Sweetly, Deeply, Absolutely (Sweet Love)

by Kira Archer

  “Yeah.” She leaned in even farther and placed her hand lightly on his chest. And damn him, it was as rock-hard as it looked. Her hand tightened briefly in the material in an involuntarily reflex. Her body’s unconscious attempt at getting closer to the bare skin she craved.

  But…not going to happen. Tonight. She flattened her palm and pushed him back so she could walk away. “But I’ve learned there are some things that aren’t worth the consequences. I’m looking for some new experiences.”

  She smiled over her shoulder at him sitting there, mouth open in surprise. That expression was worth the effort it had taken to push him away, instead of pulling him closer.

  “Come on, Mr. Marketing Man. Tell me about this cake.”

  Jared jumped down from the counter and followed her out to one of the tables in the front.

  “This is the picture she showed me,” he said, sliding his phone across the table to her.

  Jenny picked up the phone and looked at the picture a good long while before saying anything, her brain going through the logistics of creating such a masterpiece. Fourteen layers of different sizes and shapes of baklava, layers of the flaky dessert pieces covered in chocolate here and there, breaking up the paler hues of the regularly flavored pieces. All artfully piled into a tower of honeyed deliciousness.

  She blew out a breath. “It’s impressive, all right. Not too different from a croquembouche, actually. The baklava might not be as easy to anchor as cream puffs, but the construction is similar.”

  “I have no doubt you can pull it off,” Jared said with an encouraging smile.

  “I’m not sure why. You barely know me.”

  “Come on…a pastry chef trained in Paris. This’ll be a piece of cake. Or…baklava, I should say.”

  Jenny gave a sharp laugh and handed him back his phone. “It might be possible. If we bring in a few more people to help. It’s not a cake that you can quickly mix together. Baklava takes some time. And this much…” She shook her head.

  “But you’ll try?”

  She sighed. “I don’t see what choice I have.”

  “Well, not the rousing enthusiasm I was hoping for, but I’ll take it.” He radiated happiness, like she’d made his whole night. Maybe she had. Gina had definitely looked ready to knock him down a peg or two.

  She stood and pulled out her own phone, flipping to her memo screen so she could jot down a few notes of things she’d need, and people who might be able to help when it came time to bake and assemble it. Jared flipped off the rest of the lights in the shop. She didn’t look up until he was standing in front of her again, only the streetlights outside and her phone illuminating their faces.

  She sucked in a breath. She hadn’t expected him to be quite so close. And God, he smelled good. He definitely made use of some body spray or deodorant that was no doubt formulated to drive women crazy. She’d have to find out what he used and write up a nice review on Amazon, because whatever it was worked. She took a deep, tremulous breath, and he moved even closer, forcing her to crane her neck to look up at him.

  “Let’s go to your place,” he said, his gaze moving over her like he was trying to figure out where to start.

  She could think of a few good options. Unfortunately, she was staying with Rick and Gina, so anything they started would have to be at his place. Another night. “I don’t think so,” she said, smiling to lessen the rejection a bit.

  He gave her a lazy smile that reminded her of dreamy afternoons tucked up in bed and late mornings after even later nights tangled up in the sheets. Damn, this guy was good.

  “I meant, I’ll walk you home.”

  She swallowed past her suddenly dry mouth. “That’s okay. You don’t need to do that.”

  He lightly took her arm, but even that slight touch sent a delightful shiver cascading through her. “It would be my pleasure.”

  The way that last word lingered on his lips, she had absolutely no doubt that it wouldn’t only be his pleasure they were talking about.

  Before she could respond, someone banged on the door to the shop, and Jenny jumped away from him like she was still in high school and had been caught with a boy in her room. She glanced out the glass door to see her brother’s glowering face. Apparently, he didn’t like what he’d seen. Yep. Exactly like high school.

  Jared took a huge step back, obviously noticing the same thing.

  “As I was saying, you don’t need to do that. Rick said he’d pick me up on his way home.”

  Jared nodded, still looking warily out the door. “Good. Okay.” He cleared his throat and looked back at her, his grin popping back. “Well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

  She nodded and headed for the door. “Looking forward to it,” she said over her shoulder.

  She left him standing in the darkened bakery, looking all kinds of sinfully delicious. This job was going to be a lot more fun than she anticipated. And for reasons that had nothing to do with baking.

  Chapter Seven

  Jenny finished boxing up a half dozen assorted cupcakes and handed them to the customer waiting in her line outside the cupcake truck. The woman thanked her, and Jenny called to the next person in Jared’s line and said she could help her. The woman’s face registered disappointment, and she cast a lingering glance at Jared, who was flirting outrageously with the woman he was helping.

  That had been happening to her all day. Hell, even half the guys who came to the truck to buy cupcakes gravitated toward Jared. The man somehow made selling cupcakes from a truck look like the most fun job on the planet.

  “Jennifer Boyd! When did you get back?”

  Jenny pulled her attention off Jared and turned to the couple at her window. “Hi, Mrs. Martin. How are you today?”

  “I’m fine, dear. I saw your mother a week ago…no, it must have been two weeks ago, and she said you were coming home for visit. How long are you here for?”

  “A few weeks. Then I head back out.”

  “Oh, that’s too bad. I know your mother was so excited to have you home for a bit.”

  Jenny smiled at the old lady. Mrs. Martin had been her third-grade teacher, and since she didn’t live too far from where Jenny had grown up, they’d seen a lot of each other her whole life.

  “I’m enjoying being home, too, but I’ve still got two more years of school before I’m done.”

  “Ah, well, if you’re going to be away from home that’s definitely a good excuse.”

  “What can I get for you today?”

  Mrs. Martin took her time choosing the perfect cupcake while Mr. Martin looked on with the same bemused expression he’d been wearing for as long as Jenny had known him. They chose four of the most delicious-looking—according to Mrs. Martin—cupcakes that there ever were and went on their way with promises to let her mother know she’d seen her.

  “Friend of yours?” Jared said, reaching across her to grab another to-go box.

  “My old teacher. She lived two buildings down from us.”

  “Lucky you.”

  She laughed. “Yeah, nothing like bumping into one of your teachers all year long, even in the summer.”

  He snorted. “I bet.”

  He turned back to the gentleman he was helping, and Jenny took advantage of the lull to admire the view Jared provided. She was almost sorry they wouldn’t be working in the truck anymore.

  Eric had hired a cousin of his to take over truck-driving duties for the foreseeable future since Gina would be taking time off to be with her baby. When his parents had surprised them with the trip, they’d decided to start her early. Definitely a good thing, since Jenny was going to need to spend time in the bakery getting that damn cake made that Jared had saddled her with.

  She watched Jared with the mom and son he was helping.

  “Go long, buddy!” he said to the little boy he was currently serving. The boy squealed and jumped up and down, and Jared wound up his arm like he was going to chuck the thing fifty yards. Then he leaned way out the window,
doing a slow-mo spiral before dropping the cupcake right in the boy’s hands. They left, giggling and waving good-bye.

  Jared glanced over and caught her staring.

  “What?” he asked.

  “Nothing. You look like you’re having fun.”

  He shrugged. “I am having fun. I’m in a mobile box of cupcakes. How could that not be fun?”

  Jenny chuckled. “I don’t know. Maybe because it’s hot and you’re on your feet most of the day.”

  “Ah, now you’re focusing on the downside of things. Look at the upside. You get to meet interesting people, you’re surrounded by some seriously sweet treats, pun totally intended, and…” He lunged at her and hauled her up against him. “You get to spend the entire day in close proximity with me. Now, what could be better?”

  “Hmm, I guess that could have some advantages,” she said, her attention dropping to his lips.

  “Like this?” he asked.

  He kissed her before she could protest. Not that she would have. Kissing Jared was quickly becoming one of her favorite pastimes. Even though each kiss was breaking down her admittedly thin defenses. The more time she spent with him—or plastered up against him, she should say—the less she cared about whatever awkwardness would ensue if they went further than a few kisses. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Jared didn’t seem to want monogamy any more than she did. He might be the one guy in town she could actually hook up with and not worry about it getting complicated.

  But she didn’t want it to happen at that moment, in the cupcake truck, so she needed to get some distance before she ripped off his clothes and had her way with him right there on the cupcakes. Been there, done that, wasn’t going there again.

  She pushed away from him and laughed, swatting at his chest. “Behave.”

  He let out an exaggerated sigh and grabbed a cupcake, shoving half of it in his mouth before she could stop him.

  “Hey! We’re supposed to be selling those, not eating them.”

  “Iz one ub the perffs ub de job,” he said around a mouthful of cake.

  She snorted. “Yeah, I’ll let you explain that one to Gina when we get back.”

  He swallowed and licked his lips. “Ah, she’s a pussycat.”

  Jenny’s eyebrow rose at that one. “I don’t know which Gina you’re talking about, but that’s not how I’d describe her. And I’ve seen you two going at it. Closer to rabid raccoon than pussycat.”

  “Naw, she loves me.”

  “‘Loves’ might be strong. ‘Tolerates’ maybe.”

  Jared laughed. “Well, we did get stuck with each other by default. Let’s just say we grew on each other.”

  “Like fungus?”

  That had Jared barking out a belly laugh that shook the truck. “Ah, Gina’s favorite term of endearment for me.” He took a deep breath and blew it out. “Eric used to threaten to lock us in the broom closet until we learned to get along.” He chuckled again. “I think he and Nat actually get a kick out of us.”

  She looked out the window and didn’t see anyone else headed toward them. “Should we close up for the day?”

  Jared shrugged. “Sure.”

  He helped her get the awning pulled in and everything secured before climbing in the driver’s seat for the trip back to the bakery.

  She watched him as he pulled out of the parking space, muscles rippling beneath his shirt as he cranked the wheel. Even wearing a pink shirt with a big cupcake logo on the front didn’t diminish his sex appeal. The guy could probably pull off anything. Pink baker’s shirt. Garbage bag. Footie pajamas. That would be something she’d love to see.

  He caught her staring at him again and grinned. “What?”

  “I don’t know. I just don’t know much about you and that seems odd since everyone in our lives is so connected. You and Gina met through Eric and Nat, right?”

  “Yeah. Those crazy kids hooked up and we came along for the ride.”

  “How long have you known Eric?”

  Jared navigated the truck around a corner, ignoring the honks of the cars he’d cut off. “Since high school. We were the only two jocks in the honors art class.”

  Jenny’s eyebrows rose at that. “Eric is an artist, too?”

  “Yeah. He wanted to do it professionally but his parents put their feet down over that. Had to follow in daddy’s footsteps. So after high school he went to Columbia for a business degree and I went to Bronx Community College and studied graphic design.”

  “Did you like it there?”

  “Didn’t have much choice about it. I didn’t have the golden trust fund or moneybags parents that Eric did.”

  Something that might have sounded bitter from anyone else sounded matter-of-fact, even funny, when Jared said it. Like nothing ever bothered the guy.

  “I did like it there,” he continued. “I had this one really great teacher, Professor Amowitz. That woman rode my tail, made sure I turned out the best stuff I could. She even helped me get started freelancing. Sent a few people my way—an author friend of hers who needed a logo, another friend who was looking for some graphics for her new website. It kind of snowballed from there. They told a few friends, who told a few friends, and before I knew it, I was turning down jobs because I had so much to do.”

  “So you don’t advertise or anything like that?”

  “Never needed to. I have a website and a Facebook page. Those bring in enough to keep the rent paid and party money in my pocket.”

  “Yeah, but didn’t you ever think about expanding it into a real business? If there’s that much interest, it sounds like something that could really go big.”

  He shrugged. “Not necessarily. Running a business like that is a lot more involved than you’d think. A lot more to lose when it doesn’t pan out.” He kept his face turned from her, though she could tell his jaw was clenched.

  Okay, there was definitely a story there. But before she could ask anything else he turned the tables on her. “My turn.”

  “What?” She was still too busy wondering what had happened that put that tight, withdrawn look on his face to get what he was asking.

  “What about you?”

  “What about me? I think you know all the relevant stuff. You know Rick pretty well, so you know my family, know I grew up here, know I’m going to school in Paris to be a pastry chef.” She shrugged. “There’s not much else to know.”

  They slowed as they came up to the bakery. Jared passed the drive into the garage and waited for the cars behind him to go around so he could back it up.

  “Relationships?” he asked.

  “As bad at those as you are, or so I’ve heard.”

  “Awesome. Nice to have another member in the Monogamy Sucks Club.”

  He winked at her and slowed the truck, expertly maneuvering it in reverse into the newly expanded garage next to the bakery.

  “I don’t think monogamy sucks,” she said, climbing out of her seat to start loading up the unsold cupcakes so they could get the truck cleaned up. “My parents have been married for thirty-five years and are still disgustingly happy. I’d like that some day. When I’m ready to settle down and do the whole responsible-adult thing. Probably. If I ever get to that point. I simply haven’t found anyone I care to test the theory with.”

  He nodded at that. “There does seem to be a shortage of good monogamous material.”

  “Not according to my mother,” Jenny said. “She thinks I’m not looking hard enough.”

  “I’ve heard you aren’t supposed to go looking for it. That it happens when you aren’t trying to make it happen.”

  “Is that what your mom says?” She stacked up the bakery boxes with the unsold cupcakes and turned to him, waiting for his answer.

  His face had lost that amused twinkle and her stomach sank.

  “She used to.” He glanced up at her with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “She died when I was thirteen. Breast cancer.”

  “Oh, Jared. I’m so sorry.” Jenny’s heart clenche
d, and she swallowed past the sudden lump in her throat.

  “It’s okay. It was a long time ago. I still miss her, of course. But my grandma stepped in after my mom was gone. My dad died in Iraq when I was little. I don’t remember much about him except the stories my mom told me. She was always talking about him,” he said with a sad smile. “I don’t think she ever got over him. She was never in another serious relationship that I was aware of. I don’t even remember her dating.” He looked away and swallowed hard. “It’s like that part of her life just stopped when my dad died.”

  He looked at Jenny, but she didn’t think he was really seeing her. He was still seeing the mother who’d lost the love of her life.

  “That’s a lot of power to let someone have over you,” he said, so quietly she could barely hear him. “Anyway,” he said, “we lived with my grandma and when Mom died, I just stayed on with her.”

  He took a deep breath, and his whole demeanor lightened as he blew it out. “If you think I’m a smart-ass you should meet her. That woman is priceless.”

  Jenny smiled, though her heart ached for him. “I’d love to meet her.”

  Jared finished wiping down the counter he’d been working on and Jenny put her hands on her hips, staring at the stack of unsold cupcakes. “What do we do with those?” she asked, pointing to them. They’d sold most of their stock but still had a few dozen sitting there.

  “I’ll show you.”

  He grabbed the boxes and went to the back of the truck, waiting for her to open the doors for him. Once they were out, he jutted a hip out to her. “The keys are in my pocket.”

  She scowled, though it was more because she was tempted than angry. “Seriously?”

  “What? My hands are full.”

  She gave him her most disapproving glare, and he laughed. “Fine. Hold these for a second.”

  He handed the boxes to her and quickly locked up the truck and the garage doors. Then he took the boxes back.

  “There’s a shelter down the street that feeds the homeless. Their dinner shift is already started but we’ve got time to drop these off.”

  “That’s a fantastic idea. Do you guys always donate the unsold stuff?”