Take the Cake (41 page)

“Huh? I don’t know. It’s just a shirt I grabbed from his closet this morning. Why?” Kate twisted her neck to see if there was any printing on the back. Emily stepped toward her and ran a finger along the bold letters that were printed across the shoulder blades.

“Forrester,” Emily read aloud. “Guess it’s a shirt from his college days.”

“You’re kidding.” Kate turned and gaped at her. “So I’m walking around branded?”

“Yup.” Emily nodded. “He didn’t say anything?”

“Not as such,” Kate admitted as she remembered Michael’s knowing smile. “I guess he didn’t have to.”

“He knew you’d find out soon enough.” Emily grinned. “I think it looks cute.”

Wren snickered until Kate cleared her throat and nodded at the chalkboard.

“Impatient, are we?” Wren said as she grabbed the chalk and walked over to pick up the chalkboard where she’d left it in its usual place beside the door. Laying it down on a nearby table, she wrote quickly and added a few flourishes when she was done. Giving a nod of satisfaction, she carried it over to the counter to show Kate and Emily who were finishing their coffee.

If you reach for the stars,
your lungs will collapse from lack of oxygen.

Kate narrowed her eyes and looked thoughtful, and then her expression cleared. “Got it,” she said as she snapped her fingers. “Wren, are you going easy on me?”

“No,” Wren protested. “I thought I was being clever. Damn. I’ll get you one day.”

“Ha,” Kate retorted as she went into the kitchen to start baking.

Emily smiled and shook her head at the friendly rivalry between the two women as she collected the empty cups and put them in the dishwasher. Wren returned from outside, looking happy, and stopped to straighten up the magazines and books before making her way back behind the counter.

“What’s next?” she asked Emily as she began filling the water jugs.

“I’ll do some bagels and wraps. Can you check the tables?”

“Sure.” Wren nodded at Emily’s suggestion, and when the jugs were filled and set out, she grabbed the plastic tub that held the sugar and sweetener packets and began her rounds. The mixer started up in the kitchen as the store became a hive of activity. When the first batch of cupcakes was in the oven, Kate reappeared, wiping her hands on a dishcloth before stopping at the CD player and opening the folder that sat beside it. It was a pleasant morning, and she wanted to prolong the mood with some music. The CD player whirred to life, and then the store was filled with the sound of steady guitar strumming as the mellow voice of Feist filtered out of the speakers.

~~~

Kate set down the baking tray and turned to close the oven door, blinking as the rush of warm air hit her face. Turning back to the counter, she surveyed the cupcakes that sat cooling, pressing a cautious finger against a couple of them and nodding in satisfaction as they sprang back. These cupcakes were going to be a little more work than she usually did, but Wren’s quote had been too good to resist. Kate went to the storage shelves and selected a large jar of her favorite raspberry jam that was then spooned into a bowl and stirred until smooth. Setting the bowl aside, Kate started to make the frosting to match, humming to herself as she walked, pausing occasionally to yawn against the back of her hand. It felt good to be back in the store, but she envied Michael his sleep in.

By the time she carried the finished cupcakes out toward the display case, she had started to feel better and nodded gratefully when Emily held up an empty cup in silent query.

“Wren,” she called as she set the tray into the counter, “c’mon, girl.”

“Be right there,” Wren called back as she delivered a coffee to a waiting customer. She returned promptly, wiping her hands against her jeans, and grabbed her chalk. “Okay, shoot.”

“
Black Hole Cupcakes
,” Kate announced as Wren scribbled. “Chocolate cupcakes with a rich, raspberry center and dark chocolate frosting.”

“Oh, God,” Emily whimpered as she looked at them. “I don’t think I’m strong enough.”

Kate laughed and reached back into the cabinet to pick up a cupcake and hand it to Emily. “Don’t torture yourself. Just bite into it carefully.”

Emily peeled off the paper cup with all the reverence the cupcake deserved and took a cautious bite, rolling her eyes appreciatively as the raspberry jam and chocolate cake oozed into her mouth. Kate and Wren both watched her reaction.

“Good?” Kate said at last.

“Mmmmph.” Emily nodded.

“She likes it,” Kate commented in satisfaction, turning around just in time to see Wren swipe one.

“What?” Wren said in a defensive tone as she picked the raspberry garnish off the top and popped it into her mouth. “It’s only fair.”

“I’m not judging,” Kate said, holding her hands up in surrender. “I had one in the kitchen.” She regarded the two women as they both ate, and then walked over to the coffee machine to get another coffee ready.

“You’re having another one already?” Wren asked in between mouthfuls.

“I’m still tired,” Kate commented as she got out the milk.

“You know the caffeine doesn’t kick in for at least an hour. Anything you feel at the time is just a placebo effect,” Emily commented as she licked her fingers clean of jam and crumbs.

“Don’t spoil the magic.” Kate swatted at her. “I need it.” Before she could stop it, she yawned again, ducking her head toward her shoulder to try to hide it.

“So just out of curiosity, boss,” Wren asked in a mild voice, “what the hell are you doing here if you’re still tired?”

“I’ll be okay.” Kate shook her head and blinked before returning her concentration to the coffee that was filtering into the cups.

“Right.” Wren shook her head. “So if you’re feeling that great, how come you look like shit?”

“Hey,” Kate objected, “that’s a bit harsh.”

“Sorry.” Wren held up her hands in a placatory gesture. “I’m just saying that you look exhausted, and one day off isn’t going to cut it.” Wren walked toward her and gave Kate a hug. “Come on, boss, you haven’t had a break since I’ve been here. Don’t you think it’s about time you started to be a bit gentle with yourself?”

“If you won’t, I’m sure Michael will,” Emily chimed in when Kate paused.

“Are you guys trying to get rid of me?” Kate joked, feeling self-conscious.

“Kinda.” Emily shrugged. “But it’s for your own good.”

“Yeah,” Wren added, “I’d hate to have to call Paul.”

Kate whipped her head around to glare at the smaller woman. “You wouldn’t,” she accused.

“Wouldn’t I?” Wren matched Kate stare for stare. Kate broke her gaze first.

Kate watched the coffee drizzle into the cups as she steamed the milk and sighed quietly to herself. Perhaps the two women had a point. Paul had certainly been pushing her to hire some additional help and take some time off. The arrival of Emily had been a welcome boon to the business, but Kate had still found it very difficult to step away from the store that she had steadily built up from scratch. Other employees had come and gone, but Wren had stayed with her for over two years now, and Emily provided just the kind of stability that Kate had been looking for. Of course, being single for the most part had made it easy to pour all of her energy into the store. With no partner making demands on her time, there was no need to compromise. The store was also a very convenient excuse when people wondered aloud why she wasn’t dating. And then Michael had come along.

Kate poured the milk into the cups and topped them off with some froth. A customer approached the counter, and she picked up her cup and stepped away as Emily stepped forward with a bright smile. Sipping at her coffee, Kate retreated into the kitchen, still deep in thought. When the customers had been dealt with, Emily followed Kate into the kitchen.

“So, boss, what’s it gonna be?” she asked as she folded her arms and leaned against the doorway.

Kate had pulled herself up to sit on the counter and sat sipping at her coffee, legs crossed at the ankles as she swung them back and forth, lost in thought.

“I dunno.” Kate shrugged.

“Okay, I’ll make this simple for you,” Emily replied. “What do you want to do right now?”

“Um …” Kate considered the question. “Well, I guess I ought to—” She broke off as Emily shook her head.

“Not what you think you should do, what do you
want?”

Kate stared into her cup for a long time and then huffed out a long sigh. She thought some more, swinging her ankles and feeling like a lost child before she looked up at Emily.

“I think I want to go home.”

“Then go.” Emily nodded.

“Just like that?” Kate blinked.

“You’re the boss,” Emily said, “and you know Wren and I will be fine. If we need something, we’ll call you.”

Kate stared into her cup again, and then swigged back her coffee.

“It’s not like you’re going to be doing this every day,” Emily reasoned. “You’re not a hundred percent, so why don’t you just give yourself a bit of time so that you can get better?” When Kate said nothing, Emily grinned and continued, “Go on; get outta here before I change my mind.”

Kate looked up at this and grinned. “Just listen to you, one day in charge and now you’re kicking me out.”

“I can’t argue.” Emily nodded. “I feel drunk with power.”

Wren peered around the doorway and looked at Emily. “Have you told her to go yet?”

“Just did,” Emily replied as she stepped toward Kate and took the now-empty cup.

Kate slid down off the counter and began to untie her apron. Sensing movement outside, Wren looked out into the store and then gestured to Emily.

“Boss, we’re on.” She nodded her head toward the front.

“Coming,” Emily said and then moved toward to give Kate a quick hug. “We’ll be fine. You go home and take a nap, or get a cuddle from your boy. Do whatever it takes to feel better, and we’ll see you tomorrow.”

Kate looked past Emily out to the customers at the counter. “Maybe I could help out first with—”

“Kate,
go
. I’m sure there’re other things you could be doing.”

Gathering her things, Kate pulled on her coat and made her way toward the front of the store. Pausing at the door, she looked back at the counter: Wren and Emily looked like they had everything under control. She stepped outside, wrapped her scarf around her neck, and began to walk home, wondering what Michael was doing and resolving to call him when she got home.

Kate let herself into her apartment, hung up her keys and then dropped her bag onto the armchair as she surveyed the room. It felt good to be back in her own home, but compared to the space and light at Michael’s, everything seemed to be a little darker and smaller. The air was still, and so she lit her aromatherapy lamp and added some drops of orange oil and ginger to scent the room. Everything around her was just as she liked it, and yet she was alone. Years of being alone—or keeping herself alone if she was going to be honest—had been just what she had wanted. Now she found herself missing Michael’s companionship. Sighing, she walked into the bedroom and sat down on the edge of the bed, feeling listless. She wanted to call Michael but felt silly for thinking about it. After all, she had only left his apartment a few hours ago. Falling backwards, she stared up at the ceiling wondering what Michael was doing.

~~~

Michael stashed the dry cleaning ticket in his wallet, stepping aside with a polite smile to allow another customer into the store. A gust of cold air whistled down the street, making him tug up his coat collar and stuff his hands into his pockets as he walked. A flash of color and movement caught his eye. Glancing across the street, he saw a woman flicking a long red scarf around her neck. The color made him think of Kate, and he wondered how she was feeling. Michael smiled and tucked his chin into his chest as he kept walking. After his run, he had reviewed the previous night’s work before calling a very surprised Alistair and telling him to expect the completed manuscript within the week. The rest of his morning had been spent running a few errands, and now he found himself with a free afternoon. He’d go see his girl. As he crossed the street, he felt his phone vibrate in his back pocket and fished it out. Tapping the screen, he scanned the message and gave a short laugh before he turned around and broke into a light jog.

~~~

Kate was curled up on the sofa dividing her attention between her book and the talk show on television when she heard the intercom buzz. Pushing the magazine aside, she sat up and half-walked, half-skipped toward the door, hoping that it would be Michael.

“Hello?”

“It’s me.” Michael’s voice crackled through the speaker.

“It’s open.” Kate hit the button, and then unlocked her door before returning to the sofa. She didn’t bother with the magazine now; she sat looking at the door unable to hide the silly grin that was spreading across her face. There was the rapid shuffle of feet on the stairs, and then the door was pushed open to reveal a flushed and slightly out-of-breath Michael.

“That was fast,” she marveled as he shrugged out of his coat and took off his scarf before making his way over to the sofa.

“I was already downtown,” Michael explained as he put his hands on the arm of the sofa and leaned over to give her a long kiss. “So when I got your message, I came straight over.”

He sat down beside her and pulled her to him, smiling when he realized she was still wearing his shirt. Kate had changed her jeans for a pair of leggings and now she wriggled around to sit on his lap.

“I felt kinda stupid sending that message,” Kate admitted as she curled a hand around the nape of Michael’s neck.

“Why’s that?” Michael was running his hand up Kate’s thigh to hold her closer to him, their heads getting closer as they spoke.

“Well, I was at your place this morning. Being apart for just a few hours shouldn’t leave me acting like a damn teenager.” She nipped at his bottom lip.

“Meh.” Michael shrugged.

“Meh?” Kate gave him an incredulous look. “‘Meh,’ said the
writer?”

Michael dug his fingers into her sides, where he knew she was ticklish, to make her squirm. “Hey, that’s sass. Are you sassin’ me?”

“Maybe a little,” Kate managed as she tried to evade his hands without much success.

“Right then, I guess I’ll have to see what we can do about that,” Michael growled, grinning as he watched the color rise in Kate’s face while she gasped and squirmed again. She was torturing him as well; the movement on his lap was causing the usual reaction. He knew she had noticed when she stopped moving and regarded him with a slow smile. He raised one of his hands and gently traced the slight smudges beneath her eyes. “How are you feeling?” he asked in a soft voice.

“Tired, but I’ll live,” she said, closing her eyes and leaning into his touch. He trailed his fingers down her cheek and onto her neck. “Having yesterday off was actually kinda good.” She cracked an eye open to look at Michael. “But don’t tell them I said that.”

“Your secret is safe with me,” he assured her, pulling her closer.

“Mmmm,” she said as she settled against him and rested her head against his chest.

Michael’s stubble rasped against Kate’s hair as he rubbed his chin against the top of her head in a gentle caress.

“So whatcha been doin’?” he asked.

“Nothin’ much,” Kate said, almost slurring the words in her relaxed state. “Errands, cleaning—” she yawned, “—stuff.”

“Sounds exciting,” Michael observed.

“I know. I’m not much fun,” Kate apologized.

“You don’t have to be.” Michael kissed her hair. “You’ve been ill.”

“Or just over-tired,” Kate muttered. “Emily gave me a lecture this morning.”

“Just Emily?”

“And Wren,” Kate added. “The two of them ganged up on me, which is why I’m here.” She waved a hand at the TV.

“Maybe they’ve got a point. It wouldn’t hurt to be a bit easier on yourself.”

“Any easier and I’d be in a coma,” Kate scoffed, “but actually …” She considered. “It’s nice being at home during the day. Kinda like skipping school or something.”

“Did you ever do that?”

“Me? Never.” Kate yawned again. “I was always the good girl, you know, the really boring one.”

“Oh, I don’t know. They say it’s the quiet ones you have to watch,” Michael said in a thoughtful tone. “I bet not many of your classmates ended up in New York.”

“No,” Kate admitted, and Michael could feel her smile against his chest. “Most of them stayed at home and married the guys that they’d gone steady with in school.”

“And you? Could you have done that?” Michael stared at the TV while he listened to Kate, curious as to her answer.

“I had a couple of boyfriends, nothing serious,” Kate replied. “Anyway, I left town to go to college and then …” She broke off and gave an odd little smile.

“And then what?”

“Tom,” Kate admitted after a long pause. “And then there was Tom.”

“Right,” Michael said after a slight pause of his own.

“And look how that turned out.” Kate gave a nervous laugh.

“Yeah, about that,” Michael began. “Have you heard from him lately?”

A small worry line appeared between Kate’s eyebrows, and Michael immediately regretted the question.

“I got an email from him last week.” Kate focused on Michael’s shirtfront again. “He’s seeing someone. It seems to be going okay.”

“And are you?” Michael kept running his hand up and down Kate’s thigh in a soothing gesture.

“Sure.” Kate nodded, but didn’t lift her gaze.

“Then that’s all that matters to me,” Michael said as he kissed her forehead.

Kate looked up in surprise. “That’s it?”

Now it was Michael’s turn to shrug. “I don’t see why not. You and Tom have a history. You’re still friends, but as long as he’s not after my girl, it’s all good.”

Kate’s shoulders shook slightly as tension she wasn’t aware of carrying began to subside. “That simple, huh?”

“Yup.” Michael slapped her rump and leered at her, smiling at her gurgle of laughter. “I’m a simple man.” Kissing the side of her neck, he nuzzled her cheek and continued, “It must have been a hell of a shock, though.”

“Well, yeah,” Kate admitted. “We were friends and then lovers. Tom helped me get past the shock of losing Jack and settle back into college. We were really good for each other.”

Michael gently began to stroke Kate’s hair, saying nothing, just letting her speak.

“But when he worked things out, we went our separate ways. He never set out to hurt me, but he couldn’t deny what he was. I knew he still loved me, but he just couldn’t see me—” she broke off and waved her hand in an entirely vague gesture, “—
that
way.”

Michael wrapped his arms around Kate and held her closer as she kept talking. Her voice sounded dreamlike as she spoke from the past.

“So I guess after that, I stopped dating for a long time. Wren and Paul kept at me to put myself out there, but I just couldn’t do it. Being friends was easier, so I just decided that I felt safer being invisible.”

Her voice trailed off, and they sat together in silence for a long time. Michael tried to imagine the level of hurt and rejection on such a fundamental level and failed. Now he began to remember the way she ducked her head when complimented, and how she always reacted to his attraction to her with pleasure and surprise, and perhaps a little fear, as if she thought it was too good to last.

“Kate …” Michael’s throat was tight, and he had to clear his throat before he continued. “You’re not invisible to me.”

“I know.” Kate nodded, still staring at the television.

“Hey.” Michael gave her a slight shake. “Look at me.”

Kate’s gaze moved with painful slowness until she was looking into his eyes. He could see the silvery track marks of her tears on her cheeks as she stared at him in silence.

“You’re not invisible to me. You never were, and you never will be.”

Kate’s lips curled into a slight smile; somehow he always knew what to say. She moved so suddenly Michael was surprised when she sat up and fixed him with a long stare. “And while we’re on the subject, you have to promise me something.”

“I’m listening,” Michael said, surprised by the ferocity of her expression.

“You have to tell me if you’re ever seeing someone else, or if you ever
want
to. I won’t go through that again.”

“Okay.” Michael nodded.

“Promise?”

Michael nodded again. “I promise. Kate,” he continued in a quiet tone, “all I see is you.” He leaned forward and gave her the softest of kisses. “Only you.”

Kate’s expression softened as Michael kept peppering her with kisses, and she laughed, kissing him back until neither of them was capable of speech at all.

~~~

“Cat got your tongue?”

Wren was pulled out of her reverie by David’s soft voice, and she looked up to see him regarding her over the top of his reading glasses. Tonight they were at David’s apartment, and she had been sitting at the table, twirling some hair around a finger while she stared off into space, lost in thought.

“Sorry.” She offered up a sheepish grin. “I was miles away.”

“I could tell when I asked you what you wanted for dinner, and you didn’t say anything.” David smiled. “That’s gotta be a first.”

“Mm-hmm,” Wren mumbled as she glanced down at her notebook that she had covered in random sketches. Ideas were coming thick and fast this evening, and she was trying to get them all down.

“Okay.” David hauled himself up off the sofa and tossed the paper he’d been reading onto the coffee table. “History can wait. What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Wren said as she flicked the notebook over to a blank page and started to scrawl her initials over and over.

“Right.” David paused and glanced down at the page before giving her a skeptical look. “I’ll order something.”

“Do you ever cook?” Wren asked as she watched him saunter toward the phone and the collection of menus. His 501 jeans were riding low on his hips, and she admired the view as he lifted one side of his T-shirt to scratch his ribs. He moved with the kind of careless grace that she envied.

“I’ve been known to.” David nodded. “I’ll even cook for you some day.”

“Really?” That had Wren putting her pencil down and regarding David with amazement. “And when’s that going to happen?”

“When we’re celebrating,” David replied as he sorted through menus and held one up with a quizzical air. “Tempura?”

“Why not.” Wren waved in agreement. “Celebrating what?”

“Guess we’ll have to wait and find out,” David replied, stopping to drop a kiss on the end of her nose as he carried the phone back to the sofa.

It was too much. Wren got up from the table and followed David, sitting back patiently while he placed an order, leaning forward to put in a request, and smiling when he nodded and ordered extra pickled ginger before she could say anything. As soon as he got off the phone, she pounced. “What? Celebrate what?” She began to tickle him, giggling as David tucked his legs up into his chest in a bid to fend her off.

“Celebrating you, idiot,” he gasped before she let him go.

“Huh?” Wren was shocked into stillness. “What am I going to be doing?”

“What we talked about this morning,” David replied, pushing his hair out of his eyes and giving her a look of fond exasperation. “You can pretend you’ve forgotten about it all you want, but I haven’t.”