Danny watched the Katy leave. He scratched his head. “Do you ever get the feeling that Katy isn’t normal?” he asked, looking over at Sarah.
“What do you mean?” Sarah raised an eyebrow in his direction.
“I don’t know… it just seems like she knows more than she lets on sometimes. I don’t know how to describe it exactly.” He shrugged and let it go, making his way toward his girlfriend. “What do you think about the kiosk?”
“It’s great! It’ll be a terrific help.” She slung her arms around his neck and pulled him close, kissing his lips ever so softly. Her heart raced, and her cheeks turned pink, but she didn’t care. She loved this man. “What would I ever do without you?” She asked, laying her head on his chest, listening to the rain drip down the gutter.
Danny kissed the top of her head, gently running his hands up and down her back. He had yet to figure out how he had been so lucky to be with a girl like Sarah, but all he knew for sure, was that he would never let her go. His eyes rested on the still unfinished wedding cake, his lips curling into a smile.
Tomorrow evening was going to be a big night.
Chapter Nineteen
“Why are we at the bakery?” Sarah looked up at her pastry shop in confusion. It was always closed on Tuesdays, and yet, the sign Sweet as Shortcake was brightly lit. She could tell that the lights were on, even though the curtains were drawn, keeping her from seeing inside.
“It’s a surprise, now close your eyes and don’t peek, okay,” he said seriously. At this point, Danny was getting really nervous. His heart was beating a mile a minute, but he did his best to appear confident. As usual, he walked around the car and opened the door for her, guiding her out. He placed his hand on her arm, his palms already sweating. He gulped, hoping she wouldn’t notice.
Sarah had the hardest time keeping her eyes closed. All she wanted to do was figure out what was going on, but she knew she couldn’t ruin the surprise. So she allowed herself to be ushered into her own bakery, her pulse quickening in anticipation.
“Alright, you can open them now,” Danny said, his voice wavering slightly. Sarah gasped. The entire bakery had been decorated in a beach theme. There were seashells hanging from the ceiling. The tables were covered with tablecloths depicting lovely beach scenes. A radio in the back played the sounds of the ocean. “Wow…” She spun around, trying to take it all in. “Did you do all this for me?”
“Yes.” He kissed her gently. “Now, let’s have some dessert.”
It was just then that Sarah noticed a lopsided shortcake on one of the cake stands. She tilted her head at it, wondering why it looked so funny. The frosting had a yellow tint to it, and the texture looked like it would fall apart at any moment.
“Sorry, it looks so bad. I made it all by myself.” He rubbed the back of his neck, looking a little embarrassed. “I tried my best to follow your recipe, but I don’t know what went wrong. I guess I’m not much of a baker, but I still hope you like it.” His voice was low. His heart threatened to deafen him.
“I’m sure it’s not all that bad.” She stepped forward and sat down. Slowly, she dipped her finger into the discolored frosting. She tasted it slowly. “Wow! That’s so sweet!” She tried it once more. “Did you just pour the whole sugar bag into the frosting or something?”
“I may or may not have put double the amount of sugar…” he said laughing. He handed her a fork and smiled. “You know how bad my sweet tooth is.”
He dug his fork into the very edge of the pastry, making sure to avoid the middle, where a puddle of frosting was trying to ooze out.
“This is actually pretty good,” Sarah commented, taking bite after bite as if she were addicted. Suddenly, her fork pressed into something hard. She scrunched her face in confusion, tilting her head. “Did you put a rock in here or something?”
“You could say that…” Danny said under his breath.
Sarah kept looking at him, searching for answers, but he didn’t do anything to clear her confusion. She tried to fish out whatever the mystery object was with her fork. She finally managed, pulling it through the frosting. It was smothered in it, making it impossible to figure out what it was.
“What is it?” she asked curiously.
She reached down slowly, wrapping her fingers around it. It was curved and metal. It’s a ring! Her fingers trembled as she held it up, the frosting slowly falling off.
It sparkled in the light, the large diamond glittering like a star. “It’s beautiful…” She whispered, tears already coming to her eyes.
While Sarah was busy admiring her new ring, Danny had managed to get down on his knee. He looked up at Sarah, his eyes blazing with passion, waiting for her to look his way.
When their eyes finally locked together, the world around them ceased to exist. All that mattered was being with each other. Sarah gasped, her hands covering her mouth, the ring still between her fingers. Was this actually happening? Her heart rampaged, and she shimmied to the edge of her seat.
“Sarah. You’ve made me so happy. When I came back from Afghanistan without a leg, I felt like I had become less of a man, incapable of doing what most people took for granted. But then you came along and showed me how to be whole again. I can never thank you enough, but I can tell you that if you say yes and become my wife, I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy.” Danny took a deep, shuddering breath, his nerves crawling under his skin. “Sarah.” His gray-colored eyes had never been more alive. “Will you marry me?”
Sarah just stared at him for a moment. In that instant, the whole world seemed to grow a little brighter. The colors around her glowed. Even Danny’s skin seemed to light up as he waited, bent down on one knee. How could she ever say no? Without warning, she flung herself forward, wrapping her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. “Of course. Yes. A thousand times, yes!”
Danny wrapped his arms around her slender figure, pulling her into a tight embrace. He smiled ear to ear, knowing he was going to be the happiest man alive for the rest of his days. As long as Sarah was by his side, his life would always be sweet; sweet as shortcake.
The End
Cho colate
Kisses
Cupid’s Café
Where Love is on the Menu
Book #4
By Ashley Lauren
Chapter One
“You can work anytime. Come out tomorrow and have some fun,” Katherine Cupid cajoled as she served one of her customers a large chocolate milkshake.
Tasha stared at the forty-something-year-old woman, whose round face was bright with enthusiasm. Her dazzling green eyes sparkled with mischief and her short, black hair framed her face, giving her an almost innocent countenance
Tasha Roman loved Katherine, Katy as everyone called her, but she wasn’t even remotely convinced. Fun went out the window as soon as she’s said yes to the job.
“Do you know what you’re saying? You want me to go against my boss, nicknamed by all her students, the Wicked Witch of the West?” Tasha sighed, trying to make herself feel better by taking a sip of the frothing milkshake.
She closed her eyes for a second, letting the sounds of Cupid’s Café rush through her senses. She was surrounded by the lively chatter of people enjoying a good meal. The jukebox in the corner was playing an old fifties song and every once in a while, there would be a soft thud whenever someone went up to the cola machine to get an old-fashioned soda in a glass bottle.
“Seriously,” Katy said, her hand on her hip, a cleaning rag hanging off her fingers. “It won’t kill you to take a break now and then. I’m sure Faith will understand.”
Tasha actually laughed at the statement. She was a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley. To help support herself, she had signed up to be the head teaching assistant for the school’s notorious history professor, Faith Mason. She taught Ancient Greek history, and sometimes, it seemed like she thought of herself more as a Hellenic goddess than a mere, mortal history teacher.
She really didn’t want to talk about it anymore. All she wanted to do was sit there and enjoy her milkshake. She only had an hour for her lunch break and wanted to make the most of it. To her relief, Katy whisked away to serve some of the other patrons, emerging from the kitchen with two large baskets of food in her hands.
Tasha watched her a while, amazed by her skill. Katy had owned Cupid’s Café for as long as she could remember. Even when she was an undergraduate student at Berkeley, she would come into the popular fifties-themed diner to have a burger with her friends. Over the years, she had become attached to the happy-go-lucky owner, but now, she was just being pushy.
Sighing, Tasha’s attention drifted to the various memorabilia that made up the décor of the diner. There were old stop signs, Eat Here posters, and even a few cross-bucks. All in all, no one could quite get bored at Cupid’s. There was just so much to look at in the quaint little diner. From the blue faux leather seats to the checkered floor, stepping into Cupid’s was like going back in time.
Tasha was nearly halfway done with her drink when Katy came back, a bright smile on her face. Katy’s smile was almost as famous as the diner itself.
“So, did you make up your mind?” she asked, staring at Tasha and clearly waiting for her to capitulate and say she’d go.
“I can’t go,” Tasha answered. “I have too much work. I just can’t.” She took a big slurp of her milkshake, hoping it would send the message that she didn’t want to continue this conversation.
“Nonsense. You can’t keep working yourself to the bone like this. You need to go out and have a little bit of fun. C’mon, it won’t kill you.”
“But Faith and her never ending demands might.”
Tasha groaned, thinking of the horrendous boss she had put up with for just over a month. They hadn’t even gotten to the midterms yet, and she was already swamped with mounds of work. It was no wonder the woman was one of the most hated professors at the school. Her grading policy made it next to impossible for anyone to get an A. Her lectures were dry and boring, and her office hours were a time for her to bully her students, causing many of them to drop the class before they could even get to the interesting parts of Greek history that had made them sign up for her class in the first place.
If she didn’t need the money so badly… but she did and so there was no getting around it. Tasha was stuck with Wicked Witch for the rest of the year. Any sort of social life would just have to wait. Not that she had a social life…
“That’s ridiculous. You’re her teaching assistant, not her slave.”
Tasha laughed. “She teaches Greek History. She might actually think of me as her slave.” Tasha began to tick items off on her fingers. “Let’s see, I pick up her coffee every morning, get her dry cleaning, pick up her mail from her post office box, grade all her homework assignments, and teach more than half her classes.”
“I hear she pays well,” Katy sympathized.
“Don’t I know it? It’s the only reason I don’t quit. I can’t afford not to put up with her. My parents have had their own financial troubles and can’t help me with any of my grad school payments or fees. I wish…” Tasha’s voice drifted off.
Katy leaned in. “What do you wish, Tasha?”
What do I wish? Tasha had been so busy with her job and studying for her own classes that she barely had a life. All her close friends had graduated last year, and she’d been left alone. She hadn’t even been able to go home for the summer to visit her family in Colorado. Money had been too tight. Instead, she’d spent the summer working days as a lifeguard at the pool and her nights at a little sandwich shop on campus.
Her summer had been okay, but it had been lonely. Katy was really the only person she had time to talk to. The fact that she was incredibly shy and generally didn’t go out of her way to meet people made it all the more difficult for Tasha.
The words tumbled out of Tasha’s mouth before she could think it through. “I wish I could meet someone who I can talk to. Someone who can make me laugh. A friend would be nice… but a guy would be better.”
Tasha slapped her hand over her mouth, unable to believe what she had just admitted. Tasha immediately back peddled. “I didn’t mean that. What I really need is a friend, not a guy.”
Katy eyed her, and Tasha felt herself pull back into her shell. By nature, she wasn’t a very outgoing person, but around Katy, she tended to act much bolder. But admitting that she wanted a guy in her life was far braver than she’d intended. What’s wrong with me? Tasha sighed and let her face drop into her hands.
Chapter Two
Katy felt Tasha’s soft wish slam right into her heart. The longing and loneliness in the girl’s voice ate at her soul. When Tasha had come in for lunch, Katy had meant dish up her usual milkshake and then chat with her for a bit, but something pulled at Katy. That little tug of knowing had Katy asking if Tasha wanted to go the Charity Ball.
Katy had a gift. She just knew who would be the perfect match for someone. Katy thought of it as her own brand of social magic. Whatever the source, her gift told her that Tasha needed to be at the Ball.
Katy wasn’t taking no for an answer. Especially now, after the girl had so openly confessed her loneliness.
“Then, it’s settled. You’re going to the Ball,” Katy declared. “What better way to meet someone?”
Tasha glared at Katy. She’d felt ridiculous admitting that she was alone. It wasn’t like her to leave herself so open and vulnerable. Tasha wrapped what was left of her pride around herself and shot back. “And who are you? My fairy godmother?”
Katy winked. “If I have to be.”
Tasha rolled her eyes. “Be serious.”
“Oh, I’m very serious. You need a night out to enjoy yourself.”
The conversation was going in circles. Tasha knew she wasn’t going to win. Katy seemed to always get what she wanted. But Tasha valiantly countered, saying, “I don’t even know why I’m taking advice from you. When was the last time you even left Cupid’s? You live and breathe work, and yet, you’re telling me to take a break?”
Tasha shook her head, thinking the curvy café owner was just a tad bit hypocritical. Tasha may work all the time, but she wasn’t the only one.
“Well, I’m going tomorrow, aren’t I?” Katy answered, her hand sweeping over the counter, wiping it clean.
Even while she was trying to persuade Tasha to take a break, Kathy continued to work. Tasha stared at her, wondering if she saw the irony in their current situation.
“Yeah, well, but you’re one of the charity sponsors. You have to go. It’s not like you have a choice. Me, on the other hand, I can choose not to go, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do,” Tasha said stubbornly.
She took a last swig of her chocolate milkshake and began to fish around the bottom of her glass for the cherry, purposefully ignoring Katy’s stare. Maybe if she didn’t look at her, she could still get out of going to the Ball.
She found the cherry and popped it into her mouth. Tasha glanced over at the large neon pink clock that hung over the kitchen doors. It was almost time for her to get back to work.
When Tasha looked back at Katy, she was standing there with a hard expression on her face. It was strange to see the usually upbeat woman like that.
“That’s not the reason at all,” she answered. “I chose to be a sponsor because I wanted to. The evening is so much fun. I enjoy it every year and you will too.”
Tasha knew she couldn’t hold out against Katy’s will for long, but she held onto her own willpower for a few seconds more. Then, Katy smiled. It was the kind of smile where you knew the other person had some sort of trick up their sleeve.
“Besides…” Katy leaned in close, her voice turning into a soft whisper as if to lure Tasha in. “It’s for charity, and there’ll be lots
of chocolate,” Katy said with a satisfied smirk on her face.
Tasha glared at Katy. That was a dirty trick. Katy knew just how much Tasha loved chocolate. Tasha felt her resolve crumble like dust. There was no way she could refuse chocolate. “Fine,” she grumbled. “I’ll come, but I refuse to dress up.”
“Of course you will!” Katy clapped her hands together. “It’s a Halloween fundraiser for kids. Would you really stomp all over their fun just because you’re being a sourpuss about this whole thing?” Katy challenged, both her hands on her hips now.
Tasha gritted her teeth, knowing she couldn’t protest this either. If she didn’t dress up, she would look like a huge jerk to all the kids, who were looking forward to seeing all their favorite characters.
Still, Tasha hated being backed into a corner. She didn’t want to go to the fundraiser because Katy was making her do it. She had enough to worry about being enslaved to one of the crankiest professors in town. Her boss’s demands were slowly driving her insane. The last thing she needed was to dress up in some itchy costume and pretend to be happy.
All she wanted was to stay home this weekend, eat a pint of chocolate ice cream, and finish grading the last of the student papers. After that, she could sit back and enjoy herself. Enjoy myself… all by myself. Another pang of loneliness hit her.
Why hadn’t she taken summer school or added a few extra credits each semester? If she had, she would have graduated early and with her friends. I couldn’t have. She sighed. I had to work to pay for classes.
Tasha’s willpower broke. Katy had a point. She needed to get out, do something fun, and at least try to find a new circle of friends. Maybe a Charity Ball for kids was a good place to start.
Besides, she hadn’t been to a party in ages. She couldn’t even remember the last time she had attended one. She bit her lip, contemplating the idea. Plus, if there was chocolate involved, Tasha had no doubt that she would enjoy herself.
Cafe Love: Cupid's Cafe Box Set Books 2-4 Page 16