Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
I hated adorable.
“You don’t know who I am, do you?” I asked. Obviously, Paolo’s instructions hadn’t included my speaking to her. She was fearless, standing in front of me, telling me off. It was captivating.
“A legend in your own mind, obviously. I don’t give a flipping care who you are. The big bad wolf, for all I know. I’m here to finish this job, and I’m not going to let you stop me. Now, go away.” She spun on her heel, picking up the airbrush and tilting her head, studying the cake sculpture and ignoring me.
I stepped closer. “You made this?” I asked quietly, breathing in the scent of vanilla, maple, chocolate, and spice. And something else. Something floral and feminine.
It was her. And once again, I liked it.
She paused, unsure of how to stay angry but still reply. “Yes. I did.”
“All on your own?” I was shocked. It was such a massive undertaking I had assumed an entire group of people worked on it. Not one slip of a woman.
She turned her head, and I saw another smear of icing close to her ear, right next to a dimple I hadn’t noticed. “Yes.”
“Impressive. It is a work of art.”
She blinked, looked at the display, sliding a cupcake into the right position. Her voice and expression softened. “It was meant to be.”
“Did you design it?”
“Yes.”
“And bake it?” I guessed.
She straightened her shoulders and turned to face me. “Yes, I did.”
I lifted her hand, bent, and kissed the knuckles. “It is as beautiful and unique as you are. You should be proud.”
Her mouth opened in surprise. I was shocked how much I wanted to kiss those lips. I had a feeling when not spewing angry words, they would be sweeter than the entire cake and icing sculpture behind her.
But I liked her spitting and enraged.
Keeping my eyes locked with hers, I reached around and grabbed another cupcake. Her eyes widened as I lifted it to my mouth and took a bite. Before she could explode, I pressed my lips to hers.
“Thank you for the snack.”
Then I turned and walked away before I did something stupid like stay and kiss her until she begged me to fuck her right there.
Because I would.
Chapter Two
BRIANNA
The door shut behind the cupcake-stealing stranger, and I let out a muffled shriek of annoyance. I had no idea who he was, who he thought he was, but coming in here and touching the cake display?
Unacceptable.
I peered into the container, satisfied that I had more than enough cupcakes to complete the job. I had baked extra, but still. He’d eaten three. Without asking.
That was just plain rude.
If I saw him later, I would give him a piece of my mind.
I should probably tell him off for kissing me too. And touching my cake. But especially the stolen kiss. That was what I was the most pissed off about.
At least, I thought it was.
I shook my head. I was certain it was.
In the meantime, I needed to finish the cake display so I could drape it and keep it cool and safe.
I tucked some more cupcakes in place, adding icing and airbrushing them to look like the moss covering the table. Some of the larger ones became flowers that dotted the fallen tree stump. Then I positioned the edible pearls and glittering drops that looked like water, scattering them liberally.
I stood back, casting a critical eye over the table. It was magnificent. I clasped my hands together, grinning in delight. I had done it.
I had met Carolina Frost in university. She was in her last year, and I was in my first, although mine was an accelerated course. We were both taking design and had gone to sit at the same table one day when the cafeteria was extra busy and seats were scarce. We shared the table, introduced ourselves, and we became study partners and friends. Her advanced knowledge helped me with some of the classes I was struggling with, and I repaid her with cupcakes when I discovered her sweet tooth. We had two very different lifestyles. Her family was wealthy, she didn’t work, she had a boyfriend, and she was carefree and a nature lover. She was naturally graceful and lovely. People were drawn to her warmth and outgoing personality.
I was broke all the time, worked two jobs to keep my head above water, hated the outdoors with a passion, and had no love life. I had neither the time nor the inclination for a relationship. I was too busy getting myself through school. I was shy and awkward, and crowds bothered me. She was younger than I was since I’d had to work and save up the money to go to school, but that never seemed to matter to her. She was mature and kind, and we liked each other, despite our differences.