Page 20 of Bound By Temptation

No. Literally, I had to run to the bathroom in Ax’s parents’ house because I was leaking. He was one scary motherfucker!

“What can I do for ya?” I asked leaning into the glass case.

“My little girl is turning sixteen,” Tanner said. “And I was hoping you could help me out with a cake.”

My head nodded automatically. “Yep. That I can do. When do you need it by?”

Tanner winced. “That’s the thing. I need it Saturday.”

Shit. Saturday would only give me four days to get it done, and I still had to finish the dino.

“What do you want exactly?” I asked hesitantly.

“A Barbie car,” Tanner said with a wide grin on her face. “Hot pink convertible driving down the road with my girl sitting in the driver’s seat.”

That could be fun to make, but time. “I…”

Tanner held up one finger. “And four Harley’s following behind her on the road.”

A laugh bubbled out from my lips. Oh my, her little girl was in trouble. License or not, she wasn’t going to get much privacy.

Stopping myself from laughing, I told Tanner honestly. “I don’t know if I can get it perfect in that amount of time.” I took a lot of pride in my work and wanted it to be perfect.

Bella leaned in closer and asked, “How about we pay double? Could you get it in then?”

“It’s not about money. While I’m grateful for it, I just don’t know. One sec.” I moved to the back and grabbed the order form clipboard we had hanging on the wall. We had some steady orders and two flat cakes with nothing too elaborate due.

If I moved some things around, I could get the two flat ones done with ease in a couple of hours. The dinosaur was really close to being finished.

I’d have to bust my ass to get this cake the way I’d want it.

But this was Bella. I really couldn’t say no to her. There’d be some long nights, but I could do it.

Walking back to the couple, I smiled wide. “Of course. I’ll get right on it.”

“Seriously? You’ll be able to do it?” Tanner asked excitedly.

“Yeah.” I wasn’t going to tell them I’d probably be up until midnight and up at five for the next few days, but I’d make this work.

“Perfect. Saturday at the clubhouse. We need you to bring it there. Do you know where that is?”

My stomach fell to my feet. The clubhouse. I’d been there once, and it wasn’t the best experience.

“Yeah.I know where it is. What time?” I asked, not wanting to go anywhere near that place in fear of seeing her son, but I’d walk through hot coals for Bella.

“Can you have it set up by three? We’re surprising her with a party.”

“What’s her name?”

“Mazie. The big sixteen. Her father is losing his shit.” She laughed as if this were a good thing. To me, I’d want to run for the hills.

“Okay, let’s sit down for a minute and you tell me what you’re thinking, and I’ll see what I can draw up.”

“You draw all of your cakes?” Bella asked. She didn’t know much about my life now it seemed. Understandable.

“Yes. Every one of them. I have a book.”

“Let’s see it!” Bella said as she and Tanner took a seat at the table.

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