The Matchbaker (A Romantic Comedy) (14 page)

Thirteen

Apparently the Colin-infused cupcakes worked like a charm for Mrs. Shoemaker and her husband. She even sent a thank you note to tell me so. And since then, I’ve been a believer. Both in magic and in my abilities. It still isn’t easy to wrap my mind around, but I’m forced to accept it for the sake of our customers.

The custom orders have piled in every day, much to my amazement. is it possible this many people know about their magical qualities? And if they do, why haven’t
I
realized it before? I mean, I was raised by the former Cupcake Witch, wasn’t I?

Or maybe I wasn’t supposed to find out. Maybe Mom was putting spells on all my food when I was growing up so I wouldn’t catch on.

“Earth to Candy!”

I snap to attention and turn to my sister, my mouth agape.

“I think you burned the caramel.”

Surely enough, smoke was rising from the pot on the stove. “You didn’t want to help?” I run across the room, click off the burner and remove the pot from the heat.

“Sorry,” Holly says. “I’m knee-deep in fondant pumpkins over here.”

Right. For the most obscene cupcake we make: Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater. Colin was definitely working overtime in my mind while I stirred that batter.

Colin bursts through the door, and heat infuses my cheeks. What timing.

“Hey, honey,” he says to Holly, then he turns to me. “Candy.”

I smile. “Hi.”

“Listen,” Holly says, hopping off her stool. “I really appreciate this. You sure you feel comfortable?”

Colin brushes her off with a wave of his hand. “Of course. How hard can it be?”

I watch the two of them with a scowl in my brow. What are they talking about?

“Just make sure you put the right decoration on the right cupcake, all right?”

“Got it.” Colin kisses Holly on her lips—an action that has me turning away to stare intently at the Electromix. “I’ll see you tonight.”

“Um, excuse me,” I say, unable to hold my tongue any longer. “What’s going on here?”

Holly grabs her bag and sweater, then turns to me. “Don’t you remember? I have a dentist appointment this afternoon. Colin is going to fill in for me.”

My jaw drops. “What do you mean? He doesn’t know how to mold fondant.”

Holly’s laugh grates on my nerves. “Wow, you really have been in La-La Land lately, haven’t you?” She crosses the room and puts an arm around my shoulder. “All the decorations are done. Colin is just going to put them on the cupcakes when they’re ready.”

“Oh.” I hate how sweaty my palms are and how short and spasmodic my breath is at the thought of spending the day alone with Colin. Sure, we’ll be working, but still…we’ll be alone.

Images of him sweeping all the fondant toppers to the floor, then throwing me onto the table and having his way with me fill my head. I can’t stop them.

“All right, see you later! You two behave yourselves!”

I practically snort with nervous laughter at that last warning. “We’ll try!” I yell back, feeling like a complete idiot.

“So, what do you need me to do?” Colin asks as I turn around. God, I hate how hot my cheeks feel.

“Um, well…I—”
Come on, Candace, pull yourself together
. “These!” I reach for a tin of Hakuna Matatas and slide them down the stainless steel table. “They get the little pineapples.”

“Great!”

Colin sets to work and I go back to the stove, determined not to let the caramel filling burn this time. As I stand over the pot, stirring the golden sugar, the silence starts to get to me. It shouldn’t. I mean, we’re working, after all. Conversation isn’t necessary. But it’s killing me.

“So,” I begin, my tone so cheerfully alarming that I make Colin jump on his stool. “Things are going well with Holly?”

If Colin wasn’t able to see me, I would slap my forehead for my stupidity. Why on earth would I bring up his relationship with my sister?

Okay, I know why. Half of me hopes he’ll admit things are going poorly and then I’ll have my chance. My chance to jump in and say something wise, like, “Life is too short to spend it with someone you’re not crazy about.”

“God, yeah,” he says, looking up from the tiny pineapples, a dreamy expression on his face. “She’s amazing. I swear I’ve never had such an easy time in a relationship.”

“Oh,” I say, and then realize that
Oh
sounded surprised, which it was, but I don’t want Colin to think I’m not supportive. So I repeat my, “Oh,” and add, “Well, that’s just awesome!”

Oh, God. Overkill, for sure. But Colin doesn’t seem to notice, drunk on love as he is.

“I mean, we hardly ever argue,” he continues, much to my personal dismay. “No fights over where to eat or what to watch on TV. I guess that’s what happens when you date someone you actually have something in common with.”

He laughs, and so I laugh with him. It’s totally forced—not at all genuine sounding. But I’m starting to feel desperate. Holly is sinking her talons deeper and deeper into Colin, and soon, he won’t even know I exist. I have to do something.

“Well,” I say, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. “Sometimes you can have
too
much in common, you know?” God, I’m diabolical.

Colin cocks his head and gives me a questioning grin. “What do you mean?”

I shrug. “Oh, you know…it’s just that I dated this guy once and we literally had everything in common. It was like dating myself.” I laugh, desperate to lighten the mood now that I’ve planted a seed of doubt in Colin’s mind. “But really, there should only be one of me. Trust me. It didn’t end pretty.”

Colin nods thoughtfully. “I can see what you mean,” he says, topping another cupcake with a miniature pineapple. “But thankfully Holly and I don’t have everything in common. Just the stuff that matters. And it’s the mutual respect we have for the things we don’t have in common that probably matters more. Maybe that’s what was missing in your relationship.”

I look down at the bubbling caramel and roll my eyes. Great. Now he’s giving me advice on a fictional relationship. This conversation has gone way off course. “Yeah, probably,” I say, hoping to change the subject as quickly as possible.

“Hey, Candy!” Caroline bounds through the door of the kitchen, saving me from having to say anything else on the topic. “Another special order. She wants to know if you can have them done by six o’clock tonight.”

I look at the pink order form.
Fall for Me
.

I glance at Colin. He’s hard at work topping the cupcakes, so he doesn’t see me studying him with my lust-glazed eyes. God, he’s gorgeous. His dark hair rests gently atop his perfect head, outlining his stunning features. Those eyes, that nose, those lips…

“Yeah,” I say, turning back to Caroline, while the most evil plan I’ve ever had formulates in my mind. “Six o’clock is fine.”

I know it’s wrong. I really know it is. But deep down, at the heart of me, I’m a ruthless, cunning businesswoman. At least I used to be. Surely I can conjure that side of me up again.

Besides, what good is it to have magical powers if you can’t use them for yourself?

Fourteen

As I help Colin put the finishing touches on the Fall for Me cupcakes, I watch his hands intently. They’re so strong, so sure as he nestles the abstract white chocolate drizzle into the frosting. I let my gaze trail up his arms to his face, his blue eyes so focused on getting the decorations just right. It’s time to put my plan to work—test my abilities. I put all my heart and soul into these cupcakes. If he doesn’t fall in love with me, I’ll know I’m just a hoax.

“Oh, man,” I say, knowing it must sound calculated, but acting was never my strong suit. “I made too many.”

Colin looks at me, but I keep my eyes on the cupcakes, staring confusedly at them. “You could probably just put them out front, couldn’t you?”

“Oh,” I say, caught slightly off guard. Of course I should put the extras on the floor…but I can’t. “I could…but why don’t you take some of them? It’s the least I can do for all your help today.”

“It was really no trouble.” He flashes me a smile so genuine I wonder if maybe just smelling my cupcakes has already done something to him.

“Still…” I smile back. “I’d love to send some home with you.”

I grab a box and put some cupcakes in, but Colin holds up a hand to stop me.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Just one is fine.”

“Just one?” I echo. He can’t take just one. I need him to take several—I want to make sure this works.

God, I sound desperate.

He pats his stomach, which is flat and perfect, and gives a little chuckle. “I’m trying to watch my figure.”

For some reason this embarrasses me, and I snort when I try to laugh. “Like you need to watch your figure.”

Colin shrugs. “Thanks, but really, one is fine.”

I try my best to hide my disappointment. I really don’t know if one cupcake will do the trick, but I can’t press the matter any further or he’ll know I’m up to something. I take out all but one cupcake and hand over the small, pink box. “Here ya go.”

“What’s this one called, anyway?”

Oh, God. My palms turn a little sweaty; my heart is racing. I can’t tell him the truth. Even if he doesn’t know about my powers, I certainly can’t tell him it’s called Fall for Me. “Um…dig…dirt…”

He looks at me alarmed. “Dig dirt?”

I force a laugh. “No, silly!” I’m trying to play this off and buy myself time simultaneously. Why won’t my brain work properly? I just need to come up with a name for a cupcake, for God’s sake! “Dig dirt!” I repeat, continuing my ridiculously fake laugh. “What a horrible name!”

Colin is just standing there, staring at me. Clearly he doesn’t find the situation nearly as hilarious as I pretend to.

“I just get confused,” I continue, “since they’re made with truffles. You know…like, the mushrooms.” This lie is getting deeper and deeper. I hope he doesn’t have a super advanced palate.

“Yes, I’m familiar.”

“And since mushrooms grow in dirt…”

“And have to be dug up?” Colin finishes for me, and something inside me lights up. He’s already finishing my sentences.

“Exactly,” I breathe.

He nods matter-of-factly. “Got it,” he says as he takes his apron off and hangs it on the hook. “Well, if there’s nothing else you need me for, I think I’m gonna split. I told Holly I’d bring her some ice cream.”

I know I shouldn’t be upset by this, but I am. Not necessarily that he’s bringing her ice cream, but that he seems so damn happy about bringing her ice cream and nursing her back to health after a trip to the dentist. But it’s only a matter of time before he’ll be bringing me ice cream, and I’m sure he’ll have that same glowing countenance about it too.

“Right,” I say. “Of course, you should definitely go. Teeth can get…really sore after a general check-up.”

He sets the cupcake box on the counter and then puts on his coat. I’m watching it like a hawk—I don’t trust him to remember it when he leaves.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Candy.” He heads for the door, leaving the box abandoned on the counter.

I rush for it and snatch it up. “Don’t forget your cupcake!”

“Of course.” He takes it from me and our fingers graze slightly. There’s a shot of electricity that goes right to my belly. I look up to see if he felt it too, but if he did, he’s keeping a poker face about it. As well he should…he’s still with my sister, after all.

“Well, thanks again,” I say, giving a coy smile that is so unlike me but that I just can’t help.

“No problem. See you tomorrow.”

~*~

I’m on pins and needles. It’s the next morning and I’m watching the door to the kitchen as if it holds the great mysteries of life. And it well may. Who knows what will happen when Colin walks through that door?

But it’s Holly who arrives first.

“Morning,” she says, but the usual perkiness isn’t in her tone.

“You okay?” I ask, half hoping she’ll say Colin was being weird last night, while I’m half feeling like a major back-stabbing bitch.

“My mouth is sore.” Oh, yeah. The dentist thing.

“I bet it was great having Colin there to take care of you. He mentioned he was going to bring you ice cream.”

Holly plops down on her stool and pulls out her supply boxes. “Yeah, it was good, except…” She scrunches up her nose. “He brought me butter pecan.”

My heartbeat speeds up just a little. Is it really possible? “But you hate butter pecan,” I say. Does she remember that it’s my favorite?

“I know. Weird, huh? He knows my favorite is fudge swirl. And what’s worse is I couldn’t have even eaten the butter pecan, anyway, with all those sticky praline things in it.” She shakes her head. “What was he thinking?”

He wasn’t. Of course, I can’t tell Holly that. She would kill me if she knew I put a spell on her boyfriend to make him fall in love with me instead.

“I can’t imagine,” I finally say. “But it’s the thought that counts, right?”

Holly smiles. “You’re right. I mean, when was the last time a guy took care of me at all?” She gets a wistful look about her and I know I’m about to get a speech about what a great guy Colin is. Like I need more convincing. “You know, Candy…I really think he might be the one.”

Okay, not exactly what I was expecting. Damn. How do I handle this? Do I giddily rush to her side, hug her and tell her I can’t wait to plan her bachelorette party? Or do I try to discourage her from this train of thought at all? Moral dilemmas aren’t really my thing.

“Morning, ladies!”

Saved by the fine man in blue jeans.

“Hi, Colin,” we both chirp.

And that’s when I realize I’ve been successful. Colin stops just inside the door. He looks from me to Holly then back to me…then back to Holly. Clearly, he’s confused, and I think I understand why.

Cerebrally, he knows Holly is his girlfriend. He knows he almost lives with her, knows he slept beside her last night and walked to work with her this morning. However, my cupcake has set him off kilter. He’s drawn to me; I can see it in his eyes. But he has to come to the realization on his own. He has to really fall for me—with his heart—enough to tell Holly they’re through.

I may be a backstabbing bitch, but I refuse to go behind my sister’s back. Yes, I know it makes no sense, but when has love ever made sense?

Holly seems oblivious to this private war inside of Colin as she goes about getting her station set up. Colin finally crosses the room and plants a kiss on her cheek.

“Listen, hon,” he says, his voice quiet. “I think I’m going to have to take a rain check on our date tonight.”

“Really? Why?” Holly looks up at him, her expression innocent as she pries.

Colin touches a finger to his temple and then runs his entire hand through his luxurious, dark hair. “I, um…”

Oh, great. He’s making up excuses without thinking them through. Did I make him dumb, too? I hold my breath, praying for him to come up with a plausible reason why he won’t be able to go out with Holly tonight.

“I’ve gotten a little behind on the books,” he finally says. “I’m going to use tonight to catch up. I hope that’s okay.”

Holly shrugs. “Sure, honey. Whatever you need. I’m still not feeling up to par anyway, so I’ll just call it an early night.”

God, she’s so accommodating. I don’t think I’ve ever been that cool in a relationship. Which is probably why none of my relationships have lasted more than two weeks.

“Great.” Colin pecks her on the cheek a little awkwardly, then heads for the door, but not before he turns to me with a lost look in his eyes. He wants to ask me a question…or ten. But it’s clearly not the right time, and since he’s not really in his right mind, I have to be the one to get him out of here.

“All righty, then!” I say. “See ya later, Colin!”

He takes the cue and leaves, at which point I breathe the greatest sigh of relief ever.

~*~

What have I done? It’s eleven o’clock at night and Colin is standing outside the basement window.

“Candy!” he whispers urgently for the eightieth time.

I’ve tried to pretend I’m sleeping for the last ten minutes, but it’s not working. He won’t go away. And I’m starting to get that sick feeling in my stomach—you know the one. Like when you’re watching
Pet Sematary
and you realize what a bad idea it was for the dad to bury the cat in that ancient burial ground.

I sit up to see his face pressed against the glass. Oh, my God. I collapse back to the pillows. Really, this can’t be happening.

“Candy, I see you!” he shout-whispers. “I know you’re awake—just open the door!”

There’s nothing for it now. I roll off the bed and pad to the door, thankful I decided to wear pajamas to bed tonight rather than my usual birthday suit. Colin runs to meet me, and then pushes past me inside. I shut the door and turn around slowly, only to find that Colin is practically right up against me, his eyes hungry.

“What’s happening to me?” he says quietly as he reaches out to touch me.

I back up slightly. I know I wanted this—I know this is my fault, and I should be jumping for joy that I actually accomplished my goal of making him fall in love with me…but it feels wrong. It feels fake. And knowing that makes me not want it so much anymore.

Being magical definitely has its drawbacks.

“I-I really don’t know, Colin,” I say as I take another step backward.

“I just want to be with you.” He inches toward me. “I want to be near you all the time.” He has a confused puppy dog expression on his perfect face, and I can’t help but feel sorry for him. “I think I love you, Candy.”

I swallow. I’ve waited so long to hear those words. I’ve stood by while jealousy ate at my heart as I watched him lavish his love on my sister. I know this is all fake, but hearing those words does something to me. It makes butterflies bat around in my stomach and makes me soften to him. It’s what I wanted. He’s what I want.

“You do?” I look up at him. He moves closer, but this time I don’t retreat. I let him caress my cheek, and I don’t even dare to breathe as he lowers his head and presses his lips to mine.

The kiss is everything I dreamed it would be. Tender yet firm. He clearly brushed his teeth recently, so there’s a clean, minty taste to him. His tongue is soft and arousing as it enters my mouth, and I match him stroke for stroke.

And then my conscience slaps me across the face and I pull back, out of the kiss and out of his reach. “You have to go,” I say, but the words feel as if they are being wrenched from my throat. I don’t want him to go. I want to explore this further—I want to see if I can make him truly fall in love with me.
Without
magic.

But I can’t do it until I know he’s broken things off with my sister.

He’s staring at me, dumbfounded. “Why?”

“Because you’re my sister’s boyfriend.” I put my hand on the door handle and start to open it.

“So?”

I turn on him, wide-eyed. “So?” I repeat. “So you have to break it off!”

He nods, as if this is the first time the idea has occurred to him. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right. God, I almost forgot about Holly.”

Good grief, what was in those cupcakes?

“Well, let’s talk once you’ve broken it off, okay?” I open the door and gesture reluctantly for him to leave.

“Okay.” He starts to go but stops right in front of me. His blue eyes pierce me, right through to my soul. I want to kiss him again; he wants to kiss me too. But neither of us makes a move. “Good night.”

I shut the door behind him and watch from the window as he disappears into the darkness. Once he’s out of sight, I turn around and lean against the door with a heavy sigh. I don’t think I’ve ever faced such a moral dilemma in my entire life. Part of me is pretty sure I did the wrong thing—that damned angel on my shoulder is telling me I should have learned to overcome my jealousy and move on to someone who was available. But the devil sitting on my other shoulder can’t stop thinking about that kiss, or about the way he looked at me with those clear, blue eyes.

What am I supposed to do about it now? What’s done is done, and with any luck I’ll have found the love of my life as a result. Maybe we’ll have a few growing pains to get through, but what relationship doesn’t start out a little rocky?