by Jamie Pope
There were many imitators but only one originator, but he knew that if they didn’t start to launch new products soon, interest was going to wane. “It’s coming along. I’ve got some ideas.”
“You keep saying that.” Jackson shook his head. “Let’s hear them.”
“Amber’s been helping me sort through them. Not many of them have been approved.”
“Really?” He grinned. “Give me one that she said no to.”
“Lemon pumpkin surprise.”
“Lemon pumpkin? What exactly is the surprise?”
“Lemon curd filling.”
“Pumpkin and lemon curd? I don’t know about that. It might be able to work with a lemon cream cheese icing. Have you played with the recipe?”
“No. We attempted one recipe. It didn’t end well. I’m surprised you aren’t laughing at me.”
“Why would I laugh at you for that? I’m trying to prefect a bacon pancake cupcake. If I know one thing about you, it’s that you take every assignment given to you seriously. Even if it is just coming up with a cupcake flavor. If you want we can do some test kitchen stuff at my place. I’m trying to figure out the right consistency for the cupcake. I don’t want it to be too dense.”
“I’m a little surprised at you, Jackson. I knew you were a food snob, but I never thought you would take owning a bakery so seriously. Half the time I keep waiting for you to tell me you’re selling out.”
“Nah.” He shook his head. “This is a family business. I would never sell my share. We’re in this for better or for worse.”
“Speaking of for better or for worse...” Chase gripped his younger brother’s arm, not sure he was seeing things clearly. “I think that is our mother walking through the door.”
“Mom?” Jackson shook his head. “No. It must be someone who looks like her.”
But sure enough their mother did walk through the door and toward them, decked out in designer clothes with her hair twisted up elegantly.
“Mom?” Jackson stepped forward and gently reached out to touch her cheek. “Is that you?”
“Don’t be silly, Jackson. Of course it’s me.”
“Forgive him, Mom,” Chase said. “But we’re just surprised to see you in here.”
She looked around the bakery with her critical eye. “Is there something wrong with wanting to visit my children and see how they are?”
“No, but you don’t like it here,” Jackson said looking slightly on edge. “In fact this place is the bane of your existence.”
“Don’t be so dramatic. It’s just that my brilliant, highly educated children decided to throw away their educations and futures to work in an unstable bakery. A mother gets a little touchy about those things.”
“We are not throwing away our educations, Mother,” Chase said, defending his actions to her once again. “Between the Draynut and Myers Coffee Roasters we are bringing in a steady, stable stream of customers that won’t be trailing off anytime soon. Plus we are operating in the black and have made a fifteen percent profit this month. We are planning on rolling out new products in the coming months and, according to my projections, we can grow our business up to twenty-five percent.”
“You see, Mom.” Jackson puffed his chest up a bit. “Nobody is throwing away their education. We’re using what we learned to make this business successful. You need to have a little faith in us.”
“You’re my children. I believe you can do anything. You wouldn’t be my children if you couldn’t, but I just worry. Your father worked his way up from nothing so that we could give you every opportunity in the world. We just don’t ever want to see you in a position where you are in need. And just the thought of this place not working out keeps me up at night.”
“Mom, we’re all right,” Chase said, affectionately squeezing her arm. “Even if this place goes down in flames, which it won’t, we’ll be all right. You know that I have always planned for my future.”
He saw Amber out of the corner of his eye. She was chatting with an older customer as she carried her mug and what looked like a cream-and-jam-filled biscuit over to her table. She didn’t have to do that. There was no waitstaff at the bakery but Amber always took the extra time with their customers. He loved that about her. She was thoughtful and kind and always did just a little bit more than she had to.
“Excuse me, son. I always prided myself on my conversation skills, but maybe I need to brush up on them if you are having such a hard time focusing on this one.”
“It’s Amber,” Jackson said.
Chase made a soft noise of agreement. Amber was walking past them, probably on her way to clock out for the day. He knew she wasn’t going to stop. The most she did was give him soft shy smile or little private looks. She tried to keep it as professional as possible at work, and normally he would agree that workplace romances should be conducted discreetly and quietly, but this time he didn’t give a damn who knew.
He grasped her arm, his body warming as soon as it came into contact with her soft skin. “Come here a moment.” He tucked her smaller body into his own, and she snuggled into him as though it was natural, as if her body was designed to do that when it came into contact with his.
“Hello, sir.”
“Hello, miss. You done for today?”
“I am. Just about to head over to the community center. One of the other instructors is going to pick me up.”
“I won’t keep you. I just wanted you to meet my mother.”
“Oh.” She stood up straight and smoothed her clothes, looking adorably flustered. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Drayson. I’m Amber. Please excuse my appearance.”
Compared to his pristine mother, Amber looked rumpled. Hell, anyone would have looked rumpled compared to his mother, but he preferred Amber’s wild curls and her funky earrings and how her beauty was always so effortless. He didn’t think he would like her all sleek and smooth. Amber didn’t tick off any of the boxes on that long list of things he had thought he wanted in a woman, but she made him happy.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, Amber. My son speaks highly of you.”
“Does he?” She looked up at him. “I didn’t know he spoke of me at all.”
“All of my children like you. It’s rare they all agree on something so wholeheartedly.”
“I’m one of four. I know how it is.” She smiled shyly. “Chase has told me all about your charity work. Have you ever considered taking on a mentee or teaching a class? There are so many girls out there who could benefit from learning from you. We’re always looking for successful women down at the center.”
“The center?”
“I teach at the Gwendolyn Brooks Center for Excellence. I’m teaching the young women in my class how to run a small business as well as the art of jewelry design, but I would love for a woman with more experience to come talk to them.”
Chase watched as his mother’s face remained neutral, not giving away what she was thinking. He would give a million dollars to know what was going on in her head. His mother always helped out charities, but at this stage in her life she was more of a planner and less of a doer. She wouldn’t actually get her hands dirty. “Hit up people for volunteering later.” He stroked his thumb across Amber’s cheek. “You’ve got to get going now.”
“You’re right!” She glanced at her watch. “It was very nice meeting you, Mrs. Drayson.” She shook her hand. “Jackson, we’ll talk more about the boys’ cooking class.”
“I’ll call you tonight.”
“Goodbye, handsome.” She kissed Chase’s cheek.
“Goodbye, gorgeous.” He caught her chin between his fingers and kissed her mouth, just a little longer than he should have with his mother and brother standing there.
She blushed, a slightly embarrassed smile crossing her face. “It was lovely to meet you
, Mrs. Drayson. Feel free to ignore what I said before. I forget myself sometimes.”
“It was a pleasure, dear,” his mother said politely. Amber gave them all one last wave before she was off, leaving the three of them alone again.
“She’s one of those do-gooder types, isn’t she?” Nadia said after a moment.
“Yes. She is.”
“She’s quite lovely. Beautiful skin. What did you say her parents did?”
“Her father is a court officer and her mother is a trained seamstress.”
“Hmm. Bring her for dinner next month.” She kissed both of her sons’ cheeks and turned to leave.
“Did what I think happened just happen?” Jackson stared after their mother, kind of bewildered.
“Yeah.” Chase couldn’t believe it himself. His mother had just given Amber her stamp of approval.
Chapter 12
Amber heard Chase’s heavy footsteps come down the hallway and toward her workroom. Her heart beat a little faster, even though she should be annoyed about his interrupting her. She was a little behind on some pieces she had been commissioned to make. Plus she had a meeting with the owner of a specialty jewelry store that only sold pieces from up-and-coming designers. It was an important meeting. One that could be a huge advance in her career if her jewelry was carried there. That’s why she needed this time to work, but still she wanted to see Chase.
“Hey.” He peeked his head in. “I just wanted to bring you a little snack before I left.”
Damn, he was sweet. She wondered how he had gone so long unmarried. Any woman would be lucky to have him as her husband. “Come in.”
He had a plate of assorted veggies and hummus in his hand. “It’s brain food.” He set the plate on the side table and knelt before her, taking her hands in his. “Don’t work too long tonight.”
“You’re leaving?” They had spent nearly every night together, switching back and forth between her place and his. She had gotten used to falling asleep wrapped in his arms and waking up with a kiss on her forehead.
“I know you have work to do, and I feel like I’m bothering you.”
“You weren’t. You aren’t.”
“I want to bother you, though. The temptation to come back here every five minutes is getting to be overwhelming.”
“I like having you here. It is a distraction because I wonder what you’re doing out there while I’m in here, but truthfully I would be just as distracted if you were home. I’m not sure what exactly you have done to me, Chase Drayson, but my head has been all filled up with you.”
He lifted her hands to his mouth and kissed both of them. “What are you working on?”
She picked up her sketchbook and showed him a drawing of the piece she was creating. “It’s a neckpiece made with fourteen-karat gold and freshwater pearls. It’s one of my more extravagant pieces. It goes with these.” She lifted the delicate pair of pearl flower earrings that she had painstakingly made last night. “I’m going to show them to the owner of the jewelry store I’m meeting with. I need to show that I can do high-end and mass-market pieces.”
“They are beautiful, Amber. I would never have believed that someone could make these by hand. You’re going to be successful. I know it.”
“Thank you.” She pressed her lips to his forehead, letting them linger there, not sure how to tell him that she didn’t want him to go. He should go home. She needed to work, but she didn’t want to be left alone in this apartment tonight.
“My firm is throwing a party at the Burke Museum tomorrow night. Would you want to come with me?”
“Oh, baby, I’ve got so much work to do on this piece. Is it an important function?”
“Nah.” He looked disappointed. “I know I sprung this on you last minute. I just wanted to show off my new girlfriend to my old friends. Don’t worry about it.”
She felt guilty. Lower than low. He didn’t ask her for much. He didn’t ask her for anything. But she had so much work to do and she had been spending so much time with him that she was letting the other really important parts of her life slide.
Finishing her degree and becoming a successful jewelry designer were the most important things to her. She hadn’t meant to fall in love. She didn’t have time to. “I’m so sorry, Chase.”
“Don’t be.” He kissed her cheek. “I’m proud of you. I don’t know another woman who could do everything that you do and do it so well. You amaze me every day.”
He couldn’t have made her feel worse if he had called her every nasty name there was out there. He was too sweet to her and she didn’t know what to say so she kissed him. She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him slowly, sliding her tongue deeply into his mouth. He let out a low moan and that’s all it took to heat things up.
She pulled his shirt from his pants, undoing the buttons as fast as she could so that she could feel his skin. She loved his chest, how broad and hard and smooth it was. She loved the way it felt when he was on top of her. Chest to chest. Skin to skin. Her nipples tightened in anticipation of feeling it again.
He pulled away from her and stood up, breathing heavily. There was slight surprise in his eyes combined with pure lust. And he ripped his shirt away from his body, kicking off his shoes. His hands reached for the button on his pants, but she pushed his hands away, wanting to do it herself. Wanting to reveal him in her own way.
He hissed out a slow breath when she pulled him out. Sliding her lips along his shaft, she left behind little wet kisses. She noticed his fist clench and unclench, his hands shaking slightly as she drove him a little wilder. She loved doing this with Chase. Teasing him. Working him up. He liked to be in charge in bed. He liked to spend hours pleasing her body. Kissing her from head to toe and starting all over again.
He was the best lover she had ever had and she was glad that she got to experience him, but she wanted to give to him, too. She wanted to make him feel good. She wanted to imprint herself on his memory so even long after they parted he would think of her the way she knew she would think of him.
She slid the head into her mouth, sucking in that way she knew nearly undid him. He grunted, his control slipping. She cupped his testicles as she worked, seeing how far she could push him before he would break.
He cursed. He moaned her name. He turned her on. And before she could process what was happening he pushed her away, pulling her out of her chair and onto her feet. He yanked at the bottom of her tank top.
“Take it off,” he ordered. She did, her excitement growing as she watched him rip off his pants.
He came at her, tugging down her bra straps and pushing the whole thing to her waist. He moaned again as he stared at her. She wondered how she looked to him, her breasts bared, her hair wild and only a little pair of cotton shorts separating them. He ran his hands over her breasts, stroking them, touching her nipples, tugging on them slightly, the tiny bit of pain only heightening her pleasure. He dipped his head to take her in his mouth. The feeling was too good and her knees gave out. He caught her, scooping her up and carrying her to the small bed she kept in the room.
“I can’t wait anymore,” he panted. Before she knew what was happening, her shorts were gone and he was on top of her, pushing inside her, filling her up, making her feel fulfilled.
“Don’t hold back.” She wrapped her legs around him, taking even more of him in. “I want all of you.”
He granted her wish. His tempo was fast and furious and she wanted to keep her eyes open, to see his face when he pumped inside of her, but it was too amazing and all she could do was shut her eyes and experience him. He had learned her body. He knew what she liked better than she did. He kissed her throat and called out her name and said sweet, beautiful, nonsensical things that she didn’t understand but wanted to hear more of.
“You’re too good, Amber. You’re too good,”
he said into her ear. His pace changed, his thrusts became quicker, harder. She dug her fingers into his back, feeling her climax coming on.
“I can’t hold on any longer. Please come for me, Amber.”
She wanted to give him everything he asked for. She wanted to give him the world, but she knew if she couldn’t, she could at least give him this. Her orgasm was powerful, causing her to cry out, causing tears to form in her eyes and roll down her cheeks. Sex with him always managed to move her.
“What’s the matter?” He removed himself from inside her and took her face in his hands. “Did I hurt you?”
“Of course not.” She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly to her. It only hurt to love him this much. “That was...” She didn’t have words to describe what they had just done. “Thank you.”
“I know how you feel.” He kissed the side of her face. “This is something special, isn’t it?”
It was. She didn’t think that love like this was possible.
* * *
The finance firm Chase worked for always gave extravagant parties for their clients twice a year, to thank everyone for their faith in them and their hard work and to basically show the world that they could afford to throw parties filled with expensive champagne and lobster appetizers. The downtown Seattle museum was the perfect setting for an event like this. The space was huge and elegantly decorated. The perfect location to attract wealthy new clients who were patrons of the arts. Normally Chase would be working the room, making connections, brokering new deals, but he didn’t care about any of that stuff tonight. There was one thing that his eyes kept focusing on and she was sipping a glass of champagne. He couldn’t stop looking at her. He didn’t want to stop looking at her. She wore a golden bandage dress over her curvy body, and it looked like heaven against her skin—that combined with her wild curls and her gorgeous face made her the best-looking woman in the room, but she could have worn a sack and Chase would have thought the same thing. He almost regretted asking her to come to this party. He could have spent the night alone with her at her place or his. They could have been laughing over some silly television show or brainstorming cupcake ideas or just doing nothing together.