Delectable Desire

by Farrah Rochon

  How difficult must life be when something as simple as a cupcake could bring so much joy. The notion tugged unmercifully at her heart.

  She was suddenly overwhelmed with shame for lamenting over her own problems. She had nothing to complain about. She had her health, her family, a roof over her head and enough money to keep her free from financial worry for the rest of her life. She even had a man with a genuinely good heart interested in her. She was blessed.

  She could not fathom the trials these children and their families faced, the pain they had endured. She wished she could do something to lessen their burdens, or at least put the kind of smiles on their faces that Carter and his cupcakes had elicited.

  The woman whom Carter had introduced as the coordinator of the event appeared, accompanied by a clown, complete with a bright red nose. The children were all corralled, and the clown began performing a magic show, extracting oohs and aahs from his enraptured audience.

  “That was very sweet of you,” Lorraine told Carter as they stood a few feet away, watching the clown juggle a collection of colorful rings. “Did you see their faces when you unveiled those cupcakes?”

  Carter shrugged. “The kids can get lost in events like this. It’s for their hospital, but everything is usually catered to the donors. The kids should feel like the guests of honor.”

  Lorraine stared at him, warmth settling into her bones. “You’re a very thoughtful man, Carter.”

  “I like giving back,” he said. “Especially to kids who don’t fit in. I kind of know how they feel.”

  “You do?”

  “I don’t know what it feels like to be stuck in the hospital for months, but sticking out like a sore thumb? Yeah, I know how that feels.”

  Lorraine suspected her skepticism showed on her face, but she couldn’t help it. In what universe would he not fit in anywhere he found himself? Taking in the man standing before her, with his gorgeous brown eyes, close-cut, naturally wavy hair, solid, athletic build and seemingly natural ability to converse with anyone and make them feel at ease, she could not imagine Carter ever feeling as if he were on the outside looking in.

  Just as she was about to question him, another of the event coordinators came up to them, shaking Carter’s hand and thanking him enthusiastically for the showstopping cakes provided by Lillian’s.

  “I wish I could see the amazing cakes everyone keeps talking about,” Lorraine said when the woman walked away.

  “You will, but we’ve got something else to do first.”

  She gave him a wary look, not sure she trusted that mischievous glint in his eyes. Carter led her to the amusement park area and purchased two tickets for the carousel. She had not been on a carousel since she was five years old.

  “I’ll bet you weren’t picturing this when you were getting ready for our date tonight, were you?” he asked, holding her hand as she climbed aboard an acrylic horse.

  “I’m relieved I opted for pants instead of a dress.” Lorraine laughed.

  They rode the carousel three times in a row. By the time they were done, Lorraine was dizzy, though she couldn’t be sure if it was from spinning in a circle for ten minutes, or laughing at Carter. His ability to make fun of himself was as charming as anything she’d ever encountered.

  “Are you ready to see the cakes?” Carter asked as he helped her down from the carousel.

  “Yes. Finally.”

  “Let’s go over to the South Pond Pavilion,” Carter suggested.

  On their way to the arched pavilion where the cakes were on display, they strolled along the Nature Boardwalk, yet another feature that had not been installed the last time Lorraine had visited the zoo. It boasted an array of plant life, birds, insects and other residents of an ecosystem you would never expect to find in the heart of a thriving metropolis such as Chicago.

  As anxious as she was to see the cakes, Lorraine had to stop when they came upon a spray of irises. She stooped down and brought a bloom to her nose.

  “Heavenly,” she said, breathing in the scent. She looked over her shoulder at Carter. “Most people prefer roses, but I just adore irises. They don’t get nearly enough credit for their beauty.”

  They continued on to the South Pond Pavilion. The wooden structure was a mark of ingenious architectural design. The artist in her could fully appreciate the creativity that went into molding the strong, smooth lines of the wood. It was simply breathtaking.

  Lorraine gasped as they came upon the cakes from Lillian’s, which were all prominently displayed.

  “Carter, these are...” She turned to him. “Unbelievable.”

  The gorilla had the signature flat face and piercing eyes. The giraffe warranted attention for its sheer size, standing at least five feet, with its face pointing regally in the air.

  “Is everything edible?” she asked.

  “For the most part,” Carter answered. “There’s some internal hardware used as reinforcement, but the majority of what you see here is cake and frosting.”

  “Phenomenal,” Lorraine breathed as she rounded the Bengal tiger cake. The stripes and whiskers seemed so real it was a bit frightening.

  She pointed to the bird with elaborately colored feathers. “That isn’t a peacock, is it?”

  “It’s a Nicobar pigeon. The zoo is known for the colony that resides here. It’s one of the few places you can find them in the United States.”

  “Fascinating,” Lorraine said as she continued to study the cakes. The detail was absolutely outstanding, the animals so lifelike.

  “So you approve?” Carter asked.

  She whipped her head around. “Is that a serious question? Of course I approve. They are works of art, Carter. Each and every one of them. How long did it take you?”

  “It took a team of six of us nearly three days to make these. It was not easy, but it was worth it.” He gestured around. “Based on the crowd here, the hospital will pull in a nice sum of money tonight.”

  Lorraine was about to ask him about the whiskers on the tiger when she let out a yelp. “I do believe that tiger’s eyes just moved.”

  Carter laughed. “Yeah, we incorporated animatronics into it. These days, a fancy cake isn’t good enough. You’ve got to figure out ways to up the ante.”

  “After seeing these, I cannot wait to see Trina’s cake.”

  “It will be just as spectacular, if not more,” Carter promised.

  He was so close she could feel the heat coming from his body. Lorraine was almost afraid to believe he could really be as sweet, and funny, and charismatic as he appeared. He was just a sweet talker doing what sweet talkers did, wasn’t he?

  But what if he wasn’t? What if this man, who made her laugh, yet made her blood boil with hot need, was really what he appeared to be? Could she even dare to hope?

  “Do you want to take a walk?” Carter asked. “The zoo is magical at night.”

  Lorraine nodded and placed her palm in his outstretched hand. They ambled along a walkway, moving farther and farther away from the music, laughter and noise. Carter was right: this was magical, with Chicago’s distinct skyline stretched out ahead of them and the aroma of fragrant flowers imbuing the air. It was more than just magical; it was heavenly. The entire night had been heavenly.

  It occurred to Lorraine that she hadn’t thought once about the argument she’d had with her father over the fellowship grant, which had taken up much of her mental energy today. Being with Carter had pushed all of that unpleasantness out of her mind.

  Lorraine tucked herself more securely against his side. “I have a question for you,” she said. “If it’s too personal, please just tell me so.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Back there, you said that you knew how those kids felt to not fit in. What did you mean by that?”

  “Just what I said,” Carter answered. “My last name may be Drayson, but I’ve never felt as if I was truly one of them. Not the way my cousins are.”

  “But you are,” she said, not understanding. “Yo
u’re just as much a Drayson as your cousins.”

  “Biologically, yes, but I didn’t have the same experiences they had growing up. I didn’t live on the Drayson Estate in Glenville Heights. I visited on some weekends, and most holidays, but I went back and forth between my mom and dad a lot. The rest of my cousins spent their entire childhoods there.”

  “Do you get treated differently?” Lorraine asked.

  He was quiet for several moments before expelling a soft sigh. “This may sound stupid, but I’m not sure.” He glanced down at her. “I question it all the time. Am I really being treated like an outsider, or am I reading into things? You know what I mean?” She felt his deep chuckle. “Probably not.”

  “Actually, I think I do,” Lorraine said. He gave her a skeptical look. “I know what you’re thinking. I live in a ritzy penthouse and wear designer clothing. I have it made.” She swallowed deeply. “Well, appearances can be deceiving, Carter.”

  He stopped and turned to face her.

  “I would never think that anyone’s life was all roses simply because they have money,” he said. “I may not be rolling in it to the extent that you are, but I know money doesn’t buy happiness. I am confused as to why you would feel like an outsider, though.”

  “Perhaps outsider is the wrong word. Some may classify it as middle-child syndrome, even though I’m the middle child by only seven minutes. My brother is the golden boy, who could never do anything wrong. Trina has always been seen as the free spirit. My parents tried to contain her, but if you ever met my sister, you would see that their efforts were futile.”

  “So where does that leave you?” Carter asked.

  She paused, measuring her response before she answered, “I was the one who tried to be perfect and often failed miserably.”

  “I find that hard to believe,” he said.

  Lorraine snorted an indelicate laugh. “Perhaps you and Arnold Hawthorne-Hayes should meet for drinks and conversation. He could tell you the myriad ways his mother’s namesake has disappointed him.”

  Carter hooked his finger underneath her chin and lifted her head until his eyes met hers. “He must have the most impossible standards on the planet. I cannot imagine you being a disappointment to anyone, Rainey.”

  Her mouth tipped up in a grin. “He would not approve of that nickname.”

  Carter’s eyes sparkled with laughter. “Then I should probably use it more often.”

  Cradling her head, he leaned in and met her lips in a slow, gentle kiss that was nothing like Lorraine had expected. Given his personality, she had braced herself for a savage plundering, but Carter surprised her with his tenderness.

  She leaned into him, pressing her body flush against his. The heat radiating from every part of him scorched her being, lighting a fire that radiated throughout her bloodstream. A soft mewl escaped her throat as Carter’s hand traveled down her spine, stopping at the small of her back. He cradled her waist, and pulled her even tighter against him.

  His tongue traced along the seam of her lips, urging them to part, but when they did he didn’t plunge inside. Instead, his assault was just as devastatingly tender, which did more to melt her heart than any fiery kiss ever could. His tongue delved in and out of her mouth, gentle, yet insistent, eliciting a moan that tore from her chest.

  Carter emitted a groan of displeasure as he reluctantly ended the kiss, but he didn’t release her. He continued to cradle her in his arms, the streetlamp casting a soft glow across his face, illuminating the hunger in his eyes.

  Gazing up at him, Lorraine whispered, “What is it about you, Carter Drayson?”

  That wicked grin returned. “I thought it was the way I looked in an apron.”

  An instant blush heated her cheeks as she remembered her seductively whispered words from earlier. “You do wear an apron better than any man I know.” She shook her head. “But there has to be something else to explain why I’m falling so hard for you, so fast. It is so uncharacteristic of me.”

  “I know what you mean,” he said. “This is new for me, too.”

  Casting a look of disbelief his way, Lorraine couldn’t help the skepticism that colored her voice. “I don’t know if I can believe that about you.”

  “I’m not saying that I’m a hermit who doesn’t get out and enjoy himself, but it’s never this intense. Or this quick. Do you realize we’ve known each other less than seventy-two hours? Sometimes it takes me longer than that to pick out my clothes for the weekend.”

  An unladylike crack of laughter flew out of her mouth before she could stop it. Lorraine shook her head. “I’m trying to decide if you’re real, Carter.”

  “Hey, you’re the one who didn’t have a last name until today.”

  “It’s just that you seem to have come into my life at just the right time.” She looked up at him. “I really needed someone right now.”

  “Why? What’s going on?” He ran a finger down her cheek. The concern in his voice made her throat tighten with emotion.

  “I’ve...I’ve been feeling a bit...I don’t know...stuck. It seems as if everyone else is moving forward with their lives and I’m being left behind.”

  “Who is everyone?” he asked.

  “Since the beginning of the year, five of my friends have either become engaged or gotten married.”

  “So you’re looking to get married?”

  Lorraine didn’t miss the thread of wary caution in his voice.

  “No!” she said quickly. “My goodness, I’m not on the hunt for a husband, Carter. That isn’t what I meant.” She linked her arms around him and leaned her head against his chest. “You’re going to think I’m a horrible person when I tell you this.”

  “What is it?” he asked, rubbing his palm up and down her back.

  “I’m jealous of my sister.” Lorraine cringed at the words. “I know it’s incredibly selfish of me. Trina has never been happier, and I truly am happy for her. But it has always been the two of us. Now that she’s leaving, I just feel...stuck, as if I’m just going through the motions.”

  She straightened her shoulders and pulled in a deep breath. “Goodness, listen to me. I can only imagine what you must be thinking.”

  “What do you think I’m thinking?” Carter asked.

  “The little millionaire heiress is feeling stuck. Poor, unfortunate thing.”

  “Wrong,” Carter said. “I think what you’re feeling is completely understandable.” He captured her chin between his fingers and she lifted her eyes to meet his. “But it doesn’t have to be this way. You can change if you want to.”

  She shook her head. “You don’t understand, Carter. There’s more to my life than just what I want.”

  “Like what?”

  “Well, the fact that I have responsibilities to my family, for starters. Even though I never asked for them, those responsibilities are still there. As a Hawthorne-Hayes, I’m expected to commit myself to charities and other society functions. Don’t mistake my objections. I love my charity work. I’m grateful to be in a position to help so many other people, but most of the time it doesn’t feel as if I’m doing enough. There has to be more to life than sitting on charity boards.”

  “You only have this one life, Lorraine. You can’t live it for anyone but you. It doesn’t matter what your mother or your father thinks. It doesn’t matter what your friends or society thinks.” He tapped the shallow space between her breasts. “The only thing that matters is what’s in here. Nothing else.”

  “I wish it were that easy,” she said with a sigh.

  He captured her chin between his fingers. “It’s only as hard as you make it. When you’re ready to take that next step, it’ll be the easiest decision you’ll ever make.”

  Lorraine stared into his eyes, once again amazed at how quickly this man had burrowed himself into her world. That ever-present air of caution reared its head again, but Lorraine tamped it down. She wasn’t the same person she was when Broderick had weaved his spell around her. She knew better t
his time around.

  Lorraine wrapped her arms more securely around Carter’s waist and held on tight. She felt his deep chuckle rumble softly against her ear. She looked up from where she’d lain against his chest.

  “What’s so amusing?” she asked.

  “I was just thinking that I need to take my own advice,” he said.

  She eyed him curiously, but before she could question him further, Carter leaned forward and captured her lips in another soul-stirring kiss.

  * * *

  Carter became more light-headed with each floor the elevator ascended as they rode it to the penthouse in Lorraine’s building, and the feeling had nothing to do with altitude. His body was on fire. After one simple kiss. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. There had been nothing simple about that kiss. That kiss had rocked his damn world.

  He looked over at Lorraine, standing next to him in the elevator in her stylish slacks and sweater. She looked more like a schoolteacher than a seductive enchantress, but she’d sure as hell cast a spell on him. There was no other way to account for the way his body craved her.

  She was such a contrast. The way she’d smiled like a little girl while on the carousel, completely uninhibited, compared with how she’d lit his body on fire with that kiss. She was so much more than what her outer appearance suggested. When he’d first caught sight of her that morning at the bakery, he’d immediately pegged her as a pampered princess, but there was substance hidden beneath the surface. Each hour he was with her, he learned something new. And each new thing made him more and more attracted to her.

  The elevator arrived at her floor. As they walked down the carpeted hallway, the blood pounded in his ears.

  Lorraine pulled out a key. “Would you like to come in?”

  Carter glanced quickly at the door, unsure of what they would find on the other side.

  “They’re not at home,” she said.

  His eyes flashed to hers.

  “My parents flew to their house in Arizona. Mother has a standing appointment at a wellness spa in Scottsdale once a month. They won’t be back for several days.”