“A big decorated white cake, lemon filling.” Well, that explained the sourcing of the correct lemons. Apparently, Maxine will loosen the pursestrings for custom orders.
“Anything else?”
Jordy checks the notes on his tablet. “Tres leches cakes with cajeta ice cream. I’m picking those up this afternoon; the big cake will be delivered tomorrow.”
As tired as I am when I get home hours later, Theo looks dead on his feet when he arrives in the early hours of the morning.
“Quinn couldn’t let you go early, sugar?” I gather him into my arms as soon as he hits the door.
“He wasn’t there. I insisted on staying. We were shorthanded.”
“Of course you all were. You can’t work yourself to death, sweetheart.”
“I’m not too tired for—” Theo’s face blazes as his eyes shift.
I lift his head back up, kissing him swiftly. “None of that tonight. Plenty of time when you are rested. Fed. Have you eaten?” The need to take care of Theo overtakes my need to show him how compatible we are in bed.
“I have.”
“When?”
Smiling, Theo leans forward to press his lips to mine. “A few hours ago, promise.” He unfairly winds his lithe body around my much larger one.
“Not playing fair, sugar.”
“No?” Theo’s small hands roam, making me growl. He slides them up my abs, cupping my pecs and then wrapping around my neck. In seconds, my dick is aching, responding instantly to Theo.
I slide my hands under his ass and throw him over my shoulder in a fireman’s carry, not stopping until I reach the bedroom and gently dump him on my bed.
Theo giggles, and I smile, straddling his hips. We’re both surprised he laughed. His eyes flutter. No hiding the tiredness there. The extra paleness to his face. The extra purple and blue under his lids.
“You will find I am not that easily manipulated.” A lie, but he doesn’t need to know. I lean over for a kiss he gives willingly. “We are sleeping, no matter how much you try to tempt me otherwise.”
Theo yawns, and I raise an eyebrow.
“Fine. I do have an early morning, anyway.” Theo makes to get up, but I effortlessly keep him pinned to the bed.
“Oh, you aren’t going anywhere. You will sleep here. What do you have to get up early for?”
“Taking a cake for a party up a mountain wheresomeonedecided they had to build a restaurant.”
“You are delivering it?” I ask, trying not to sound too eager. He, Maxine and the baker themselves may be the only people in Bear Valley who know their identity. Of course, if Theo’s keeping someone’s secrets, I can’t ask him to give those up to me.
“I do for Maxine’s sometimes.”
“Here’s the deal. You stay here tonight and give me tomorrow. In exchange I will help you get the cake up the hill. I know a trick or two. How many layers?”
“Three.”
“Then you need sleep, plus a nap tomorrow.” My voice gives no room for argument, and the tension leaves his body. “I want you in my bed, in nothing more than the briefs I bought you. I’ve imagined what that might look like.”
“Don’t open that.” Theo is quick and clear, carefully placing the boxes of cake beside the dessert table.
“Express instructions on how to set it up?” I’ve worked enough catering jobs in my life to have an idea.
“Something like that.” He’s been serious ever since he got up this morning and as we made our way through getting out of the condo to take care of this job. Stress rolls off of him, and I’m glad I offered to help. He’s clearly worried about getting this thing to Summit House.
“Don’t worry. I saw the tres leches cakes that arrived yesterday and the ice cream. They were marvelous. Do you know the plating?”
