Head Over Heels (The Bridesmaids Club Book 3) (31 page)

“We haven’t had the baking lesson you promised me. How about I take all four kittens if you teach me how to make a chocolate cake?”

The slow, sexy smile on Todd’s face made Sally wonder if he was a slightly better negotiator than she was. “You’ve got a deal. But I take no responsibility for the finished product. If the cake flops the only thing I can offer you is another lesson.”

“The cake won’t flop.”

“Are you sure?”

Todd’s smile dimmed. “Almost.”

“Great. I’ll bring the kittens to your place on Saturday. How does after school tomorrow sound for our lesson?”

Todd turned right, then glanced across the cab. “Works for me. Be prepared to be impressed.”

Sally knew that wouldn’t be a problem. She already was.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Sally drove toward Todd’s ranch. She’d been teasing him when she’d first offered to show him how to make chocolate cake. But if he really wanted to learn, she was happy to show him.

She didn’t know what he had in his pantry, so she’d brought everything they’d need. The box of ingredients was rattling around in her back seat. It was oddly comforting and slightly annoying. After nearly being kidnapped she wasn’t taking anything in life for granted. The sounds of everyday life were important, especially when she thought about the alternative.

Her family had almost realized she was able to look after herself. Before Alastair had gone back to the FBI, he’d taught her a few self-defense moves. She’d enjoyed them so much that she’d joined a personal safety class with Annie. They’d laughed more than they should have and driven the instructor crazy with their questions. At the end of their first hour, they’d been incredibly pleased with their progress.

If anyone tried grabbing Sally again, they’d better protect their knees. She’d learned some pretty impression moves that didn’t involve spearing someone with the heel of a shoe.

As she passed under the sign welcoming people to Copper Creek Ranch, she thought about Todd. He’d seemed better after their walk yesterday, more at peace with himself and what had happened. He’d even laughed a few times, which was a huge relief.

He’d loved his wife and son so much, that Sally wondered if there’d ever be space left in his heart for her. She knew he cared about their friendship, knew that he enjoyed spending time with her. But sometime in the future that wouldn’t be enough. She wanted to be a part of Todd’s life forever.

She wanted a family, a home that had more than two bedrooms, a little poky kitchen, and no backyard. And she wanted to fill her home with animals that had been abandoned. Animals that needed to be loved as much as she could love them.

But that was all for another day. Right now, she needed to focus on chocolate cake. Her recipe was foolproof, or so she thought. If she could make a cake that was good enough to pass inspection by her brothers, then it was a pretty fine chocolate cake recipe.

As soon as she stopped in front of Todd’s home, Max pushed his way out of the house. He leaped down the porch steps and waited for her beside a big container of daisies.

She got out of her truck and kneeled on the ground. Max gave her a welcome woof, and in return she gave him a big hug. “How are you?”

Max panted in delight. He lifted his paw and Sally shook it.

Todd came down the stairs. “You made it.”

“Did you think I wouldn’t come?” Sally stood up and gave Max another pat on his back.

“I thought you might have had second thoughts. Teaching me to make a chocolate cake could be a challenge.”

“Not when there’s a litter of kittens looking for a new home. You’ve painted your house.”

Todd looked behind him. “What do you think?”

“It’s great. And you bought the containers and put daisies in them. They add a lot of pretty color to the front of your house.”

“I like them, too,” Todd said proudly. “The contractors finished painting the house while I was at mom and dad’s ranch. I’ve still got another coat of paint to go on the porch swing, but it should be finished by next weekend.”

Sally looked at the corners of the house. “You’ve taken down the security cameras?”

Todd nodded. “With Mitch and his men in prison, we’re safe out here now. Or as safe as we’re ever going to get. Max isn’t much of a guard dog, but he’s better than nothing.”

Sally opened her back door and pulled a big box off the seat. “I’ve got everything I think we’ll need.”

Todd took the box out of her arms. “Did you think I don’t have a kitchen?”

“I’m prepared for every eventuality,” Sally said with a grin on her face. “Including doggy catastrophes if Max decides he likes chocolate cake.”

Sally held the front door open for Todd and Max. She walked inside after them, and blinked a few times to make sure she wasn’t seeing things. “You’re painting the inside of your house, too?”

Todd adjusted the box in his hands and looked around the room. “I was tired of the old wallpaper and paint. It was time to make the house my home. I haven’t started on the kitchen yet. I’m thinking of knocking a wall down and I don’t want to do anything in there until that’s been sorted.”

“I don’t know whether I should be amazed or worried.”

Todd smiled. “That’s what Dylan said. Come into the kitchen. I’ve already put the oven on.”

“What color are you painting the walls?”

“I’m not sure. We could look at the samples later tonight, if you want to?”

Sally helped Todd slide the box into the center of the counter. “I’m taking you to mom and dad’s place for dinner. I don’t know how much time we’ll have between putting the chocolate cake going in the oven and leaving for their ranch.”

“About thirty-five minutes, if I’m not mistaken.”

Sally frowned at the grin on Todd’s face. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

“I don’t know what you could be referring to,” he said with a smile.

“You wouldn’t have made chocolate cake before, would you?”

“I could have. How about you teach me how to make yours, then we’ll compare the results at the end?”

Sally looked around the kitchen. It was spotless, much too clean for having had a chocolate cake made on its surfaces. She sniffed the air. Not a whiff of chocolate anywhere. “A chocolate cake made in a bakery doesn’t count.”

“It wasn’t bought.”

She pursed her lips together. “Why do I feel like I’ve been set up?”

“Probably because you’ve got four older brothers.” Todd kissed the tip of her nose. “Come on, show me how to make your favorite recipe.”

Sally decided to ignore his grin and get him working. Max had already settled himself on his doggy blanket, so Todd didn’t need to worry about tripping over him. “You need to put one and three-quarter cups of all-purpose flour in a mixing bowl with two cups of sugar, and half a cup of unsweetened cocoa powder.”

Todd started moving around the kitchen, opening drawers, and taking things out of his pantry. He didn’t look as though this was the first recipe he’d ever cooked. Sally told him the next steps and watched him measure the ingredients and mix the batter.

“Don’t mix too hard,” she warned. “You’re not making concrete. Fold the batter gently over itself. Yeah, like that.”

“Are you sure I haven’t added too much buttermilk?”

Sally shook her head. “It’s supposed to be a thin batter. It’s perfect the way it is.”

Todd cut the baking paper into the right size and lined the cake tin. “I bought some wine and other things to take to your parents’ house. We could take the chocolate cake, too.”

“Matthew and Sean will be your friends for life. They love this recipe.”

“That’s what I was hoping,” Todd muttered. He slid the cake in the oven and slowly closed the oven door. “Finished.”

“Not quite.” Sally threw a dish towel at him. “You can dry. I’ll wash.”

Todd glanced at the dirty dishes he’d thrown in the sink. “I’m buying a dishwasher when I remodel the kitchen.”

“Get one of the dishwashers with two drawers. They’re great when you don’t have a lot of dishes all at once.” Sally filled the sink with hot, soapy water and started cleaning the bowls. “You must have hidden your other cake. I haven’t seen it.”

The bowl Todd had picked up nearly slipped out of his hands. “Were you looking?”

“Of course,” Sally said with a grin. “I like to know what I’m up against. Which recipe did you use?”

A blush streaked along Todd’s cheeks. “I’ll tell you after you’ve tasted it.”

They washed and dried the dishes, ended up wearing a lot of the soap suds in a war of the bubbles, and laughed so hard that Sally had tears in her eyes.

When everything looked as spotless as it had when she’d first arrived, Todd turned on the coffee machine and pulled a chair out from the table. “If the chocolate cake tastes as good as it smells it will be a winner.” He waved Sally into the chair and she smiled.

“It’s the best cake I’ve ever tasted.” She sat down and looked up at Todd. “Are you going to show me your other cake now?”

He sat on the seat beside her. “Soon. I’ve got something I want to tell you first.”

“Let me guess…you’re really a chef in disguise?”

Todd shook his head. “No. I’m good on a barbecue and I have no trouble with toast, cereal, and bacon. But I’ve never been able to master mac and cheese.”

“We’re a match made in heaven, then.”

“I hope so.”

Sally stared at Todd. The serious expression on his face worried her. “What’s wrong?”

Todd looked confused. “What do you mean?”

“You look far too serious for a man who’s just confessed to not being able to make mac and cheese.” A horrible thought crossed Sally’s mind. “You’re not moving are you?”

Todd looked down at his hands.

A sinking feeling wiped what was left of her smile off her face. “Is that why you’re remodeling your home?” Todd lifted his head and gazed at her. She pushed her disappointment away and tried to find something positive to focus on.

“I’m not moving, Sally.”

“Are you going to tell me you don’t want us to spend time together?”

Todd’s mouth dropped open. “No.”

She took a deep breath. “That’s good. So why are you looking so sad?”

“I’m not sad. I’m nervous.”

“You are?”

Todd held her hand in his. “Six months ago I could hardly have a conversation with anyone. I kept to myself and didn’t have a lot to do with people. And then you came along and everything changed.”

“Was that a good thing?”

“It was a very good thing. I’m sorry you got caught in the cross-fire from Mitch. I could hardly think straight when I heard you were missing.”

Sally thought back to the night of Carolyn’s wedding. It seemed so long ago, but she still remembered the absolute terror she’d felt when she’d been running away from the barn. She’d found the tree house, had tried to be so quiet that she’d been worried the man chasing her would hear her breathing. It had been the most terrifying few hours of her life and she never wanted to repeat anything like it again. “But you found me and stayed with me.”

“I realized then that you’re important to me.”

Sally rubbed her thumb along the top of his hand. “You’re important to me, too.”

Todd leaped out of his chair. It wobbled against the wooden floor and Sally grabbed it in case it tipped over. “I’ve got something I need to show you.”

Todd was halfway across the room when he suddenly stopped. “You need to close your eyes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Max gave a doggy sigh from his blanket and Sally smiled. She closed her eyes and heard Todd open a cupboard. “If you’re trying to bribe me with your chocolate cake, it will probably work.”

“Pleased to hear it.”

“And if you’ve got candy sprinkles on the top I’ll probably love you for life.”

Todd made a weird noise in the back of his throat. It sounded as though he’d tripped at the same time, but she didn’t hear a thud. “Is the cake still in one piece?”

She felt Todd brush against her, heard the plate land on the table in front of her. “Can I open my eyes?”

“No. I want to light the candles.”

Todd moved away and she smiled. “You’re showing off now.”

“I want to impress you.”

“You do anyway, with or without cake.”

Todd came back. She heard the click of a lighter and waited for Todd to say, ‘surprise’. Only he didn’t say anything. He stayed quiet for so long that Sally was worried the candles might have melted to a gooey mess. “Todd?”

“Okay. You can open your eyes.”

Sally looked down at the cake. It was about the size of a dinner plate. Swirls of soft green frosting coated the top. A white picket fence made from candy surrounded the edge and in the center, taking pride of place, was a replica of Max. “It’s beautiful. Come and have a look, Max. There’s a fondant doggy on the top that looks exactly like you.”