My Sweetheart (4 page)

             
Meredith materialized at her side with a frown on her face. “Did I just see Kam ask you out?” she asked staring after the man darkly.

             
Jane nodded her head. “I think so. Something about a pig roast at the Matafeo’s house,” she said worriedly, glancing over in Tate’s direction. He was facing her as one of his younger cousins talked to him excitedly. He was talking but his eyes were on her and he didn’t look happy either.

             
Jane looked away quickly and realized Meredith looked upset. “Is there a rule against dating Samoan guys or something?” she asked curiously wondering if there was a cultural rule she wasn’t aware of.

             
Meredith laughed at that and shook her head. “No, not really. But
sometimes
. It depends. Feke’s family is really cool about Tawni. They don’t care if she’s white. But some families are real traditional and don’t like it.”

             
Jane glanced at Tate again, but now there were two Samoan girls talking to him and he was grinning and laughing and possibly flirting. She closed her eyes at the wave of pain that caused her and turned back to Meredith. “What about Tate Matafeo? Does his family not like him to date white girls?” she asked softly, wondering if that was his hang up with her.

             
Meredith shrugged and looked over at Tate curiously. “He’s an interesting guy. Pretty much an orphan. His dad was a gang member way back in the day and ended up getting shot by a rival gang. His mom was white, but she died of a drug overdose when he was young. He was passed around the family for a while and then Feke told me he got into some trouble and that’s when his uncle Toa took him under his wing. He’s been on the straight and narrow ever since. Kam and him are cousins. I never see them date white girls, but you never know.”

             
Jane pursed her lips and sighed. There was a lot she didn’t know about Tate. “So if I show up to this party with Kam will he get in trouble?” she asked worriedly spotting the large man laughing with a few teammates.

             
Meredith pouted and shook her head. “Nah, look at him. Who would dare tell him what to do?” she asked morosely.

             
Jane stared at Meredith for a moment. “Uh Meredith? Do you like Kam?” she asked in confusion.

             
Meredith looked at her like she was an idiot. “Are you kidding me? Kam’s like an older brother to me. Besides, I just told you I was trying to get over my ex.”

             
Jane nodded and grimaced. Well, if Meredith was still trying to get over her ex, she was sending out a lot of mixed signals. Maybe she was ready to date, but just wasn’t ready to admit it. Because where she was standing, Meredith was acting a little jealous. She smiled to herself and decided that she would do something fun. She was going to play match maker. She was going to find some way to get Kam and Meredith together.

             
Meredith glanced at her and frowned. “What are you grinning about? Come on, it’s getting chilly. Let’s go,” she said and headed toward the parking lot.

             
Jane followed more slowly as Meredith took a detour and pulled Tawni away from Feke. “You’ll see her tomorrow and she’s my ride. I swear if you don’t let her go I’ll chop your hand off,” she said with a glare.

             
Feke laughed and kissed Tawni one more time before letting Meredith drag her away. Jane giggled and followed the two girls but then stopped. “Hey, I forgot my cupcake platter. I’ve gotta run back and get it,” she called to Meredith.

             
She turned and waved. “I’ll email you about the next game. We should get together for lunch this week too. I’ll call you!” she shouted and then followed Tawni.

             
She turned and walked right into a brick wall. A sweaty brick wall. Kam was standing in front of her holding her platter in one hand and the last cupcake in the other.

             
“You forgot something,” he said eating the cupcake and smiling down at her.

             
Jane laughed and took the platter from him. “I’ve never seen anyone eat so many cupcakes. Which one was your favorite?” she asked curiously.

             
Kam tilted his head and thought about it as he casually took the rubber band out of his pony tail letting his long dark, wavy hair flow around his shoulders. She blinked in surprise.
Holy crap.
The man was beautiful.

             
“I loved the pineapple one but the banana one with the cream cheese frosting was amazing. I could eat two dozen of those easy,” he said looking at the empty platter with a frown.

             
Jane grinned. “I’ll be sure and make some of those for Saturday.”

             
“
What are you making for Saturday
?”

             
Jane turned around and saw Tate step toward her with a frown. Kam slapped Tate on the back and slung his arm around his shoulder.

             
“Jane’s making me more cupcakes. She’s coming with me to the party bro.”

             
Tate’s face hardened and his eyes went cold as he looked at Jane accusingly as if she’d been the one to ask Kam out. She blinked in surprise and frowned back at him.

             
“Kam, you know your mom put you on a diet. She told you only one dessert a day,” Tate said turning his head to look at his cousin.

             
Jane stared at Kam’s rock hard body and shook her head in confusion. The man did not need a diet. Kam laughed and punched Tate in the side. “She’s scared I’ll get diabetes like Dad. If you tell her how many cupcakes I ate I’ll break your leg,” he said, narrowing his eyes at Tate.

             
Tate grinned and held up his hands. “If you bring Jane Saturday how will she not know? She’ll be there.”

             
Kam frowned and looked at Jane. Jane laughed. “I get the feeling that the only reason you asked me out is for my cupcakes.”

             
Kam shrugged looking like a naughty boy. “The way to my heart is through my stomach. I can’t help that. When I find the woman who can cook as good as my mom, I’ll make her my wife. What else can you cook?” he asked curiously.

             
Jane caught Tate’s gaze and realized that he was not happy with the direction this conversation was going.
Tough.
Served him right.

             
“I can cook anything really. I think it runs in our family. My sisters are bakers too. You should try my sister Kit’s sourdough bread. It’s on the menu at the Iron Skillet if you’ve ever eaten there.”

             
Kam stared down at her looking intrigued. Tate cleared his throat and interrupted. “Kam, I think your dad is calling your name. He needs help with the equipment.”

             
Kam looked over his shoulder at a larger, older man calling his name and waved his hand. “Gotta go. See you Saturday Jane. And don’t forget to make a banana cupcake just for me,” he said with a wink and then turned and trotted toward his dad.

             
Jane waved goodbye and then let her smile slip. Tate was frowning at her.
Again
.

             
“What is your problem Tate? Do you always have to frown at me? You don’t have a problem smiling at everyone else,” she said angrily and turned and walked away, heading toward the parking lot and her car.

             
Tate kept pace with her, staying silent until they reached her car. He grabbed her arm before she could open her door though.

             
“Sorry, I don’t mean to frown at you. Are you really going to go out with Kam?” he asked, sounding mad again.

             
Jane turned and leaned up against her car and crossed her arms over her chest. “Well, I am going to be with him this Saturday. It’s nice to be asked out sometimes and he seems like a nice guy. But don’t worry. I haven’t set my sights on him. I’m actually going to try and figure out a way to set up Meredith with Kam. I think they’d be cute together.”

             
Tate grinned down at her and shook his head. “Meredith can’t cook to save her life Jane. You heard Kam. His biggest love in life is food. If she can’t cook, he won’t look at her twice.”

             
Jane frowned and then froze.
She could teach Meredith
. She could even go one step further and hold cooking classes for her match and mingle friends. It would bring in new business and be a fun hobby and she’d be able to help Meredith get together with Kam.

             
“
Uh oh
, what are you thinking?” Tate demanded, frowning.

             
Jane grinned and patted his cheek. “You just gave me a brilliant idea. I’m going to teach Meredith how to cook. I bet you I get those two together,” she said cockily.

             
Tate grabbed her hand off his cheek but kept hold of her as he shook his head. “I’ll take that bet. I bet you they don’t go on even one date.”

             
Jane tried to ignore the fact that Tate was actually holding her hand and narrowed her eyes at him. “Okay, let’s make this interesting. I’ll bet you one free cupcake every day for a month if I lose.”

             
Tate’s eyes went big and he smiled. “I would
love
that,” he said honestly but then frowned at her. “Okay, but what if you win? What do you want?” he asked softly as he leaned toward her.

             
Jane’s eyes went wide as she stared up into the face she adored. She closed her eyes and looked away knowing that she couldn’t ask for what she really wanted.

             
“I don’t know,” she whispered, and swallowed nervously.

             
Tate made a humming sound in his throat. “Well, since we both know I’m going to win this bet, it doesn’t really matter. But I’ll let you come up with something later. I don’t even care what it is because I promise you, there’s no way Kam would ever be interested in Meredith.
Ever
,” he added decisively.

             
Jane glared at Tate. “Fine, but you’re going to be begging for mercy when I win. I’m going to make you suffer,” she promised with a tilt of her chin.

             
Tate raised an eyebrow and smiled down into her eyes and somehow their faces were closer. “That actually sounds kind of interesting. I almost regret having to win now.”

             
Jane laughed and then he let go of her hand as she realized they now had company. A beautiful tall woman with cascades of long black hair walked up to Tate and put a hand on his shoulder. “Tate, you promised to give me a ride home.
Who’s this?”
she asked, looking Jane up and down with a scowl.

             
Tate smiled at the woman and took a step back from Jane. “Alea, this is my friend Jane. She owns a bakery I go to often,” he said.

             
Jane smiled politely at the girl. “Hi, you have such beautiful hair. It must take you hours to do it,” she said.

             
Alea sneered at her and ignored her, turning back to Tate. “Let’s go Tate.”

             
Jane’s mouth fell open and her eyebrows went up at the rudeness. Tate glared at the girl and then looked back at Jane. “Sorry Jane. Alea is . . . a
friend
of mine. She still has a lot to learn about manners,” he said direly. “I’ll see you around,” he said and took the woman by her arm and marched off.

             
Jane frowned after them wondering why Alea had taken such a dislike to her. She got in her car and drove home, her mind racing back and forth over everything that had happened that night. But no matter where her thoughts took her, they always came back to point A.
Tate Matafeo
.

             
Jane spent the next few days working hard. She and Kit had to take up the slack left by Layla. Even though Julie came in every day to bake pies, they still had to make the regular desserts that Layla loved to put out. Kit slid in a tray of cream puffs and glared at the oven.

             
“Jane, I’m going to hire a new baker. I’m going to put an ad in the paper this week. We’re both going crazy trying to do everything,” she said in irritation and slipped off her oven mitts to take a drink of water.

             
Jane sighed tiredly and walked over to wash her hands at the sink. “Layla will be back in a week and a half. I know this isn’t fun Kit, but we can handle it for a little while longer.”

             
Kit frowned at Jane and leaned her hip against the counter as she studied her little sister. “Jane, after I get married, I won’t be doing the bread anymore. I’ll be living on Vashon Island with Hunter and there’s no way I’ll make it here by four every morning. We’re going to have to train a new bread maker. I’ll come in part time, but Hunter and I were talking and we both think it’s important that I paint more. He wants to buy me my own little art gallery.”

             
Jane stared at her sister in surprise. “Wow Kit. That’s amazing,
but
. . . but that changes everything. I mean, it’s been us.
Sisters
. Bringing in someone new will make everything so weird,” she said, looking away and wanting to cry for some reason.

             
Kit bit her lip and walked over, touching Jane on the arm. “Sweetie, life is nothing but change. I know we’ve had a great time working together, but I’m going to be a wife now and I have to make compromises. Hunter and my marriage have to come first. I know Layla will need to make adjustments too. Layla has a family now; she won’t be able to keep up this schedule. We need to plan ahead so we’re not left in the lurch.”

             
Jane covered her eyes with her hands for a moment as her happy reality suddenly turned gray and horrible. Moving to Fircrest and working and living with her sisters had been the happiest time of her entire life. And now it looked like it was over.

             
“Stop looking like it’s the end of the world Jane. Me and Layla will still be at the bakery every day. We’ll be here with you. Just not all the time.”

             
Jane looked up, trying to smile for her sister. “You’re right. It’ll be fine. Why don’t you put in the ad and we can do the interviews later in the week,” she said watching Kit smile in relief.

             
“You’re the best Jane. I’ve already got the ad typed up. I’ll go ahead and post it,” she said and hurried over to the laptop.

             
Jane frowned and pretended that she needed to look at something in the store. The truth was, she just needed a few moments to herself. She stood at the front door and stared out at the busy street.
Why did happiness never last?

             
She stared unseeing at the cars driving past and closed her eyes for a few moments before she straightened her shoulders and turned around to get back to work. Life was about adapting. She’d been doing it her whole life. She’d survive this too. But she knew she’d hate it.

             
Hunter came in four hours later to take Kit to lunch. Kit rushed upstairs to change and freshen up, leaving them alone in the store.

             
Jane couldn’t help wanting to blame Hunter for stealing her sister away and tried to stay busy cleaning the glass display cases instead of talking to him. What she really wanted to do was throw a large cupcake at his head.

             
“How’s it going Jane? Kit tells me you’re thinking about starting a cooking class for singles,” he said walking over to her and smiling.

             
Jane straightened up and glanced at her future brother in law. Okay, she could see why Kit had fallen so hard for the guy. He was tall, built and had the brains of five men. That combined with a sweet and shy personality, who wouldn’t be a goner? He smiled curiously at her, his eyes crinkling up on the sides and she gave in and smiled back.

             
“Yeah, it’s a good way to meet people. Layla’s gone and Kit is running around busy all the time getting ready for the wedding. I guess I just needed something to do,” she said, making a ball out of her paper towels and throwing it perfectly into the trash can.

             
Hunter grinned and then tilted his head as he looked at her. “I know there’s been a lot of change lately with Layla getting married and Kit getting engaged to me. I think if it were me, I’d probably feel a little left out. Jane, you’re one of the most beautiful, intelligent girls I’ve ever met. You’re going to find the right man for you someday. I know it,” he said reaching out touching her cheek shyly.

             
Jane looked up into Hunter’s face and the tender understanding she saw there, had her sniffling and him pulling her into his arms. He hugged her for a moment, rubbing her back. “You probably resent me a little, huh? You can admit it. I saw your face when I walked in. You looked like you wanted to throw one of my mom’s pies in my face.”

             
Jane laughed and looked up into Hunter’s face, letting all of her anger and resentment drain away. How could she resent the man who had made her sister so happy?

             
“You’re wrong. I wanted to throw a cupcake, but that was just me being childish. One half of me is ecstatic that you two are so happy and in love but the other half of me wants to kill you because you’re stealing my sister away. I think I might be psychotic,” she admitted with a grin.

             
Hunter laughed and kissed her forehead. “Aren’t we all?”

             
Kit breezed in and took one look at Hunter with his arms around her little sister and she grinned. “Oh my heck, that’s darling. You two are bonding,” she said, beaming at the both of them.

             
Hunter laughed and opened an arm for her. “Group hug then.”

             
Kit walked into his arm and immediately began kissing him. Jane pulled away making loud gagging sounds.

             
“I love you Hunter but you two are the worst. Go on, go to lunch. This is a make out free zone,” she stated as the door opened and Tate walked in, looking as if he might have heard her loud pronouncement.

             
Kit laughed and pulled Hunter out of the bakery. “We have been banished. Bye Tate.”

             
Tate waved at Kit and Hunter and then turned and looked at her with laughing brown eyes. “I didn’t know we had make out free zones in town. Are you sure this is an official M.O.F zone?” he teased, coming to stand in front of the display case as Jane hurried around to the other side, feeling her face turn bright red.

             
Why did he always have to come in at the wrong time?

             
“If I have anything to say about it, it is. Do you know how annoying it is to turn around and constantly find both of your sisters glued to good looking men? It’s a little awkward to say the least. I have to put my foot down or I’m going to have to put an R rating on our bakery. We’ll lose all of our business,” she said briskly and picked up a square of wax paper.

             
Tate grinned at her and shook his head. “You’re so cute, you know that?”

             
Jane blinked in surprise and turned redder. “
Yeah
, I’m darling. What would you like today, Officer?” she asked primly.

             
Tate’s eyes gleamed at her but he obediently looked at the case in front of him. “Can’t I just start getting my free cupcake a day right now? We both know I’ll win, so there’s no reason to put it off,” he said looking down at her with a charming smile.

             
Jane glared at him and shook her head. “You are so arrogant Tate. How did you get to be so prideful? I’ll have you know that my first cooking class is Friday night. I’ve invited all the singles from the match and mingle site to come. I’ve already had seven people RSVP and Meredith is definitely coming. I’m going to teach her how to make the world’s best cake. Kam won’t know what hit him,” she said with relish.

             
Tate stood up and put his hands on his hips as he stared at her in surprise. “You’re actually serious about this. You really think you have a chance. Sorry Jane, but get ready to lose. There’s no way Kam would pick Meredith over you. You really
do
know how to cook and you’re gorgeous.”

             
Jane felt her heart skip a beat and she stared at Tate in surprise. Okay –
Wow
. “That’s sweet Tate, but you’re just wishing. Meredith is darling. She’s way cuter than I am. She’s so sassy and she has beautiful blond hair. Put a cupcake in her hand and Kam will follow her anywhere.”

             
Tate looked at her like she was insane. “
Are you blind?
Do you own a mirror? You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met. If I were Kam,
I’d
. . . ,” he stopped and realized what he was saying and looked away, creating an awkward silence.

             
Jane hurried to fill the quiet and opened the case lifting out a small cup of crème brulee. “Here, try a sample of this. We just started selling them, but I’m not sure we have the flavor right. You used to be a taste tester for us. Tell me what you think,” she urged, handing him a spoon.

             
Tate grinned and took a bite, closing his eyes in pleasure and groaning loudly. “This is the most deliciously sinful thing I’ve ever tasted,” he swore and took another bite.

             
When he was finished, he put the cup and spoon on the counter and stared at her as if he was mesmerized.

             
“I take it I passed the test?” she said, grinning at his reaction.

             
Tate smiled at her and laughed softly. “If there was a test, you passed a long time ago. Give me a few of those and one of those cream puffs there,” he said pointing to the tray of rich desserts.

             
Jane boxed up his choices and laughed as she rang him up. “I always wondered how you stayed so fit after eating all of our desserts. You burn off all your calories playing rugby.”

             
Tate grinned and handed her a few bills as he picked up the box. “I usually share. But thanks for noticing.”

             
Jane blushed and shook her head at him. It almost felt as if he was flirting with her. He probably figured now that she was going on a date with Kam, he could relax around her.

             
“I guess I’ll see you Saturday then,” she said as he turned to go.

             
Tate turned back and looked at her. “Ever decide on what you want if I lose the bet?” he asked, leaning against the door.

             
Jane stared at him, with the sun coming through the windows, making it seem as if he were glowing. She blinked the image away and knew what she really wanted. Well, if he could flirt with her and fluster her all for the fun of it, maybe she should return the favor and fluster him a little.

             
“Actually, I have thought about it. If I win and Kam asks Meredith on a date, you have to ask me out on a date too. A
real
date. Where I dress up and we go to a nice restaurant and then out dancing,” she said, staring him down like a gunslinger from Texas.

             
Tate looked surprised for a moment, different emotions swimming through his eyes before he looked away. “Jane, you know that’s not a good idea.”

             
Jane smiled brightly, trying to hide her disappointment as she began straightening the sacks on the counter. “Why would I know that? If you ask me, I think it’s a great idea.
I always have
,” she said softly, watching cautiously as he walked back to her.

             
He leaned across the counter and stared into her eyes. “I wouldn’t be good for you Jane. You need someone different. I’m too hard,” he said, his eyes looking pained for a moment. “You should be with someone like Michael or Hunter.”

             
Jane frowned at him and reached out and covered his hand with hers. “First off, don’t tell me what or who’s good for me. Second of all, you can’t know yourself at all if you believe that. I think you’re the nicest man I’ve ever known.”

             
Tate stared at her in surprise and then shook his head as if to clear it. “Jane, you don’t know what’s good for you.
I’m not it
,” he said firmly, pulling his hand away from hers.

             
Jane glared at him and crossed her arms over her chest. “Then you better win that bet because if I do, you’re mine. For one night anyways. I hope you own a nice tie,” she said and watched as he turned and walked away from her.