Page 66 of The Incubus's Angel
I drag my chair around the table to sit next to her and we feed each other bites while sharing small touches, my tail seemingly unable to leave her alone for a second.
When we’re done, I pull her into my lap and press small kisses to her neck, nuzzling the soft skin there.
Running a finger across my bare torso, Maisie maps my muscles. “So, last night was amazing. This morning was amazing. You’re amazing. And I’m super grateful for everything. But, if I recall correctly, you mentioned something about a surprise?”
There’s been so much giggling and smiling and staring and chatting that I almost forgot to show Maisie what I’ve been working on over the last couple of weeks.
“Yes! Sorry. I seem to be a little distracted this morning. Let’s go to my computer.” I help her up and we pad over to my desk on the other side of the cottage. Lowering myself into my chair in front of the computer, I pull Maisie down into my lap before switching everything on.
My heart rate ratchets up and my palms suddenly feel clammy. Maisie doesn’t have to agree to anything or like anything I did, it’s just an option, but I’m still worried that I might have overstepped.
I hover the cursor over the window that’ll reveal it all, and swallow against the nerves stuck in my throat. “Uhm, I just have to preface this by saying that it’s okay if you don’t like it, or don’t want it. I just… I want…”
I take a steadying breath and Maisie turns toward me, her brow pulled low as she cradles my face between her hands.
“Ren,” she says gently. “You know me better than anyone else in the world. And I know that whatever you want to show me, was done with love. I can wholeheartedly guarantee that I’ll like it.”
Releasing a breath and all my tension along with it, I say, “I love you. And this is just an option.”
My hand flexes on Maisie’s thigh as she turns back to the computer and clicks on the icon. Maisie gasps as the unpublished website for The Tangerine Grove Cakery appears on the screen, showing all of her cakes since arriving in Starry Hill.
She takes the mouse and scrolls down, pausing on the pictures I took of her tangerine cake on our first picnic and reading the description with one hand pressed to her chest and her chin quivering with emotion. She goes through the next few cakes and stops on yesterday’s masterpiece and the numerous pictures I took from each angle.
Silently, I direct her to the tab that says, “Reviews,” and tears start rolling down her cheeks as she reads quotes from many of Starry Hill’s residents.
“When? How?” she whispers shakily.
I wipe at her tears and explain, “I know how passionate you are about cakes, so I researched ways to turn that into a business. I went around the whole island and got reviews from everyone who has ever tasted your cakes to write something about them. Doc Calla has also found potential customers who’d like a cake consultation for special events coming up. You met some of them last night—The Cape Easton guests. I’ve also spoken to Beck and Viggo and we’ve figured out a system to transport your cakes to Cape Easton safely so they stay fresh and stable the entire time.” I clear my throat and continue, “Unfortunately, there isn’t a shop available on the hill to run a bakery from at the moment, but Richard and Annamae said you’re welcome to use their kitchen at The Flowering Teapot and of course, you can use our kitchen too. Bodin said he can build a large baker’s table for you and install a bigger oven. Oh, and he can help extend the cottage if you need more room. Or we can convert my office—”
Maisie throws her arms around my neck and smacks a kiss on my lips. Her body trembles with emotion as she rests her forehead against mine. I hold her, tracing soothing touches up and down her back as she processes everything I’ve told her.
Leaning back, Maisie looks at me with wide, watery eyes. “When did you do this? How?”
Wiping at her warm tears, I confess, “I started after the picnic. When you asked me to keep you, I vowed that I would. I just had to find a way to make you truly happy being here too.”
Maisie shakes her head. “I would’ve stayed with you regardless. Being with you makes me happy.”
A small smile pulls at my mouth. “I realized that, but I wanted you to feel fulfilled too.”
Slightly arching a brow, Maisie asks, “Will it be too corny to say you fulfill me?”
I chuckle. “Not corny, and I love you for even saying that. But you have a gift that helps make other creatures’ happy days even more special. Your talent deserves to be shared. Do you like the idea?” I ask hesitantly.
Maisie rolls her lips between her teeth and her eyes mist again. “So much,” she rasps. “But I’d want to do it from here, from home. With you close by, if you don’t mind the company.”
Tucking a curl behind her ears, I answer honestly, “I’d like nothing more.”
Maisie rolls her new business’s name around her tongue. “The Tangerine Grove Cakery. It’s absolutely perfect.” She turns her gaze back to the screen, and scrolls through the site, her gaze bouncing all over. “I’ll have to figure out what equipment to order and how to get them here, and storage solutions for all the ingredients I’ll need, and— Oh, fuck, I’ll need to read up on all the regulations and health codes and find ways to make the business legit.”
Pressing a kiss to her shoulder, I say, “One step ahead of you there. I contacted a lawyer one of my coworkers suggested. She said she’d be happy to come out here to meet you and guide you through all the permits and licenses you’d need to start.”
Maisie’s head whips back to me. “You did? How? When? Who?”
My lungs expand with a satisfied breath and my shoulders push back with pride at surprising my angel even more with all my planning. “Yup. Just pick the date. Eleanor is waiting for your call. And Beck will go pick her up.”
Maisie’s jaw drops and she searches my face with her sparkling sage eyes. “Fucking hells, Ren. Just when I thought I couldn’t possibly love you more.”
I smirk and lean back in the chair. “Wait until you hear that I’m going into Cape Easton with you tomorrow to pack up your apartment so you can properly move in.”
