“Did you talk to him last night?” Amy grimaced. “Did he tell you what I said?”
“No, and unless you’ve changed your mind about telling me, we should drop the subject.” He paused for a second, giving Amy the chance to speak up. When she didn’t, he said. “For the record, I don’t appreciate being used like this.” Robert cut the cake, revealing the layers of chocolate mousse in the center. “Did you bring insulin too?”
Amy gasped. “Are you diabetic?” Was that why he always got his dessert to go when he took her to lunch on Fridays?
“No, but I probably will be after eating this.”
She breathed a sigh of relief.He’s teasing me.Had his anger a moment ago been genuine, or was he teasing then too? She wasn’t sure. He’d seemed mad, but it had dissipated quickly.
Robert put a wedge of cake on each plate, and Amy cringed at the size of the piece he put in front of her. She usually only ate a thin sliver when she made this incredibly rich cake.
Robert took a bite and closed his eyes. “Mmm... This is amazing! Did you make this yourself?”
“Yes.” She nibbled on a bite, savoring the rich chocolate flavor.
“Are you bribing all the bachelors with cake?”
“No.”
“Ah, so I’m special?”
“Yes, you’re special.”
Robert grinned, and she realized how that sounded.
She blushed as she rushed to explain. “I mean... you... I made a cake for... you and Jake... because... you two are... I mean, you’re the only ones I’m supposed to ask.”
Robert laughed at her. “So, if you’d been assigned to ask other bachelors, would you have made cakes for them too?”
Amy shook her head, not trusting herself to open her mouth.
“I see,” Robert said, enjoying her discomfort. “So you made them because we’re the best-looking bachelors in the county?”
“No. I mean yes... you are... but that’s not...”
Amy buried her face in her hands. First Ben, now Robert. Would she ever learn to curb her tongue around these men? She’d waited on plenty of handsome men in the restaurant, and many of them had even flirted with her. She’d never become a bumbling idiot around any of them. Ben and Robert seemed to take great delight in her discomfort, which made it worse.
Robert sobered. “Right, it’s bribery.” Then he got a gleam in his eye. “So, what’s in it for me?”
Amy’s eyes widened. “Do you realize how many hours I spent making this cake?”
“Mmm...” He moaned as he took another bite. “Delicious. But come on. You’re asking me to put myself out there where Widow Wheeler has full access to me. As good as your cake is, you’ve got to give me something more.” Desire lit Robert’s eyes.
Amy’s stomach clenched. “What do you mean?”
She’d seen that look in men’s eyes many times before—in Dennis’ eyes the night she quit her job—but she wasn’t sure if Robert was kidding or not. She remembered Ben’s discomfort when she’d misunderstood his intentions the day they met. From everything she’d seen, Robert was every bit the gentleman Ben was.
“Well, if I’m going to risk getting stuck taking Debbie on a date.” Robert’s tone sounded calculated. “I think I should have a little more of a reward.”
Amy felt the blood drain from her face, and her stomach churned. “What do you have in mind?” She shrank back in her chair, folding her arms across her chest.
Robert must have recognized her unease because his smile faded, and concern filled his eyes.
“Relax,” he said, his voice light. “I only thought if I’m willing to go out with the Widow, maybe you’d be willing to go out with me.”
“On a date? I don’t... I’m not...” Amy stopped talking and took a deep breath. “I just left a bad relationship, and I’m not interested in getting involved with anyone.”
“I’m not asking for a relationship, Amy. I’m asking for adatebecause I’d like to get to know you better.” When she continued to frown, he said, “I’ll agree to the auction, if you’ll go on a date with me.”
