With This Cake: A Meet Me At The Altar Novel Read online

  There was a sadness in his voice that she’d never heard before and as she hugged him back, it only solidified her earlier thought on how she was going to show him how she felt.

  Because clearly, no one had ever given this man their unconditional love.

  Until now.

  “Where’s your car?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean I know what kind of car you drive, Leanna, and that’s not it.”

  “Oh, um…I borrowed Josie’s.” Getting up on her toes, she kissed him on the cheek. “Are you going to invite me in? That is why I’m here, isn’t it?”

  Brody knew he was frowning, but something didn’t make sense. “Is there something wrong with your car that you had to borrow Josie’s?” She wouldn’t look him in the eye and he had a sinking feeling in his gut. “Lea?”

  She groaned and threw her head back. “Okay, fine! I didn’t want to park my crappy car in your driveway! There. Are you happy now?”

  Pulling her into his arms, he hugged her and kissed her cheek. “No, I’m not happy because I think you’re being ridiculous. There’s nothing wrong with your car.”

  She buried her face against his chest. “It’s old.”

  “So what?”

  “And you live in this crazy expensive neighborhood and I didn’t want people thinking you were being robbed or something.”

  This time he pulled back and stared down hard at her. “Do you even hear yourself? Haven’t we been over this like a dozen times already? None of that matters to me! And it really bothers me that the normally bubbly and optimistic woman I’m dating can so easily start doubting herself over something so trivial.”

  “It’s not trivial…”

  “It is trivial,” he corrected. “You have nothing to be insecure about. You’re here because I want you here and I wanted your car to bring you here.”

  She let out a low snort as she rolled her eyes. “You were not even thinking about my car.”

  She wasn’t wrong, but that wasn’t the point.

  “Obviously I wasn’t thinking specifically about your car. I just wanted you to get here. Sooner rather than later.” Then he leaned in and kissed her properly. “I’m tempted to follow you back to Meet Me at the Altar and make you get your car back, but that would mean giving up some of our time here and I really don’t want to do that.”

  And finally, she smiled. “Me either.” Glancing around him, she asked, “Now can I go inside? I’m dying to see it!”

  “Come on.” And taking her hand in his, he led her into the house.

  “Oh, wow, Brody. This is amazing!” Her voice was one of hushed awe and all he could do was stand back and watch her move around the main living area which showcased not only the living room and a massive white brick fireplace, an entire wall of glass showing the courtyard out back, but also the kitchen. He heard her gasp when she walked over and ran her hands over the marble countertop of the island. “Oh, my goodness! This kitchen is my fantasy!”

  Sliding his hands into his trouser pockets, he felt his chest swell with pride. Most people he invited over complimented the house, but seeing the absolute joy on Leanna’s face was the highest praise he could ever ask for.

  “I don’t even need to see the rest of the house because this is the only room I’m going to stay in,” she said with a laugh.

  “Well, don’t say that yet.” Walking over, he took her hand in his again. “Let me show you around the rest of the place and then you can decide if it’s the only room you want.”

  Her hand continued to slide along the marble until they were out of the room and he thought it was adorable. They walked around and he showed her the dining room, the gym, all of the guest bedrooms, his office, and his man cave. “So? What do you think?”

  “I think we must have missed a room,” she said, frowning.

  “Ah…you know what? You’re right. Follow me.” He led her down a long glass-enclosed hallway. At the end, he stepped aside and motioned for her to go in ahead of him.

  “Holy crap, Brody,” she whispered. “This is…it’s…oh, my God! How big is that bed?”

  “It’s an Alaskan King,” he told her. “Very roomy.”

  “Wow. I don’t know how you’ve managed sleeping at my place with my piddly little queen size bed.”

  He couldn’t help but chuckle. “I have been more than happy with the sleeping arrangements because I get to hold you all night.”

  The look she gave him told him she didn’t quite believe him.

  “Okay, fine. When I’m sleeping alone, I like to sprawl out. Lots of breathing room. It’s not a crime.”

  She ran her hand over the soft gray comforter as she walked across the room. “You could probably fit four people in that thing without a problem.”

  Slowly he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “There’s only one person I want in my bed, and that’s you.” She melted against him and he was tempted to get her into his bed right this minute.

  “Is that the bathroom through there or another room?”

  “It’s the master bath,” he said, releasing her so she could go and check it out.

  “Geez, Brody, I think this is bigger than the one I had at your parents’ place!”

  “It is.” He followed her in and gave her all the details. “Heated tile floors, double vanity, steam shower, and one of the largest free-standing soaker tubs you can find.”

  “I may have to change my answer about which room I’ll be staying in,” she said with a sassy wink. “I’m a sucker for tubs like this. Obviously my place doesn’t have one, but it’s another must-have on my list for whenever I move.”

  “You should have everything you want, Leanna.”

  She practically skipped over to him and kissed him. “Spoken like a guy who grew up with lots of money.” She said it lightly, but it made him realize how fortunate he really was and wondered what Leanna’s upbringing was like.

  But now wasn’t quite the time.

  They walked back out to the bedroom–which also had a full wall of sliding glass doors that opened to a private patio where there was a hot tub, an outdoor shower, and then a path that led out to the pool.

  “I know you’re going to think I’m crazy but…I really want to bake something in your kitchen,” she blurted out before laughing. “How stupid am I? This house has everything a person could need to relax and all I can think about is sprawling out all over those marble countertops and baking all kinds of cakes and pastries!”

  Without a word, Brody crooked a finger at her and then walked out of the room.

  “Where are we going?” she asked as she followed him, but he wasn’t going to say a word until they got there. “You know, all this glass would give me a complex. I’d be afraid to walk around without being fully clothed because anyone could see in! Think of all the peeping Toms that could be out there in the woods!”

  Okay, that one had to be addressed. “The glass is a switchable privacy glass. Very high-tech. With the touch of a button, no one can see in.”

  “Seriously? That’s a thing?”

  Nodding, he turned toward the kitchen. When he got to the island, he held out one of the stools for her. “Have a seat.”

  Hopping up, she grinned at him. “Are we going to make some lunch?”

  “I planned on that, but I wanted to show you something first.”

  “Ooh…I’m intrigued.”

  When he turned to open some of the cabinet doors, he could see Leanna bouncing in her seat. “I hope I got this right.” Then he opened four of the larger doors and took a step back before looking at her.

  Leanna’s eyes were wide and her jaw was practically on the floor. “Brody, what did you do?” Slowly, she came to her feet and walked over to him, but her eyes were on what was inside the cabinets.

  He might have gone a little overboard, but he wanted to make sure she had everything she could possibly need to do what she loved.

  Gently, he cleared his throat. “Ok
ay, so there’s a stand mixer with every accessory that fits it, a set of mixing bowls, assorted cake pans, pie pans, loaf pans, muffin pans, and cupcake pans over here.” Then he moved over to the next cabinet. “Here you have parchment paper, cupcake liners, measuring cups and spoons, rolling pins, and wire racks.” He opened one of the drawers that divided the top and bottom cabinets. “In here are all kinds of utensils–wooden spoons, rubber spatulas, scrapers, knives, scissors, brushes, and…well…you know what they all are. I remembered the icing bags you used so there’s a whole mess of them in there with different tips.”

  “Brody, this is…”

  “Now I realize I don’t know what brands of stuff you prefer, so I just Googled what the top brands were for professional bakers and ordered a little bit of everything. You’ve got a variety of flours, sugars, stuff to make frosting…” Pausing, he shrugged. “I kind of ordered one of everything on the website.”

  Tears welled up in her eyes as she moved in close and literally wrapped herself around him. “I cannot believe that you did all of this for me,” her voice shook as she cupped his face. “This is the most amazing gift I’ve ever gotten. No one’s ever done something so considerate for me and I don’t know what to say except thank you.”

  He rested his forehead against hers, could feel her trembling, and walked them across the kitchen until he had her sitting on top of the island. Reaching up, he brushed away a lone tear from her cheek before resting his forehead against hers. “I thought you might want to play in the kitchen and wanted you to have everything you needed here.”

  A slow smiled crossed her face. “Baking isn’t the only playing I want to do in this kitchen.” Leanna leaned in and ran her tongue along his bottom lip and he moaned softly. One of her hands raked through his hair. “This island feels very sturdy,” she whispered against his lips.

  “It is,” he told her, his voice gruff.

  “Have I mentioned that I have a fantasy about having a dark-haired man take me in the middle of a kitchen just like this one?”

  He was hard instantly.

  “A fantasy, you say?” He hummed and nipped at her jaw. “What exactly happens during this fantasy? Does this dark-haired man just…claim you or does he take his time and do things like…this?” Slowly, Brody licked his way from her collarbone to the shell of her ear. His hands were braced on the marble on either side of her, but now he placed them on her denim-clad thighs and inched his way up. “Does he touch you? Tease you? Tell you how incredibly sexy you are?”

  In front of him, Leanna was panting. Her head lolled back as his hands reached up to cup her breasts, tease her nipples. She whispered his name.

  “Does he take his time to get you completely naked while he stays fully clothed? Does he feast on every inch, every curve of this sensual body–making sure to give you more pleasure than you can handle before taking his own?”

  “Oh, God…”

  “Tell me exactly what you want, love, and I’ll do it,” he all but growled in her ear.

  “I want…both,” she said, opening her eyes to look at him. “I want everything you just described. Hard and fast, and then slow and…everything.” She licked her lips. “Please.”

  He was relieved she wanted hard and fast because right now, that was exactly what he needed to give her.

  Them.

  And he’d never been happier to have someone in his home.

  Chapter 11

  Nothing says home like the smell of baking.

  It was crazy how much she had baked in Brody’s spectacular kitchen considering he didn’t eat cake. By Sunday afternoon, Leanna had made two dozen cupcakes, a dozen blueberry muffins, a dozen banana nut muffins, a loaf of banana bread with chocolate chips, a sheet cake, a three-tiered cake, four different kinds of frosting, fondant, and a batch of chocolate chip cookies for herself.

  The bread and muffins were in the freezer and Brody promised to bring them to the office on Monday for his staff. The cake and cupcakes were decorated and boxed up–because yes, the man even thought to buy a variety of cake boxes for her to have if she needed them–and she was taking them to work with her tomorrow to share with the staff.

  The best part of all the baking had been when Brody tried to help.

  She put a lot of emphasis on tried. The man had zero patience, hated to measure anything, and had a bit of an issue with how much sugar she used.

  Yeah, not a fan of sweets. Message received.

  After the lecture on the effects of sugar on the human body, he switched the conversation to the triathlon and good Lord, she could not even imagine wanting to do something like that. Swimming, biking, and running? On the same day? Um…no thank you. After that they decided to retreat to their own corners and stick to the hobbies they each knew and loved without imposing them on the other.

  It made for a much more peaceful weekend.

  Now, as she danced around the kitchen while listening to Harry Styles sing Watermelon Sugar, she finished cleaning the space so it was back in pristine condition. He had told her not to worry about it–he had a cleaning crew that came in every Monday–but she didn’t like leaving a mess anywhere. So everything was back in its place and all clean and sparkly.

  She had total envy that Brody got to come home to this layout every single day.

  And he didn’t even know how to cook!

  It was going to be hard to go home tonight or tomorrow after staying in this magnificent house. Granted, it was a little more modern and masculine than she would like, but it totally suited Brody. There was a little too much glass and tile and shades of gray, but he certainly didn’t seem the type of guy who was interested in pops of color.

  If she had worked with the decorator, she would have insisted on something other than navy blue, gray, and white–maybe a little maroon somewhere or teal…just something to break it up.

  “Ugh…stop trying to redecorate,” she murmured as she placed the last of the cleaning supplies away while Harry sang his last note.

  Yeah, that was something else she was having fun with–the entire house had surround sound and she was having a field day with it, listening to all her favorite playlists while baking. Next time she promised Brody she’d give one of his lists a try.

  If there was a next time.

  Although, she had no idea why she’d possibly be doubting herself. Things were going so well between them that she should be thinking about the next time. The only problem with that was that she hated getting ahead of herself because it usually left her feeling disappointed.

  As if the playlist sensed the sudden change in her mood, Taylor Swift’s Exile came on.

  Walking over to the living room, she sat down on the sofa and let out a long breath. Brody was on a business call right now and he told her he’d be at least an hour and that was almost two hours ago. He suggested she go and soak in the hot tub or go watch a movie in his den–or man cave–but right now she felt like she needed to be in her head and sort out her feelings.

  And boy did she have a lot of them.

  Normally, Leanna was a very level-headed woman. She’d never dated anyone who made her heart race or who created the kind of feelings she was dealing with right now. All the men who came before were the nice guys…the quiet guys…the safe guys.

  And Brody King certainly wasn’t safe and she knew that from the moment she met him.

  Or…heard him.

  He was the first man who pursued her in a way that made her throw all logic out the window and yet…it was working.

  Glancing around the massive space, she wondered what it would be like to spend more time here with him. What would it be like to come back here after going out to eat or to a movie? Would he allow her to have a drawer to keep some things in or a spot in the walk-in closet that was the size of a single-car garage?

  He pretty much gave you a large portion of his kitchen. Do you really think he’d begrudge you a drawer?

  Okay, maybe that was true, but…how did she even ask?

&
nbsp; Shifting on the sofa, she laid down and got a little comfortable. Closing her eyes, she let herself imagine what it would be like if they stayed in this honeymoon period–seeing each other several times a week, spending their free weekends together, and making plans for the future.

  And she wasn’t talking about wedding plans–although she was fairly certain her mind would go there eventually–but things like taking a trip together for the weekend. Staying here at Casa de King–the nickname she gave the house–was the closest Leanna had come to a vacation in years and it had been beyond enjoyable. She’d gladly skip going up to the mountains or even a trip to the beach to stay here like this weekend, just relaxing.

  Maybe a little less baking next time though…

  Yeah, she loved to bake but it would be nice to really step away from her work and just truly relax.

  Brody was not big on relaxing, she found out. He skipped his early morning trainings this weekend, but as soon as he had her situated in the kitchen and baking, he would go off and workout in his gym. Just the thought of getting on the treadmill was enough to make her shudder. She walked around enough while on her feet all day at work, so the last thing she wanted was to get on some torture device and force herself to sweat.

  “No, thank you.”

  “But I haven’t even told you what I was thinking.”

  Her eyes popped open and she saw Brody standing at the end of the sofa smiling down at her. He was shirtless, only wearing a pair of running shorts, and she was instantly on alert.

  How was it possible that she was even thinking about anything sexy again? Good Lord, they had made love in just about every room in the house. Brody had sworn he never had another woman here, and therefore, needed to christen every room.

  Which she had been completely on board with.

  But shouldn’t they be…like…done? Is this what normal people did? Had lots and lots of sex and never got tired of it?

  I should probably ask Skye about that and see if she and Elliott were like this…

  “Lea? You okay?”

  “What? Oh,” she said nervously as she sat up. “Sorry. I guess I was dozing and…yeah. Sorry.”