Friends With Benefits (5 page)

Mom’s pursed lips proved her disapproval. “And you will never have anything serious if you don’t stop spending all your time at that shop of yours. After all, Sebastian is the better baker. Let him take some of your load.”

“Now there’s a thought I can agree with.” Cassie sent Sebastian a
gotcha
smile.

Mom’s exasperated sigh instantly erased Cassie’s smile. “I’m being serious.”

“Yes, Mom.” Cassie had learned long ago not to argue with her mother, especially one that the older woman seemed hell-bent on winning. Clutching her glass, she emptied it in one gulp. Sebastian would pay dearly for this.

* * * *

After helping Daisy with the dishes, Sebastian found Cassie on the patio. She was tucked into the curve of a chaise lounge enjoying her bread pudding, alone for a reason, he guessed. He imagined she wanted to bring brimstone and fire down upon him after what he’d done during dinner. He’d always been the one who was smoothing the tension between Daisy and Cassie, and tonight he’d been fanning the flames.

Truthfully, Sebastian was disappointed in himself. He didn’t know why he’d wanted to annoy Cassie. He knew better than anyone, Daisy had a penchant for drilling Cassie on her romance life. Though Daisy did it out of a mother’s love, she always broached the subject wrong and shut Cassie down.

Watching her, he felt a tug at his heart. He brushed his fingers through his hair in frustration. Hell, what had come over him? He’d never thrown Cassie under the bus before, so why had he tonight?

“Do you plan on standing there like you’d lost your tongue all evening?” Cassie’s words snapped the air. She didn’t even look his way.

He guessed he deserved the heat.

He walked across the patio and sat down next to her hip on the lounger. He half-expected her to push him away, but she didn’t. He relaxed and sighed. “Okay, rip my ass. I got it coming.”

She took a bite of the pudding, chewed slowly, as if choosing her weapon wisely. She swallowed, then turned to him. Her gaze tangled with his in a silent duel. “You of all people know that I don’t discuss my relationships, past, present or future, with my mother. I’ll be hearing about my barren womb for the next two months.” She dropped the fork onto the plate. The shrill clang made the next-door neighbor’s dog start barking. Cassie brought a hand to her forehead. “Hush, Rover.” Rover silenced immediately. He must have sensed by Cassie’s tone that she wasn’t in a tolerant mood.

“Your mom means well. No parent wants their thirty-something daughter living alone. You know the American dream and all, two-and-a-half kids, husband, white picket fence. Whipped Dream has become your partner. What kind of life is that for a beautiful, sophisticated, kind woman?”

“The American dream isn’t so sweet these days, Seb. Two kids that the parents are juggling because they are so busy. Workaholic husband and wife. And a fence that needs painted because no one has the time to keep up. Yeah, I’m in a big hurry to jump right into that. As for the shop, it doesn’t require its ego to be stroked like a man does.”

He shrugged. His shoulder brushed against her breast, sending a high voltage shock straight to his cock. He was a firecracker ready to be lit. Clearing his throat, and a safe path through his thoughts, he said, “Still, you’re not getting any younger.”

She frowned. Her eyes narrowed into slits. He hadn’t helped in lightening her mood. “Hey, I’m only thirty-two. It’s not like my eggs are drying up at record speed. I have time to be choosy.” She dug back into the moist treat.

She slid the fork in and then out of her mouth. Every cell in his body came alive. His blood ran so fast he wondered if he’d burst. A drop of icing clung to her upper lip. Without thought, he reached up and wiped it away. He brought his finger to his mouth and licked the sweetness clean. She looked at him as her tongue darted out and swept across the spot he’d touched. The pain behind his fly forced him to adjust his jeans for growth.

Cassie’s gaze dropped and attached to his obvious expansion. No way to hide his appreciation. Not much he could do but wear his hard-on with pride. Her eyes glistened and a smile stretched her shell-pink lips. She pointed her fork at him. “I’ve noticed you haven’t dated anyone in some time. Now you’re getting a stiffy with me. Time you confess.”

“Confess?” It was uncomfortable to speak. He wanted to sink his tongue deep into her mouth to taste the sweet flavor he knew lingered there. Then he wanted to sample every part of her body until she called out his name.

“Okay.” She put her fork down, set the plate on the end of the chair and folded her hands together, like she prepared for a deep lecture. “I’ll just come out and ask. Are you my secret admirer?”

“Are you kidding me?” The answer came out on its own.

She shook her head, sending hair across her cheeks. “No, I’m not kidding.” Her gaze sank into him like a hot knife through butter.

Sitting up, he relaxed his elbows on his knees and rested his chin in the cup of his clasped hands. “It’s a ridiculous thought.”

Her tongue came out and moistened her bottom lip. His breath caught in his lungs. “Is it? I mean, we did have a thing for each other once upon a time.”

Sweat beaded on his forehead and his shirt clung to his skin. They’d crossed a boundary into a subject he wasn’t comfortable with or even wanted to discuss at the moment. “Yeah, we once did, years ago. We’ve changed.” He screwed it up, he knew. Why couldn’t he just admit he had fallen in love with her? This was not the time, though. He needed to be sure she returned his feelings and would not run away. “Anyway, we’ve got a good thing going, right?”

She moved her body and faced him straight on. “What does that mean? We’ve got a good thing going?”

The evening settled, but he sure felt the blaze of a high afternoon sun. A cotton ball seemed to develop inside his mouth. “I’m just saying that we are best friends. We can talk to one another about anything. We can hang out without feelings getting in the way. Wouldn’t adding romance to the mix screw up the comfort level between us? And what if it didn’t work out?” He was ripping this conversation to verbal hell. He couldn’t control his words. He deserved a badge for being an idiot. The entire evening had headed the wrong direction from the start. Seeing the color change in her eyes, he definitely knew he’d talked himself into a corner.

He started to open his mouth to explain in a better way, but she jumped up so fast it almost sent him over the edge of the chair. “You’re right. A romantic connection between us would ruin everything. You and I are only meant to be friends.” She stomped toward the French doors. “My mother is right. I’m ready to start thinking about my future. A husband. Kids. However, you’re still enjoying the bachelor scene. Before we know it there’ll be another flavor of the month.”

“That is unfair–”

She turned on him–a bull ready to strike at the red cape. “Is it unfair? I’ve watched you and your revolving door for years now. Just when you get to know a woman’s middle name, the newness wears off and you drop her like yesterday’s news. And you believe you have the right to question my romantic life?” She laughed, but it sounded harsh. Rover whined. “You’re not getting any younger either. There will come a time when the giggling ladies will stop admiring you for your looks. The only thank-you you’ll get is for the concoctions you create in the kitchen and not in the bedroom.”

His heart sank. He wanted to say something. But what could he add that hadn’t already been said?

She whipped around on her heel and vanished inside.

He wanted to run after her, but he’d mess it up even more. How could he talk his way in circles around any other female but when it came to Cassie, his best friend, he always sounded
 
loose in the head? Things were already changing between them.

Chapter 4

Work was tense the following day. Cassie had barely said two words to Sebastian since her outburst at her mom’s and he wouldn’t even look her way. She’d hurt him. She’d been intentionally cruel and her words hadn’t been accurate. After she and Sebastian had broken up, he could have been labeled a playboy. He’d changed, though. She’d thought about that as she’d lay in bed last night and strolled down memory lane. What she’d found at the end of that road hadn’t been a rainbow of perfection.

Sebastian had always been there for her. She could count at least ten times she’d called him sick or sad while he was out on a date and he’d dropped everything–and anyone–to come to her rescue. She’d ruined many of his opportunities for a relationship. What woman would want a man who’d leave in the middle of a date to go and take care of his best friend, who just happened to be a female?

Cassie shook her head. She’d been selfish over the years. She’d been jealous and had wanted Sebastian to herself. How could she have been so callous? She hadn’t meant to be.

“Hello?”

Cassie pulled herself out of her thoughts and turned to the brunette standing at the counter. “I’m sorry. Can I help you?”

“Can I get a medium cafe mocha and one of those?”

Cassie followed the woman’s pointed finger. Sebastian was coming out of the kitchen carrying a tray of his specialty cinnamon rolls. “You want Sebastian?” The words fell from Cassie’s lips.

The woman laughed and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I wouldn’t mind a Sebastian but I’ll settle for a roll at the moment.”

Cassie realized her blunder and attempted a smile of apology. “Of course, I meant it only as a joke. I knew what you meant.”

“You’re a lucky woman.”

“Lucky?” Cassie asked as she tightened the lid on the steaming cup.

“To have a man like him.”

“Oh, Sebastian and I aren’t together.”

“Really?” The woman’s chocolate gaze oozed with desire as she watched Sebastian behind the glass case. “I just assumed.”

Cassie’s smile switched off , but she handed the petite brunette her cup and started to grab a roll from the container on the counter.

Sebastian said, “Take one of these. They’re fresher.”

“Thank you.” The brunette’s eyes twinkled as Sebastian packaged her cinnamon roll into a bag. “I’m new to the area. A co-worker said the rolls here are to die for. Once I tried one, I just couldn’t seem to stop. I drive three miles out of my way to grab one of these.” She held up the bag and shook it.

“Then by all means, breakfast is on the house,” Sebastian said with an ice-melting smile.

Cassie swallowed. She felt like the third wheel as the brunette returned her own toothpaste-commercial grin “Well, then, enjoy your breakfast.” Cassie forced a grin to her tight lips and stepped back from the counter, leaving Sebastian and the woman a sliver of privacy.

In the kitchen, Cassie put her energy into kneading dough. She needed something to ease the tension in her muscles from the thoughts swirling in her mind.

“Over-kneaded dough produces chewy rolls.”

Cassie looked up. Robin stood in the doorway, a concerned expression marring her otherwise perfect complexion. Cassie wanted to argue, but it would be futile. Robin was right. Cassie reached for the steel cutter and moved on to the next stage.

“When will you admit it to yourself?”

“Admit what?” Cassie asked.

“That you love him.”

“Who?” Cassie lined the circles of dough onto the pan.

“Don’t play stupid with me. You know who.” Robin grabbed two Latex baking gloves from the box, slipped them on and joined in filling another pan.

“You’re talking about Sebastian.” Cassie laughed. “Of course I love him. Seb and I are best friends.”

Robin scoffed.

Cassie stopped and wiped her hands on a towel. “Spit it out, Robin.”

The younger woman shook her head and said, “No.” Robin plopped the last roll down onto the pan and sighed heavily. She lifted her jaw and straightened her spine. “You know, I think I will tell you just how I see it. I’ve watched you and Sebastian skirt around each other like a rooster and a chicken for too long. You’re both too afraid to be honest with one another.”

Throwing the towel onto the counter, Cassie crossed her arms over her chest. She couldn’t dodge the conversation. “Why would we be afraid of being honest? We can talk about anything.”

“Everything but telling each other how you feel when it comes to emotions. Your feelings are as obvious as the hooker who stands on the corner of Fifth and Vine. You love him and I’d bet an eyetooth that he is just as crazy about you.”