sofa, her breath coming a little faster than normal when she realized who was at the other end—Aunt Gert’s highly moneyed acquaintance, who could help permanently move Divine Desserts’ often disgustingly flame-red bottom line into the black.

  “Yes, I do know her,” she said, carefully leaving out just how well she knew Gert Gaynor.

  “Well, she spoke quite highly of your specialty cakes, just as several other people have.”

  Meredith’s breathing remained a little labored from nervousness, but she still couldn’t help smiling at that. Aunt Gert, thank you and your posse. Thank you. Thank you. “I’m certainly pleased to hear that, Ms. Ogilvy.”

  “They seemed like solid recommendations, and since I’m looking for someone to create a special cake for my daughter Julia’s wedding, I thought it made sense to approach you about taking on the assignment.”

  Don’t seem too eager or desperate, Meredith warned herself as she fought to contain the victorious scream she longed to give. Just act calm and professional.

  “I’d certainly be happy to do that, Ms. Ogilvy,” she said, acting as calm and professional as she could. “Would you like to arrange an appointment so you can sample my work to make sure it’s what you and your daughter want? Then, if it meets with your approval, we can discuss the kind of cake you’d like.” Meredith crossed her fingers.

  “That’s exactly what Julia and I would like to do.”

  A few minutes later, everything had been arranged. Nanette and Julia Ogilvy would be at Divine Desserts in two days to test her wares.

  Meredith’s hand trembled as she ended the call and put the receiver back in the cradle, silently praying the same five words over and over again. Let them like our work. Let them like our work.

  The doorbell shook her from her prayerful state, and she rushed to answer it, literally throwing herself into Vlad’s arms when he crossed the threshold.

  “Now that’s the kind of greeting I like,” he said, pulling her into an embrace. “Fast, hot, and to the point.”

  Reveling in the feel of his arm around her shoulders, Meredith snuggled against him as they walked into the living room. “Steak, baked potatoes, and a veggie medley for dinner,” she said. “And for dessert, your favorite chocolate cupcakes.”

  “Mmm,” he murmured as his palm stroked gently along her upper arm. “Sounds perfect.”

  Perfect.

  Meredith smiled at the idea. If her relationship with Vlad continued to grow and if things worked out well with Nan Ogilvy, then for the first time in a long while that’s what her life would be.

  Perfect.

  ****

  Meredith checked the time.

  Zero hour.

  She straightened the jacket of her pantsuit and took a deep breath to calm herself. The combined aromas of cinnamon and chocolate perfumed the warm kitc
hen air, reminding her that things would be fine.

  All she had to do was be herself and treat potential clients with the respect they deserved. Her skill and creativity would do the rest. She hoped.

  “They’ll be here any minute,” she told Dana.

  Dana finished piping a cloud of lime frosting onto a coconut cake and looked up. “Unless they’re the kind of society folks who insist on being fashionably late.”

  “God, I hope not,” Meredith moaned. “This waiting is making me crazy. I just want—”

  A sound from out front riveted her attention, and she froze. Someone had just come in. She rushed to the door and peeked out. Two women stood at the entrance, both of them well-dressed, well-groomed, and literally reeking of wealth.

  “It’s them,” she whispered.

  Dana wiped her hands on her apron as she came over to have a look. “Oooh, from here, their shoes and bags look way expensive,” she said, peering over Meredith’s shoulder. “Bet they cost a whole lot more than that proverbial pretty penny. Probably somewhere in the pricey mega-thousands.”

  Meredith winced. “That’s what I was thinking too. And worrying about.”

  “Oh, nonsense, as my old granny would say. They might be able to afford two-thousand dollar bags, but no way can they make chocolate-caramel ricotta tarts like you do.”

  Meredith thought of the luscious chocolaty tarts they’d just put in the fridge and nodded. “Right. Gotta remember those tarts.”

  She turned to go, then turned back again as she smoothed down her hair.

  “How do I look?”

  Dana grasped her shoulders, holding her at arm’s length as she performed a top-to-toe survey. “Perfect.”

  Meredith sighed. “Don’t I wish.”

  Dana pulled her into a hug, then released her, gently pushing her toward the door. “Go on, knock ’em dead,” she ordered.

  Meredith nodded obediently and headed out of the kitchen to meet the people who could be the potential saviors of her business, and her dream.

  She approached the pair with the purposeful steps expected of an energetic professional, her hand extended in greeting and a welcoming smile firmly in place. As she drew closer, she gave them a more thorough onceover than the one she’d given while peeking at them from the kitchen.