Page 24

One Month Later

I smiled for the picture with the group of ladies who’d come in to celebrate a new grandbaby and a retirement. I thanked them for coming to Cake and Cocktails and told them to be sure they tagged us in the post.

Business had moved from an exciting burst in the beginning to a solid boom recently. I was swamped but so very happy. Like a proud dad, Casey Joe beamed every time someone said they came in to see what the shop was like just because of the Cake and Cock… email subject line.

For about two days after everything with Joseph and Douglas went down, I worried about having an online presence since my uncle and cousin had admitted to finding me just by looking for “stupid, pansy-ass cake hashtags.”

But when they’d turned on each other and admitted to trying to kill me for insurance money, the judge had opted to hold them without bond for the time being because of the huge amount of evidence against them—the attempted vehicular manslaughter, arson, and a shit ton of items pointing to suspicious, if not illegal, activity in the hidden envelope. According to our attorney, even if the judge opted to free up some space in the crowded county jail, Joseph and Douglas would go back home on strict house arrest and monitoring until their hearings.

So, I’d let Casey Joe and the guys convince me to embrace the social media aspect of our business, and we’d all been having a blast with fun posts, videos, photos, contests, giveaways, and jokes. Customers came from Haven Grove, the surrounding area, and even several states away just to visit and check us out.

“There he is,” Casey Joe said with a grin. “The social media darling. I swear, most of these people just come here to get their pictures taken with you.”

“Whatever,” I huffed, my cheeks heating.

Casey Joe put an arm around my neck and squeezed. “I’m proud of you, kid.”

He’d taken to letting me know how proud he was of me a lot more often, and just like every time before, my throat grew tight, and tears pricked my eyes. But I adored having a dad figure in my life.

I gave him a play punch right to the gut. “Thanks, old man.”

Casey Joe grunted and put me in a headlock. “Careful, I’m fragile.”

Laughing, I poked at his stomach. “Whatever, don’t act like you haven’t been working out. You’re getting all buff and shit.”

“And shit is about right,” Casey Joe straightened his shirt and went back to working on some sort of graphic on his phone while I cleared the table. Another large party would be coming in soon, and I wanted to be prepared for the last customers of the day outside of any who popped in from the Roadhouse or just stopped by to see what the cake of the day was.

Casey Joe cleared his throat. “You know I’ve always been okay with my boys being queer, right?” When I turned raised brows his way, he waved me off. “It’s okay to use the word because I don’t mean it in a bad way, and both the boys use it.”

I gave a nod.

“I want you to know I’m okay with you being queer—or gay, or whatever you choose to call yourself—too.” He stared at his tablet for a long time as I quietly put dishes in a tub. “I think it’s good that everyone gets the chance to decide who they are—and it’s okay to get to know yourself better the older you get.”

“Someone had therapy today,” Henry said as he came in from checking on the work happening on the future outdoor dining area. He patted his dad on the shoulder before making his way to me for a kiss. “How’d it go?”

Casey Joe wrinkled his nose. “I don’t know. Sometimes it feels like I figure a lot of shit out, and other times it’s like I take fifteen steps backward.” He ran a hand over his face. “All I know is that I have to find somewhere else to sleep. Even when they try to be quiet, it’s doing a number on my head hearing your brother and my best friend fuckin’ through the wall.”

Henry barked out a laugh, and I bit back a grin.

I knew Hudson and Lance would never ask Casey Joe to leave—he’d been staying with them since the fire because the apartment above the Sweet & Creamy was occupied, and the little cabin in the orchard had a recent leak which led to some mold and mildew. Not a huge problem for an occasional shelter, but not suitable for living there. However, I knew having his dad sharing their house was really getting to Hudson.

“Any news on the house?” Henry asked, giving me a secret wink because he was well aware how badly his brother wanted Casey Joe to find a new place.

“No,” Casey Joe grumbled. “It’s red tape a mile long. At first it was because of those two bozos and the police, then it was the insurance people draggin’ their feet. Supposedly, they should be getting me finalized so the work can start soon, but I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“Damn, I thought you’d maybe be moved back in by the time the Fall Fest rolled around.” Henry hefted the tub of dishes for me.

“You and me both,” Casey Joe said with irritation.

He touched his fingers to his lips, and I knew he was jonesing for a smoke. Most of the time, he kept the cravings at bay with a sucker, but he’d been complaining about his teeth being super sensitive from all the sugar.

“You want a drink or anything?” I asked, hoping to take his mind off the cigarette.

Casey stood and packed away his tablet. “Nah, I’m good. Gonna head to the gym. Lifting weights and a run usually make it go away—at least until the next one hits.”

He waved goodbye and let the door swing shut behind him .

“Mmmm, it’s just you and me,” Henry said, dancing me toward the kitchen.

“And a party of eight arriving in about fifteen minutes.” I couldn’t hide the giggle as he spun me around.

“Plenty of time,” he teased, leaning in to nuzzle my neck.

“Nope, I have to get everything ready.” It wasn’t like Henry and I were missing out on alone time. The sex was amazing, but the cuddles and simply being together was just as satisfying. When I stumbled off that bus and made my way to Haven Grove, I never would have imagined in my wildest dreams that I’d find my very own happily ever after in the little town.

But dancing and laughing in Henry’s arms, with secret recipe ideas already in place if I ever needed to whip up a certain special occasion cake, and finding the true meaning of family proved to me that I’d journeyed my way to exactly where I belonged.

Henry tipped my chin and pressed a soft, slow kiss to my lips. “Tonight. You and me, peaches and cream cake, and?—”

“Lemon drops?” I bit my lip to keep from giggling.

Henry sighed. “Why must you hurt my heart?”

“Go on. You, me, peaches and cream cake, lemon drops…”

“No, no. We have to have the right cake and cocktail—what do you suggest?” Henry leaned back, his arms still tight around me, our hips pressed together as he watched me.

I pursed my lips and thought about it. “How about I make a dark chocolate cake with chocolate ganache and candied ginger peaches?”

“Oh my god, do you know how much I love you?” Henry shifted to press his forehead to mine.

“Because of my cake?” I hoped my eye lashes batted innocently enough.

“Your cake, your heart, all of you.”

“Good because I love your cake and cock—” I cut off as Henry’s eyes danced with amusement. “Cocktails, obviously.”

“Obviously.” Henry nuzzled our noses together.

~THE END~