Lani ignored Noah and carried two trays filled with cake batter to the oven when Connor had gone. He watched her open the door and put them in. She was sweaty, hair a mess. She wore an apron over a long T-shirt dress and boots. It was the first time he’d seen her in a dress. It wasn’t fitted or revealing, but just looking at her had his mouth watering.
Shut it down.
“Why are you baking in here and not at the Howlery?”
“Mrs. C has a group of women in there, and they’re making cakes for a bake sale. I—ah, it’s my break so I came for a coffee, and Connor needed help with the potato cake they’re making to sell at the auction. Buster asked if I’d decorate it; I agreed.” She said the words in a rush, one falling on top of the other. She was nervous being near him. So at least he wasn’t alone there.
“Is Lani your birth name?”
The words shocked her so much she dropped the bowl she’d just picked up. It clattered onto the bench before her. He wasn’t sure why he’d asked the question, but suddenly he wanted to know more about her. Needed to know something personal about the woman he was far too interested in.
She gripped the bowl and then turned her back to Noah.
“I’m sure it’s short for something.” She’d answer him, he knew that. She was polite, and manners would dictate she had to. He just needed to push a little harder.
“I’ve been called Lani my entire life.”
She was lying to him; he could tell by the way her shoulders hunched. Funny how he knew that about her.
“Do you have family?”
“No.”
“None, anywhere?”
“No.”
“What did you want to do when you left school?”
She shrugged, slender shoulders rising and falling, but he couldn’t see her face.
“That’s not an answer. If I guess, you grunt once, okay?” She ignored him.
“You wanted to be an actress?”
She snorted.
“Singer?” Same response.
“Teacher?” No response.
“Pole dancer?”
She carefully lowered the spatula she’d just picked up to the bench before turning to face him. “Why do you want to know, Noah? This, what’s between us, is sex, and even that’s over now. What’s with all the questions?”
“Is it? Over, I mean?”
Just one jerky nod. “So you can stop with the questions.” Her words were clipped.
“Just being polite.”
“No, being polite is hi, how’s your day?” Her expression was clear now she’d composed herself. “And I thought that’s what we’d decided to do going forward.”
“You decided that, not me. Got something to hide, Lani?” It was a joke, something to lighten the tension between them they’d put there that day in the Redwoods, but she twitched.
“I have to finish this cake.”
“Here’s your hot chocolate, Lani.” Connor smiled as he handed it to her. “Where’s my head at, I forgot the mallows.”
