I don’t acknowledge the question and continue to stare at the man.
“Fine.”
He grabs the hand of the young woman who had been standing behind him, but she keeps her eye on me as he drags her out the door.
I watch him until he leaves. Before I can turn around, someone pokes me in the back. I turn and find a frowning Blossom. It doesn’t make her any less beautiful.
“I had that handled.” She sounds completely put out by me.
“I have no doubt. I just don’t like men talking to anyone like that, especially women.”
Something in my tone must tell her that I believe she could handle it. She is small, but I can tell she has a titanium spine.
The crowd starts whispering, and I realize that word is probably spreading even down the street that I’m here. I can move within crowds without people knowing most of the time, as long as I wear a ball cap and sunglasses. It’s going to be hard to avoid now.
I look at Knox, who is smiling like a loon. I have no idea why he’s doing that, but that’s Knox. The boy always has something going on in the back of his mind.
“Okay, that’s it. Close it down, except for the people who had ordered,” Blossom tells a young woman wearing a Sweet Blossom apron.
She turns around, an apology written all over her face. “Come on back here,” she says to us. Again, we follow her to an area in the back where a long table has been set.
“I set this up for y’all before all of that.”
“That’s normal, though,” Abby says.
Blossom is shaking her head, making the bundle of curls piled on top of her head wobble slightly.
“No. We were featured on some blog about best small-town bakeries, and things just went a little crazy.”
“You have no one to blame but yourself,” Knox says as he settles Mick next to him on the highchair that Blossom has set up. Evie insists on sitting next to her father, and Abby sits on the other side of Mick. There are two chairs left.
She laughs. “True.”
Damn, she’s confident. Most people would defer and try to change the subject. Not Blossom. She knows her worth. I find that beyond sexy on a woman.
“I know y’all don’t have any allergies, but I’m not sure about you, Mr. Holden.”
“No food allergies, and please call me Niall.”
She gives me a small smile as she sets a plate and silverware in front of me. I realize that she wasn’t expecting me.
“I don’t want to put you out.”
She shakes her head. “There’s plenty. I made Abby’s favorite.”
“Huzzah!” Abby says, pumping her fist.
“Be right back.”
Then she slips away.
“I love how this turned out. I knew she wanted a chef’s table, but they aren’t that normal in bakeries.”
I look at Abby. “A chef’s table?”
“I would think someone with your pedigree would have been to one.”
“You mean the ones where you can sit and watch the cooking?”
She nods as I keep taking in the view this does afford us. People are cleaning now, but I can imagine it would be fun to watch when they are bustling around baking.
“Cool.”
It’s an odd feeling that I want to sit here and watch her bake. I’ve never been a homebody. I’ve been touring for over twenty-five years, and I have never wanted to settle down. Now, I could imagine settling down with a woman like Blossom.
I blink at that thought, then push it aside. I just met the woman, and while she probably smells of sugar and sin, I don’t need a complication right now.
“Here we are,” she says, coming back in. “I had it in the back fridge to make sure none was sold. My workers still panic when a person like that man comes in sometimes. They aren’t used to the attention.”
The cake she sets down on the table looks like it’s made of fifty different layers. And in all my years of extravagance, I have never seen one so high unless it was at a wedding.
“I get the first piece,” Abby demands.
“Of course you do, love,” Knox says. “You don’t have to yell. Our firstborn will understand.”
Blossom chuckles as she cuts the cake. Watching her, it’s easy to tell that she has done this often. Each time she cuts the cake, it’s almost perfect, with no wobbles. I guess chefs are used to this kind of thing. When she takes my plate, I can’t take my eyes off her hands. Their small, but even at a distance, I can tell they are strong. What I wouldn’t give to have those hands on my body, feel them slide over my flesh. She sets the plate in front of me. I notice she has a tattoo on the inside of her wrist. It’s a cherry blossom branch, delicate and beautiful like the woman herself.
“Nice ink,” I say.
She blushes. “Thanks. I was named for the cherry blossom tree, so I thought it appropriate.”
She settles in the chair to my right, and I fight the urge to pull her closer to me. I keep reminding myself that we are only here for a few days, and I have a feeling Abby would beat me up if I fucked around with her friend and then left.
Life has only so much to give me, and my success with music is it. Still, I can keep myself from wishing things were different. But I learned early in my career that wishes and dreams only happen with my music.
But I can’t sit here being melancholy about that. Instead, I will enjoy this cake and let everything else go.
TWO
BLOSSOM
Niall Holden is in my bakery, and he’s sitting right next to me.
I can’t believe it. Yes, since Abby married Knox, I have met a few rockstars, but none of them were my favorite singers/songwriters of all time. He’s even more handsome in person. Those dark, dark eyes, the beard, the tattoos, and that little bit of a belly. I just want to run my hands over his stomach. I know. It’s a sickness. And I never seem to find a man like him who likes me. I have no idea why guys who hate sugar always seem to ask me out.
As everyone starts to eat, I pay attention to Mick. If I can make the pretty baby laugh, I can pretend everything is normal.
I shoot his mother a dirty look. Of course, Abby isn’t paying any attention to me. Instead, she’s attacking my red velvet cheesecake as if she hasn’t eaten in years. I smile, enjoying that I could give her something she loves.
That smile falters when I hear a low masculine growl next to me. It slips over my flesh, then down to my soul.
“Fuck me,” he whispers as I steal a glance, ready to offer to do the task. When I realize that wasn’t a request, I fight my disappointment and take enjoyment from his pleasure. His eyes are closed, but the look on his face is pure bliss.
“Tell us how you really feel, Niall,” Knox says with a laugh.
Niall’s eyes open, and I think I detect a little of a blush. “Sorry, but that was the best bite of cake I have ever had in my life.”
His words of praise have me blushing again. So embarrassing that I keep blushing, but I can’t help it.
“Thank you.”
“It’s why I had her make it for our wedding.”
“See, if you had come, Niall, you could have had some of Blossom’s cake before now.”
Did Abby have to say it like that? Of course, it’s making me think all kinds of naughty things about my cakes and Niall eating them.