“I know. I know this is crazy unprofessional, but my truck is on Valley Road right now. I’m so freaking screwed.” I held one arm out and pointed to my lap. “Have a heart.”
He sighed and waved the other two people away. “Ten minutes.”
“Right. Of course, that’s perfect.”
Not nearly enough time, but at least it should get my cake out of the car and onto a table at the very least.
Hopefully.
Ripley came running with a stainless-steel rolling cart. God, his shoulders looked great in that shirt.
Focus.
Good grief, I didn’t have time to stare at Ripley.
He rolled up beside the car. “We are about to get very close here, darlin’.”
The timbre of his voice made something inside me heat up. Which was impressive since the temperatures were definitely dropping now that it was full dark.
“If you can just get your hands under this board, I think we can get it out without pitching it into the dirt. And believe me, if you drop this cake, I will kill you dead.”
He grinned. “You’re hot when you’re threatening.”
Unsure what to say to that, I squirmed under the board as he lifted it an inch. His forearms and biceps flexed with muscles that reminded me it had been way too long since I noticed a man. The mix of sugar, gum paste for the decorations, and Ripley’s leather and cloves scent went right to my head.
He lifted it another few inches with a grunt.
“Keep it level.”
“Trying,” he growled.
“Sorry. Right. Straight up if you can.” I hovered my hands along the sides, not touching the cake. If it slid, at least I could fix some of it. But that lace...
I’d cry.
I couldn’t even crawl out of the way. The sheet cake for serving was taking up the other half of the back seat.
I had to just sit there and let him do most of it.
My control freak soul was shrieking.
His arms shook, but he lifted it straight up and slowly backed up.
I heard something hit the cart then it started wheeling away.
“Shit, shit.” I was vibrating as I inched out from under him. My fingers gripped his thighs. “Wait one second.”
He froze. “Mercy,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Just let me get by.” I would not think about how close my face was to...that. Holy crap—he really was very proportional.
Thankful that I was wearing my thin layers and not my usual leather jacket, I was able to shimmy by him and ran for the cart. “One second!” I called out to him. “Just hold it for one more...” I trailed off as I caught the cart before it went careening down the walkway and trundled back to him with it. I stopped an inch away from his very fine backside.
He turned around slowly and I barely breathed as he set the board down on the cart. He sagged against his door. “What the hell kind of cake weighs that much?”
“Six layers of delicious rum-soaked cherries, champagne and strawberries, both soaked with syrup. Dense cake, moist as hell.” I grabbed his shoulders and shook him as excitement and relief flooded my system. “Thank you, thank you,” I didn’t even think, just went on my toes and kissed him.
He stilled.
