Page 17 of Anti Player

“I don’t know why you’re laughing.” He grins.

“Okay, fine, we need to place the batter in these pans here and then make the frosting,” I explain.

While I pour some batter into one pan, Kaleb does the next one. Then he passes me the ingredients I ask for so we can make frosting. It really is funny how he knows his way around my brother’s kitchen so well.

When we mix the butter, powdered sugar, cream, and fresh vanilla bean extract together, I tell him to take a taste.

“How?” he says.

“Swipe your finger inside. Just don’t double dip,” I tell him.

“I’m not the kind of guy to double dip,” he replies, and my lady parts get warm. Kaleb has always been the nice guy but since I saw him last he’s turned into an Adonis. If I didn’t know about his virginal status, I would think he was with many women. “I also don’t want to get my fingers sticky.”

“I can’t believe you said that.” I laugh. When we were young, he never liked to get his hands dirty. If there was a sticky fruit my mom cut, Kaleb would pass or ask for a fork. It was a funny quirk. I dip my own finger in the frosting and offer it to him. Big mistake, because when his mouth wraps around my finger and he sucks and I feel his warm tongue, my body turns to fire. Oureyes lock and it’s like recognition strikes him, or I’m not sure what happens, but his slow movement turns fast and he’s pulling away and licking his lips.

“That is delicious,” he says, taking a few steps back.

“What’s going on here?” Brett’s voice booms from behind me. I didn’t hear my brother come home.

“Nothing, I was making a cake and Kaleb was hungry and raided your fridge,” I say to my brother holding my tone even, which is a task with the way my heart accelerated from having my finger in Kaleb’s mouth.

“Bardot, go get dressed. Why are you here shirtless?” Brett chides Kaleb.

“I always come over like this,” Kaleb reminds.

“Yeah, well, now I got houseguests. Go get some clothes on,” Brett demands. He just came back from a workout by the looks of it.

“Did Asher get to camp okay?” I ask Brett.

“He wasn’t so happy when I first dropped him off, but then the counselor took him over to some kids and he seemed okay,” Brett says.

I nod.

“Why, is he having trouble making friends?” The question comes from Kaleb.

I move my head from side to side. “Kind of.”

“You could bring him to my hockey camp tomorrow. There will be kids there his age,” Kaleb offers.

“That’s nice but I committed to work a bat mitzvah tomorrow afternoon,” I say.

“A bat mitzvah?” Brett questions.

“I got the job working in the kitchen today. They also need waitstaff for events and I figured you’re off right now and I could use the money, so I told them I’d serve too,” I explain.

My brother blows out an exasperated breath and gives me a pointed look. I return his look with one that is just as pointed that says, “Don’t push this now in front of Kaleb.” Thankfully, my brother drops it.

“I can take Asher with me,” Kaleb offers.

“Thanks, but he doesn’t really know you, no offense. I don’t know if he’ll want to go,” I say. Damn, it is super sweet of him to offer though.

“I’ll be there too. Asher can come with us. It’ll be good for him,” Brett offers.

“Okay.” I nod.

“I’m going to shower,” Brett announces. “Bardot, get out of here and put on a shirt.”

I laugh and Kaleb laughs too. It’s easy to be around him. He reminds me of the good parts of my childhood.

---