Seducing the Baker (At First Sight) Read Free Page A

use her enthusiasm. He listened to her chatter about her boss’ plan. A five year goal. Slow growth. Quality products. He waited for the clerk to run down.
    “Where is the owner? I must speak to her.”
    The blonde leaned on the counter. “She’s busy creating a new cupcake.”
    “Is she here or at home?”
    “In the back.” She pointed to a door behind the counter. “I’ll let her know you’re here but if she’s working you’ll have to wait.”
    She stepped from the counter. The bell above the door chimed.
    The arrival of several customers distracted the clerk. Jules couldn’t wait. He made a snap decision. On Monday morning he intended to have the signed contract delivered to Allie.
    “You can’t go back there.”
    Ignoring the young woman’s shout he slipped around the end of the display case and opened the door. Heat, a touch of vanilla and a jolt of rum and lemon hit him. The aromas gathered in a collage of scent.
    The baker stood beside a marble topped table. She wore a long apron tied at her slender waist. Temptation to discover if his hands could span her waist nearly caused him to forget why he’d come into this room. A white hairnet covered hair as dark as his. Would her face match the delectable rear view? She held a plastic bag and swirled icing on a cupcake. The door closed with a loud snap.
    Without turning she held out one of the confections. “Try this one and let me know if I’ve mastered the flavor.”
    Jules accepted. The voice belonged to the woman of his brief phone conversations. During those moments he’d conjured a face to match the throaty voice. The image belonged to the only girl who had turned him down.
    What if? Such an occurrence would be beyond belief. Still the thought stirred his desire.
    Cool it, dude.
    Jules bit into the cupcake. Rum and lemon, spices and small bits of fruit blended into perfection.
    “What do you think?”
    The question pulled him from a haze of tastes and desire. What about me licking this icing from your breasts? Had he said that aloud?
    “Well?” She turned.
    He nearly dropped the rest of the cupcake. Her face belonged to his memories of the star of his teenage fantasies. Alarms clanged. Trouble. He drew a deep breath. This time he intended to succeed.
    “Actually the flavor’s great. Fruitcake but light. The spices, fruit and icing blend perfectly.”
     
     
     
    Chapter Two
     
    A frown creased Grace’s forehead. Did she know this man? Something resonated in her memories but no name bobbed to the surface. He resembled the faceless man of her fantasies. The hair, short and styles instead of long and shaggy. Was he someone she’d seen on TV, except she watched cooking shows, not sports, prime time or movies?
    “How did you get in here?”
    “By the door.”
    His crooked grin brought a name closer to the surface. Did he look like someone she should know? “Why did Bonnie let you come into the kitchen?”
    “The arrival of a flock of customers derailed her.”
    Grace sucked in a breath. Who was he? He was too young and too well-dressed to be one of the men her mother had dragged home years ago. “Do you really think the cupcake is good?”
    “I do.” He finished the last bite and crumpled the paper. With a flick of his wrist he tossed the small wad into the trash bin across the room. “You’ve achieved a miracle. Edible fruitcake.”
    His smooth words spread over her skin like a swatch of velvet. Whoever he was he talked about the treat like a man who knew food. Was he a rival? Had he come to steal her recipes? He certainly hadn’t appeared to ask for a job. Not when he wore what looked like custom-made clothes.
    “What will you call this one?”
    Grace stepped back. The cold marble of the worktable edge pressed against her back. “Fruitcake.”
    “Not like any I’ve ever tasted.” He grinned. “I hate holiday parties where the hostess pushed dark dense stuff she’d ordered by mail or baked.”
    Grace laughed. “I’ve eaten