Jane woke up the next day feeling energetic and ready to take on the day. So what it was four in the morning and sane people everywhere were still in bed. She jumped up, took a quick shower and headed downstairs, beating Kit and Layla. She turned on the lights and started pulling out her ingredients for her daily cupcakes. Today, she wanted to do something truly amazing. She couldn’t help wondering what would put a smile on Tate’s face.
She thought of the dessert Meredith made for Kam and his parents and got a buzz of inspiration. She went to work, barely nodding at Kit and Layla as they walked in and went to work making her new masterpiece. She made her basic chocolate fudge cupcakes but then filled the centers with caramel sauce. She topped them with a heavy sweet cream and finished it with crumbles of Heath bar on top. She stepped back and studied her newest creation and smiled.
Layla and Kit came to stand beside her. “Oh. My. Heck.” Layla breathed out. “I hope you made an extra dozen of these bad boys because we’re going to sell out as soon as people find out about them. I
have
to have one right now. I can’t wait,” Layla said, reaching out and picking one up.
Kit groaned as she stared at the cupcakes. “How can I resist that? Jane it’s like you’re a food Fairy,” she said giving in and grabbing one.
Jane held her breath as she watched her sisters take big bites. Layla shook her head silently and then took another bite. Kit closed her eyes and lifted her face to the ceiling as if she were praying.
“Save me one for Hunter Jane. Oh my heavens,” she muttered again, walking back to her bread as she finished off the rest of the cupcake.
Layla grinned at her and kissed her cheek. “These could win a contest, they’re so good. Jane honey, you are one talented woman,” she said and took her cupcake back to the counter she was working at.
Jane grinned at all of the cupcakes and sighed happily. She set two cupcakes aside for Tate and one for Hunter and went back to work. When the bakery opened up, Layla was right. Her cupcakes flew out the door. At eleven that morning, she went back to the kitchen and made another batch for the afternoon crowd. At the end of the day, they’d done more business then they’d done since their opening week.
Layla and Kit each grabbed one last cupcake as she turned the sign to CLOSED. She heard a knock behind her and turned around and saw it was Tate. She grinned and opened the door for him, and was immediately pulled into his arms for a hug and a kiss.
“I’ve missed you,” he said, whispering in her ear before pulling back and looking at her.
Jane squeezed him back one more time, so happy she could burst. “I’ve missed you too. I kept thinking you were going to stop by and say hi,” she said, pouting a little.
Tate grinned and put his arm around her shoulders as he turned to smile at Kit and Layla. “The perks of being a cop. Drug bust at the junior high, shop lifting at the grocery store and a report of a stolen car.
What are they eating
?” he asked softly, staring at the decadent cupcakes Layla and Kit were devouring.
Jane smiled with glee. “My newest cupcake inspired by the dessert I helped Meredith make yesterday. Well, that and I tried to think of what would make you smile. We sold out of them this morning so I had to go back and make more, can you believe it?”
Tate’s face looked crestfallen as he stared at the empty glass cases. Layla grinned at Tate as she popped the last bite in her mouth. “This is my third Tate. Honestly, I’ve never in my life tasted anything so good. Be glad they’re gone. They’re addicting,” she said with a wink at Jane.
Kit jumped in, torturing Tate too. “I’m so glad I snuck one for Hunter. He’s going to fall at my feet after he takes one bite,” she said with a grin.
Tate’s face was a picture of yearning as he nodded. “I can believe it,” he said sounding so sad, Jane gave up and laughed before running back to the kitchen and taking his cupcake out of the fridge. She turned around and saw that Tate, Kit and Layla had followed her. She held the cupcake behind her back and grinned up into his hopeful face.
“Okay, close your eyes and hold out your hands and say pretty please,” she said as Layla and Kit laughed.
Tate smiled at her, not closing his eyes or saying the magic words. “If you give me what you have behind your back, I’ll take you out to dinner and the movies,” he said and she quickly brought the cupcake out in front of her.
Tate stared down at the small creation, his eyes big with wonder. “Jane have I mentioned that I love you,” he said reverently and took the cupcake out of her hand, taking a bite and closing his eyes.
All three sisters surrounded him, watching his expression avidly. Jane bit her bottom lip and clasped her hands together. “
Well?
” she asked, not being able to take the silence any longer.
When Tate finally opened his eyes he stared down at her looking stunned and amazed. “Jane, I’m speechless,” he said and then took another bite and then another and another until it was completely gone. When he was done he licked his lips and then looked at her with hot gleaming eyes.
“You are a dream come true,” he said and then picked her up with his good arm, kissing her breathless as Kit and Layla looked on, grinning.
“Put me down Tate. You’re going to hurt yourself,” she ordered, blushing bright red.
Tate set her down and stared at the fridge expectantly. Kit ran to stand in front of the fridge. “
Don’t you dare Tate
. The last cupcake is for Hunter and I will fight you for it,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him dangerously.
Hunter walked in right at that moment and looked curiously at the tableau before him. “Kit why are you threatening an officer of the law?” he asked curiously. “I’m pretty sure that’s a crime.”
Layla walked over smiling and slipped an arm around Hunter’s waist. “She’s in the process of protecting the very last cupcake from Tate. She wanted you to have it and she’s willing to take on a large armed Samoan man all because of her love for you.”
Hunter grinned and walked over, tipping Kit’s face up. “Darling, I’ve never felt more loved in my entire life,” he said softly before kissing her lightly.
Jane laughed and slipped her arms around Tate’s waist. “Honey, I do have one more cupcake I held back just in case you did like it,” she said, laughing at his relieved expression.
Tate sighed happily. “I’m so happy I don’t have to wrestle Kit now. I was a little worried.”
Layla laughed and shook her head. “I’ve gotta run. Michael and I are taking Stella to the park for a picnic. Don’t hurt each other now,” she said and picked up her purse and walked out.
Kit and Hunter left soon after Layla. They had a meeting with the caterer and were late. Jane sat on a stool and smiled as Tate finished off his second cupcake. She stood up and walked over to him with a small smile. “You’ve got a little cream on your upper lip,” she said softly.
Tate raised an eyebrow. “But there aren’t any napkins. What am I going to do?” he asked, his eyes teasing her.
Jane leaned in and kissed the cream off, laughing as his arms went around her. “I had no idea you were so messy.”
Tate kissed her neck. “Do you blame me? I always knew dating you would be dangerous. I’m going to get fat.”
Jane laughed and felt his rock hard stomach. “Not likely. So where are we going tonight?”
Tate pushed her hair back from her face and smiled. “We’re actually double dating with Kam and Meredith. We’re meeting them at the Iron Skillet in a half an hour and then if we feel like a movie after we can do that too.”
Jane thought immediately of Rob’s gnocchi and hurried to get ready while Tate waited in her family room and watched TV. She came out wearing a Chevron style maxi skirt and matching blue scooped neck t-shirt she’d bought when they’d gone up to Seattle to help Kit pick out bridesmaid’s dresses.
She pulled her long, heavy hair up and then thought better of it and let it stay down. She took a 2” curling iron out and took a few strands wrapping it around the barrel to make loose waves all over. She stood back and tilted her head as she studied the effect. She smiled at herself and even though she wasn’t the most beautiful woman in the world, she looked pretty good for going out to dinner.
She grabbed her purse and hurried to the family room and Tate. He looked up at her and did a double take, his eyes going wide in approval.
“I know you’ve heard it before, but you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
Jane rolled her eyes a little and looked down in embarrassment. “Tate, I know I’m not. Stop being silly. Let’s go,” she said crossing her arms and looking at him as he stood up and walked to her, frowning and looking dangerous.
He took her hand in his and shook his head at her. “Jane, you didn’t just disagree with me did you?” he asked softly.
Jane shrugged feeling very uncomfortable. “Tate, I’m not blind. Look, I grew up with Layla and Kit. I’ve grown up seeing men go speechless when they see my sisters. I don’t exactly have that kind of effect on men. I know I’m sort of attractive, but I’m definitely not the most beautiful woman in the world. But it’s sweet of you to say so,” she said, soothingly as his face hardened and he shook his head.
“When I look at your face, I see the most beautiful woman in the world. I don’t care who Hunter thinks is most beautiful or Michael or any other man in the world. Nobody’s opinion matters except mine when it comes to you. And you better believe me when I tell you that you are definitely the most beautiful woman in the world,” he said slowly and carefully.
Jane bit her lip and for the first time in her life she felt truly beautiful. She looked up shyly into Tate’s face and smiled. “Okay. Thanks for that,” she said and stood on her tip toes to kiss his cheek.
Tate smiled and nodded his head. “That’s better.”
They met Kam and Meredith at the Iron Skillet and Rob came and personally took them to the best table in the restaurant.
“It’s a good thing I like you Tate. There’s not a lot of guys I’d let get away with stealing my girlfriend,” he said, punching Tate lightly on the arm.
Tate’s eyes narrowed as he smiled coldly at Rob. Kam laughed and shook his head. “You’re telling me. I thought for sure Jane was going to end up being
my
girlfriend but Tate swooped her up and stole her from both of us. Maybe we should take this guy out back and teach him a lesson?” he said grinning at his cousin.
Tate grinned at Kam and relaxed. “You could try,” he said and Rob grinned, before smiling at Jane. “How are you doing Beautiful? I miss you,” he said, sounding genuine.
Jane stood up and hugged Rob. “I miss you too. Grab a girl and double date with us sometime. You and I have fun together. There’s no reason that should stop,” she said.
Rob hugged her one more time and then looked over her shoulder and laughed at Tate’s expression. “Well, there might be one. As soon as I find a woman like you we’ll double,” he said and then signaled a waiter to bring them water glasses and bread.
Kam laughed at Tate and shook his head. “Brother, you had to know dating this woman wouldn’t be easy. You’re going to have to fight them all off.”
Jane laughed, feeling uneasy again. She hated compliments, mostly because she just wasn’t used to them.
Meredith glared at Kam and nudged his large arm with hers. “As long as he doesn’t have to fight you,” she said pouting.
Kam put an around her shoulders and pulled on her hair. “Mer, you have nothing to worry about. You know I’m crazy about you. I’ve been crazy about you for years,” he said, smiling sweetly down at her.
Jane grinned and raised an eyebrow at Meredith as she relaxed and smiled happily. There was more to Kam and Meredith than she first thought. They spent an hour eating and talking and Jane enjoyed herself immensely. It was heaven holding Tate’s hand under the table while they talked and laughed and ate.