Falling For Gracie

“I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?”

“Why don’t you come into the office and tell me both?”

“I could do that.”

She stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. After making her way to his desk, she placed a small pink box in the center and smiled.

“I made you a cake.”

She spoke with a combination of pride and embarrassment that made her cheeks flush. Or maybe they were flushed for another reason—he couldn’t be sure.

Her long blond hair hung down loose and sexy. She wore a short, summery kind of dress that emphasized curves. He was as human as the next man and certainly didn’t mind when an attractive woman wanted to spend a bit of her day with him. Even if that woman was an ex-crazed stalker. But that wasn’t what held him motionless in his seat.

Instead, it was the cake.

“I couldn’t sleep last night and after I’d worked on my decorations for what felt like forty-seven days I decided to do some baking. It’s white cake with a chocolate cream filling. The frosting’s—”

She kept on talking about the frosting and how she’d been unsure of the design, but he wasn’t paying attention. Not really.

His mother had made him cakes for his birthday, of course, but that had been the extent of her baking. She hadn’t been into it and he hadn’t cared. Since then, well, he wasn’t the kind of man women made cakes for.

“Aren’t you going to open it and look?” she asked impatiently.

“Sure.”

He flipped up the top and stared down at the white round cake decorated with a grinning skunk.

He laughed. “I’m impressed.”

“Good. Guys don’t do the flower thing and I don’t know what your hobbies are or anything. I thought the skunk would be funny. Want a taste?”

As she asked, she sank into the leather chair on the visitor side of his desk and dug into her oversized straw bag. She pulled out a wicked looking knife and paper plates in a big Baggie.

“You’re kidding,” he said. “You travel with a knife?”

“Sure.” She withdrew it from the protective cardboard covering. “You never know when you have to cut into a cake and take a taste. At least I don’t.” She handed him the knife, then dug around some more. “I seem to be out of forks.”

“I’ll make do. Want some?”

She shook her head. “I’ll take a taste if you’re worried about me poisoning you or something, but otherwise, no. There was that whole bread thing last night.”

“You only had one piece.”

“You haven’t seen my thighs.”

He had the sudden thought that he would like to. Very much. And maybe the rest of her.

Dangerous, dangerous territory. Better to cut into the cake.

He cut himself a piece and slid it onto a paper plate. She watched anxiously as he took a big bite.

The cake was soft and moist, with just the right texture and a delicate flavor he couldn’t place. The chocolate cream filling tasted like a mousse, but not completely.

“Excellent,” he said sincerely. “The best cake I’ve ever tasted.”

She visibly relaxed. “Good. I worked hard on perfecting my secret recipe, but every now and then, I like to test it out on an unbiased person.”

“You think I’d tell you the truth if I didn’t like your cake?”

“Why would you care about hurting my feelings? I mean with our past?”

“Good point.” He ate another bite of cake, then set the plate on his desk. “If the cake was the good news, what’s the bad?”

Gracie slumped in the seat and hung her head back. “Alexis. She called me in what felt like the predawn hours but was really only about ten to tell me that Zeke had forgotten his briefcase at home so she’d gone by his office to drop it off. In the process of performing her good deed, she walked in on Zeke having what looked like a very personal relationship with...” She paused, straightened and looked right at him. “Brace yourself.”

“I’m braced.”

“Pam.”

It took him a second. “Pam, my ex-wife?”

“One and the same.” Gracie leaned forward and put her hands on his desk. “So, have you seen her since you’ve been back in town?”

“Seen her as in caught a glimpse of her in town? Yes. Seen her as in spent time with her? No.” He held in a smile. “Worried?”

“Not at all. I’m fourteen years over my crush. You can see anyone you’d like. Doesn’t bother me at all.” She made an X on her chest. “Scout’s honor.”

He doubted she had any active interest in his personal life, but last night in the car, they’d both been interested in him kissing her.

“Zeke sleeping with Pam won’t be good for anyone,” Riley said. “Especially not Zeke.”

“So we’re on stakeout detail again?” she asked cheerfully.

“Yes, but this time we’ll follow Pam.”

“At least it won’t be raining.”

“Easier for us to follow her and easier for her to spot us.”

“Life is a trade-off. Six-thirty again?” she asked.

“As we have no idea of her plans, it’s as good a time as any.”

“I’ll be ready.” She stood. “I’ll even bring my camera.”

He winced. “Not a good idea.”

“We need proof.”