What the hell would he have to be nervous about meeting her? Unless he had second thoughts about her ability to come through on the catering. The store had too much riding on the success of this event, and Sadie would do whatever she had to for things to work.
The last thing she wanted was to let her stupid crush on the man get in the way of her making this night a success. Snatching up her knife, she went back to work on crafting the best breasts the cake world had ever seen.
Sadie braced her back against the cool brick wall and tried in vain to ignore the sounds and smells of the alley. She didn’t remember ever being this tired when she worked for the law firm, even when she had to pull long nights researching cases.
Still, the end result of her twelve-hour shift was a pretty damn impressive start to finishing her cake. Boobs and all.
Paige hadn’t shown up until nearly lunch and in a far less pleasant mood than Sadie would have liked. It meant Paige went all dominant on them, telling them where to go and what to do. Though she hated to admit it, Sadie had benefited from her enforced nap on Ian’s couch. Unfortunately, it gave her even less time to get things the way she’d wanted before Paul’s arrival.
The backdoor of the coffee shop opened, revealing a slightly exhausted Ian. “Hey. I figured you were hiding out here.”
“Where’s Paige?”
Ian grinned as he joined her against the wall, fishing out a crumpled cigarette from his back pocket. “She’s training some new kid. Mike, or Mark, or Matt. Something like that. I had to get out of there before I screamed. She tried to get me to take a nap. Like I’m still five. I hid upstairs and watched cartoons instead.”
“She actually tucked me in.”
“That’s because you needed it. You’ve been dead on your feet, Sadie Claus.”
Sadie didn’t say a word as Ian held the cigarette to his nose, inhaled deeply, only to sigh and tuck it back into his pocket. She bumped his shoulder and grinned. “How long now?”
“Nine months.”
“That’s awesome.”
“No, awesome is the car I’ll be able to buy myself next month now that I can afford the gas and insurance. How are you making out with Boobs? I haven’t been back yet to see.”
“Very busty. Big nipples.” She grinned. “I should be finished with her tomorrow morning and then just need to get her to the club, set up and photographed before I cut her up.”
“Save me a piece, will you. It might be the only girl I ever eat.”
“Ian!”
They both giggled madly as Sadie dropped her head to his shoulder. “When are you going to meet some nice boy to make you all respectable and stuff?”
“Right around the same time you and Paul hook up. It would only be fair.”
“Shit!” Sadie pushed away from the wall and spun around. “What time is it?”
“Nine-ish. We’ve been pretty dead tonight so I was going to—where are you going?”
“Paul!”
Sadie took a few seconds in the tiny back bathroom to make sure she wasn’t a complete mess. Her hair had come out of the tiny ponytail she’d thrown it into earlier that day. The blue V-neck T-shirt she’d put on after her nap was a little rumpled but was acceptable enough. Her jeans wore the occasional smear of dried batter and rubbed-in flour where she’d cleaned her hands.
“Shit,” she muttered and tucked what she could of her bob behind her ears.
Ian’s reflection joined hers in the mirror. “You’re gorgeous.”
“I don’t know why I’m freaking out. He’s had a decade to notice me. I can’t imagine he’ll clue in now.” Hell, she still wasn’t sure she
wanted
him to notice her. Though finally getting knocked out of her lust-driven limbo would be a nice change.
“He’s an idiot if he doesn’t know how beautiful you are. I can go be all brotherly on his ass and threaten to beat him up or something. Tell him he needs to do right by you, or something lame like that.”
Sadie turned around and caught Ian in a hug before he had a chance to escape. “Sometimes I love you.”
“Sometimes I love you too. Come on. We better get out front before Paige scares the new guy too much.”
Paige was in fact giving a young man named Mitch a lecture on how the security system worked and how if she caught him touching it she’d kill him. Only two customers remained, speaking in hushed tones as they hunched over their table.
Letting out a huff, Ian set to polishing the silver on the espresso machine. “Maybe we should cut the hours down Thursday nights permanently. We’re never busy after eight-thirty.”
The bell above the door had them both turn to greet their new arrival. Sadie was only a little disappointed when it wasn’t Paul.
Ian waved Paige and the new kid away and greeted the customer with a grin. “Welcome to Pulled Long. What can I get for you?”
The man’s brown hair fell across his forehead, partially covering his startling blue eyes. His gaze flicked from Sadie to Ian and back, before he blinded them both with a movie-star grin.
“I’ve walked this same route every day for over a year now and I swear this is the first time I’ve noticed this place.”
Ian flicked his towel over his shoulder and moved to stand directly in front of the other man. “I’m thrilled you finally found us.”
“I have to ask. Pulled Long? Sounds a bit naughty.” The customer winked at Sadie, but she could tell his attention was locked onto Ian.
“Dual meaning. It’s both our last name and a barista term. It has to do with getting the most caffeine from an espresso shot by letting it run through longer. It can screw up a coffee if it’s done wrong though.”
“And you do it right?” Blue Eyes smirked.
Ian shrugged, toying with the edge of his towel. “Every time.”
Sadie turned to busy herself with the pastry trays, suddenly feeling as though she was interrupting a moment between the two men. Not that she was about to disappear into the back room. She’d never seen Ian this taken with a man this quickly before in her life. This was good teasing material for at least a month.
Blue Eyes smiled again. He was older than Ian for sure. Maybe even older than herself. “Would I offend you if I ask for a straightforward coffee? While I’m tempted to try for a long pull, I’d like to sleep sometime tonight.”
Ian chuckled and licked his bottom lip. “No offense at all. Do you want room for cream?”
When Ian turned his back to pour the cup, Sadie caught a glimpse of a blush. She pulled out the last slice of banana bread and threw it into a bag. “I was about to throw this out. Could I interest you in taking it home instead? On the house, seeing as this is your first time here.”
Blue Eyes directed the full force of his smile on Sadie. “You sure know how to woo a man. I would love that. And no room in that cup. I like my drinks all natural.”
Ian snapped the plastic lid on and set it down directly in front of Blue Eyes. “There you go. Try it out first to make sure you like it.”
Sadie knew this was the part Ian loved the most. His obsession with finding the perfect bean, making the perfect blend was almost scary. But when Blue Eyes lifted the cup to his lips and took a sip, she could only describe his expression as orgasmic.
“That is the best coffee I’ve ever had. In my life.”
“Really?” Ian cleared his throat and leaned a hip against the counter. “I mean, thanks. I hope you’ll consider coming back again. Maybe spread the word.”
“If every cup is like this, you bet I will. How much do I owe you?” Blue Eyes opened up his suit jacket and started rummaging through his pockets. The slate-gray dress shirt pulled tight against his firm chest, leaving little to the imagination.
When Ian didn’t answer immediately, his gaze drawn to the other man’s body, Sadie stepped in. “That’s a dollar ninety-two.”
Blue Eyes gave her a five and grinned. “Keep the change.” He gave Ian one final wink before turning to head out the door.
“Come back soon,” Ian finally called out as the man was about to leave.
“I plan on it, Ian.” Blue Eyes held up his cup in salute and left as quickly as he arrived.
Before she realized what Ian was doing, her brother frantically pulled off the receipt still hanging from the register.
“Customer one-six-four-five. Fuck, I think I’m in love.”
Sadie poked him in the ribs. “That didn’t take long.”
“He knew my name.”
“He read your nametag.”
“Don’t give me a hard time, Sadie Claus.”
“Why the hell not? You keep calling me that stupid name. I need to get some payback.”
Ian leaned in and bumped her shoulder. “Paul’s coming.”
Paul pushed his way through the door, a lopsided smirk on his face and a brown bag under his arm. “Hey, hi, hello, Sadie. I’m not too late, am I?”
Blue Eyes had been gorgeous and his smile infectious. But even he hadn’t made her stomach flip the way Paul could.
“Paul, hi. No it’s fine. We were about to close up. Come on back and I’ll show you what I have.”
She didn’t wait to see if Ian would do or say anything. Turning around, she moved to the kitchen door and prayed Paul would be behind her. Thankfully, the solid presence of his body was beside her within a matter of seconds. It was strange how the touch of his hand to her hip made her chest tighten in a way no other man’s ever did.
“I want you to know that things aren’t in their finished state. I’ve spent all day working on her, getting her close to what you asked for, and I hope you’ll be happy with the result.”
The warm hand on her hip moved to her forearm. She stopped in her tracks and looked up into Paul’s brown eyes.
“Sadie?”
“Yes?”
“Sit down.”
Without thinking, she did as he asked, only afterward realizing what she’d done. “Okay, I’m sitting.”
He didn’t let go of her arm, even as he took the stool across from her. “There’s nothing to be nervous about. I’m sure everything is amazing.”
“I’m not nervous.”
Liar, liar, pants on fire
. She couldn’t remember being this strung out in her entire life. Unfortunately, it had nothing to do with the cake and everything to do with her growing affection for a good friend.
She was alone with Paul for the first time since the club.
What are your fantasies, Sadie?
The urge to cover her breasts nearly had her arms twitching. But that would have meant breaking the contact between them, something she wasn’t willing to do. Not with Paul smelling like musk and coffee as he leaned close to squeeze her forearm. He was wearing a dress shirt and pants, but if he’d had on a jacket, it had long been discarded. The top two buttons of his shirt were open, giving her a peek of the skin beneath.
Riding Paul while Josh fucks me in the ass…
“Do you mind if we sit for a bit?” Paul rubbed his thumb across her arm a few times before pulling away. “I’ve had a crap day and it would be fantastic to chat with you.”
I’d much rather suck your brain out through the end of your cock.
“Sure, we can do that.”
So they chatted.
It was odd at first, telling Paul about her day and asking questions about his. It felt damn near domestic. Even though they’d known each other for years, she’d always tried to keep their conversations light. She knew he loved pizza, loathed olives, and that his favorite color was green. But she’d never asked if he’d wanted to have kids and get married. For her, that was crossing the line into more intimate ground, a place where Paul never seemed to want to go with her.
With him starring in more than a few of her wet dreams, she always felt in danger of crossing the line between friendship and flirting. He’d done the same as they danced around each other, neither getting too close, nor willing to give up what they had. She’d always assumed he wanted them to remain only friends.
Tonight, Paul wasn’t paying attention to the barrier. Tonight, his touch didn’t feel friendly or casual. The way his gaze continued to slip to her lips and neck made her realize that maybe there might be something a little bit more lurking beneath the surface. She just needed to have the strength to grab it.
Sadie jumped as Paige stuck her head into the room.
“Sorry to interrupt.” Paige smiled. “Hi, Paul. Good to see you. Ian and I were going to lock up. Mind turning on the system when you leave, Sade?”
“Sure, no problem.”
Paul stood. “Want to do this another time? I know you were in early today.”
“No worries. I have one of the other bakers coming in to cover tomorrow so I can get everything ready for the club party. Actually, if you don’t mind, I’d like to find out more about what the expectations are for the event.”
“I love the sound of business in the evening.” Paige chuckled. “We’ll lock the doors so you two don’t need to worry about it. Sade, I’ll see you later tomorrow. You can fill me in.”
That was Paige-speak for
we’re going to have a talk.
“Will do.”
Sadie held her breath until Ian called out a goodbye and the front door closed, leaving her finally alone with Paul.
Something in the air changed when she turned to face him again. Gone was the easy-natured grin and twinkling eyes. Instead, his gaze bored into her, sending a tremor through her body.
“I’m glad we’re working together like this.” She was surprised to realize she’d been the one to speak. Clearing her throat, she fingered the edge of the cookie sheet closest to her.
Fuck it.
“There always seems to be tons going on, and I never feel like I get to see much of you anymore.”
“I know.”
“I mean, when was the last time we went to a movie, or got a drink?”
Paul shook his head. “I honestly don’t remember.”
“I’ve been so busy with the shop and you’re always working or at Mavericks…I miss when we used to hang out.”
“Me too.”
The lull shifted from comfortable to something she couldn’t put her finger on. “I know you wanted to see Boobs. I best quit stalling and show you to her.”
Paul’s thumb brushed the side of her hand. Her breasts ached at the simple touch, her body craving every crumb of contact she could get. No other man made her feel like this. It drove her mad.
“Boobs?” He chuckled.
“Ian’s fault. The nickname stuck surprisingly fast. She’s in the fridge.”
Thankful for the excuse to move, Sadie slipped past him, pointedly refusing to meet his gaze, and went over to the large fridge that housed her prize. “I managed to get the base coat for the corset done. Tomorrow morning I’ll work on the finishing details and it will be ready to go for the night. I’ll bring her over last to be set up.”