Falling Sweetly (Starling Falls #2) (33 page)

As Liya placed the covered cake in front of me, I tried not to show my anxiety at what I would find under the cover.

After our mother passed away, every year on my birthday, Liya had insisted on making me a cake like our mama used to, but Liya had varying degrees of success with her attempts at baking.

Past experience had taught me that; best case scenario, the cake would be dry and tasteless, or worst case scenario, the cake would cause me to spend most of the day in the bathroom.

I forced a smile as I pulled the cover off the cake. I managed to keep my features neutral when an odd smell filled the room. The lopsided round cake had been iced hastily on the top, but the edges had been left bare and expose the burnt sides.

“Oh, my.” Debbie peered curiously at cake. “What flavour is it supposed to be, sweetie?” she asked Liya.

“It’s a chocolate cake,” Liya said unsurely, chewing on her bottom lip.

“Oh. Lovely,” Debbie said unconvincingly. “Well, c’mon let’s get those candles lit.”

Jake leaned over and murmured in my ear, “You’re not actually going to eat that are you?”

I nodded once, hoping that the cake would taste at least a little better than it looked and smelled.

At least this doesn’t look like one of her worse attempts.

Addie proceeded to stab the cake with twenty-five candles of different colours, however none of us missed how hard it was for the candles to be pushed into the surface of the cake. Addie sent me a worried look.

Alex lit the candles, and I blushed as my new family sang
happy birthday
out of tune. The awful singing filled me with happiness, and when I saw Liya’s small smile and watery eyes, I knew exactly what she was thinking.

She was wishing the same thing I was; that our parents could have been there with us. It was the same feeling we had every birthday, but this year the feeling was lined with another emotion - hope.

The hopefulness that yet another new chapter in our lives was starting for the both of us. This time last year, it had just been the two of us celebrating alone. This year we were surrounded by people who cared for us.

I blew out the candles and attempted to stick the knife into the cake. I had to use a lot of force to get the knife to the bottom of the cake, and managed to cut a small slice.

Liya made a face. “Maybe you shouldn’t eat that.”

“Don’t be silly,” I said, not wanting to hurt her feelings. “Of course I’m going to eat it.”

By now I had perfected how to fake my responses; a small nibble on the edge of the cake, followed by many
mms
before the cake would be whisked away under the guise that it would be eaten later.

I looked around the table. “Anyone else want a slice?”

“I don’t have much of a sweet tooth,” Alex muttered quickly.

Addie hesitated before saying, “I changed my mind. It’s too early for cake… maybe later?”

“I’m allergic to chocolate… and cake.” Josh stared warily at my plate.

“Umm… we’re trying to watch our sugar intake,” Debbie said clasping Jeremy’s hand. “So none for us, thanks.”

“Oh, hell no. That smells like something died in it,” Mitch said, sounding disturbed. I kicked his leg under the table and sent him a glare.

Cowards… smart cowards, but still cowards nonetheless.

“Oh, goody,” I said, cutting a few other slices and plating them as I looked between Jake and Caleb who looked torn. “That just means more for us.” Both men nodded slowly, trying to look enthusiastic.

As I cut away a small piece with the fork, I sent a quick prayer up to Cake Gods that this bite wouldn’t kill me. Putting the piece in my mouth I chewed quickly and swallowed, as Jake and Caleb did the same. Liya watched us all nervously.

Oh God. Why does it taste like charcoal? Why is it fizzing?

My teeth crunched unpleasantly on something.

Please let that be an eggshell, and not something else.

“Mmm, this is great, Angel,” Caleb said through gritted teeth.

“It’s good, thanks, Liya. Definitely one of your better attempts,” I forced another smile.

“Yeah,” Jake agreed, gagging a little as he swallowed a bite.

Liya frowned. “Is it really that bad?” She pulled Caleb’s plate towards her, took a bite and immediately spat it out again.

“That tastes like dirt!” she exclaimed. “And you guys are eating it? Are you insane?” She grabbed all our plates and the cake before leaving the dining room to dispose of the disaster.

“Should I get the back-up cake I brought now?” Mitch stage whispered, looking at Debbie. “I thought I should have one ready when she called me last night asking what the difference was between butter and lard.”

“I heard that, bitch!” Liya yelled from the kitchen, there was a brief pause before she asked, “What kind of cake is it?”

“Hummingbird,” he called back loudly.

Liya sighed heavily. “Go get the damn cake!”

* * * * *

A couple of hours later when everyone else had gone apart from Addie, I looked down at her present to me, and then back up at her, wondering if she’d lost her damn mind.

“Are you insane?” I asked in disbelief. “A boudoir shoot? I hope this thing is refundable, because there is no way that’s happening.”

“I think it could be good for you. Just turn up, get your clothes off, take a couple of sexy pictures, and you’ll be done.”

I frowned. “Why on earth would I want to do that?”

“They make a great present.”

“You want me to take sexy pictures for your brother?” I raised an eyebrow at her.

Addie made a face. “No. I meant they’re a great present for yourself.”

Yep. She definitely has lost her mind.

From looking at my blank expression, Addie knew that she wasn’t selling the idea to me at all.

“Would you just try it?” she pleaded. “It’s a female photographer, and you only get as naked as you want. They do your hair and makeup, and it’s honestly an empowering experience.”

“Does that mean you’ve had them done?” I asked curiously.

“Of course, I wouldn’t send you to any random studio to get the pictures taken without having tested it myself. And it’s non-refundable.”

“Addie,” I groaned. “Things are so busy, when am I supposed to find the time to do this?”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s one afternoon, I know for a fact that you’ve got a day off on Wednesday. Make the appointment soon, before you can chicken out of doing it. I’ll even drive you there myself.”

“I really hate you sometimes.”

CHAPTER 31

Jacob

“I can’t begin to thank you enough. The restaurant is looking great, Bethany.”

Bethany Coleman had turned out to be a Godsend. She’d taken her inspiration from the surrounding area, and gone with a neutral nature theme for the restaurant, making the most of all the wooden furniture that was already in the bar, and bringing loads of greens and beiges into the space.

She’d recommended that the booths be upholstered in a dark green, and the other decorations were minimalistic, but eye catching.

The overall affect was welcoming and exactly what I wanted.

“It turned out better than I could have hoped for. It’s such a great space. And I should be thanking you for giving me a chance, Jacob.”

“Jake,” I corrected. “The only people who call me Jacob are my family when I’m in trouble.”

She laughed lightly. “In that case, please call me Beth.”

Beth had wavy black that fell past her shoulders, her skin was shade darker than her brother’s, but she had the same dark almond shaped eyes.

Beth came across as very reserved. She was nowhere near as abrasive as Tisha, but she wasn’t overtly friendly either.

She seemed guarded, and it made me wonder what the hell she and Tisha had gone through together in foster care. Their bond was obvious.

“Well, Beth. When we open, your drinks are on the house.”

She laughed lightly. “Thank you. If you have any concerns, just let me know. And while I have you, I’ve been meaning to thank you for everything you’ve done for my brother.”

“He’s a great kid with a lot of potential.”

Bethany looked oddly relieved. “It’s nice to hear you say that.” She looked down at her watch. “I really have to be getting back to the florist. I just couldn’t resist sneaking up here on my lunch break to see how it’s looking.”

I held out my hand for her to shake. “I doubt it’ll be the last time you see your designs brought to life. You are seriously talented.”

“Thanks, could you tell Tisha I’ll call her later.” When I nodded, she smiled politely and left the bar in a hurry.

Deciding to check up on the work crew, I walked over to the final wall being painted.

“Hey, feel free to help at any time,” Caleb called as he rolled pale green paint over the newly drywalled surface.

“Would you quit whining? You’re getting fed after this,” I reminded him.

Aunt Deb was a natural at being a manager. She had roped Alex, Addie and a few of Caleb’s buddies at the fire station into helping get the restaurant decorated.

“This is not so bad,” Mikhail Denisov, Caleb’s best friend, said, his Russian accent coming through clearly. Mik had been a frequent visitor in our house for the past couple of years and was considered family by all of us. “I can think of worse ways to spend an afternoon.”

“Then you need to get some more fun hobbies,” Addie said with raised eyebrows, before walking into the office.

“I get how you got talked into this,” Andre Washington, Caleb’s Captain at the fire station said to him. “But I don’t understand how I got talked into this.”

Andre was a giant of a man. He was six foot five, African-American, had eyes that always seemed to be smiling and a neatly trimmed goatee. He was also one of the friendliest men in town, and despite their different personalities, he was one of Nate’s best friends.

Caleb dipped his roller into the paint. “Our Aunt called your mom who said you’d better turn up to help, or else.”

“Oh, right.” Andre sighed.

Vinny D’Angelo chuckled. “No matter how old you get, it’s a stupid man who doesn’t listen to his Momma.”  If Vinny’s name wasn’t a big enough clue, his tanned skin, and dark hair clearly gave away his Italian heritage.

Aunt Deb walked past them with a stack of documents. “Truer words were never spoken… you missed a spot, Alex.”

Alex groaned and rolled over the spot he’d missed. “When exactly are we getting fed?”

As if she’d heard him, Tisha came out of the kitchen with a large platter of burgers, which she placed on the bar.

“I put the pizzas in the oven 15 minutes ago. They should be done soon,” she said as she walked back into the kitchen.

“Thanks, Tish,” I called and turned back to all of them. “Thanks for the help, guys. I really appreciate it.”

“It’s cool,” Andre said as he, Caleb, Alex and Josh put down their rollers and paintbrushes and went to wash their hands.

Vinny, however, hadn’t heard a word I’d said. He was staring slack-jawed in the direction Tisha had just walked away. “Who is that?” he asked me with wide eyes.

“That’s, Tisha, my sous-chef.” I noted the glint in his eyes.

“How have I never seen her before?” The question seem rhetorical, but I answered anyway.

“Tish, isn’t really a social butterfly,” I explained. “She’s a great girl, Vinny,” I said, making sure he heard the unspoken warning in my tone.
Don’t fuck with her, or there will be problems.

Vinny didn’t have quite the same reputation as Josh, but from the stories Caleb had told me, I knew that he definitely was something of a ladies man.

He held his paint covered hands up in a surrender motion as Tisha walked back out with two large pizzas.

After she placed the pizzas on the counter, she looked up and noticed him staring at her. “What?” she asked brusquely.

“I’ve never seen eyes that colour before,” Vinny said. “You’re beautiful.”

“You’re creepy,” she smarted back. Contrary to being discouraged, he smiled at her even wider.

“I’m Vincent D’Angelo, but my friends call me Vinny.”

Tisha stared at him for a moment, as if trying to assess if he was serious or not. “Hi, Vincent. My name is Not Interested.”

“That’s an unusual name. What is it? Greek? I know a great Greek place if you want to get dinner sometime.”

She turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Vinny looking after her like a besotted puppy.

“What? Was it something I said?” he called out after her. “Fine! We can get Italian if you don’t want Greek food.”

He looked at me for answers, and I shrugged. “Sorry. Can’t help you there. Good luck if you decide to go after her. You’ll definitely need it.”

Vinny sighed in a weirdly content manner before strolling to the restroom as the others came back from having cleaned up, and immediately started attacking the food.

Moans of pleasure sounded as they all bit into their burgers.

I was about to go over and join them when the door to the restaurant opened and Karina, Addie’s friend, walked in. “Hey, Karina. I think Addie’s in the office with Aunt Deb.”

“Thanks, but it’s actually you I came to see.”

“Okay?” I said cautiously.

She handed me a piece of paper. “I’d like to apply for the position of waitress.”

“Fuck no,” I replied immediately.

Her jaw dropped. “Well that was rude! Why the hell not?”

“Karina, you forget that I’ve known you since you were twelve. I have no intention of letting my little sister’s insane, wild friend work here.” I shook my head in horror at the thought.

“But I’m a great waitress! And I hate having to drive to a restaurant in Smithsville every day. Oh c’mon, Jake! How about you hire me on a trial basis? If you’re not happy with my performance after a month, then fire me.”

“Nope,” I said firmly.

“Kari! What are you doing here?” Addie asked as she and Aunt Deb came out of the office.