Take the Cake (12 page)

The two men ordered and argued good-naturedly over who was paying. David was about to return to the table when he noticed Michael lingering at the counter. He glanced over to see Michael scrutinizing the cupcake special, and then looking at the woman he had exchanged a smile with earlier. He’d have questions for his friend when they got back to their table.

David leaned forward to read the chalkboard propped up on the counter. Sweet Possibilities, Black Forest Cherry Delight. He looked at the cupcake name, and then at the quietly chatting couple. Interesting. He glanced over at the espresso machine to see that their coffees were ready, and he reached out to take the cups as they were slid across the counter toward him. With a careless smile of thanks, he took them back to the table.

Wren felt indignant. She’d offered Mr. Wonderful a smile, gazing up at him through her eyelashes in a manner that she knew worked well, and yet … nothing. His gaze had flickered across her and he had offered her a smile, a polite smile at best, and then he was gone. What the hell was wrong with her? Better yet, what the hell was wrong with him? Snatching up the dishcloth, she wiped the frothed milk off the steam spigot with quick, angry movements.

As David ordered lunch and headed back to the table where he’d left his newspaper, Michael lingered by the counter with Kate. She’d finished with her customers, waved them off, and then turned to him with a brilliant smile.

“
Bonjour
, Kate,” he greeted her, smiling as the words came easily. “
Comment allez-vous
?”

“
Très bien, merci
,” she replied, and then winked. “But that’s all the French I’ve got.”

“Same,” Michael confessed. “Lucky for us there were subtitles last night.”

Kate laughed and leaned toward him. “Remind me to teach you my foreign language game sometime,” she suggested, enjoying the way Michael’s face lit with curiosity. “I think you’ll like it.”

“You’re on,” Michael answered. Standing in front of her, he knew he was already looking forward to seeing her again.

“Have you ordered?”

“Uh.” Michael was distracted by her smile, and looked over at Wren who nodded, holding up two laden plates in silent answer. “Yes, we have.”

“Oh.” Kate seemed a little disappointed at the prospect of their conversation running short. “Well, I’ll send over dessert for you later.”

“Only if you join me,” Michael countered, surprised at his easy daring with this woman.

“Then you’ve got a deal,” Kate replied.

“But we still don’t have a date,” Michael said, wondering where his words were coming from. In the past it had been nothing for him to labor for days over a page of dialogue, and yet here he was, tripping over himself to keep talking to a woman whose smile kept him warm.

“No, we don’t,” Kate agreed, “but how about you ask me later? I’ll make it easy for you and let you know in advance that my answer is going to be yes.” She reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ears and stood regarding him with one hand on her hip, her face lit with a smile of easy challenge.

“That’s good to know,” Michael replied, turning from the counter with considerable reluctance as he heard David call his name. “Very good in fact.”

“I’m glad you think so,” Kate replied, glancing over at Wren who stood watching them both at the coffee machine, and she gave an inward sigh. No doubt this conversation was going to be dissected beneath Wren’s loving scrutiny later.

Michael took the plates from Wren with a smile of thanks and strolled toward the table, already feeling satisfied and replete. Setting the plates down on the table, Michael sat and then looked up to see David looking amused. “What?”

“Nothing.” David sipped his coffee.

“Doesn’t look like nothing,” Michael commented as he bit into his bagel and chewed slowly.

“Let’s just say I’m beginning to see the appeal of this place,” David replied, flickering a glance back at the counter to where Wren was serving someone, and then indulging himself in a more leisurely study of her once he had assured himself that she was unaware of his scrutiny.

Michael followed David’s gaze, and then regarded his friend.

“You too?”

“Maybe,” David conceded. “But it’s early days yet.”

“Okay,” Michael said, taking another bite. “So what’s going on at work, anything you can tell me about?”

David sighed and ran a frustrated hand through his hair, making his blond hair stand up in uneven spikes. He looked, Michael realized, tired and uncertain, which was unusual for him.

“How much time you got, Forrester?”

“All the time you need.”

Kate smiled as her latest customers left and put the bills in the till, bumping the drawer shut with her hip. She stood and surveyed the store with satisfaction. Business had been at a steady pace for the morning. All of the tables were occupied and people were laughing and talking over their meals. Others had finished and were now giving the cupcake cabinet speculative looks that she knew would lead to buying. Everyone looked happy and content, and Kate gave a sigh of satisfaction, knowing that in some small way she had contributed toward it.

She glanced over to where Michael was sitting and watched him as he talked to his friend. He was leaning forward on his elbows, his shoulders hunched as he listened to his friend speak. He had a languid feline grace and he listened with an intensity that suggested a long friendship.

His friend was still talking, occasionally waving his hand as he made a point, and Michael barely said a word. He nodded in encouragement now and then, and it seemed he only spoke when he wanted to clarify something. For the most part he sat and listened, soaking up all the words that were offered to him.

~~~

“Sounds like a good offer,” Michael commented at last, when David’s conversation petered out.

“Yeah,” David sighed.

“And you know your parents would be thrilled,” he added.

David gave him a tired smile.

“Well, I can’t say that I’ve set my life course by what they wanted, but I’ll admit that factor would be a bonus,” he confessed, then slid his elbows forward on the table and propped his head in his hands. “Fuck,” he cursed in a quiet voice. “I’m tired, Michael.”

“Hey.” Michael leaned forward and rested his hand on David’s shoulder. “Can you take some time off?”

“Probably.” David’s voice was muffled.

“Then do it,” Michael suggested. “Come crash at my place if you want. Just get away from the office and have a think about what you want. Life’s too short for this shit. You’ve got to do what makes you happy.”

“Oh, really? That’s your theory?” David looked up at Michael with a cynical expression. “Because I don’t think you’ve been following that advice for the last few months.”

Michael shifted in his seat. David’s words had stung, but it had never been said that the truth would be easy. “True,” he agreed, “but I think we both know my head was too far up my own ass to see straight.”

David looked at him with a straight face for a moment before his mouth quirked into a grin.

“And anyway,” Michael continued, “things are different now.”

“And how,” David replied. “I wouldn’t say you’re a happy camper yet, but you’re at least interacting with the world again. What happened?”

Michael looked over to where Kate stood chatting to the other two women behind the counter. “I guess I got lucky,” he said.

~~~

“Wren, it’s your lucky day.”

“Mmm-hmm?” Wren pulled herself away from her
Vogue
magazine to give Kate an owlish blink. Things had gotten quiet enough for Wren to make herself a quick coffee and flick through her glossy magazine indulgence.

“I should have known better than to disturb you when you’re at your devotions,” Kate said, “but I wanted you to know that I’ve been thinking about what you suggested last week.”

“You’ll have to remind me; we’ve had a few talks since then,” Wren replied, marking her place and flicking the magazine closed.

“The one about us getting a bit more style,” Kate began.

Wren became more interested. “Keep talking,” she said.

“I don’t know what I want, but I’m thinking that you probably have it all mapped out,” Kate went on.

“Uh-huh,” Wren said.

“So, I can either pitch a few ideas at you, then you can do what you want and let me think it was my idea,” Kate continued, “or I can just let you do what you want and love what you come up with.”

The two women regarded each other.

“So what’s your preference?” Wren asked after a pause.

“Well, either way I think the outcome will be the same, so how about you just do your thing.”

A slow smile began to appear on Wren’s face. “Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this moment?”

“Probably about as long as you’ve worked here,” Kate supplied.

“You’d be right,” Wren agreed. “So how far can I go?”

“I’m thinking whatever you come up with has to be machine washable, or able to withstand the occasional splatter in the kitchen,” Kate supplied, “but other than that it’s all up to you.”

“Accessories?” Wren cocked her head.

“Within reason,” Kate allowed, “you know I can’t do frou-frou.” She gestured to herself as an example.

Wren took in Kate’s usual work attire: jeans, Chucks, and a T-shirt. “You mean can’t or won’t?” she asked. Kate had pulled her hair up into a ponytail, and today she had moonstones swinging from her ears. Wren had to admit that Kate had style, and she was blessed with a lovely figure, but surely there had to be a way of showing it off a little more.

Kate sighed and gave Wren a long stare. Wren held up her hands in surrender.

“Okay,” she conceded, “minimal accessories. But when you say free rein, do I have your word on that?” Wren looked at Emily who had been stacking some clean glasses on a nearby shelf. “Hey, Emily, you’re a witness to this, right?”

“Sure,” Emily said. “But what am I agreeing to?”

“I’m giving Wren artistic free license to give us a new look here in the store,” Kate answered.

Emily’s face dropped. “But what’s wrong with the place? I think it looks fantastic.” She waved a hand to encompass the store.

“Oh, no,” Kate broke in. “The look of the store is my domain. I’m talking about us.” She pointed from herself to Wren then to Emily, and gave Emily a shy smile. “You really think the place looks that good?”

“Absolutely.” Emily nodded. “It’s unique. I love how you’ve just jumbled everything in together. Have you noticed how some of our regulars don’t even bother bringing a book with them anymore? They either help themselves to a book off the shelf, or they just sit and look at all the stuff you’ve got hanging up.”

“Good.” Kate was pleased. “That’s just what I’ve been hoping they’d do.”

“It’s working,” confirmed Wren. “Mind you, some of our regulars come in to look at other points of interest.” She gave Kate an arch look. “Not that I’m naming names or anything,
Kate
.”

Kate shook her head in mock exasperation, and flicked a quick look at Michael’s table. He was looking over at the counter toward her, and she gave a brief smile before glancing at Wren to see her wearing a smug I-told-you-so expression. Without saying a word, Wren picked up her magazine and flicked it open, giving Kate a wide-eyed innocent look and began to leaf through the pages as she strolled toward the kitchen.

“You know,” Emily ventured, “for a smart woman, she can be a bit dense sometimes.”

“Wren?” Kate looked at Emily in puzzlement. “Really?”

“For sure. She can’t see what’s right in front of her.” Emily shrugged. “It’s a case of who watches the watcher.”

“But who—” Kate began, stopping when Emily raised an eyebrow and tilted her head in David’s direction. She watched as David kept talking to Michael, his eyes tracking Wren as she walked the length of the counter and disappeared into the back. “I see,” she said after a thoughtful pause. “Well, this is going to be interesting. I don’t think she even likes him.”

“I know, but sometimes what we think we want and what we actually need are two different things,” Emily speculated.

~~~

“So what is it you want to do?” Michael ventured.

“I wish I knew,” David admitted. “But I’ve got a bit of time up my sleeve to work things out. Speaking of which …” He looked at his watch. “I’ve got to head back to work.” He got up from the table and walked around to stand beside Michael’s chair. “Thanks for letting me vent.”

“Any time,” Michael replied, and he meant it. “You take care. Call if you want some company, okay?”

“Will do,” David answered. With a final smile, he left the store.

Michael watched as David walked out, and then finished his coffee. It seemed that just as his luck was changing so was David’s, although time would tell just how successful each of them would be this time around. He looked up as he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder and saw Kate smiling at him.

“Are you staying awhile longer?”

“Sure,” Michael replied and was rewarded with a smile.

“Oh, good, I’ll get some lunch then. It’d be nice to have some company.” She made to return to the counter, and then turned back. “Another coffee?”

“If you’re having one.”

“Coming up.”

Kate walked back to the counter, sticking her tongue out at Wren who was beaming at her. “Not a word,” she warned her as she grabbed herself a bagel out of the display cabinet.

“I didn’t say anything,” Wren protested.

“You didn’t have to; your thoughts were screaming at me,” Kate answered with a smile. “But in the meantime you can make a couple of coffees for us.” Picking up another plate, Kate added two cupcakes.

“Sure, boss.”

“Don’t call me boss,” Kate shot back automatically as she carried her two plates past a grinning Emily. “And that goes for you too, Emily.”

“Okay, boss.”

Kate stopped short at that and turned to face a giggling Emily. “Did I just hear that?” She looked back at Wren, who was making a show of being very busy with her coffee prep. “Have you gone viral now?”

“Looks like it, boss,” Wren said in a cheerfully unrepentant tone.

“No respect,” Kate muttered in an amused tone as she carried on toward the table where Michael sat waiting. She set the plates down and settled herself on a chair, glancing at Michael and noting with an inward groan that her face was feeling warm.

“Are you okay?” Michael said, reaching out to brush a finger against her cheek. “You look a little flushed.”

“I’m fine,” Kate said, ducking her head as her cheeks flared warmer still at his touch. “But do you ever get the feeling you’re being watched?”

“Feeling I’m … oh.” Michael glanced back to the counter in time to see Emily duck behind the coffee machine.

Wren swept toward them, bearing two cups and a serene expression, setting the cups down and giving Kate a beatific smile. “You’ve been working hard, boss. Give yourself a break. Take as long as you like. Emily and I can hold the fort.”

“Thanks, Wren, that’s … really subtle of you.”

“Just trying to help is all.”

“Thanks, Wren, and you can go away now,” Kate replied, rubbing her forehead with one hand and looking mortified. She watched as Wren went back to the counter and fell into a whispered conversation with Emily, and then gave Michael a pained look. “Sorry about that,” she offered.

“She means well,” Michael suggested as he stirred some sugar into his coffee.

“Try being on the receiving end sometime,” Kate muttered as she picked up her bagel. “So how’s your day?” she asked as she took a bite.

“Getting better all the time,” Michael commented. They fell into an easy conversation, and Michael again found himself wondering what it was about Kate that seemed to make talking so easy. He and David had the ease of a long friendship between them, and more often than not David sought him out as a sounding board. Listening and observing was something that came naturally to Michael, although with Kate he often found himself in situations where he wanted to talk. He wanted to tell her things about himself and to get her talking in return. He felt greedy for her words, knowing that they would stimulate more of his own.

“So you’re jogging now?” Kate looked impressed. “That’s something I’ve never tried.”

“It was hard at first.” Michael winced, remembering the pain of his first run with David. “But it’s getting a little easier. It’s just good to get out and get some fresh air.”

“So what made you decide to sniff the great outdoors?” Kate teased as she took another mouthful.

“You,” Michael admitted, then felt surprised at the unexpected honesty before he could filter his answer.

Kate’s chewing slowed as she regarded him with surprise, then swallowed. “Me?”

“Why not?”

“I’m …” She shrugged, looking bewildered. “Well, I guess it’s a bit unusual to be credited with something like that.” Kate had finished her lunch by now and sat twisting her teaspoon, the clinking noises it made against the saucer breaking the sudden silence.

“Have I freaked you out?” Michael ventured after a pause.

“No, it’s just I …” She paused and blushed. “Thank you.”

~~~

Wren and Emily were still watching them from behind the counter.

“I think he’s just paid her a massive compliment,” Wren observed in an undertone.

“Really?” Emily looked over at their table. “How can you tell?”

“Because Kate is looking very pink, uncomfortable, and pleased all at once,” Wren said in a thoughtful tone. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her look like that before.”

“I would’ve thought she’d be used to guys saying nice things,” Emily replied as she opened the fridge for a quick inventory. “She’s easy on the eyes, so she must get guys hitting on her now and then.”

Wren snorted. “Please, it happens all the time but she’s absolutely clueless.” Wren put her hands on her hips and regarded the pair who still sat talking in quiet tones. “Well,” she amended, “usually anyway. Galahad seems to have gotten through her defenses, so I’m hopeful.”

“Oh.” Emily’s expression cleared. “She’s been badly burned then?”

“No,” Wren said after some consideration. “But her track record isn’t good. Her first serious boyfriend was Thomas, and look how that turned out. I don’t know about you, but if I slept with a guy for a few years and then he switched teams, I’d be a bit gun-shy too.”

“She would’ve gone out with other guys since then, though, surely?”

“Sure.” Wren wiped down the coffee machine and flicked the dishcloth over one shoulder as she kept tidying up the counter. “But she uses the store as a great barricade. Which is why I’ve given things a couple of very subtle nudges in the right direction.” She straightened a couple of trays with a deft touch and nodded when everything was aligned to her satisfaction.

Emily closed the refrigerator door and gave Wren an exasperated look. “Subtle? Wren, I wouldn’t call your comments to Kate earlier very subtle.”

Wren turned and gave her a look of wounded pride. “I didn’t say the nudges were to her.” She glanced over at Kate and Michael, who were still talking, and felt a surge of glee as she watched Michael reach out and take Kate’s hand. “I nudged
him
.”

Emily stepped forward and peeked around the coffee machine to see the latest development before giving Wren an impressed look. “You’re good, I’ll give you that.”

“Thanks,” Wren said, looking pleased. “Hell, I had to step in and do something. It was obvious they were attracted to each other, but they’re both so damn shy it would’ve taken ages.”

“You couldn’t let things take their course naturally?” Emily teased.

“If there’s one thing you should know about me by now,” Wren replied, “it’s that I don’t do suspense.”

~~~

“So I know you’ve been waiting for me to ask,” Michael began, smiling as Kate sat up a little straighter in her chair. “Kate, would you like to go on a date with me this Saturday?”

“Oh, this is all so sudden.” Kate smiled. “I don’t quite know what to say.”

“You did tell me earlier that you were going to say yes,” Michael pointed out.

“That’s right, so I did,” she replied. “Well, then, thank you very much for asking. I’d love to.”

“I have to say that knowing the answer in advance makes it a lot easier.”

“Glad I could help,” she said. “So what are we going to do?”

“I hadn’t actually thought that far ahead,” he admitted, making her laugh. “I thought maybe dinner somewhere?”

“That sounds great,” Kate said, and she meant it. It had been a long time since she had felt this comfortable with someone. She enjoyed talking to him, and with a surprise she realized that she was already looking forward to seeing him again, although he was already sitting right in front of her.

“Good.” Michael smiled. “I’ll book us in somewhere. In the meantime, don’t be surprised if we bump into each other again.”

“You know, you could always just keep coming here. It’s nice to see you any time,” she said, then stopped in surprise. Had she just said that? How was it that he managed to wheedle such an admission out of her?

“Done.” He smiled and bit into his cupcake. As always, it was perfect. The cherry flavor burst on his tongue, surrounded by bitter chocolate and sugar sweetness. “God, this is good.”