Jake rubbed his thumb over her jaw line. “I feel like I could stay here with you and cream butter and sugar forever and be completely happy.”
“See, I told you you'd learn something. Creaming butter and sugar.”
His mouth turned down in a frown.
Not a time for jokes, Liv.
She slid down from the counter and made her way over to where her clothes were piled on the floor.
“Where are you going?” Jake said as he sat up. Icing cracked on his skin and fell off his body to the floor.
She pulled on her clothes, tugging them over her skin as the dried icing prevented them from sliding gently onto her body.
“I'm sorry. I don't know why I crack jokes.”
He stood and walked to where she tried to tug her shirt over her sticky skin. She admired his body, still magnificent even covered in goop.
“You were being honest and I—”
He pulled her into his embrace from behind and Liv sighed, his gentle touch exactly what she needed to get out her next words.
“Jake?”
“Yeah, gorgeous?”
He was honest. It was time for her to do the same. She took a deep breath, and laid her cards on the table.
“Creaming butter and sugar forever was already my plan, but never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would…” She turned in his arms and looked up to meet his gaze. “This weekend, you were the fantasy I've read about. This is all so…” A soft sigh escaped her lips. “It's pleasantly surprising.”
He was so easy, so comfortable, so safe. In his arms, she could accomplish her heart's desire. In his arms, she was home. And now that she'd found it, the logical thing to do was to keep it at a distance.
The bakery was her dream, and the appearance of a possible knight in shining armor wouldn't deter her from achieving every goal she'd ever set.
He leaned in and laid a soft kiss against her forehead. He mumbled, “So what do you say we clean this place up and get out of here?” He kissed the top of her head. “I have my own surprise.”
Chapter Fifteen
The DownTown art gallery was one of Jake's favorite spots in the city. Every fourth Sunday evening it opened its doors to the public, and he was usually the first in line. He was willing to miss this weekend for Liv, preferring to spend the time getting to know her better. But why not show her a small glimpse of the man behind the player she thought he was? He was going
to turn the tables on her, and hopefully it would be enough to keep her.
They had stopped by his condo on the way, but he didn't invite her up. Too much, too soon. He didn't want to scare her away.
Liv stopped at the front window and looked up at the gallery's signage. “This is not what I thought we'd be doing tonight.”
“Players can't be art lovers?” Jake chuckled.
“You're nothing like I expected,” she said as she placed her arms across her chest. Her expression gave away the fact that she was shocked to hell.
“Come on, cupcake. Welcome to my world.” He grabbed her arm and motioned her forward, leading her into the modern space.
The walls of the gallery were dark gray, a matte color so as not to distract from the art that hung on the walls. Groups of people mingled around the room. Some gathered around framed pictures, some around the sculpture displayed in the middle, but they all had that scrutinizing eye that Jake feared.
He scanned the room, on the lookout for people he knew. He needed to make sure to get Liv to his photos before anyone else had the chance to spill the beans. This was his night. His chance to make her realize he was more than meets the eye.
“Jake, my darling.” A whimsical voice, attached to an eccentric woman, approached. “You're late.”
Jake tensed. “Hello, Ani.”