C.A.K.E

“Nadia, could you take these out front for me?”

Arden hands a tray of mini chocolate ganache cakes to her baking assistant, a twenty-three-year-old woman fresh out of culinary school. Naddy is still green around the edges. But she's been a godsend.

“Sure.” Nadia takes the tray of desserts from her, and starts to back out of the double swinging doors of the kitchen. Then she stops and ducks her head around the corner to speak to Arden. “Oh, and there's a gentleman waiting for you at table six.”

“Elliott?” Ardi starts to breathe a little easier. Maybe he was able to move some things around on his schedule and will be joining her and Casper at the museum after all.

“No, ma'am.” Nadia licks her lips. “This tall drink is of the hot chocolate variety, and British.”

“And very married,” Arden adds. She needs to remind herself of that fact.

“What a waste.”

“Tell him I'll be right out, please. And try to control yourself, Naddy.”

“No guarantees.” Nadia winks at her, before backing out of the door.

Arden's stomach goes back to doing backflips. What is he doing here?

They agreed to meet at the museum. That would have given Ardi more time to prepare herself to be alone with him and his disarming charm. Instead, he's caught her off guard at work.

She can't hide in the back all afternoon. There are things she needs to handle before she can leave.

She considers not going, making up an excuse about being too busy. The bakery is always teeming with business. So that wouldn't be too far fetched.

Arden realizes that whatever she decides to do, she will still have to go out there and speak to him. See him. Be close enough to be ensnared in the seductive clutches of his smile.

“Get your shit together, Arden. He's just a man.” She continues arranging macarons for a waiting customer's order and ranting to herself. Soon, her anti-Casper pep talk takes a whole other turn.

"He's just an intelligent ... tall..." She sighs to herself. "Well-spoken, sexy ... man.”

“Well, you know. What can I say?”

Arden jumps, dropping one of the macarons. She turns to find her brother leaning against the wall, stroking his chin. He grins at her with their mother's hundred-watt smile, the same one Arden was blessed to inherit along with her defined, button nose. They have their father to thank for their deep, brown eyes.

“Look what you made me do.” Ardi gestures to the fallen pastry.

He laughs and grabs something to clean up the mess. Then he kisses her cheek.

“I'm sorry. Just wanted to check on my sister.” He steals one of the little meringue cookies from the parchment-lined tray. “And seems like I need to. You're talking to yourself now?”

She pops his hand when he reaches for another macaron. His surprise visits are the reason she makes more than she thinks will sell every day.

“I was thinking out loud.”

“Who were you thinking out loud about?” He leans on the counter and nudges her side. “Eli? ...”

Arden doesn't answer.

“Oh ... someone else.”

“None of your business.” She bumps him with her hip. “What are you doing sneaking up on me anyway?”

“Had a lunch date with Dad. Decided to stop by on my way back to the hospital.”

“And why wasn't I invited?”

“Guess, he just doesn't like you, Elmer.” He chuckles.

Arden frowns. “Stop calling me that, Adam.”

“It's not my fault you talked like Elmer Fudd until you were seven.”

“But you're the reason it stuck. Even Gran calls me that sometimes.”

He grins. “Mission accomplished.”

“Get outta my kitchen.” She aims a bent spatula at his face.

“Come on. Don't be like that ... I was just playing.” He tries the puppy dog eyes.

She ignores him and points to the back exit without looking up from her work. “The door, Adam.”

“Okay, okay. I'm leaving.” He turns and Arden calls him back.

She pulls a cake box from the shelf of completed orders waiting for pickup and places it on the industrial stainless steel counter.

“Don't forget this.”

Adam glances at her lowered head, as he examines the pastel package's contents. A selection of his favorite sweets is tucked inside between sheets of parchment.

“You do love me.”

“Only because I have to.” She smiles.

He taps her foot with his. “Take those off as soon as you get a minute. Give your feet a rest.”

“Yes, doctor.” She sighs.

Adam gives her another peck on the cheek and leaves the same way he came.

She checks the order and carries the stack of boxes to the front of the bakery.

catches Casper's eye and shoots him a polite smile, careful not to seem

cake. Arden gets several requests for the small cakes a week. Though, she does consider it a waste to spend so much effort on baking

more look at her colorful creations, before

this, thank you.” The woman is so pleased with Arden's work, she even

she finishes the transaction, Ardi makes her way over to the corner table where Casper is seated, staring

from her nude heels, over her white pencil skirt, up to her turquoise cardigan and the bubble gum pink belt

pushes a stray lock of hair back into the mass of curls pinned behind her ear. She wishes she had

falls on her shoes again. “You work

She glances down at her leather mesh, t-strap heels. “My brother would kill me if

“Why is that?”

on a daily basis can cause permanent damage to the feet and leg muscles,” Arden smirks. “Adam's an orthopedic surgeon and virtual

too much strain on your legs. Especially, since

Then it dawns on her that maybe he's been doing some reading,

takes a trembling breath.

on your feet all day.” He pulls out a seat for

wooden chair, crossing her ankles. Casper reclaims his seat across from her and sits gawking at her. A bit unnerved by his stare, she

. . change of

the office.” He looks around the cafe, studying the collection of vintage plates on one wall. “And this

into a light fixture. Encased in an ivory cage of timber and

I decorated this place

catty-corner to an intersection in the heart of South Homewood, SoHo to the locals (an attempt to seem more metropolitan. But try as they

triangular structure emulates the shape of the street, lending itself to the quirky and cutesy branding she

the walls of the dining area. Tables and chairs in various bright colors, that were distressed by Arden's own hands, give the space a casual,

side tables, and other things salvaged from the archives of the past are everywhere. Anything with a hint of old-school, kitsch catches her

her. “I like

“Thank you.”

in silence, glancing at each other like

like something before we

hand on the back of her seat. “But

lip and runs her string of pearls through her

“Nadia, one of these days, I swear you're

calm down. I don't bite.” Nadia winks at

I. It's just good manners.” He

encourage her.”

the young woman. “So, Naddy, is that short for

“Nadia.”

It's nice to meet you,

She grins, flashing that endearing gap in her

is undeniable, stronger than usual. It warms the two women like the smell of fresh-baked

back to reality first. “Nadia, could you please go see what

to gaze at Casper, sweeping her hand across her neck over and over. “Joseph is at

check on him.” Arden peeks up

before the slave driver here

a pleasure. I hope to see

the white glove covering her

smile wider than her swing skirt.

at Casper. “I can't have you seducing

He leans back and grins. “I have someone else

complexion just went beet red, Arden excuses herself before she says something she might regret.

at the back. She

counter and reaches into a case full of enough sugar

sampling of macarons and a pot of saffron tea. Arden sits the copper tray

I should have taken an etiquette lesson

the

and Ardi

decade for women's fashion. Very demure and glamorous. Classic movies from that time

bright solids, colorful jewelry, and their signature white gloves. Even

The standard dress is his everyday style. He even sports a long pompadour. Arden misses Joseph's vibrant personality when he's not here.

... very

her curves in the snug material. The ensemble shows the slightest wisps of her skin. But it highlights her figure like a number from the pages of Agent Provocateur. Arden pours herself

dessert hits his mouth, he closes his eyes. “This is by far the best thing

the satisfaction on her lips. “Thank you.

her again. “I know

would you

a flirtatious sparkle in his eye.

with this man. And her resolve is weakening by the minute. She has

going." She begins to

me." Casper gets up and

hand brushes against hers as they reach for a plate at the same time. He's a breath from her face and she

takes the other items from him. "I'll

lips. And she takes a

right, love. See you in

heads into the kitchen. Before Nadia can descend upon her again, she ducks into her office at the back. She takes a moment to touch up her hair and apply a little more lipstick. Midway through her primping, she realizes

waiting for her outside the Birmingham Museum of Art. Once she's parked, he makes his bowlegged walk over to her car and open's her driver side door.

"Ready?"

a deep breath and takes his

inside the building and start in no particular direction. Casper sees signs for an African diaspora exhibit and guides them in that

marriage,

intricate African ceramic. She stares at its smooth

is

her at the display. “Do you want

lips. “I thought I did when I was younger. Before