Black

by K. L. Grayson

  “Where are we going to go?”

  “We’ll pick up the lakefront path just over there and tour around the city,” he says. “We can take as long as you want.”

  “I’ve never been on a bike ride.”

  Not even after I grew up and moved out of the Blacks’ house. By then it just seemed pointless.

  “I know.” He taps his ear. “I was listening.”

  Emotion crawls up my throat as the weight of what he’s doing—what he’s offering me—settles, and I pinch my lips together because the last thing I want to do is burst into tears.

  Once I’m confident I can speak without crying, I say, “Aside from taking me skating, this is probably the greatest thing anyone has ever done for me. Thank you.”

  Cradling my cheeks in his hands, Rex leans down until our lips are nearly touching. “It makes me sad that this is the greatest thing anyone’s ever done for you. It also makes me happy that I get to be the one to do it. I love making you smile.” He runs a thumb along my lower lip. “And you can expect these lips to do a lot more of that with me, Shae Black.”

  If a moment ever called for a kiss, it’s this one. Pushing up on my toes, I kiss Rex, right here at Buckingham Fountain, for the entire world to see.

  The guy who delivered the bike to us clears his throat, and I kiss Rex once, twice, and a third time before turning to look at him.

  “Thank you, Marlin,” Rex says. “We’re good to go from here.”

  Marlin nods. “Call me when you’re done, wherever you are, and I’ll pick up the bike.”

  “Thank you.” Rex holds out his hand, and Marlin shakes it and walks away.

  Rex turns to me. “You ready to do this?” He grabs a helmet hanging on the handlebars. Unclasping it, he places it on my head.

  Lifting my chin, I allow him to clasp the buckle. “More than ready.”

  Holding the bike steady, he motions for me to climb on.

  “Aren’t you going to wear a helmet?”

  Rex shoots me a look. “I’ve been riding a bike since I was five years old. I’m a pro at this. Plus, I don’t wear helmets.”

  “You don’t, huh? Well, what happens if we get into a wreck and your head smacks the ground?”

  “Too many what-ifs, Shae. I don’t like what-ifs.”

  I open my mouth to argue but he grabs the back of my head, slams his lips against mine in a fierce kiss, and leaves me speechless, which I think was his intention.

  “Get on the damn bike,” he says, his smiling lips brushing against mine.

  “Only because you asked with a kiss.” Flinging my leg over the seat, I straddle the bike and put both feet on the pedals. The bike tilts to the left and I squeal, dropping my feet back to the ground.

  Shaking his head and laughing, Rex straddles the seat in front of me. “You can’t lift your feet until we start pedaling. Put one foot on a pedal and leave the other one down. Once we start going, you can start pedaling.”

  “Okay.” I nod, and the helmet slides in front of my face. I push it up. “Promise me you won’t let us fall.”

  “I won’t let us fall.”

  “You didn’t promise.”

  Rex looks at me over his shoulder. “Shae, I promise I will not let us fall. You’re safe with me, always.”

  With those words, Rex starts pedaling, and I quickly join in. Balancing on a bike is much harder than it looks, and It takes a few tries for us to get going. At first I can tell by the occasional tightening of Rex’s back and arms that he’s having to compensate for my lack of balance, but after a few minutes, I get the hang of things.

  The sun is shining, birds are chirping, and I have the greatest view in the entire world: Lake Michigan to my right, the Chicago skyline to my left, and an unexpected Romeo smack dab in front of me. A wide grin stretches across my face as the wind whips around us, and I can’t remember the last time I felt this free.

  Desperate to hold on to the feeling, I keep pedaling, taking in the sights and sounds of the city I grew up in, refusing to search for hidden memories, tucking my father’s letter away in the back of my mind—for now.

  We wind north along the coast of Lake Michigan and then venture into the neighborhoods.

  “Let’s stop up here,” Rex yells, angling his head so I can hear him.

  We start to slow, and when Rex puts his feet down, I follow his lead, and we come to a smooth stop. Unbuckling my helmet, I tug it off, climb off the bike, and throw myself at Rex, nearly toppling us both over.

  Laughing, I fling my arms around his neck as he gathers me close. “That was amazing! I can’t believe I missed out on that for so many years. No wonder kids like riding bikes.”

  Rex kisses my cheek. “I’m glad you had fun.” Sliding off the bike, he stretches. “Unfortunately, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Eventually your thighs will start to burn and your ass will feel like it’s on fire.”

  I can’t stop grinning. “My ass already feels like it’s on fire, and my crotch has been numb for the last twenty minutes.” Like, seriously numb. I’m a little concerned with the tingling going on down below.

  “Welcome to the club. You’ve officially been inducted into bike-riding hell.”

  I look around at all the shops, trying to figure out what we’re going to do, when something catches my eye. A tiny bakery sits on the corner across the street. The front window is packed full of desserts, and a purple sign hangs above the door: Sugar.

  “Do you mind if we stop in there?”

  Rex follows my gaze when I point to the bakery. “It’s your day.” Sweeping his arm out in front of him, he motions for us to continue. But instead of riding over there, we walk the bike across the street, securing it to a small bike rack out front.

  A bell chimes when we open the door. The smell of frosting and chocolate floods my nose, and I let out a soft moan.

  “It smells delicious in here. I think I could eat one of everything,” I whisper, looking through one of the display cases.

  A young woman with short blond hair walks around the corner, smiling. “Hi, I’m Tara. Welcome to Sugar. What can I get for you?” She has on a black apron, although it’s nearly white with flour, and a chunk of brown is smeared across her forehead.

  “I was hoping to inquire about your catering services,” I say, grabbing a pamphlet from the front counter. “I assume you do events and parties?”

  The woman’s face lights up. She practically bounces around the corner. Rex’s eyes widen at her enthusiasm, and he reaches for my hand when she approaches us. “I do all events. Nothing is too small or too big.” She glances at our joined hands. “I’m guessing you’re here for an engagement? Or dare I say wedding?”

  Sputtering, I look at Rex—who seems way too happy—and back to her, but she’s already bustling past us.

  “Follow me. I have an entire room dedicated to wedding cakes.”

  “We’re not getting married,” I clarify.

  She stops, turns on her heels, and frowns. “Bummer. You’re so cute together.”

  My cheeks flush, and Rex beams back at her, his fingers tightening around mine. “Thank you,” he says.

  “We’re here because we’re planning an anniversary party for his parents.”

  “Well, you’re in luck.” This time she bustles past us in the opposite direction, and we turn to follow. “What are you hoping to do? Cake? Cupcakes? Pie?” She leads us to a small, round table in the back corner that’s stacked high with binders.

  “We haven’t really decided.” I look at Rex, and he just shrugs. Typical man. I pick one of the binders and thumb through the pages. “Your work is fantastic.”

  “Thank you. My grandmother taught me everything I know. Here, look through this.” She hands me a different binder. I flip through pages and pages of different anniversary pieces she’s put together, as well as various flavor and icing combinations.

  “There are so many choices. Would it be possible for us to come in for a taste test?”

  The be
ll above her door rings, and a woman and little girl walk in.

  “Absolutely. Get a few ideas of what you’d like to sample, and I’ll be right back. We can schedule something.”

  She scurries off, and I turn to Rex. “Do you see anything you like?”

  His eyes rake over me. He gives me a cocky look, and I roll my eyes.

  “I’m not on the menu.”

  “Not yet you’re not. I wonder if she’d let me buy a tub of icing.”

  “A tub of icing? Without the cake? Why on Earth would you want that?”

  Rex gives me a heated look.

  “Ooooh.” I look around, lowering my voice. “Get chocolate fudge.”

  Eyes wide, Rex looks at me as though I just made his entire day. Scratch that, his entire fucking year. “Seriously?”

  “Yes, seriously.” I slap his arm. “Now help me pick out flavors.”

  By the time Tara returns, we’ve decided on white almond cake with vanilla buttercream, red velvet with a cream cheese frosting, lemon cake with raspberry filling and lemon cream cheese frosting, and a marble cake with chocolate and vanilla swirl buttercream icing.

  “Great choices. When can you come in?” Tara asks. “I’m available next Wednesday evening and anytime next Thursday.”

  I look at Rex. “I’m good with either one. What works for you?”

  “Let’s do Thursday afternoon. Maybe around two?”

  “Two is perfect,” Tara confirms, writing it down on her calendar. “I’ll see you guys then.”

  Rex and I are almost out the door—sans chocolate fudge icing, much to my disappointment—when he stops mid-step. “I’m going to see if she has a restroom I can use before we leave. I’ll meet you outside?”

  I nod and step out on the sidewalk, nearly plowing into a group of people. I move to the side to see what they’re all looking at. There’s a silver man standing like a statue on a giant box a few feet away. I maneuver myself a little bit closer and watch for several minutes, waiting for him to move.

  “What’re you staring at?” Rex whispers from behind me. He follows my gaze toward the mime and then mumbles, “You could be standing here all day. It’s amazing how long he can hold that position.”

  “Do you ever look at people and wonder what their story is?” I whisper.

  “Not really.”

  I nudge him with my elbow. “Like, how does someone become a mime? I bet he’s a college student. His mother lost her job with the last recession and hasn’t been able to get back on her feet. This is the last thing he wants to do, but he needs to put food on the table and get himself through school.”

  Rex doesn’t respond right away. A minute passes, and then he takes a stab at it. “Nah. This is fun for him. His parents are strict. He rebelled, moved out when he was eighteen, and whatever he makes here is his partying money.”

  “Interesting theory. I guess we’ll never know.” We continue to watch the young man for a few more minutes and then I turn, running smack into Rex’s chest. “Sorry—” My thoughts trail off when I see him holding a small purple box. “What’s that?”

  “Oh, this? It’s a cupcake.”

  “You didn’t have to go to the bathroom, did you?” He shakes his head. “Did you get us that tub of frosting?” I tease, secretly hoping he did.

  He shakes his head again. “Not this time. But I will.”

  “Is that for me?”

  Rex looks around at the crowd, which is starting to dissipate, and when he looks back at me, I know he’s up to something.

  “Excuse me…” Rex steps around me, toward the group of people.

  What the hell is he doing? I frantically grab at his arm, but I can’t catch him.

  “Can I have everyone’s attention, please?”

  He’s a force to be reckoned with, and he’s too damn gorgeous for his own good, so of course everyone gives him their full attention, minus a few stragglers in the back who continue walking away.

  “Today is my girlfriend’s birthday,” he announces, motioning toward me.

  Oh, God. Everyone turns to look, and heat creeps up my neck, infusing my cheeks. I’m going to kill him.

  “Say hi, Shae.”

  Embarrassed that he’s putting me on the spot, and desperate to get all the eyes off me, I give a miniscule wave. Also, did he just call me his girlfriend?

  “I was hoping you guys would join me in singing her ‘Happy Birthday’.”

  A chorus of oohs and ahhs spreads throughout the small crowd, and before I have time to protest, Rex starts singing, and everyone joins in. I stand frozen, my eyes locked with Rex’s as he leads the impromptu choir.

  A big part of me wants to turn around and flee, but I can’t because the other part realizes what he’s doing. First the skating, then the bike ride, and now this. Rex is trying to make up for some of the things I missed out on as a child. My heart swells in my chest as I look at his smiling eyes, and whether he realizes it or not, he steals a tiny piece of my heart.

  A piece I know I’ll never get back.

  And I’m all too willing to give to him.

  The song ends. Rex thanks the crowd before shouldering his way back toward me. He stops in front of me and opens the box to reveal a vanilla cupcake with buttercream icing and brightly colored sprinkles.

  “Excuse me.”

  Rex and I look over as a gorgeous blonde walks up. She’s on a mission, and I must be invisible because she doesn’t spare me a glance as she slips a paper in Rex’s hand, winks, and walks away. My jaw nearly hits the sidewalk.

  You have got to be kidding me. “Did she just give you her number?”

  Bitch.

  Without looking at the paper, Rex throws it in a nearby trashcan.

  “He’s a keeper.” I turn to find an older lady standing next to me. She pats my arm. “That’s something my Gerald would’ve done. We were married for fifty-three years. I lost him last January, but rest assured, he would’ve loved your fella.”

  I smile when she calls Rex my fella.

  “I’m sorry for your loss,” I say, not sure how to respond.

  “Don’t be. Best fifty-three years of my life.” With another pat to my arm, she continues down the sidewalk.

  I look at Rex. He holds out the box, and I delicately slip the cupcake out and take a bite.

  “Happy birthday.”

  “It’s not my birthday, and if I remember correctly, you already threw me a kick-ass skating party.”

  “Doesn’t matter.” With his thumb, Rex wipes a crumb from the corner of my mouth. “You missed so many, I figured today is as good a day as any to start making up for them.”

  Taking a deep breath, I study my cupcake and take another bite—anything to keep from crying, which is what I really want to do because how could any woman be deserving of a man like Rex?

  I swallow, getting a hold of my emotions. “You don’t have to make up for the lost birthdays.”

  “I know I don’t.” Wrapping his fingers around my wrist, he pulls my hand—cupcake and all—to his mouth and takes a bite.

  “How did I get so lucky and find you?”

  Rex brushes his lips against mine. “I could ask you the same thing.”

  By the time Thursday rolls around, I’m itching to see Shae. I haven’t spent time with her since our bike ride last week, though not for lack of trying. Josalyn offered her some more hours, and Shae couldn’t turn them down. So, between her work and my work, we just haven’t been able to connect. But we’ve made it a point to talk several times each day, which has only solidified our connection and made me miss her that much more.

  I practically pounced on her when I picked her up for the cake tasting this afternoon, and it was amazing to watch her in professional mode at the bakery. Granted, I had a little trouble keeping my mind focused on flavors of cake, but I can’t believe how much I enjoy being with her. Until now, I’ve never enjoyed getting to know someone, yet Shae has me practically on cloud nine.

  This must be evident to those
around me, judging by Dante’s look when Shae and I walk into Vault after the cake tasting. We’re hand in hand, laughing.

  “You two look awfully cheerful.”

  “Who wouldn’t be?” Shae collapses onto a barstool. “We just stuffed our faces with some of the best cake I’ve ever had.” She smiles and hands Dante a purple box. “We brought you some samples.”

  He opens it and takes a bite of the red velvet first, then works his way through the rest of the samples.

  “Oh, God,” he moans. “They’re all good. Which one did you guys choose?”

  “All of them,” Shae says excitedly. “We couldn’t pick just one. So instead of a cake, we’re going to have tiers of assorted cupcakes.”

  Dante nods, swallowing his bite. “Sounds great. Where are we with the rest of the plans?”

  I walk around the bar, grabbing a water from the cooler. I offer it to Shae, but she shakes her head. I take a drink as she explains what all she has done for the party thus far.

  “Everything is ready to go. I gave your menu choices to the caterer, and he offered to let us come for a tasting prior to the party. If I can coordinate time with one of you in the next few days, we can do that.”

  “I trust you,” Dante says, waving her off.

  Her eyes shift to mine, and I lift my hands. “I’m all yours. Name the time and place.”

  Shae smiles and gives me a heated look. Goddamn, she’s so beautiful I can’t help but walk around the bar and get one more taste of her sweet lips. The faint taste of chocolate frosting lingers on her mouth, and I groan.

  Dante starts coughing, and I grab another bottle of water, passing it to him.

  Twisting the top, he takes a swig. “Thanks.”

  “Sorry,” Shae says, sheepishly. “Didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

  “It’s gonna take a lot more than that to make me uncomfortable, sweetheart.” Dante clears his throat and levels me with a steely look, one that tells me we’ll be talking later.

  “What else have you got?” he asks.

  “Nothing. Everything else is good to go,” Shae reports. “Invoices should be coming in soon, and I’ll forward those to you when the time comes.”

  “Just have all the bills sent to Rex.” Dante smiles mischievously.