Take the Cake Read online

  “God, that was good.”

  Kate watched him with quiet amusement, tucking a foot up on her chair and twirling a strand of hair around one finger, her elbow resting on her knee.

  “Don’t you cook much at home?”

  “Standard bachelor fare,” he replied, finishing his mouthful and stacking the plates.

  “Meaning what, exactly?”

  “Meaning they know me by name at Subway. I cook, but nothing like this.” He waved his wine glass at the table. He patted his still-flat belly and gave her a hopeful look. “I don’t suppose …” He raised an eyebrow.

  Kate laughed. “They’re in a box near the sink.” She smiled as Paul picked up their dinner plates and went to investigate, enjoying their sibling shorthand. He returned with a cupcake and bit into it, making a happy humming noise to himself as he ate.

  “So,” Paul said finally, licking some frosting off his fingers, “it’s time for the annual question, you ready?”

  “As I’ll ever be,” she said in a resigned tone. “Bring it on.”

  Paul folded his arms on the table and leaned forward. “How’s the love life?”

  “How can I put this?” Kate pretended to think for a moment. “Let’s just say that if my love life was a person, it’d be lying in a hospital bed somewhere in a vegetative state with a nurse saying, ‘Switch it off.’”

  Paul laughed and shook his head.

  “And now it’s my turn,” Kate went on. “How about you?”

  “Well, let’s just say I don’t lack for companionship.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, making her groan. “But,” his expression sobered, “it’d be nice to have something more permanent.”

  The two of them sat in a contemplative silence for a while.

  “You know,” Paul ventured, “if Mom was still alive, she’d be match-making up a storm for the two of us.”

  “No doubt about it,” Kate agreed. “And Dad would be polishing his shotgun, wanting to know the intentions of any guy that turned up on the doorstep.”

  Paul grinned.

  “So is there anyone on the horizon for you?” Paul asked out of curiosity.

  “Not that I’m aware of, but Tom and Wren are usually better at spotting that kind of thing. How about you?”

  “Well, I’m looking, so I guess it’ll happen when it’s meant to.” Paul stared into his wine glass, and then took another sip. “We’ll get there, Kat.”

  “Yeah, but it’d be nice to know where there is. I’ve got friends. I’ve got a great little business that’s starting to turn a profit.” She sipped her wine and shrugged. “Maybe there are some of us that just aren’t destined to have it all.”

  “Maybe not,” Paul replied. “But that doesn’t mean you just have to roll over and accept it. Mr. Right isn’t just going to knock on your door, Kat. You’ve gotta get out there.”

  “I know,” Kate replied with a sad little smile. “Just do me a favor?”

  “Anything,” Paul agreed instantly.

  “If I don’t end up married and chasing the happily ever after, just promise me you won’t let me turn into the crazy old cat lady.”

  “Done. As long as you make sure I don’t end up the sad old bachelor drunk at the bar.”

  “Brother Bear,” Kate said, “you’ve got yourself a deal.”

  Paul pushed his chair back from the table and opened his arms. Kate got up and walked around to curl up on his lap, tucking her head under his chin.

  “I’ve missed you,” she mumbled into his shirt.

  “I’ve missed you too, sis,” Paul replied in a quiet voice. “Let’s do this more often, okay?”

  “You’re just saying that to get more cake,” Kate retorted, swallowing down the sudden lump in her throat.

  “Saw right through me that time, didn’t you?” Paul chuckled.

  Kate closed her eyes, listening to the rumble of his laughter in his chest. “Do you miss them?” Kate ventured in a quiet voice.

  “Every day.” Paul’s voice was just as soft.

  They sat together, Paul rocking his little sister gently in his arms, closing his eyes and resting his cheek on her head.

  ~~~

  David slung an arm around Michael’s shoulders and leaned over to shout in his ear.

  “Another round?”

  “Yeah.” Michael flicked some money toward David, who managed to swipe the bills on his second attempt before ambling off to the bar. Michael watched his progress. His gaze drifted, and then stopped when he realized someone was watching him. She shook her blond hair off her shoulders and nibbled at the straw in her drink; the suggestion in her eyes was unmistakable. Michael stared back as he finished his drink.

  David returned from the bar with their drinks, setting them down on the table, and followed Michael’s gaze. “Nice,” he commented. “Listen, man, if you wanna go play, I can find my way home.”

  “Nah, I’m good,” Michael replied, accepting the next drink. “She’s not my type.”

  David glanced across at the woman, and then gave Michael an incredulous look. “Dude, she’s been watching you like she’s already on her back, and I’m tellin’ you right now, that’s a serious case of ‘fuck me’ eyes she’s giving you.”

  “I know,” Michael muttered. “But she’s not—” He stopped with a shrug.

  David watched him, his eyes growing wide. “Oh ho, so you’ve got someone else in your sights,” he guessed, grinning when he saw the look on Michael’s face. “I’ll take that as a yes. Who is she?”

  “No one you know,” Michael replied, chugging back his beer in a bid to avoid the conversation.

  “Because you haven’t made a move yet?” David asked. Michael shot him a quick look. “I’m right again, aren’t I? Damn, I’m good.”

  “Yeah, you’re something.” Michael gave him a wry grin.

  “So what’s she like?” David’s eyes were alive with curiosity.

  “Smart, funny, great laugh, beautiful …” Michael began, pausing as David waved him off.

  “Okay, I get the idea. And she’s single?”

  “That’s what I’ve been told,” Michael replied, thinking of Wren.

  “Well, if she’s that good, you’re going to have to move fast. But you know, before you think about the what if there’s always the now.”

  “What?” Michael’s gaze swung from the blonde back to David.

  “You heard me.” David shrugged. “Why deny yourself a right now because you’ve got a what if? Carpe diem and all that shit.”

  “I don’t know,” Michael said, feeling doubtful.

  “When in doubt, my friend,” David said, “have another drink. I’ll get us another round.”

  David went back to the bar, and Michael looked at the woman again. Maybe David had a point. He’d locked himself away for so long. Maybe it was time to live a little.

  ~~~

  The next morning, Michael surfaced into awareness with considerable reluctance. That’d been some dream. Even the sheets smelled different, and his mouth felt like someone had poured the Sahara Desert into it. That was when he felt the warmth of another body beside him. His eyes flew open, and the first thing he saw was a mass of blond hair on the pillow beside him.

  Where the hell was he?

  The woman was nothing like Kate. She had blond hair and blue eyes that had blinked slowly before she offered him a lazy smile as he climbed out of bed to get dressed.

  “I’ve gotta go,” Michael began, hoping he wasn’t sounding too apologetic as he pulled on his jeans.

  “Sure, thanks for the sex.” She smiled again as she eyed his half-dressed form with appreciation. Michael felt a rush of relief that she was content to let the situation be what it was: purely temporary.

  He was pulling on his shirt when she spoke again. “Honey, just so you know, I wasn’t her.”

  “What?” He looked at her in confusion.

  “It was fun and all,” she said, waving a desultory hand, “but I know when a guy’s thinkin
g about someone else.” She considered him for a moment. “You could come back to bed and I’ll make sure your attention stays on me this time.”

  “Thanks, but …” Michael paused, and she laughed at his obvious discomfort.

  “Sweet boy, thanks for the fun and have a nice life.” She rolled over and snuggled into her pillow, effectively dismissing him. He paused, but she said nothing more so he left, closing the door quietly behind him.

  It was still dark when he got outside, and he sighed when a glance at his watch showed the early hour. He’d shower and go to bed when he got home, and hope that tomorrow would be better. There was no doubt that this evening’s “interlude” had provided a measure of release, but he still felt unsatisfied. Perhaps things would look better in the morning.

  ~~~

  The next day, Wren made her way to work, stopping in at a newsstand to buy a copy of her weekly indulgence, Us Weekly. She leafed through the pages as she walked, dividing her attention between the oncoming pedestrians and the printed page before her. She stopped at a set of lights, snorting with derision as she read about yet another sex-tape scandal.

  Two hours later, a man stopped outside the bakery and laughed as he read the quote.

  The purpose of life is love,

  and the purpose of digital cameras

  is to make hot movies of that love.

  He went inside and strolled up to the counter. “Nice quote. Who came up with that?”

  Kate looked up with a ready smile. The customer was tall and blond with wide, blue, friendly eyes.

  “That’d be the work of our resident genius, Wren,” she replied, inclining her head toward Wren, who was working at the coffee machine and who took a moment to bob a quick curtsey before resuming her task.

  “Nice.” He grinned, although his gaze hadn’t moved from Kate. Wren bit her lip to hold back a grin. “And you are …?” His voice tailed off and he grinned at Kate hopefully.

  Kate managed not to yelp as Wren gave her a swift kick in the shins. “I’m Kate. I own the store,” she said with a nod.

  “And she’s the resident cupcake genius,” Wren added.

  “Really?” His eyebrows went up as he nodded in appreciation. “Well, Kate, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Tim.”

  “Hi.” Kate smiled. “So what can we get you?”

  “Hmm.” He made a show of inspecting the case. “Well, I guess that all depends,” he said, looking up at her again.

  “Depends on what?”

  “On you telling me which cupcake comes with your number,” he replied with a winning smile.

  Kate opened her mouth, but Wren beat her to the punch. “They all do,” she chimed.

  “Great!” Tim rubbed his hands together. “Well, I’ll leave the choice up to you, Kate.”

  “Take a seat, Tim,” Kate managed. “And Wren will be out with the coffee.”

  “Thanks.” He flashed another smile before moving off toward a table.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Kate hissed at Wren.

  “Trying to help you out,” Wren replied in an undertone, scooping out a cupcake and putting it on a plate, before picking it up and grabbing the coffee. “Because sometimes life’s just too short to dawdle over shit like this.” With that, she sailed out into the store.

  By the time Wren returned to the counter, Kate was serving someone else. Emily returned with some more cups and paused to exchange a glance with Wren.

  “Wow,” Emily whispered. “She’s looking pissed. What did you do?”

  Wren gave Emily a sly grin. “Relax, Toots. The love doctor is in town.”

  Emily looked out to where Tim was enjoying his snack, all the while keeping a very appreciative gaze on Kate.

  “Him?” she said in a voice that radiated disbelief.

  “Yup, but only for now.”

  Emily looked at Wren in askance. “Are you sure?”

  “Positive. Trust me.”

  Tim left an hour later, and Kate glared at Wren who cleaned up his table. As Wren got back to the coffee machine, Kate sauntered over. “Nice try, Wren, but he didn’t get my number,” she taunted.

  “That’s okay. I traded numbers with him on your behalf,” Wren said in a flippant tone, walking into the kitchen and leaving Kate blinking in surprise in her wake.

  “Hey, boss,” Wren began later when there was a lull. “I couldn’t help but notice that you were having a very cozy little chat with Galahad yesterday before Paul came in,” Wren said in an arch tone. “It looked like the two of you were getting along.”

  “Who?” Kate looked puzzled.

  Wren rolled her eyes, snapping the suspenders she was wearing over her polka dot T-shirt in irritation. “Will you just try to work with me for maybe a minute?”

  “Well, give me a clue,” Kate replied.

  “Curly hair, tall, jaw line that just begs to be kissed, hazel eyes, kinda shy, the two of you were holding hands,” Wren recited, ticking the items off on her fingers.

  Kate stared at her for a moment before comprehension dawned. “Shy? You mean Michael?”

  “Yes,” Wren said with relief. “Thank God, we’ve got a name. Emily and I have been watching him for a few weeks now, but you’re the only one he really wants to talk to.”

  “Really?” Kate looked surprised and flattered as she kept cleaning the counter.

  “Uh-huh,” Wren replied, watching the slight flush creeping up Kate’s neck. Come on, little fishy. “The two of you seem to have struck up a nice little friendship.”

  “Mmmph,” Kate grunted and kept working.

  “And then there was Tim today. What did you think of him?”

  “Well, he seems like a nice guy,” Kate allowed.

  Wren stared. “Nice? Is that all you’ve got to say?”

  “Yup.” Kate kept cleaning. Her back was to Wren, so the other woman didn’t see her lips tightening.

  “Well, I would have thought you could say something better than just nice.”

  Kate turned around, resting one hand on her hip and brushing her hair off her face with the other. “Hell, Wren, what else do you want me to say?” Kate was getting angry now, and this was a rare thing.

  “I …” Wren was shocked into silence, also a rare thing.

  Kate sighed and leaned against the counter looking weary. “Wren, you know today has been really hard for me, the shop has been busy, and if you don’t mind, I’d rather not end it with a lecture about my love life or—” she held up a warning finger as Wren made as if to speak, “—the lack thereof. Get it?”

  Wren closed her mouth with a snap. “Got it,” she managed.

  “Good.”

  Kate regarded her for a moment, then turned and slung the dishcloth over one shoulder as she started to unload the dishwasher. “Do me a favor,” she said as she collected some stainless steel mixing bowls. “Go out, have a few drinks, have a great time, and get laid.”

  “That’s an official directive, to get laid?” Wren said.

  “Someone around here has to.” Kate shrugged, stacking the bowls with muted clangs.

  The kitchen was quiet for a moment, save for the sounds of dishes and cutlery as Kate unloaded and stacked things away.

  “Boss,” Wren ventured after a pause. “You know I only nag you because—”

  “You care,” Kate interrupted and gave her a tired smile. “I know.”

  “So, we’re cool?” Wren said this in a timid voice, and Kate looked at her in surprise.

  “Oh, honey.” She crossed to her and gave her a hug. “You know we are. I guess I’m just a bit fragile from yesterday is all.”

  “I know, and I shouldn’t have pushed,” Wren admitted in a small voice.

  Kate gave her another squeeze, and then stepped back, her hands on Wren’s shoulders. “Look, I’ll make a deal with you,” Kate said in a careful tone. “If I go out on a date with someone, will it get you off my back?”

  “Sure,” Wren said.

  “Really?” Kate raised an e
yebrow.

  “Well,” Wren hedged, “maybe a bit.”

  “That’s good enough for me,” Kate agreed. “Now get outta here.”

  After another hug, Wren left a few minutes later. Kate kept working, trying to ignore the scrap of paper that Wren had stuck to the refrigerator door. A number with the name “Tim” scrawled above it in big letters.

  She finished cleaning and slowly walked toward the refrigerator and removed the scrap of paper. Maybe Paul had a point. They both ought to do something with their lives. She sighed and, after a long moment, reached for the phone. She closed her eyes, deep in thought, then in a decisive movement, punched in the numbers and waited for the call to go through.

  “Hi. Is this Tim?” She listened to the happy affirmative. “Um, it’s Kate, from the bakery … I got your number this afternoon …”

  ~~~

  Michael scrubbed at his stubble with one hand as he gazed at his computer screen before leaning back in his chair for a stretch. The combination of a late night, waking up in a strange bed, and the resulting hangover had made for a very unproductive day. Hours later, he found he had accomplished nothing other than a very awkward conversation at three a.m. and three written sentences at best. He sighed and looked at the screen again. Still the same sentence as before: A laugh that lights up the room, and a smile that can’t help but create another. The hour was late, but he could still hear plenty of activity outside. People were enjoying evening strolls, and traffic was still moving. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, so why wasn’t he? He scratched his chin again, idly wondering what Kate did when she wasn’t at work.

  ~~~

  Kate wasn’t used to calling guys to arrange a date, but the pleasure in Tim’s voice when she had taken him up on his earlier offer made her feel better. They had arranged a place to meet and he had been waiting for her with a ready smile. It had been a long day at work and so one glass of wine had lead to more before Kate had thrown caution to the wind and ordered a Cosmopolitan.

  “Looks like you enjoy a Cosmo,” Tim commented as she downed two in quick succession.

  Kate nodded. It wasn’t often she drank, but when she did she generally made a night of it. “If I could get these things in a sippy cup, I’d be a happy girl,” she said carelessly, reaching for the glass as Tim laughed.