Page 45 of Cupcake of the Month (Just Add Peaches #2)

Rob and Wendy stood in the small area at the front door, the former rubbing his hands together and the latter carrying her tablet. “If you have the table right here,” Wendy was saying, “no one will be able to get inside.”

“So we should move it.”

“Yes. We should move it.” Wendy tucked her tablet under her arm and grabbed one end while Rob took the other.

The bookstore’s owner cleared her throat. “Usually authors put the table there.” Toni pointed to a small open space between two sets of shelves.

“Perfect.” Wendy led the way, leaving Jordan alone again. What to do now? Seek out Josh and demand he feed her bacon? Accidentally run into him and whatever dish Barb had him serving? Sneak behind a row of bookshelves and pretend she wasn’t there?

Some things never changed.

“Excuse me.” A voice next to Jordan interrupted her decision-making process. “Are you Jordan Shoenover?”

“It depends.” Jordan turned to see a man wearing the catering outfit of black pants, a white top, and a black bowtie.

He handed her a plate with a frosted cupcake. “This is for you. It’s an apple cider cupcake with cinnamon vanilla frosting. January’s flavor.” He gave her a quick bow, then headed to the back of the store.

Wendy came back, her tablet tucked under her arm. “I lost my stylus somewhere. Can you let me know if you see it? And what is that glorious concoction in your hands?”

“Here.” She handed it over. “Why did the waitstaff give this to me?”

“What is it? It looks amazing.” Wendy took a deep breath. “Smells amazing.”

“You didn’t order them?”

“No, and I’m regretting that decision. That frosting. Though I don’t remember full-sized cupcakes being on Barb’s dessert menu.”

Well, then, why did Jordan get it? She took the plate from her friend. “I’ll put it down somewhere.”

“Not there!” Wendy blocked her approach to the table better than a catcher stopping a runner from sliding home. “That’s where we’re displaying the books. How about by the cash register?”

Jordan passed Brandi carrying a box of alcohol as she made her way to the customer service counter. Another woman approached her, plate held out. “Caramel macchiato cupcake with a vanilla chai frosting. February’s flavor.”

Jordan took the plate. “Thank you. But why—”

The woman left without letting Jordan finish.

March’s peanut butter cupcake arrived next, followed by April’s cream cookie. A warm glow settled over her.

She was ready for the next one. The bacon chocolate with maple bacon frosting made her laugh, bringing back memories of when she had seen Josh at the rec center fundraiser.

By this time, Wendy, Brandi, Sebastien and Rob were watching the show, as was Toni and a handful of bookstore employees.

Each held a plate with a cupcake since Jordan had run out of hands.

Her breath caught when Josh appeared carrying the last one, and her body slaked its hunger at the first sight of him in weeks.

“Hi.” Never let it be said she wasn’t a brilliant conversationalist.

“Hey, Jay.” His blue eyes melted as they raked over her body, a quick smile raising his lips and making him seem more relaxed than she’d ever seen him.

She wasn’t prepared for the rush that filled her soul, the electricity that burned her skin, the catch in her throat when she gazed at him. Even after all this time, her body yearned for his caress, for his breath.

For him.

“Peach cobbler cupcake with whiskey peach frosting.”

His gaze never left hers and her memory went to the night they had made love after eight years apart.

She reached for him. Or he reached for her.

Didn’t matter. The kiss was hard and hungry.

Her mouth remembered his instantly—its shape, its contours, its devastating accuracy rousing her desires. Need pulsed through her.

She put a hand on his chest to break the kiss, suddenly aware of the hooting and applause coming from their willing audience. Josh bowed and presented her the plate with a flourish. How had he managed to keep it balanced?

Brandi popped up next to her. “Why don’t I take that for now.”

Josh gave it over, then held out his hand. “Come outside?”

She took it, and they wound their way through the maze of books to the back exit of the store, passing wait staff on the way. The strong scent of balsamic and basil wafted over to her.

“Kenny.” Josh stopped a young worker and handed him the clipboard. “Keep track of everything for a minute, okay?”

“Yeah, okay, Boss.”

Josh took Jordan’s elbow and led her around to the other side of the van, away from the influx of people and choreography of setting up the food.

They stood in silence, and she placed her hand on his chest, feeling the fast, steady, beat of his heart.

She couldn’t raise her eyes above his white shirt. “So. Those feelings are still here.”

“After eight years, I’ve learned to live with them.” He brought her hand to his lips. “It’s a constant warmth that remains just out of reach, no matter how hard you try to touch it. It’s the embers of a fire that flare and ebb but never go out. You get used to it.

Jordan’s heart stopped at Mr. Stoic’s confession. His feelings, his emotions. He gave her more in the past six minutes than he had in the past six months. Her mouth dried, and she had to lick her lips. “What do you mean?”

“I love you, you know,” he said. “You deserve to hear it. And I deserve to tell you.”

The embers flared with his words, heat building in her body.

“I loved you when I told you before. That didn’t change, but I’ve had time to think.

” He tugged on a tendril of hair that had fallen from her bun.

“You make me want to be a better person. For you as well as for me. And for Zach. We all deserve more than me living my life with my emotions in hiding.”

“Josh—”

“Hey, Josh.” A man poked his head around the back of the van. “The front tables are ready. We putting the crostini there?”

Josh kissed her forehead. “And the goat cheese with apple chutney, and the fig with prosciutto.”

“You got it, Boss.”

Wait a minute.

“Boss?” She gestured to encompassing the person leaving and the van. “What are you doing?”

“Working.” His lips tugged upward.

He knew what she meant, damn it. “Where’s Barb?”

He spread his arms wide. “Right here.”

She glanced at the name on the van, then back at him. “When did you become Barb?”

“She retired. It’s an interesting story.

” He straightened up and she stepped back to give him room.

“I have to get going in a bit or I’ll have to fire myself.

First, I want to say thank you. You gave me a real kick in the ass when you left.

I’d been hiding and keeping myself from trusting anything good that came into my life. ”

She huffed out a soft breath. “I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true.”

“Your words gave me the strength, the courage, to stop hiding and do something. Like buying Barb’s business.”

How had he managed that? He had no money, no collateral for a loan. Everything he had went into keeping Zach safe.

“Funny thing.” He was smiling again. It looked good on him. “Turns out, when the government knows you can’t use a bank account to fund an escape from law enforcement, they give back your access to it.”

“That’s wonderful. Congratulations.”

He took her hands. “I was embarrassed about my situation, my mom and stepdad, my part in their crimes. I should have let you in. By the time I admitted it, I’d already lost you. And I’m sorry, Jordan. I’m so sorry. I’d rather be an accomplice and have you than keep secrets and be alone.”

“You can have me either way,” she breathed. She ran her hands down his chest. “I tried to not think about you. You made it awfully hard.”

“Good.” He smiled.

His lips lowered her hers, and she grabbed his shoulders, pressing her mouth harder against his.

The kiss was the beginning of their new life, only he didn’t know it yet. “Good timing, too. I’m moving back to Georgia.”

He inhaled a sharp breath. “You’re what?”

“I’m opening Shoenover Strategic Management South in Macon. Mark will manage the north office while I finish his training. There will be some travel involved, but with airports in Macon, Atlanta, and Jacksonville, I should be okay.”

“Not near Fountenoy Hall in Claremont?”

She shook her head. “Too small. I need visibility near businesses.”

“God, I love you.” He wrapped her in his arms. “I can’t offer you much, but what I have is yours. Half my futon. My punching bag. Hell, I’ll even share Zach with you.”

“You know, this isn’t about you.” She held him tight. “Okay, maybe it is. A little.” Wait a minute. She leaned back. “Are you asking me to move in with you?”

“No, I’m asking for you to spend your life with me, but I’ll take moving in with me for now.” He put her hand on the steady thump his heart.

“Sounds like a plan.”

He kissed her again, hard and explosive, filled with the bottled passion of being separated.

She leaned into him so he was against the van, pressing her body along the length of his.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her even closer, leaving no doubt in her mind about how aroused he was.

She dragged her lips away, still craving him.

“When I told you it wasn’t about you?” Josh asked.

“Several times, yes. I remember.”

“I lied. Everything is about you. It always will be.”

THE END

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Just Add Peaches continues in Kindle Unlimited Brandi and Sebastien are next in

The Prince Who Loved Me

Book 3 in Abigail Sharpe’s Just Add Peaches series

Brandi’s shivering could either be from South Carolina’s February temperature or the hot anticipation of what was behind door number one.

She raised her hand and knocked, the sound echoing down the hotel corridor.

Andy had been traveling for over a week and had promised her an extra special Valentine’s Day to make up for his absence.

It was definitely the anticipation.