When she glanced up from pulling a blanket over him, their eyes met, and he didn’t look away. Instead, his mouth curved into a sexy grin like he knew a secret and was thinking about sharing it. How was she supposed to resist when he showed off those adorable dimples? Not thinking that she might be taking advantage of the situation, Tracy bent closer and kissed him.

  It was as wonderful as she’d hoped it would be. Ben’s lips were warm and welcoming. They melded with hers in a seductive slide that took her breath away. When she pressed a little deeper, he threaded his fingers in her hair and kissed her back pretty passionately, if Tracy said so herself. And she did. The only problem was, when she pulled away to gauge Ben’s reaction, his eyes were still closed. A few seconds after that, she realized that he wasn’t reveling in the moment, he was passed out. Holy hell, she’d kissed a man to sleep!

  Tracy bolted away quickly, feeling like the world’s biggest pervert for playing doctor with an unconscious guy! After that, Tracy checked on him every few hours and managed not to molest him for the rest of the night. Ben woke when she said his name and was responsive to her questions. Luckily, there didn’t seem to be any complications from his head injury.

  The next morning, she’d planned to apologize for jumping him like a sailor home on leave but Ben acted like nothing ever happened. Tracy waited for some kind of reaction when she cautiously walked into her living room to wake him up. When he opened those beautiful eyes, Ben’s expression was completely blank. He’d tentatively touched the bandage on his forehead and thanked her for the use of her couch.

  He didn’t remember it! In a way she was glad that it erased something that could have been awkward, but on the other hand, Tracy wanted it to be memorable! It was one of the best kisses she’d ever had.

  Tracy drove Ben home and all of her attempts at small talk fell flat. He stared out the window and either nodded or gave one word responses. Once she pulled into the driveway, he opened the door and in a low voice, said, “Thanks. I’ll try your new cupcakes when I feel better.” It took him two weeks to come back to her shop and at that point, she’d come to terms with the fact that her feelings were unrequited. It was embarrassing, really.

  Over the following months, Tracy dialed back the flirting. Even though he’d never missed a week of coming in to her shop, it was the same routine. Ben would say “Hey” or “Hello,” listen to her drone on and on about the recipe, eat his cupcake, then leave. Never once did he show a romantic interest in her after their one kiss. He may not remember it but Tracy knew she’d never forget it.

  Maybe she needed a knock to the head.

  Tracy had resigned herself to lusting for Ben from afar. Given that their best friends were married to each other, seeing him couldn’t be avoided. When they were thrown together in social situations, she had no choice but to secretly lust for him up close. During those times, Ben said very little while Tracy chatted and joked with Sophie and Reed. She flashed her best smile and kept her game face on until she could finally go home. A woman had her pride, after all.

  How was she supposed to stay in the same house with Ben every day and pretend she didn’t want him more than words could ever say? This had the makings of a disaster even bigger than the one in her bedroom.

  Getting out of the shower, Tracy resolved that it was time to get over herself and be an adult about this. Ben had been kind enough to give her shelter during a storm, literally, so she would do her best to be a good guest. She was determined not to throw herself at him again so, really, what was the worst that could happen?

  Chapter 2

  Ben had no idea that a woman needed so much stuff for a temporary stay. He wasn’t even talking about her bags of clothes, makeup, and whatnot. The items that had him dumbfounded were all the cupcake pans and baking stuff. When he carried the last of it into the kitchen, he had to ask, “I thought you baked at the shop?”

  Tracy was now wearing yellow pajamas adorned with little white daisies. Unfortunately for him, this set had a much looser tank top and longer shorts. They were cute yet modest. Although Ben preferred the other ones, it was probably for the best that he didn’t get any more tempted tonight, or more accurately, this morning.

  Smiling sheepishly, she answered, “I do, but I also experiment with recipes at home. Thank you for letting me live with you…I mean stay here.” She paused and bit her lip. “Not that I want to take over your home or anything. I guess I assumed, but then, is it okay if I bake here?”

  When Tracy gazed up at him with those dark chocolate brown eyes, he could deny her nothing. Ben would probably have to run a daily marathon with the array of delectable cupcakes bound to be in the house. He knew for a fact that he would be first in line as a taste tester. The extra miles would be worth it simply to have her here. Tracy could take over his entire home and then some if it made her happy.

  Instead of saying any of this to her, he shrugged. “Fine by me.” He glanced over his shoulder as he walked out of the kitchen. “Make yourself at home.”

  * * * *

  Tracy would love to make herself at home in Ben’s room, which was right across the hall from hers. All of that gorgeous temptation was only a few feet away from her. Thinking about him lying alone in his bed got her blood humming. Did he sleep naked or did he wear pajamas? She voted for naked. She would give anything for a little peek. Think clean thoughts! Yeah, that wasn’t happening. Besides, Tracy could think what she wanted and he’d never know. Look, but don’t touch. She could do that. Really, she could. Probably.

  Her bedroom was almost the same as when she had lived with Sophie a few years ago. Although the walls were bare, they were painted a soft lavender and the creamy lace curtains she’d hung when they’d moved in still decorated the windows. Ben must not have had time to give this room a manly makeover yet. From what she’d seen, the only change Ben had made to Sophie’s house was installing the humongous flat screen TV in the living room.

  Tracy was also relegated back to the twin-sized mattress she’d had before. It wasn’t as roomy or comfortable as the queen-sized bed in her apartment, but this one had the bonus of being dry. Glancing up at the hole-free ceiling, she confirmed that it would stay that way too.

  Although completely exhausted, Tracy wanted to unpack so she didn’t have more work to do in the morning. The idea of living out of a suitcase didn’t sit well with her either. Since Ben had left the kitchen and gone to his room, he’d never come back out again. He hadn’t said goodnight, but she was pretty sure he was asleep by now. The rain had stopped earlier so there wasn’t any background sound to muffle her movements. Tracy put her ear to the door but all she could hear was her own breathing. Tiptoeing around, she put all of her clothes away, including her large stack of pajamas.

  Since growing up poor for the first part of her childhood, Tracy hadn’t had the cute little PJs all of her friends had during sleepovers. She was limited to one of her dad’s old T-shirts that she’d borrowed when he wasn’t paying attention. He thought nightgowns and such were a waste of money so Tracy went without. Thanks to her selfish excuse for a father, she went without a lot of things as a child. Like food, warm clothing, and most importantly to her, love.

  It was when she turned ten that Tracy’s life had changed forever. Luke King went to prison for grand theft auto after getting caught stealing luxury cars and selling them for parts. It was the worst and the best thing that ever happened to her. The shameful burden of everyone in town knowing she had a criminal for a dad contributed to it being the worst.

  Upon his incarceration, Luke’s parental rights were revoked and the state split up Tracy and her mostly absent brother, Christopher. At the time, he was following in their dad’s footsteps and serving another stint in juvenile detention. That being the case, Chris remained incarcerated and she went to live with her Grandma King in Madison Falls. That was the best thing that ever happened to her.

  The move swept her into a whole new world. Her grandmother was the kind that Tracy had only seen in the movies. She was soft, a little plump, and had her hair up in a bun most of the time. The only difference in her hair and that of the TV grannies was that instead of being silver or gray, hers was bottle-brown.

  Being a naturally sweet woman, Grandma King was full of smiles and affection. If she gave you a hug, it was so tight that you practically felt it for the rest of the day. Tracy loved that. She loved her new life. After living with her dad’s criticism and neglect, she was practically starved for human kindness.

  To her delight, she no longer slept on a thin, lumpy mattress on a fold-out couch. Tracy no longer lived in a drafty, rundown trailer. Her bed was warm and comfortable. Upon seeing Tracy’s lack of sleepwear, her grandma had gone out and bought pajamas of every color and style she could find in Tracy’s size. She was thrilled to have bunny slippers instead of threadbare socks. Tracy remembered feeling like a little princess with such a wonderful bounty.

  Since her grandma’s thoughtful generosity, Tracy always had a weakness for pajamas. She had cute ones, silly ones, and sexy ones, if the opportunity to wear them ever came up. They were a treat to herself and a reminder of the woman who loved and raised her.

  Grandma King was also the inspiration for King’s Cake In A Cup. She was the one who taught Tracy how to bake a variety of cakes, including cupcakes. Although Tracy liked to experiment with new flavors, many of her grandmother’s recipes were still proudly used at the shop.

  She was the mother that Tracy never had. Her real mom supposedly ran off with a truck driver when Tracy was five years old. She had vague, disjointed memories of a despondent, blonde-haired woman chain-smoking cigarettes stained with blood-red lipstick. The color never completely wore off her mouth, no matter how many cigarettes she lit, smoked, and then stubbed out.

  Vivian King’s departure left her with a mostly bitter father who saw his children as an unwanted burden. Not that he ever wanted kids in the first place. Luke never was one for family. Even out on parole, he hadn’t visited or come to his own mother’s funeral.

  Accordingly, Margaret King hadn’t any use for her ex-convict son and no contact with her grandson. So upon her grandmother’s death, Tracy inherited everything. It wasn’t a fortune but it was enough to help her open her cupcakery. That was more than enough for her.

  Finally satisfied that everything had been put away, Tracy reached for a soft jewelry bag and shook out the contents. She admired her grandma’s wedding ring occasionally before bed. Her grandmother had been a widow for over twenty years but kept that ring until her dying day.

  It had a delicate silver band with a round, two carat diamond solitaire surrounded by smaller diamonds. It was beautiful. Having lost the only parent and family she’d ever known, the tangible reminder of Grandma King gave her comfort. Sometimes Tracy tried it on and thought about the kind of love her grandparents must have shared.

  How her dad came from such a wonderful couple was beyond her. Tracy was still going with the theory that the hospital accidentally switched babies. Either that or he was dropped on his head as a child. Repeatedly. There was no way he could seriously be a blood relation.

  Shockingly, after eighteen years of silence, Luke had contacted Tracy and claimed to want to reconnect with his only daughter. Hindsight being twenty/twenty, she knew that she should have had nothing to do with him. Instead, she’d given her dad a chance, thinking that time might have changed him.

  After a few awkward and uncomfortable phone calls, it became apparent that all Luke wanted was what he insisted was his share of the inheritance. That included her grandma’s ring. When Tracy denied him, Luke threatened to come to Madison Falls to claim what was his and introduce himself to all of her friends.

  Tracy wouldn’t put it past him to show up at her doorstep. Lately, she’d held him off with a few cash handouts here and there. Tracy was so ashamed that she’d used the excuse of being upstairs in her apartment baking instead of telling Sophie she had to wire money to her father. She hated to give in to the blackmail but feared the idea of Luke coming anywhere near her friends and business.

  He was obviously a greedy man, but she wasn’t sure if that made him dangerous, too. Who knew how far he would go to get his way? Luke had argued more than once that, as his daughter, she was obligated to take care of him.

  Shaking off the unpleasant thoughts, she tucked the ring under her pillow and settled in for the night. Finally giving in to fatigue, Tracy fell asleep.

  * * * *

  Tracy was asleep. Finally. Ben stopped pacing to listen but didn’t hear her moving around anymore. Just to make sure, he cracked open his door and peered across the hallway. There was nothing but silence and darkness from her side so he assumed she’d called it a night. He closed the door and pressed his forehead to the cool wood. No doubt about it, Ben wanted to be in that bed with Tracy.

  Scrubbing his fingers through his hair, he grudgingly got back into his own bed. He stacked his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling. How in the hell was he supposed to sleep when paradise was right across the hall? Man, temptation was a bitch. He hadn’t been this sexually frustrated since high school. Maybe not even then.

  Led by his fantasies, Ben gazed over at his closed door and willed Tracy to cross the hallway, step over that imaginary line, and join him in bed. He pictured her walking slowly toward him in the darkness. Once she reached his side, she would let her little daisy pajamas slide to the floor in a delicate swish of fabric. The hints and shadows of her gloriously naked body were now his to enjoy.

  He could almost feel all of that warm, soft skin pressed against his painfully hard body. Ben inhaled and thought about the peach scent that seemed to always surround her. She smelled good enough to eat. A smile tugged at his lips at that thought.

  Ben’s dreams of Tracy were usually so detailed, they felt more like memories than anything else. It was as if he knew exactly how sweet her lips tasted. He could almost hear her sultry gasp as he wound his fingers into her silky hair and held her against him.

  At this rate, the only rest he’d get was if he passed out from the lack of blood flow to his brain. For now, Ben shoved the fantasy away, trying to think of something, anything, else.

  Tomorrow, he would assess the damage to Tracy’s roof and see what had to be done. If her landlady didn’t want to take care of the cost, Ben would cover it. Anonymously, of course. They had a surplus of materials and it wasn’t as if he’d charge himself for labor. Reed had done the same thing when they’d built a wall for Sophie and Tracy last year.

  He and Reed had developed an easy camaraderie back in the Navy, working side by side in the Construction Battalion. Ben didn’t say much and Reed never stopped talking long enough to require any sort of response. They made a good team.

  After getting out of the service, Reed’s offer of a management job at his construction company was exactly what Ben needed. There was no way in hell he was going back to his own hometown. Besides, Madison Falls suited Ben perfectly. The pace was slower and with no ugly reminders of home here, he could actually breathe.

  As soon as Ben settled in at Reed’s place, he’d driven around town and explored his surroundings. He noticed King’s Cake In A Cup and The Cookie Jar immediately. Both bakeries shared the same space and Ben was instantly intrigued with the white-washed brick building with the red and white striped awning.

  To be more specific, he was drawn to the colorful sign in the window that had a dancing cupcake wearing a tiara. In search of something sweet, Ben had parked his truck in front of the shop to see what the bakery had to offer. What he found when he opened the door was so much better than cake.

  Tracy was behind the counter on the side of the shop that was painted in rich blues and purples. He completely forgot about cupcakes when the beautiful woman with the chocolate brown eyes greeted him.

  She welcomed him in a cheerful, vibrant voice. “Hello. Welcome to King’s Cake In A Cup. How can I make your taste buds happy?”

  Ben had just stood there, dumbstruck by the stunning woman smiling at him. He managed to get out, “Hello,” before she started talking again. She’d described her featured cupcake in detail. He remembered Tracy calling it the Lady in Red. It was red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting and a hint of sweet cream filling. She offered him a free sample and after one taste, he was hooked. As Ben chewed, Tracy teased that he should get his hands on this tasty lady before she was gone.

  Amen to that, and he wasn’t talking about the cupcake.

  After buying a dozen or so, Ben came back the following week to try the next flavor. He’d wanted to ask Tracy out, but the question never made it past his lips. As a child, he’d had a terrible stammer so he found it easier to talk only when absolutely necessary. Most of the time, he didn’t find it necessary.

  Ben had eventually grown out of it, but if he got really nervous or upset, the speech impediment came back. He’d never had trouble with women before, but being around Tracy tied him up in knots. His plan was to see her without having to say much since his mouth would be full of cake. Considering the possible outcome, he found it safer to let her do the talking.

  Week after week, Ben happily listened to her describe her latest creation as he nodded and chewed. He’d had to add another mile to his daily run to keep up with the calories.

  After their best friends Reed and Sophie got married, he’d gotten to see more of Tracy. Ben enjoyed that, but during social situations he was expected to join the conversation. Ben usually kept his answers to any questions short out of habit. If a longer response was required, he always thought through what he wanted to say before he said it.

 

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