For the Love of Cake (13 page)

She rounded the corner of the display case and paused, her shoulders and chest lifting as she subtly drew in a deep breath. Their eyes met, and Jori gave her a smile full of promise. If she resisted the pull of heavenly aromas emanating from the case and came in the back, she’d find more sweets. And with Mackenzie preoccupied with customers, they could sneak a few precious moments alone.

“Come have some lunch when you’re through,” Jori said to Mackenzie before leading Sawyer through the door.

The door had barely swung shut behind them when Sawyer slid the boxes onto a nearby counter and grabbed Jori around the waist. She pulled her in swiftly and covered her mouth in a searing kiss. Jori fisted her hands in the back of Sawyer’s shirt and held on, familiar arousal thrilling through her blood.

When Sawyer lifted her mouth from Jori’s she rested their foreheads together, staying close. “I owed you that from last night. You were asleep when I got home.”

Longing to reestablish the connection, Jori pressed her lips to Sawyer’s again quickly, this time keeping the kiss brief and light. “You owe me more than that. I told you to wake me.”

Sawyer slipped her hands down to cup Jori’s ass and pull her more snugly against her. “I’ll make it up tonight.”

Jori growled low in her throat. “See that you do.”

Sawyer nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

She released Jori and gestured to the take-out boxes. “Brady made that especially for you. I know you’re busy, but try to eat it while it’s still warm.”

Jori opened one of the boxes and leaned over to smell the contents. “You told him I haven’t been eating.” She let good-natured accusation color her tone. Brady Drake’s chicken Alfredo was legendary. And for Jori, he added not only pasta and grilled chicken to the rich, cheesy sauce, but also an assortment of vegetables—broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, and whatever else he had fresh. On the side, he placed two thick, crusty slices of her homemade bread, which he’d grilled until the outside was crisp but the inside still soft and yeasty.

“He knows how often you skip lunch.”

“Luckily, with the amount of carbs I’m about to consume, I won’t have to worry about eating for days.” She usually preferred a light lunch. That’s what she told herself when she forgot to stop working long enough to eat. Brady had sent enough food for two meals, and she had no doubt that Mackenzie’s container was just as full. If she managed to eat even half of it, she’d be ready for a nap, but it would be worth fighting that urge this afternoon.

“That’s not a good plan.”

“Are you still looking for another part-time server?” Done discussing her diet, she changed the subject. She knew Sawyer worried about her, but it wasn’t as if she were wasting away. However, Sawyer wasn’t likely to enjoy the new subject any more.

“Yes. I’m doing interviews the day after tomorrow. Why?”

“Mackenzie’s cousin is looking for a job.” She rushed the sentence out, well aware of the reception it would get. Sawyer hated hiring “friends” of her employees. She didn’t want the obligation and guilt if things didn’t work out. Having initially taken her current job out of a sense of duty to her family, she now shied away from such complicated relationships among her staff.

“She’s waited tables before. She’s very prompt and responsible,” Mackenzie added as she walked into the kitchen, obviously having overheard. “She’s sleeping on my couch and I’m desperate to get her out, so she needs the money.”

Sawyer swiped her finger over the screen of her phone a couple of times. “I’ll tell you what. See if she can come by Drake’s tomorrow at four and I’ll talk to her.”

“Great. I’ll make sure she’s there.” Mackenzie took a bite of her lunch and moaned. She grasped Sawyer’s shoulder. “This is amazing.”

“I’m glad you like it but I can’t take credit. I’ll pass your praise on to my brother. He’s the chef.”

Jori picked up her own container and grabbed a plastic fork. “Take a break and enjoy your lunch. I’ll cover the front.” She gestured to Sawyer. “I’ll walk you out.”

Sawyer nodded and followed her through to the lobby of the shop. As the kitchen door swung shut behind them, she gave Jori a look of irritation.

“Don’t say it,” Jori whispered. She settled on a stool in the corner, out of view of the sidewalk but where she could still help any customers that came in.

“I shouldn’t have to,” she said so sharply that Jori winced. “You really put me on the spot there.”

“I’m sorry. I tried to ask while we were alone, but I didn’t know she’d be back just then.”

Sawyer sighed and nodded. “I really do need another server. If the cousin has solid experience, I’ll give her a shot.”

Jori tried to understand Sawyer’s reluctance to tangle business with personal relationships. But in truth, she’d loved the family atmosphere she’d found working at Drake’s restaurant, even when that left her in the middle of three squabbling siblings. She hadn’t been one of those lucky foster kids who found loving, generous parents to adopt her. She’d been on her own all of her life, until she became a part of the Drake family. She craved the very connection that Sawyer had felt smothered by all of her life, so much so that it had been a point of contention when they first got together. Jori’s need for family didn’t scare Sawyer so much anymore. In fact, they could even talk about Jori’s desire to someday have children without Sawyer having a panic attack.

Sawyer had confessed her doubts about her own value as a parent, but she’d said she had faith in how wonderful a mother Jori would be. Though she hadn’t totally committed to the idea of kids yet, she now seemed much more open than during their early discussions.

C
HAPTER
N
INE

“Why on earth are you up so early when we don’t have to be?” Alice asked as she shuffled out of the bedroom, her slippers making a whooshing sound against the carpet.

“I’m sorry if I woke you.” Shannon set the novel she’d been reading on the arm of the sofa. She picked up her mug from the coffee table and sipped her now-tepid tea. Though they finally had a free day, she woke up at six just as if her alarm had sounded. She formed habits very quickly, and her body had already adjusted to the early wake-up call due to the show’s schedule. She’d showered and dressed, then straightened her room before settling in the living room with her book.

Alice pulled the carafe from the coffeemaker. “Only briefly. I heard you out here moving around, but I went right back to sleep. We’ve been competing nonstop for what—ten days straight now. Aren’t you glad to have a break?”

Shannon shrugged. “I just want to keep going and get it over with.”

“I agree,” Lucia said as she exited the bedroom, her hair still wet from a shower. She’d already dressed in crisp, dark blue jeans and a pale-yellow, flowing blouse.

“I haven’t stepped foot out of this hotel unless it was to go to the set. I’m looking forward to exploring the city a bit. I’m meeting some of the others to walk around downtown. You ladies should come with us.” Alice practically bubbled, but Shannon couldn’t summon the same level of excitement for a city she already knew so well.

“I’m in,” Lucia said.

“I think I’ll catch up on my laundry and maybe call my daughter.”

“I’ll get ready.” Alice headed for her bedroom, but she paused in the doorway and looked at Shannon. “Laundry can wait. Get your butt off that couch and come with us. We all need a break. You can be our tour guide for the day.”

Shannon sighed. The last thing she wanted to do was wander around Nashville with the same people she’d been looking at constantly for the past ten days. But Alice wasn’t likely to go quietly—the woman didn’t do anything quietly.

Shannon went to her bedroom and checked her appearance in the mirror. She took her time gathering her coat and purse. By the time she returned to the living room, Alice and Lucia were ready and waiting.

“The guys are meeting us downstairs.” Alice practically bounced to the elevator.

“What guys?” Lucia asked.

“Mason and Ned.” She giggled a little when she said Ned’s name.

“Ned, huh?” Shannon teased.

“What? He’s kind of hot.”

“If you’re into tattoos and wild hair.” Lucia didn’t seem convinced.

Shannon didn’t say anything. Ned didn’t appeal to her. And she would never have thought she could be into tattoos or outrageous hairstyles. But Maya had both. The similarities ended there. While both were talented chefs, Ned boasted about his work louder than anyone, and Maya conducted herself with a steady, quiet confidence. Personally, Shannon found Maya’s bravado sexy because she’d seen the sweet, genuine woman underneath. Unless she’d completely missed something, she didn’t think Ned had anything buried under his arrogance.

As they stepped out of the elevator and into the lobby, Alice rushed forward to greet Ned and Mason. Shannon followed more slowly and returned Mason’s subdued wave. Two cameramen sprawled in chairs in the lobby, but they jumped up as she and the other women approached.

“Guess we have babysitters,” Mason mumbled.

“Apparently.” Alice didn’t sound pleased that they wouldn’t be left alone for the day.

“So where are we off to?” Ned asked as they all headed for the door.

“Let’s just start walking and see where we end up.”

They exited the hotel, trailed by the two cameramen, one of whom circled them to get a shot from the front as they walked along the street. Other pedestrians gave them curious looks as they passed. Those who didn’t seem as fazed by the cameras still took a second look at Ned’s bright-blue Mohawk.

“This is inconspicuous,” Lucia muttered.

“If you wanted inconspicuous, you shouldn’t have signed up to be on national television.” Ned preened like a peacock in front of the cameras.

“Isn’t your shop around here somewhere?” Alice asked, looking around like she might see it.

“A few blocks over.” She glanced in the direction of Drake’s. They were so close, she imagined she could feel the heat of the ovens and smell the baking cakes and the sugary tang of icing. She missed her kitchen at the bakery. She missed designing cakes just for the simple joy of pleasing the customer—of making their occasions special. She’d been gone less than two weeks, but the pressure she’d been under in that time made it feel like longer. How would she ever handle the change in her life after the show was over? Could she go back to the kind of work she was doing at Drake’s?

“Let’s go check it out,” Ned said.

“I don’t think I should.” Shannon stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, causing Mason to almost run into her.

“Come on, we’ll just walk by.”

“I’m pretty sure one of the many papers we signed said no physical contact with friends and family unless the producers say so. I don’t need to give anyone a reason to kick me off the show. But you guys go ahead if you want to. I’ll meet up with you later.”

“Let’s all stay together. We’ll find someplace good to eat.” Alice looped her arm through Shannon’s and tugged her along the sidewalk. “Besides, it’s our first day off since we’ve been here. The last place I want to be is surrounded by cake.”

Ned shrugged and charged ahead.

“Thanks,” Shannon murmured to Alice.

Alice smiled, then began a running commentary on the sights around them. Shannon followed along, answering the occasional question about this business or that.

Her family had always lived in the suburbs, and unless they were going out for a meal or catching a show at the performing-arts center, they didn’t venture into the downtown area. She’d often thought it was because her parents, both attorneys, spent their long working hours in the congested area, and when they finally got home, they didn’t want to go back down there. But as a child, those adventures among the tall buildings and crowded streets had been magical.

She called out a few tidbits about the new convention center being built just south of Broadway. Since she’d been at Drake’s she’d seen the progress, beginning with the blasting and clearing away of the old buildings through to the nearly finished, modern structure now spanning three city blocks.

They strolled around for a couple of hours, ducking into souvenir shops and Western clothing stores.

“We should all get matching tattoos,” Alice exclaimed as they passed a tattoo shop.

“Not a chance,” Lucia said quickly.

“Yeah. I only let
my
guy touch a needle to this skin,” Ned said.

At Alice’s eager look, Shannon shook her head, but she thought about the antique hand mixer inked on Maya’s forearm. She’d never considered getting a tattoo but had to admit she found Maya’s sexy. And she liked the significance of it. She might think about getting one to commemorate this amazing time in her life. But she wouldn’t be choosing it on a whim. She’d have to think about subject matter and placement. Besides, if she got one, she wanted it to be original, not matching anyone else’s.

“Okay. How about lunch? I’m starving.”

Shannon led the group to her favorite barbeque joint. Since it was well past noon, the lunch crowd had thinned and a hostess led the five of them to a table right away. As soon as they were settled, they ordered a round of beers. When Mason, a native Chicagoan, asked for local flavor, Shannon added a basket of fried pickles and an order of fried green tomatoes as appetizers.

“Man, it feels good to have a break today.” Ned leaned back in his chair and laid his arm along the back of Alice’s.

“I’m trying to absorb as much relaxation as I can. Who knows when we’ll have another day like this,” Alice said, her voice high and fast.

Lucia laughed. “So you’re stressing yourself out about relaxing.”

“I guess I am.”

“I know what you mean, though,” Shannon said. “I feel like we’ve been on a roller coaster for days. We never know from one challenge to the next when we might be in danger of elimination.”

“Maybe
you
don’t. I haven’t been nervous yet.” Ned finished his beer and waved at the waitress for another one. “But I can see why you ladies would worry.”

“Ned,” Mason warned him.