“No.” She stared at the box, then looked at him, her forehead creased with concern. “I didn’t get you anything.”
He chuckled. “Honey, I already got the best end of the deal. I got you and Jake.”
She carefully unwrapped the baby-blue jeweler’s box and opened the lid. Inside was an exquisite diamond necklace. In shock, she whispered, “Oh, Cameron, it’s gorgeous. But…why?”
“Because I wanted to give you a little something to remember this evening. Now let me put it on you.”
“It’s hardly ‘a little something,’” she murmured, but held her hair up as he slipped the necklace around her neck and fastened it.
He kissed the back of her neck, then she turned to show him how it looked. “It’s perfect. Just like you.”
She smiled as she ran her fingers hesitantly over the necklace. “You shouldn’t have done it, but thank you.”
He poured champagne, then they made slow, easy love on the couch. Afterward, they moved to the bedroom and started all over again.
Much later, they were both too wide awake to sleep, so they talked for another hour. Cameron asked her questions about her pregnancy and Jake’s birth. She told him about the baby’s milestones. He wondered about their nanny and she told him all about the older woman who took such good care of Jake. They talked about her bakery and her schedule these days.
He asked her why she specialized in cupcakes at her bakery. She shrugged, told him that people liked cupcakes, then changed the subject, asking him how it was to grow up with two brothers. He regaled her with Sally Duke stories. Cameron found himself laughing more than he ever thought he could.
The laughter turned to kisses and they ended up making love again.
The next morning, they shared a quiet breakfast on the terrace, wearing matching robes. He was pleased that she still wore the diamond necklace.
“Do you want more coffee?” he asked, lifting the carafe.
“Yes, please.” She glanced around, a puzzled frown on her face. “Is that water running?”
He listened, then grinned. “It’s the waterfall.”
“You have a waterfall?” Standing, she walked to the balcony railing and looked out at the resort grounds. “Is it by the beach?”
“Not exactly.” He joined her at the railing and pointed out a large, thick copse of trees and shrubbery next to a rocky mound halfway across the expanse. “It’s a pool. Very private. We rent it out for parties occasionally, but we don’t advertise it. It’s part of an underground spring, so the water is naturally warm. I had a grotto built around the pool, with a waterfall. It’s pretty nice.”
She sighed. “It sounds wonderful.”
“It’s secluded and romantic.” He wrapped his arms around her. “Maybe we’ll check it out before we leave.”
“I have only two days left of my conference, so we’ll have to…oh, my God.”
“What is it?”
Her eyes showed a spark of fear. “What day is this?”
“Tuesday.”
“Cupcakes,” she cried. “I have to bake cupcakes.” She slid the terrace door open, then stopped and shook her finger at him. “You distracted me.”
“I hope to God I distracted you,” he muttered, following her into the suite.
“Oh, you know what I mean.” She circled the kitchen, opening cupboards and slamming drawers. “The demonstration is today at two o’clock. I have to start baking now.”
“Why don’t I just send my assistant to the store to buy a few dozen cupcakes?”
She stared at him, her mouth agape in horror. She waved him off as she raced down the hall. “You don’t get it.”
“Babe, relax,” he said, strolling after her. “I can help.”
She stopped abruptly. “Very funny, Cameron.”
“Hey, I’m a good cook,” he insisted, scowling as he trailed her into the master bathroom. “Ask anyone. I’ll pit my chili recipe against anyone’s, any day of the week.”
“Your
“Okay, those are fighting words.” His eyes narrowed as she ignored him, whipped off her bathrobe and stepped into the steaming rush of water.
“So maybe we’ll fight later,” he muttered, then threw off his robe and followed her into the warm shower.
The kitchen bar became an assembly line with all three of Julia’s professional-strength mixers arranged side by side.
On another counter, she’d lined up all the ingredients she would need, as well as the bowls, spoons, measuring cups and spatulas she would use to blend everything together.
Cameron had called Sally to ask if she could keep the baby for a few more hours while he and Julia baked cupcakes. Sally and her girlfriends were thrilled. Jake could sit in his bouncer while the women played canasta by the pool.
“Okay, let’s get this show on the road,” Cameron said, all business as he tied a cook’s apron around his waist. “How much flour do you need?”
“Baking is slightly different than cooking,” Julia said warily. “I won’t be offended if you just want to sit at the bar and offer moral support.”
“You’re kidding, right?
She sighed. “Okay. We’ll need three cups of flour in each of those three large glass bowls.”
“Fine.” He reached for one of the glass measuring cups and the bag of flour.
“Oh, use this plastic cup, not the glass one.”
“What’s the difference?”
She held up the two different measuring cups. “One’s for liquids and one’s for solids. You can fill this one to the top and level it off.” She demonstrated how to level it off using the thin, straight handle of the spatula.
Cameron considered that, then nodded.
Twenty minutes later, Cameron had flour in his hair and egg on his shirt. He’d spilled sugar on the floor and had to sweep it up. His apron was smeared with chocolate splotches and butter stains.
Julia’s apron was spotless and she hummed a perky tune as she briskly washed the bowls and utensils. What was wrong with this picture? Cameron shoved the broom into the utility closet as Julia turned the water off and dried her hands.
“As soon as the third batch is in the oven, I’ll start the frosting.” She dried one of the large bowls in preparation for the next step. “Maybe you can add the sprinkles at the end.”
“Sprinkles?” He slammed the closet shut. “Now that’s just demeaning.”
Julia laughed. “You’re so wrong. Sprinkles are a critical part of the operation.”
“I’ll show you a critical part,” he said with a growl as he grabbed her from behind.
Her protest landed somewhere between a scream and a giggle. Then her eyes flared as Cameron managed to ease her blouse off, then handily relieved her of her blue jeans.
“What have you done?” she asked, glancing down at her pristine apron, which was all that remained of her clothing. It was still tied neatly at her waist. “How did you do that?”
He waved his hands. “Magic.” Scanning her from head to toe, he said, “Very nice. Now turn around.”
“I don’t think so,” she said, backing away from him.
He ripped his apron off and unbuttoned his shirt as he stalked her. Her back hit the kitchen wall as the oven timer buzzed.
“Perfect timing,” she said, and made a sideways move toward the oven.
Cameron held her in place. “Stay right there.” He pulled the second batch of cupcakes out of the oven and placed them on a rack, then slipped the third batch in and set the timer for fifteen minutes.
“I have to start the frosting now,” she said.
“Not yet.” He pulled her close and turned to switch places with her, so now his back was against the wall. He slipped his hands under her apron and clutched her exposed backside, shaping it with both of his hands. “This is
