by Lissa
Cass had to smile. “Did that already.”
“Yes. And you, me, my dick, and your pussy are all very happy you did. So you mean the challenge?”
“I can’t, Jackson.”
“I know you’re scared, baby. Take a page from my book. Put that fear to work for you, not let it hold you back.” His knee was tight against her crotch again and he was pulsing it up in small movements that were driving her crazy. This was a serious topic and he was using her body against her to have it.
He was either a genius or the devil in cowboy boots.
“You don’t understand what it’s like to have your dreams fail.”
“The dreams didn’t fail. The bakery did. There’s a difference. And you wanted to do it all on your own. This time around, you don’t have to. You have me, you have Sam. We can help. We understand.”
“Why…” Her words, her question trailed off on a moan as he rocked into her body. He gripped her hips, slid her higher on his thigh, then returned to teasing her breasts. The dual attention almost had her forgetting her own name.
“Why what?”
Why was his voice so easy, casual, conversational? Why wasn’t he breathing heavy? She knew he was as hard as she was wet. Why wasn’t he showing how affected he was by what he was doing? Devil. “Why can’t you understand it’s too much?”
“It’s not too much. You just have to want it bad enough and I know you do.” Was he talking about wanting him or her own bakery? She didn’t know and right then, she didn’t care. She wanted to come and wanted to be done with this conversation. Forever.
“I want you.” She took the easy way out.
Jackson chuckled. “I know. But you want more than that. You want to make your own mark, step out into what you want. I can help. I want to help. I see the passion for it in your eyes when you talk about baking. You look at me with a similar passion. I can’t deny you anything, but I won’t stand by and let you deny yourself.”
What he said made sense but then again, it could be that her head was so fuzzy with arousal that she couldn’t think straight. “I want to come.”
“I know you do. But this is important.”
“Jackson, please… You’re denying me this.”
“Oh baby, I’ll please you in so many ways. All you have to do is try.”
“Blackmail.”
“Not at all. I’m just going to withhold one thing until you agree to another.”
“Extortion.”
Jackson shrugged. “Maybe.” He swooped in for another kiss. Short and scorching and he pulled away just as she was trying to hang on. He slid his thigh slowly from between her legs and squeezed her breasts once more before letting go completely. She was on flat footing again and her body was still thrumming with a level of sexual hunger she hadn’t experienced before.
And she was ready to capitulate, to give in, to say yes to anything if he would just put her out of her misery. The look on his face said he wasn’t going to let her off the hook right then no matter what she said. “I can’t go back in there looking like this,” she grumbled.
Jackson straightened her shirt and stepped back, assessing her. “Aside from your eyes being dilated, which you can’t really explain away, and your cheeks being flushed which you can explain was the fault of the summer heat, you can go back in there. I’ll be on the truck tonight. When you’re done with school, come see me.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“You came to the truck when you needed to get through to me. You can come to the truck for yourself too.”
“That day was for me.”
“Don’t try to change the meaning of what I’m trying to say, Teach,” he admonished her. “You know what I mean.”
Whether good or bad, she did know what he meant. “You’re really going to leave me like this?”
“Like what?” His tone was all innocence and she didn’t buy it. Not for a second.
“Horny,” she boldly stated.
“I am. At the moment, I can’t think of anything I like the idea of more.” He leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. “I’ll see you tonight.”
Chapter Eleven
“Tequila Sunrise, please.”
Jackson smiled down at the woman on the other side of the window and the heat that had settled inside Cass all day, ever since he’d left her against the wall, unfurled and flowed through her body.
Cass loved his smile. He didn’t know she’d been standing in the shadows for the past twenty minutes just watching him, watching the continuous crowd that gathered around his cupcake truck. The line never got shorter and several people even slipped back in it for more.
Including the woman currently placing an order. She was pretty, probably close to Jackson’s age. She wore an insanely short denim skirt, black cowboy boots, and a white halter that looked close to popping several buttons at her chest. She had long blond pig tails and a hat on her head.
Cass guessed by the fingers twirling the ends of hair, the swaying of hips, the thrusting of breasts forward, that the woman was no doubt flirting with Jackson, but his smile didn’t change from her to the person behind her. He wasn’t flirting back and maybe that’s why she kept returning to the line. Maybe she didn’t understand why Jackson wasn’t taking the bait.
Cass smiled and stepped out of the shadows. Jackson’s gaze landed on her immediately and in that instant, his smile changed. Surprise. Lust. Happiness. He crooked his finger at her and motioned toward the rear of the truck. A young guy, younger than Jackson, opened the door and reached a hand out. For a moment Cass was confused, but soon realized exactly why Jackson had told her to meet him here tonight.
Shit. She’d fallen for it.
Jackson leaned back from his place at the window and locked eyes with her. There was a dare lurking in the depths of his predatory smile and if she was any kind of smart, she’d turn and run. Unfortunately, she wasn’t. Not when it came to him.
She took the hand of the man at the door and let him help her up. The aroma of vanilla, alcohol, and sugar hit her smack in the face. To her right was a girl and an airbrush machine. She had what looked like a small art studio at her fingertips and if some of the designs Cass saw taped to the wall were any indication, Jackson had found a treasure in the tattooed, blue haired artist.
A few feet up and to the left was the the guy who’d helped into the truck. He was working some gumpaste and the delicate hand fashioned flowers simply blew Cass’ mind. His fingers worked fast and he seemed to be able to effortlessly bend the sugar to his will.
“Wow,” she whispered, not thinking anyone heard her, but she should’ve known better.
“They’re amazing, aren’t they?”
“They are and I’ve only glanced at their work. Where did they go to school?” She asked the question and had to wait for a few minutes while Jackson took orders out the window.
“They didn’t. At least not pastry school. Jerome and Peg both are art school drop-outs. I hired them for the specific talents they have.”
“I can understand why.” She’d have never thought to do that herself though. She sighed. Just one more thing to show Cass that while she was mired deep within the boundaries, Jackson colored outside the lines. A cake was a canvas to be painted or decorated. Fondant and gum paste was clay to be molded and shaped.
The man who’d lifted her into the truck was ensconced at the far end of the rig and Cass couldn’t figure out what he was doing. Jackson followed her gaze. “That’s Nate,” he said softly. “He trails after Peg and I’ve never gotten the story behind it. I couldn’t really afford to bring him on, but he can do scroll work and scripts. He’s the detail man and his attention, when it’s focused on something is incredible. He’s also my numbers guy. Precision is his forte.”
“You seem to have all the bases covered. You do the baking, don’t you? The baking, the recipes, the frostings.”
Jackson nodded. “I do. It’s a very well oiled machine in here. The four of us work hard to make
this a success. I couldn’t do it on my own.”
As he said the last part, he gave her a pointed stare that was unmistakable to understand. He was talking to her, at her. He was telling her the same thing he’d told her earlier in the day, that she didn’t have to do it alone. That if she just took a chance, he’d be there to help her. “I get it,” she said softly.
“Do you?” He didn’t give her an opportunity to answer before he turned back to the window to take another couple orders. He handed her the little slips of paper and nodded toward the counter directly behind him. “I need those,” he indicated the orders in her hand. “In the refrigerators under that steel table.”
“Jackson?”
“Tonight, you work for me, Teach.”
And with that, he turned away again. Neither Peg, Jerome, nor Nate looked her way and it only took a moment to collect herself. She shoved her purse under the counter beside Jackson’s booted foot, then got to work on filling the orders he’d handed her.
For the next several hours, they worked ceaselessly and Cass couldn’t remember when she’d ever been so damn tired, or so damn happy. She handed cupcakes over. She frosted several more. Peg taught her a little bit about airbrushing, something that given all her years in baking, Cass had tried. Jerome wouldn’t let her touch the fondant or gum paste and that was just fine with Cass. Next to him, her flowers and sculptures would look like a three year old with Play-Doh and probably not even that good.
Nate kept his back turned. Jackson had been right. Once the young man got into his zone, he stayed there and kept the outside world, outside.
Some banter played back and forth between Jackson, Jerome, and Peg and once they got used to her, she was included in some of it.
By the time Jackson closed off the back of the truck and his employees had headed toward their apartment with the night’s leftovers, of which there weren’t many, Cass was ready to fall on her face from exhaustion. She was also ready to jump his bones.
Her body had been primed since he’d left her earlier in the afternoon. After he’d disappeared around the corner and out of sight, she’d bent at the waist and tried to get herself together. It hadn’t been easy but by the time she returned to Samantha’s kitchen, no one raised an eyebrow and all she’d said about the time outside was that she’d discussed with Jackson about bringing a few of her students to his truck for some hands-on experience.
He’d teased her and left her wanting and he’d known exactly what he was doing. Add to being around him all night, working alongside him, and she was ready to climb the nearest pole. Preferably his.
“I’m parked at the school,” she said inanely.
“I figured as much. You shouldn’t walk around the city alone in the dark.”
“Probably not, but this is my home. After nearly thirty-four years, I’m not about to be scared of the city now.”
Jackson shook his head. “Sam didn’t grow up in the city, but feels the same way. However, I’m going to drive you over and drop you off.”
Cass settled on a stool and braced herself against the counter Nate had worked at all night. “Thank you.”
Jackson put the truck in gear and pulled away from the curb. “Did you enjoy yourself tonight?”
She wanted to lie to him, but knew she couldn’t. It wouldn’t be fair to either of them. “Yes. It reminded me of the first few days when I opened my place. I was constantly going, moving. It was the greatest feeling. I know what you meant when you told me you wanted to bring smiles to people’s faces with your food. I wanted to do the same thing. It was the best thing, giving and creating something for others to enjoy.”
“Good. I think you should come and work with us more.”
“Jackson…”
At a stoplight he looked around the partition that separated the work area from the driver’s seat. “I’m serious,” he went on when she didn’t say anything else. “I think it would be good for you and I’d like having you around.”
“I know what you’re trying to do.”
“I’m trying to see you more, as often as I can. If not this way, then all I’ll see you for most times is sex and sleep.”
“I can think of worse things,” she said offhandedly.
Jackson laughed. “Me too, but I’d also like to see you when we’re both awake, able to talk and laugh, and when you’re in your element.”
“This is your element.” And he looked good in it. It might be a cupcake truck and he might be a hot, sexy cowboy raised on a working ranch, but he made the two things work and work well.
When he’d first stepped in her class, she’d thought he looked very out of place, but he quickly found a niche and fit in. When he’d first told her he wanted his own business, she thought he would be out of his element and over his head then too, but he’d found something that worked for him. When he’d kissed her for the very first time and told her how much he wanted her, she thought he’d just had a little crush on someone who paid him a little extra attention, but he’d convinced her he was serious.
Everything he put his mind and energy to, seemed to work out for him. He didn’t give up and just as she’d noticed with his employees, he thought outside the box, made things work in his favor even if they weren’t exactly what he’d set out to do.
“You’re quiet, Teach.”
“Thinking.” It was all she said and it was the truth. Her mind was a whirl of activity and she didn’t see herself getting to sleep anytime soon tonight. Perhaps a bath would help relax her, but she wasn’t sure of it. Jackson had given her a lot to consider and she didn’t know if she could do it when she was so tired or so sexually needy.
Jackson slowed the truck to a stop in front of the college and turned in his seat. She stood and looked around at him. Heat and lust simmered between them as did a whole host of emotionally charged questions. “I’m gonna go park this behemoth and I’ll be over to your house in a little bit.”
“I’m just going to go to bed. There’s no reason for you to come over.”
“The hell there isn’t. I’ve had a hard on for days and after this afternoon and tonight, I’m not about to go home with blue balls and I’m not going to let you go to sleep without a good fucking.”
“It’s really okay. I can take care of myself, on all counts. I’ll call you tomorrow.” She was running away again, running from the possibility of dreams coming true. Working with Jackson tonight, she could almost see doing it on a regular basis, like he’d tempted her with. Spending time with Samantha the last few days, working in the kitchen of her sticky bun shop, Cass had been tempted then, too. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear the brother and sister baking duo had conspired to get her out of the classroom and back into doing what she really wanted to do and that it didn’t have anything at all to do with students and internships.
“No. You won’t. If I let you go, you’ll avoid me again. Nope. Not gonna happen. You’re back in my life and I’m back in yours and that’s the way it’s going to stay. I’ll be over to your place in a little while.”
“I can always ignore the door knock.” Like she’d do that. She might ignore the phone, but him on the other side of the door? Not a chance.
“I can always find a way in.”
Cass sighed. He would too. As she’d realized earlier, if the man wanted something, he would do whatever he had to do to get it. If there was the slightest hint that he could burst through the barriers, he’d take it. “Fine.”
* * * * *
Jackson yawned as he climbed into the cab of his pick-up. He’d been working non-stop since he’d seen his father last weekend, but given the way Cass was resisting… He was tired, but he was headed to Cass’ house just the same. He knew all about avoidance. He knew all about ignoring someone. He’d done plenty of that after he walked out of her office. She hadn’t given up on him, had never been against him and he wasn’t going to give up on her.
He eased on the brakes at the stop light. But what if she didn’t want to work fo
r herself again? What if she didn’t want to run a bakery anymore? What if she really was fulfilled teaching? He hadn’t thought to ask her before. He’d make a point to as soon as he saw her.
Deep down inside he thought he knew the answers. Seeing her at Samantha’s this morning working with her students and Sam, then seeing her tonight and watching her get all caught up in the craziness that was working in a food truck… Her eyes had been bright with happiness, with joy to a degree he’d only seen a couple of times. And those had been with him, coming on his dick.
Several minutes later, Jackson pulled up in front of Cass’ house. He’d never been inside, but imagined it might smell sweet, be neat and tidy, and very comfortable. Exactly like it’s owner.
He’d barely his hand up to knock on the door before Cass opened it. She was dressed in the same kind of outfits his sister wore around the house. They looked like sweats but not as bulky. He didn’t know what they were called. All he knew were jeans and sometimes shorts. She was pretty though, all in purple like she was. The top a lighter shade than the bottoms. Her hair was wet and tangled, her face scrubbed clean, and her eyes wary but with that same hint of joy she’d had all night.
“How did you know I was here?”
Cass waved him in. “You didn’t know your truck could be heard from a mile away? That muffler isn’t exactly quiet.”
“I don’t buy that. You kept looking out the window, didn’t you? You were looking for me. Couldn’t wait to see me, huh?” He tapped the end of her nose affectionately. “I’m flattered.”
She swatted his hand away. “Oh please.” Jackson laughed and leaned in for a kiss. It was a smack of lips to lips before she moved away. He swatted her ass when she walked by and followed her with his eyes. Her ass swayed as she walked, her hips twitched, and when she lifted her arms to comb out her hair, he imagined her nipples pressing against the soft material she wore.
The inside of her small house was a mix of bright colors, mostly blues and greens. Spots of pink, purple, yellow. Her house was summertime in fabric. Cool and bright. The couch and chair were white. Black throw pillows with paint splatters were tossed across the pristine surfaces. They matched the rug on the floor. It reminded him of pictures and movies he’d seen from the eighties. There weren’t many knickknacks but pictures of cakes, pies, cupcakes, cookies, and rolling pins dotted the walls. Cookbooks filled the spaces of the bookshelves.