Page 15 of Crushes and Confections

“I know exactly what you mean,” she said, nodding, her curls bouncing slightly. “I almost feel like the cafe is my second home.”

“It’s a rare pleasure to find something in life you enjoy doing with your whole heart. I can tell how much passion you have for it, how much it means to you.”

She looked at me then, giving me her full attention. I was wearing my black chef’s coat per usual, which she noted with a twitch of her lush lips.

“Well, you definitely look legit,” she said with a laugh and a faint hint of blush on her cheeks at having been caught. “If the offer for help is still on the table to help me bake I’ll gratefully accept.”

“Oui, chef,” I said with a nod, the blush on her cheeks darkening even further, almost making her freckles disappear.

They reminded me of Vance’s, and the image of the two of them tangled together came to the forefront of my mind much as it had the other night.

“I have a few more bags in the car,” she said, interrupting my not so chaste thoughts.

“How about I go get them while you go try whatever you want in that case you were sizing up?” I offered, thrilled at the prospect of her tasting my craft.

She all but threw her keys at me as she went over to croon at the display case, a sense of pride filling me at her excitement. I retrieved the bags of supplies as quickly as I could, making it back in time to see her walking around to the back of the counter as she slid open the door.

“I don’t know how I’m supposed to pick. They’re literally all mini pieces of art,” she said under her breath.

She grabbed one of the earl grey and lemon macarons, bringing it to her lips and taking a healthy bite. A moan left her lips that had me shifting my stance.

I mostly focused on chocolate, but I was counting my blessings that I had included those as one of the few patisseries I made.

“Good?” I asked, my voice thick with desire.

“So fucking good,” she said, before popping the second piece in her mouth.

As much as my instincts were riding me to push her up against the display case and claim her now, I knew that I couldn’t do that.

I wanted to get to know her.

I needed to trust her.

Well, her and Riley who I still had yet to meet.

His mother and sister had come in the shop a time or two, but the enigmatic man I’d heard so much about never had.

“What kind of chocolate do you prefer?” I asked, walking closer to her.

“What kind of question is that?” she asked seriously. “I can’t pick just one.”

My lips twitched at her response. “Let me suggest one for you?”

“Oh, yes, a recommendation from the chef himself,” she said happily. “But then we need to get to work if I have any hope of making my plans tonight.”

My heart beat faster at her words. Had she decided to come over for dinner with Riley? The last I’d heard from Vance is that she was still on the fence.

“Big plans?” I asked, aware that I was fishing for information.

“Dinner,” she said. “A semi-quasi important dinner that I’m half terrified and half excited about.”

“Are you always so transparent with others?” I asked curiously, joining her behind the display case as I took out a tiramisu truffle.

“More or less,” she said with a shrug as she accepted the truffle. “Although it could be some of the residual adrenaline running through my body.”

Watching her consume the chocolate, the little sighs and moans had me using all my strength to pick up the bags and move them back into the kitchen.

She followed after me, her eyes taking in the set up. I had the ovens all preheated and staples ready to go just in case she needed them.

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