“No, um …” I let my words rush out in a ramble. “I need to reschedule our date. I know you’re going to think I’m doing this on purpose, but I promise I’m not. I’m really stressed about my current event at The Cedar Lodge—more stressed than I normally am about these things, and there’s no way I’ll be done in time to go out with you so thanks for understanding.” I ended the call and turned off my phone, so he couldn’t call me back.
Returning to the kitchen, I prepped the counters for the batch of cupcakes I was best known for, cupcakes that were completely unworthy of being made for this bullshit event.
Double honey fudge “BFF” cupcakes.
“Sarah? Lori?” I called out once I finished mixing the batter. “Can you two handle fixing these up for me? I need to be alone for a few minutes.”
“Of course, Miss Ryan.” “Absolutely.”
I walked to the other side of the kitchen, right into the oversized pantry and shut the door.
I sent my sister a long series of “WTF” text messages, knowing she wouldn’t see them until later tonight, but it didn’t calm me in the slightest.
You can finish this event, Christina. You can finish this.
Several minutes later, the door to the pantry opened, and I held back a groan.
“Give me a few more minutes, guys,” I said. “I’ll check on everything in fifteen.”
The door opened a bit wider, and Nathan stepped inside.
“You didn’t give me a chance to respond to what you said over the phone.” He shut the door.
“I didn’t think there was anything for you to say.”
“I beg to differ.” He stepped closer, looking sexier than ever in a white T-shirt and dark jeans. “What exactly are you stressed about?”
“A certain police officer stalking me.”
“I was down the street,” he said, looking genuine. “I was planning to ask a follow-up question over the phone, but you hung up in my face.” He leaned forward and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, instantly setting all of my nerves on fire. “Between you doing that, abandoning me on the first date, standing me up for the second, and now rescheduling, I’m starting to think this attraction is one-sided.”
“That may be true.”
“I doubt it.” He tilted my chin up with his fingertips. “Tell me why you’re stressed.”
“This event is for my ex-best friend and ex-boyfriend who are together now,” I said. “They booked it under a different company name and made all their requests via email, so I was blind-sided the second I got here.” I paused, unsure of why my heart was beating like it was about to jump out of my chest. “They’ve been rude as hell to me since this started, and I know they’re doing it on purpose. Only half of my staff is here today, since the rest are starting their holiday vacations, and I’m a full hour behind the serving schedule. I’m never behind schedule.”
“Is that it?”
“No.” I sighed.
“What else?”
“I have another party tomorrow night—the Cedar Falls Festival, and my staff will be even shorter.” I shook my head. “Not to mention the fact that I’ll need to prep a few things here for that party if I want to make up for the lost hour.”
“So, that’s it?”
“Yes.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “That is it. Are you about to tell me to breathe, and that everything is going to be just fine?”
“No.” He smiled. “I wasn’t going to say anything.” He pressed his lips against mine, catching me off guard with a long, passionate kiss. A kiss that made me forget every other kiss that came before it.
I couldn’t focus on anything work-related anymore, just the feel of his tongue slowly sliding against mine. The feel of his hands running up and down my sides.
Shutting my eyes, I moaned as he pinned me against the wall with his hips, as he gently bit down on my bottom lip.
“Shhh…” He slid his hand under my dress, pausing when he felt my stockings. He let out a low laugh against my mouth, and then I heard the sound of them tearing. Before I could react, he slipped his hand under the thin band of my lace panties and ripped them off.
I opened my eyes when his lips briefly left mine, catching sight of him stuffing the panties into his back pocket.
Breathless, I tried to speak, but he covered my mouth with his again, kissing me even harder than before and making me lose my train of thought.
Whispering words I couldn’t understand, he pressed his hand against my stomach and slowly slid it lower.
“Ahhhh….” I moaned as his thumb pressed against my soaking wet clit, as he began rubbing it in a slow and tortuous rhythm. “Fuck…”
He silenced me with another bite of my bottom lip, and I looked into his eyes as he slipped a finger deep inside of me.