He opened his mouth to reply, but crashed into a passing waiter and their tray of cakes.
I gasped at the immediate clatter of plates and kneecaps. Was he okay?
Cursing, Angel scrambled to catch the meals, accidentally sticking his fingers in a few desserts.
He trembled with a broken laugh and faced the waiting table. “You ordered a smash cake, right?”
The customers chuckled and shook their heads.
“Ah, my mistake. I’ll get you a new one to smash yourselves, if you wish.” He cleared the plates, then sucked his thumb free of whipped cream, his gaze dark and fixed on me.
My insides turned to molten jelly.
Was he mad? Aroused?
Ah, don’t go there, Tori.
This situation was already messy.
I followed him to a clearing station by the dessert table. “Sorry. I didn’t mean do distract you.”
He shrugged and slid the imperfect pieces of cake across the counter. “Should I be flattered or concerned you’re following me around like a cute little puppy?”
Pigeon, I almost corrected.
“I didn’t know you worked here,” I said. I didn’t think he worked anywhere.
“Gotta pay for school somehow, right? I’m not sure The Closette would’ve hired me to handle such delicate matters,” he teased, glancing at my chest.
I flushed at the idea of him measuring my—or anyone’s—bust. “Yes, well, I’m sure that silver tongue of yours helps with tips.”
“It helps with a great many things,” he said, wetting his middle finger with his tongue.
I rolled my eyes, trying not to imagine him licking whipped cream off any other appendages. “Can’t we have a nice moment without you sexualizing it?”
He sidled up to me, all meringue and musk. “I think we have too much chemistry for that, pigeon.”
I bet he said that to all us ‘pigeons.’ My heart fluttered with frustration.
“I think you need to have your head examined,” I said. I plucked a chunk of the ‘ruined’ cake, then made a show of suckingmyfingers clean without miming anything even remotely sexy.
He laughed, a warm, rich sound that drizzled delightfully down my ears, sweeter than the strawberry syrup on this cake.
I couldn’t help but grin, which made him smile wider.
Did I have something in my teeth?
I quickly covered my mouth and swiped my tongue across the crevices within.
He got the fresh desserts ready and shook his head at me. “Naughty. You just violated food safetyandour restaurant protocol. That dessert is supposed to go in the trash.”
“I only took a bite.” Not even from the part he’d touched. Still, it was a bit cheeky. I didn’t know what had come over me. “Sorry,” I said, sucking my lower lip.
He chuckled, maneuvering easily around the counter with a swish of his hips. “Don’t let anyone else see you eating from other people’s plates. I recommend taking all this to-go.” He jerked his chin where the takeout boxes were stacked. “But you didn’t hear it from me. Got it, pidge?”
“Oh, thanks.” I bowed my head, his pet name tickling the fine hairs on my body.
He strode off with purpose. With passion. He charmed customers with his off-handed jokes and casual seduction.
