Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 35550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
She liked being Brice’s friend.
With the bed made, she returned to the kitchen and found the cake had cooled. She started to assemble the cake, taking great care and pride as she did so.
Once it was all done and looked stunning, she grabbed her camera and began taking snapshots from all angles.
She made a note on the date, and closed the camera, putting a cover on the cake.
Her stomach kept twisting with nerves, so eating it just wouldn’t do any good.
She was cleaning the house for a second time when she heard Brice’s car. Checking through the sitting room window, she saw he was indeed there.
Tucking her hair behind her ear, she stared down at her messy apron. No point in changing anything now.
With a deep breath, she opened the door.
He was struggling up the stairs with several shopping bags. Rushing to his aid, she took them off him and together they unloaded his car.
“Did you buy the whole supermarket?” she asked, with a chuckle.
“I think so. Did you know that was my first time ever shopping solo?”
“How do you feed yourself at home?”
“I order in or murder toast and noodles.”
“Wow, while you’re staying here maybe I should teach you a few things?”
“That I can handle. Be warned. I’ve got nothing against the kitchen, but it always hates me.”
“It doesn’t hate you. You just need to know how to control everything. Don’t worry. Teresa helped me, and I know I can help you.”
“Deal. So, how long are you staying here for?”
“I’m actually here the entire month before I have a guest show.” She grabbed her schedule from her office, handing it to him.
Her agent always made sure everything was in line so she wasn’t late for anything, or confused. Everything had to have an order.
“I’m surprised you don’t have dozens of people here, helping you.”
“I need my space. I’m sure if I really needed it, my agent would arrange for an entire kitchen staff to be here, but I’m at my most creative alone. I know, it sucks.”
“I’m not leaving,” Brice said. “I’m going to be the one sitting here tasting everything. Now, you mentioned something about a chocolate cake?”
“I did.” She grabbed his arm and pulled him into the kitchen. “Tada. It looks scary like that. At least, I think it does. I know what a pain in the ass this has been. So, you want to be my first taste tester?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” She pulled off the dome that covered the cake and cut him a slice, serving it up on a plate. “It should taste good with whipped cream, but could you try it like this first?”
She handed him a fork, stood back, and waited.
She had never been so nervous in her life, watching him bite into the delicate crumb of the cake.
Nibbling her lip, she waited as he took a bite.
Hands clasped together, she saw his eyes close.
“Is it good?” She couldn’t handle the wait anymore.
“It’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted.”
“It is?”
She sat and watched as Brice finished a slice and asked for another.
“I think this will work,” she said.
So long as she could keep him at arms’ length, and not sleep with him, they were going to do well.
Chapter Six
News just in, one week and still no sign of a breakup. It truly is love for this power couple.
One week later
“Did I hear right? You’re dating Danielle Knox?” Howard asked.
Brice chuckled as he clicked through his emails. Danielle had set him up in her office. He loved her space. It was so … homey. In the past week he’d been with her, he had gotten a sense of her world.
Admittedly, it seemed a lonely one to him, but she never stopped smiling. Unless he got too close. If he did, she went nervous. She’d find a reason to be elsewhere. The only time she got near him was when they were hanging out, watching movies.
For the most part, he was busy with work, and she was in the kitchen. It had been interesting to taste some of her failures as well. It was kind of scary. He didn’t know what he was getting for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because, so far, Danielle doesn’t know.”
“Wait, what? That makes no sense.”
He wanted to be with Danielle. The more time he spent with her, the clearer it was to him. She didn’t fawn all over him or treat him like something special. He liked that she saw him, but also, didn’t care if he entered the room. She didn’t stop what she was doing. She didn’t put makeup on or change just to please him.
Spending time with her in her house, she stayed natural. She stayed herself. He found it so refreshing, especially as this felt more like a retreat away from the world than anything else.