“I’m sure when it’s the right time, the perfect opportunity will come up.”
I take one last look at the shop, knowing that although my dream to open a bakery one day is alive and well, the wish to open my shop on Main Street might not ever happen.
Cal lifts my chin up. “When you’re ready one day, I’d love to be there to cheer you on.”
Everything in me wants to believe him, yet I can’t deny the kernel of doubt growing within my gut.
He may not even be here one day.
I want to ask him more about what he means, but Cami chucks her stuffed animal onto my lap.
“Here, Mommy. Lamby always helps me when I’m sad.”
“Thank you, baby.” My voice is thick with emotion. I press Lamby against my chest and squeeze him so hard, I’m afraid his stuffing might burst.
Cal continues answering Cami’s questions about Dreamland while I drive home. I can feel Cal’s eyes occasionally sweeping over me, but I pretend not to notice as I focus on the road.
At some point during the short drive, Cal places his hand on my thigh. The weight of his palm comforts me, and before I have a chance to stop myself, I grasp his hand and interlock our fingers.
For the first time since Cal showed up, I’m not scared, angry, or irritated by his presence.
I’m grateful for it.
After we return from the grocery store, Cal goes out of his way to give me space. It’s as if he knows I might break down if he asks a single question about the bakery. He spares me a few glances throughout the night, but I focus on pouring my heart out through baking rather than talking to him about it.
I pull out my shiny new mixer while Cami drags him into a fake tea party with her Dreamland dolls. As much as I wish I could protect Cami from getting attached, I’m unable to pull her away from Cal. The connection they have is special. It might be a lost cause, but I’m hoping once he moves away again that he will be up for visiting Lake Wisteria solely for Cami’s sake.
And yours too.
The thought of Cal leaving makes my chest ache, so I push it away and get back to baking. Cal keeps Cami entertained the entire time I make his favorite dessert, as I promised when he bought the mixer.
He is an easy guy to please. His favorite sweet happens to be snickerdoodle cookies, although I haven’t figured out why. Out of all the things I can bake, this one seems so simple.
While working on rolling the dough in the cinnamon-sugar mix, I find myself getting lost in Cami and Cal’s pretend play. I even laugh a couple of times when Cal slips into a British accent to match the princess from England. For someone who despises Dreamland and everything Kane-related, he sure knows a lot about the characters. He can even sing the songs, which is both hot and oddly impressive.
“Only one or else you’ll spoil your appetite before dinner.” I give Cami a look as I drop off a plate of fresh cookies for the tea party.
Cal bats his lashes at me. “What about me?”
“What’s the point of saying anything? You always were a fan of having dessert before dinner anyway.”
“Only because you were on the menu.” He winks.
This man is the Devil.
He takes a bite of the cookie and lets out a mix of a groan and moan. It’s the hottest sound ever, and heat pools in my belly from it and the way his eyes shut. He was always the type to savor things.
Sweets. Drinks.Me.
The last thought triggers a memory of Cal tucked between my legs, his tongue and fingers working in tandem to make me come. My lower half throbs.
You need to get laid.
By what? A vibrator?
Huh. Now that’s an idea.
Although I won’t be able to make all my problems go away permanently, I wouldn’t mind trying to take some of the edge off tonight. At this point, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep the fantasy of Cal between my legs from becoming a reality.