Page 3 of Pulling Heartstrings

“I don’t need to. You’re obviously talented, I could tell that from the wedding cake. But seeing how passionate you are about cooking, that’s exactly what I’m looking for.” Her cheeks flush, and she stares down at her hands as I scoop up a bite of pie. When I hum appreciatively, her eyes lock with mine.

“Do you like it?”

“I’ve never had anything so sweet.” The words are out of my mouth, and I realize it might sound like it’s not right. “It’s perfect,” I correct, and I see her smile widen.

“So what kind of event is it?”

“It’s for Valentine’s,” I hedge, taking a bite of a chocolate tart. “It’s a big party, so I’ll need a cake.”

“I love making cakes. What kind are you thinking?”

“What’s your favorite?” I moan when I taste the chocolate, and she preens.

“I love strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting, but it’s your party; you should pick what you want.”

“I think strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting sounds like the perfect cake.”

“Really?”

I nod and eat something else that’s got caramel and apples in it. It’s so good I keep eating until it’s gone.

“Can you make me another box like this right now in my kitchen?”

She laughs like I’m joking, but when I don’t laugh with her, she sobers. “Are you serious?”

“Do I want to eat your treats all day?” My smile is slow and steady as I look her up and down. “Yes, I’m serious.”

Chapter Three

ASTRID

Those eyes. They’re driving me crazy. The more I stare into them, the more I’m sure they’re Austin’s. Could they be related? The idea of that being possible has mixed emotions running through me.

Q’s eyes never leave me as I flit around his impressive kitchen, making him more sweets. This place is a piece of art if you ask me, and if someone could have plucked the perfect commercial kitchen layout from my mind, this would be it.

“I can’t believe you have a whole area for desserts.” The massive kitchen is split up into two sections next to each other, and he has a whole other space for baking.

“I want to have an entire dessert menu in the future, not only a handful of items. I knew the chef would need their own area, and I planned for that.”

“It’s a dream space,” I admit, wanting this job more and more by the second.

“I was actually thinking about having a dessert appetizer menu too.” I jerk my head up to gape at him. “What?” He smirks, and I swear it’s a knowing one.

“Nothing, it’s an idea I actually tossed around with a friend of mine. That restaurants should put a few sweets on the appetizer menu. Nothing sparks hunger like sugar.”

“I couldn't agree more. We always serve bread at the start too. Normally it’s a brown and white bread, but what if we served one sweet bread and one white?”

“Like a pandoro!” I squeal too loudly, and heat rushes to my cheeks. Oh my gosh. What is wrong with me? I need to act like an adult and not an excited child.

“Pandoro.” Q moans the word, his eyes closing like he’s savoring it.

The heat that rushed to my face shifts throughout my body as I watch him. Since I’d walked in the door to his restaurant, I’ve sensed something bubbling up between us. I keep telling myself I’m losing my mind. No way this man is into me that way. Not only because this is Q, but because my heart is supposed to belong to Cupid. I can’t be flirting and sending out mixed signals. Not that I know how to flirt…unless spilling drinks on people is flirting.

Cupid might not want your heart, my stupid brain reminds me, and it’s not like Q is going to want it either. I have to stop talking to myself in my head.

“I love powdered sugar,” I blurt out. There. That’s something I can claim to love easily, and it loves me back too. Especially my hips.

“I’m shocked.” Q pushes off the wall he’s leaning against and clears the space between us. He’s taken off his suit jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his button-up shirt. I watch transfixed as his eyes lock with mine. My breath hitches when he lifts his hand and his thumb swipes across my cheek. When he pulls it back, I see a trace of white powder there.

---