Keeping Victoria's Secret (14 page)

A delicious moist three-layer chocolate
cake

with either chocolate whipped cream or cream
cheese frosting.

Ingredients for Cake:

1 cup cocoa

1 3/4 cups fresh hot coffee

1/4 dark rum

2 3/4 cups flour, sift before measuring

2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup butter, room temperature

2 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

4 eggs, room temperature

Combine cocoa with hot coffee and mix well,
then cool to room temperature. Stir in rum. Preheat oven to 350
degrees. Grease and flour 3 – 9” round layer cake pans. Sift
together flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
Beat butter and sugar until well creamed. Add eggs one at a time,
beating well after each, add vanilla. At lower speed, beat in 1/4
of flour mixture alternately with 1/3 cocoa mixture, beginning and
ending with flour mixture. Do not over beat. Pour into prepared
pans and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes, then
remove and cool on rack. Wrap and chill layers for easier
handling.

Whipped Cream Frosting:

3 cups whipping cream, very cold

1cup sugar

3/4 cup cocoa

3 teaspoons vanilla

Chill bowl and beaters.

Sift together cocoa and powdered sugar. Whip
cream on slower speed, adding sifted cocoa mixture gradually. Add
vanilla, then increase speed until thickened. Fill layers
generously, then frost swirling lavishly. Chocolate shavings or a
sifted dusting of cocoa are a nice touch.

Cream Cheese Frosting

2 – 8 oz packages cream cheese, chilled

1cup butter, softened. (2 sticks)

1 tablespoon vanilla, or 1 teaspoon almond
extract and 2 teaspoons vanilla.

2 lbs. powdered sugar. Sifting helps to
incorporate, but not necessary.

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add softened
butter, beat well. Add vanilla and powdered sugar until smooth.
Chill about 30 minutes. Fill and frost. Freezes well.

Vicky took one look in the mirror and gasped.
“Horrible! I look horrible. How could a little wine do so much
damage?” Head pounding, she shuddered. The aspirin she'd just
swallowed was burning a hole in her stomach.

After a long warm shower, working with
hairbrush and makeup, she did her best to repair the ravages of the
night before and then ventured slowly downstairs. She approached
the coffee maker cautiously. Squinting against the bright morning
light, she measured out coffee and water, and jabbed a finger at
the on switch. Hurry up coffee pot.

She was pouring her first cup as the coffee
pot was gurgling to a conclusion when Jack rapped on the back door.
She shrieked tossing most of the coffee on the counter as she
whipped around to see his smiling face. Damn that man. He looks
even better than he did last night.

“How are you feeling this morning?” he
asked.

“I’m just super.” She mopped futilely at the
coffee as it welled up at the edge of the counter and a steady
stream descended to the floor near her foot.

“I can see that.” Jack suppressed a grin as
he gathered handfuls of paper towels and wiped up the mess.

“Nobody asked you.” Ignoring him, she poured
another cup and stirred in cream. Why is he staring at me? “I know
I look terrible. Just go away.” Sipping slowly, she closed her
eyes, wishing him gone.

“I knew that apple brandy was a bad idea, but
you insisted,” he said shaking his head.

“What brandy?” She gave him a suspicious
look. “I didn’t have any brandy.”

“Uncle Charlie’s Apple Jack, remember? You
were really knocking it back.”

“Apple Jack? What’s that?” His smile could
really be so irritating.

Ignoring her question he said, “Never mind,
nothing a little coffee and aspirin won’t fix. The weather is
beautiful. Want to sit out front?”

One glance at the brightly glaring sunshine
made up her mind for her. “No.” She reached in the cabinet for
another mug and poured him a cup. “Already had the aspirin.”
Thrusting the mug at him, she said, “Please take your coffee and go
away. Come back later.”

Chuckling, Jack followed her into the living
room, where she collapsed onto the sofa, pulling a quilt over her
lap. Settling into a large armchair opposite her, Jack grinned and
eased back.

“Do you have to?” She gave him a pained
look.

“What?” he said innocently.

“Do you have to come over here looking all
fresh and handsome, while I look horrible? Go away!”

“I can’t leave now, just when things are
getting interesting. So I’m handsome?” Jack looked pleased with
himself.

She finished her coffee and pulled the quilt
over her head. “Leave me alone. Please,” she moaned, her words
muffled by the quilt.

After a minute of silence, Jack wondered
aloud, “Did I put her to sleep with my charming personality?”

“Jack?” she called through the fabric,
hesitating before continuing, “Thank you.”

“That’s the last thing you said to me before
you fell asleep last night. Thanks for what?”

“Thanks for being there. You were so
nice.”

“No problem.”

Lowering the quilt she asked, “Did you carry
me upstairs?”

He opened his mouth to answer her, but she
cut him off.

“Don’t tell me I went up by myself. Never
mind, just get me some more coffee and maybe my mind will be a
little less foggy.”

Jack went in the kitchen and filled both
their mugs, stirring cream into hers. He called out, “Let’s go sit
on the porch. It’s nice and cool out there. Trust me, you’ll love
it.”

“I like it here,” she moaned pulling the
cover back over her head.

“Come on. Don’t be difficult.” He took her
hand in his and led her onto the porch. They both settled into
wicker chairs watching the sunlight play on the apple trees and
listening to the birds.

Worried, she turned to him. “Did I say
anything stupid last night, Jack?”

He gave her a devilish leer, wiggling his
eyebrows at her suggestively.

“Oh, my god.” Her eyes went wide, her coffee
half way to her lips. “What did I say?”

Jack grinned, looking as though he were
enjoying her discomfort, and continued innocently, “You shared your
birthday cake with me. I didn’t know you were only twenty-six.”

“How old do I look?” she scowled.

“This morning?” he said chuckling.

“Jack! Stop it. What else did I say?”

“You did mention being very, very good at
sex.” There went his eyebrows again.

Appalled, she froze and slowly pleaded, “I
didn’t tell you that! Tell me I didn’t really say that.”

Jack laughed. “You said that you had a very
good imagination, whatever that means. Other than that, we talked
about your cake and the apple wine.”

“And that’s all?” she asked pointedly.

“Isn’t it enough?” he asked feigning
shock.

Giving him a frigid glare she said, “You are
such a bastard.”

“Victoria, I only wish you’d stayed awake
longer, and we could have….”

“We could have what?” she asked.

“Huh? What?” Jack stuttered. “We could
have…spent more time together. I enjoy being with you. Don’t take
this the wrong way, but you were really beautiful last night.” He
grinned as she threw him a dirty look. “Not that you aren’t
exceptionally pretty this morning.”

“Okay Jack, you’re a man.”

“Last time I looked.”

“Come on! Why is it that men aren’t attracted
to me? Tell me that.”

He shrugged. “Where do you generally meet
guys?”

She turned quickly, opened her mouth to
speak, and then closed it. After a minute, she said softly, “I
guess I just don’t meet many guys.”

“There you go. You need to get out more.” He
grinned at her and changed the subject. “Victoria, see that
building down there, by the road?” He pointed to an old wooden farm
stand that looked as though it had seen several years of
disuse.

“Isn’t that a farm stand? Do you sell produce
there?”

“We did, years back, but Uncle Charley got
tired of running it. So we just stopped, maybe five or six years
ago. I’ve always felt it was a mistake, so I’d like to start
selling to the locals again. We can open it up, sweep the dust out,
give it a coat of paint and by July and August, sell corn and
squash, later apples, cider, and pumpkins. It would mean a steady
supply of cash if we hire someone to run it when I’m busy. What do
you think?”

She was pleased and flattered that he would
ask her opinion. “I know the farming decisions are all yours, but I
think it’s a great idea. I love shopping at farm stands and buying
fresh vegetables. The produce always seems nicer than in a grocery
store.”

“I’ll probably hire a high school or college
kid. Early morning, late afternoon, and weekends just when there’s
traffic going by. If we can press our own cider in the fall we’ll
have enough income to make it worthwhile.”

“Not from Van Winkle’s cider mill.” she said
firmly.

Jack shook his head vigorously. “No way! I
know plenty of other places we can get our apples pressed into good
cider. I also have sources for apple butter, preserves, and a few
gift items made by local craftsmen. It adds interest when people
stop by,” he said, spreading his hands expansively.

A thought occurred to her. “I’ve been looking
at those old pictures from Elvira. Some show Nanna’s flowerbeds
blooming and beautiful. The beds are just a tangle of weeds now. Do
you think we could clean them out and try to recreate them with the
same kinds of flowers?”

He didn’t hesitate for a second. “Why not?
Great idea. Those beds won’t take but a few minutes to clean out
and till. I don’t have a clue what kind of flowers she grew, but
Elvira might know something, and we can find out the rest if we
just take the photos down to Vandersmoot’s. I’m sure they can fix
us up with what we need.”

She sipped at her coffee and smiled. Jack had
just said; fix us up with what we need. She watched him relax with
his legs outstretched and ankles crossed, gazing out over the
orchards. What does he mean by us? His dark features, which she
knew could look menacing, were now serene. There was a tough
no-nonsense exterior to Jack that, she suspected, concealed
something softer. She remembered finding his volume of Yeats. Is it
possible he enjoys reading poetry?

“I should be getting back to work. I’m going
down to Vandersmoot’s and pick up my order. As long as you’re okay
with the stand on the road idea, I’m going to plant more squash,
gourds, and a few other things that sell well. Get everything in
the ground over the next couple of days and it’ll be all ready late
July or August and we’ll open for business. Later today, I’ll get
those flowerbeds tilled up. Flowers should make the place more
inviting to customers too. Sound like a plan?”

“Thanks, Jack. I really appreciate your
help.”

“You don’t need to thank me all the time, but
you’re welcome. It’ll be good to get the place fixed up and looking
a little better.”

“One other thing, would you mind doing me a
favor? I’ve found a few boxes and a trunk in the attic. There may
be some of my grandmother’s things in them. The trunk is too heavy
for me to manage. Would you please help me get it down? I’d go
through everything up there, but now that the weather is getting
warmer, it gets pretty hot up there in the afternoon.”

“Sure. Would tomorrow morning be okay? I’m
curious myself to know what’s up in the attic. I can’t remember
when I was up there last. After we get the stuff down from
upstairs, if you want to, we’ll take those pictures to
Vandersmoot’s and see about buying flowers. Sound good? I do have
to get to work if we’re going to have anything to sell in
August.”

“Thank you so much Jack. I appreciate all
this.”

He grinned back at her and stood. “I told you
that you’ve got to stop thanking me all the time. You're the boss
after all. It’s your farm now.”

“Jack I’m sorry about that. I really am. It
wasn’t your fault or mine, or anyone’s except your uncle. I do feel
bad; believe me.”

He shrugged and said quietly, “Victoria,
what’s done is done. Easy come, easy go. I don’t hold anything
against you.” Jack left, walking through the house and out the back
door, depositing his empty cup in the sink on his way.

Jack was frustrated. Watching Victoria
undress in her bedroom every night and slip into a sexy nightie
before climbing in bed was driving him crazy. Now it was all he
could think about. He’d fantasized about making love to her before,
but now, just the thought of teaching her how to make love.... His
mind explored the possibilities, delicious and intoxicating. If
only she knew what he was thinking. She'd better not find out that
I've been spying on her through that bedroom window. What would it
be like, joining her in that big sleigh bed, kissing that lovely
skin everywhere as he undressed her and…?

Directing the tractor up and down the field,
leaving neat furrows behind him, Jack had plenty of time to imagine
making love to Victoria. “I’ve got to stop thinking of her and
start planning all the crops I should put in. What will produce
well and sell quickly at our roadside stand?” The droning rumble of
the engine was hypnotic. At the end of the field of turned earth,
he reversed course and continued back along the last row. His mind
drifted back to Victoria and kept returning, like a rudderless
boat, to the shore it left that morning. He pictured Victoria
sitting on the porch watching him. It was increasingly hard to keep
her out of his thoughts.