Page 27 of Deadly Obsession

He scratched his fingertips across his jaw. “I don’t know. You seem jealous.”

“I amnotjealous. I’m sure you’ve spent plenty of time getting your dick wet since finding out about our unhappy union.” She ignored him when his eyes narrowed on her face. “Which reminds me. You should probably get tested and try to restrain yourself before the wedding.”

Before Aidan could speak, the man pushed a cart up next to the table and set silverware, napkins, and glasses of water in front of them.

“These are our most popular flavors,” he said. “But if you want to try any other combinations, let me know, and I’d be happy to make you a sample. And if you have any questions, just give a shout.”

When they were alone again, she reached for a piece of chocolate cake, pretending not to notice how Aidan was staring at her even though it had butterflies doing somersaults in her stomach.

“Chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream and raspberry filling.” She read from the card next to the slice, jerking back when his fork shot out and smacked hers away with a metallic clunk. “What are you doing?”

“Get tested for what, exactly?”

Viv blinked. “I know the nuns don’t give a thorough sex education, but surely they talked about STIs.”

He dropped his fork on the plate and slid it away from her across the table. “I do not have an STI.”

“This is not a personal indictment of your very active sex life, Callahan. But considering condoms are not an option for us, I would appreciate a little consideration on your part.”

She reached for the cake, scowling when he knocked her fork away again and took a big bite.

“You see this?" she said, gesturing to him with her fork. “This is you ruining the cake tasting for me.”

“You just accused me of having a venereal disease,” he replied.

Viv lifted another piece of cake off the cart and sighed loudly. “I did not. I merely said you should do the smart thing and get tested. I did when I went off birth control.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Having a lot of sex?”

“A topic that is hardly any of your business.” She took a bite of the lemon chiffon cake and nearly groaned at the sharp tang of citrus. Lemon was the superior cake flavor.

“And yet here you are assuming I have herpes or something.”

“You are so dramatic. Try this one.” She pushed the lemon cake to him and reached for the red velvet. “Oh my God. Never tell my mother, but this is the best red velvet cake I’ve ever had.”

“Does your mother have a monopoly on red velvet cake?”

“She considers it her specialty, and it's one of our best sellers at the bakery. What?" she asked when his brows drew together.

“I forgot your family owned a bakery. Why aren’t they making your cake?”

The fact that he said your cake and not our cake didn’t escape her, but the quick stab of hurt irritated her, so she brushed it away.

“It’s a lot of pressure. If we were going to ask someone from Romano’s to make it, my mother and probably my sister and maybe my sister-in-law would insist on helping, and then it would be a whole thing. This makes it easier.”

“And it means you get more of a say.”

She licked frosting off her finger and grinned. “Exactly.”

He slowly slid the chocolate cake back across the table and took the red velvet. “Red velvet is my favorite.”

She silently ticked the box for the top tier to be red velvet. “What about the lemon?”

It wasn’t the silent, indulgent cake tasting she’d imagined, but they managed to pick the last three flavors without too much bickering, and the man behind the counter even boxed up the remaining slices for her to take home. Cake heaven.

Viv moved to the door while she waited for Aidan to adjust the collar of his jacket, studying the cakes in the front window. Paulie could probably recreate some of those for the wedding and special occasion cakes they sometimes made. She’d have to try and sketch some of them up for him.

“You would think working in a bakery would make you hate dessert, but—”

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