Total pages in book: 183
Estimated words: 174715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 874(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 874(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
“We have a problem,” she announces, stopping in front of us, her attire of jeans and a T-shirt making it clear that she hasn’t had time to change. “The catering company had a fire,” she continues. “They cancelled hours ago.”
“What?” Cat exclaims. “Why didn’t you call us?”
“Because I thought I had it handled,” Maria says, pressing her hand to her forehead, “and I handle worse than this most weeks.”
“Oh my God,” Cat breaths out, turning to Reese. “Oh my God.”
“Don’t panic,” Maria says, quickly. “I should have prefaced that statement by saying it’s handled. Somehow. Le Rue, the restaurant we all adore down the road, agreed to save us, but they showed up with no sweets and no coffee. We really need some kind of sweets.”
“I’ll help make phone calls,” Cat says. “Someone can help.”
“Time is an issue,” I say. “Do we have the champagne we ordered?”
“Yes,” Maria confirms. “All is well on that end.”
“We’re boozing people up and feeding them, then,” I reply. “Call it good.”
“Agreed,” Reese says. “How many of the partners are here?”
“Most of them,” Maria says. “But none of them know there’s a problem. I didn’t want to deal with them and this at the same time.”
“No food was a problem,” I say. “Skipping dessert and coffee is not a problem. Your job is done and done well, as always.”
“Again, I agree,” Reese chimes in. “Cat and I can manage the masses, Maria,” he adds, slipping his arm around Cat’s shoulder. “You go take a breather and change clothes. We’ll toast your hard work and our future when you get back.”
Cat twists in his arms to face him. “You go manage the masses,” she orders. “I get it. You’re a guy and it doesn’t feel important, but it is. We need dessert and coffee. This is a big event and we have time. It can be a final offering.”
“I think I can handle the coffee and sweets,” Lori offers, reaching inside a small burgundy purse at her hip and removing her phone. “I worked at a coffee shop, remember? The owner also operates a cupcake shop and the cupcakes are amazing. I also happen to know that he mass bakes on Saturday nights for the Sunday and Monday rush.”
“See why I love her?” Cat demands. “She’s amazing.”
“Call me amazing when I get the job done,” Lori says, dismissing the compliment, and eyeing Maria to ask, “How many am I servicing?”
“Two hundred,” Cat says, answering for Maria. “What can I do?”
“Nothing,” Lori replies. “I’ll take over. I’ll handle this.”
The three women go back and forth a minute, or maybe two, before Maria proclaims, “Thank you, Lori,” and hugs her before she darts away.
Lori motions to the rest of us. “All of you go. You have better things to do than manage cupcakes.”
“You’re sure you don’t need me?” Cat asks.
“If I can’t handle cupcakes,” Lori replies, “then someone needs to fire me now.”
“These cupcakes might require a miracle,” Cat says, “but I do want to check out everything else inside. I’ll be back. Or you come find me. Whichever happens first.”
Lori nods, and Cat walks in the other direction. “Hold on, sweetheart,” Reese says, catching up to her, his arm settling around her shoulders, and for the first time in my life, I want to have what they have. I want to pull the woman next to me into my arms. I want to show the damn world she’s mine. I want to make her mine, and the craziest fucking part is that I feel no resistance to the idea.
“I can find you inside, too, Cole,” Lori offers. “I won’t be long.”
“You could find me inside,” I say, turning to face her and reaching for my wallet. “But you need to pay, remember?” I remove my credit card, replace my wallet, and hand her the card.
“Right,” she says, reaching for it.
“Not to mention,” I add, holding the card that she’s now holding, as I add, “You’re with me tonight, remember? Now and later.”
“Quite well,” she assures me, heat whipping and cracking between us that she reacts to the minute I release the card.
She takes a hard step backward, wetting her lips while I indulge in a fantasy that involves her mouth on my cock, or pretty much anywhere on my body. She taps a number on her phone and immediately begins a short conversation that is over without a cupcake order being completed.
“I was right,” she confirms, disconnecting the line. “The shop staff is baking for tomorrow morning. The owner will call me back in a few minutes. I feel good about this working out, but I should try to make calls for backup, just in case.”
The elevator dings and I step to her, catching her elbow. “Come with me,” I say, leading her in the opposite direction from the party.