To celebrate the completion of our latest chapter, we hope you will enjoy this update along with the other nine. Patience, patience, it's a process.
Robin hadn't realized her absence would cause such uproar at her little shop. The moment she stepped back from lunch, she was hit with three dozen customers without another break in sight. She had long since memorized their favorite treats and was more than willing to show them the newest items she had just gotten in.
By four o'clock, she was half dead on her feet, her ankles swollen to size of melons. She had almost called Lucas back in. Instead, she had disappeared inside her office when she was granted a few minutes of silence and soaked her feet in a water bucket she kept under her desk. If anyone had questioned its placement before, she doubted they ever would again.
She had managed to go another day without running into her roommate and for this she was thankful. If Courtney had showed up when Patrick had been there, she would have reacted like a child and Robin really didn't think she would have been able to hold her tongue after that. Although she understood her friend's resistance to the idea, she had basically called Robin an idiot for even attempting to break away and have her own life outside of her roommate and son.
She and Patrick had only been gone one night and, really, for all the hoopla Courtney was making about it, Robin almost wished they had gone through with it and had sex. Patrick had talked her out of it--had to be one of the strangest conversations Robin could ever remember having with the man--and into a late-night swim since they were leaving in the morning and hadn't gotten a chance to see the beach. Having taken a couple towels from the hotel, they had stretched out together on the crystal-white sand and enjoyed the strangely-deserted beach. When they got tired of talking about random things, they dove into the freezing water and shivered their way back to the hotel. It turned out someone had taken off with their towels. She gave the hotel clerk a few points for not raising an eyebrow as they hurried through the lobby, their shoes squeaky against the flawless carpet.
The bell hanging above the front door chimed and Robin quickly got to her feet, tapping them on the towel provided, and slipping into her shoes. How long had she been daydreaming? Wasn't her business in trouble? Shouldn't she be focusing on that? Even as she walked, she had a hard time concentrating on the matter at hand. Her mind kept wandering back to today's lunch. She and Patrick hadn't really gotten a chance to talk, but he had promised to call her later. Half the day was already gone and she hadn't heard a peep, but she wasn't exactly waiting by the phone either. It didn't matter one way or the other. It was casual. She needed to relax.
God had a sense of humor; she decided when she came face-to-face with the star of her current fantasy. Worse than that, he looked like he had stepped out of a catalog while she…Robin ran her hand over her hair and cringed. It had fallen from its loose restraint and was stuck to the back of her neck. Having left her coke in the freezer too long, she had been rewarded with an exploding can, soaking her white apron through and through. It was a miracle it hadn't seeped into the clothing underneath. She was a mess, so his greeting took her off guard.
"Hello beautiful." He made an exaggerated bow and wagged his eyebrows at her suggestively.
Throwing her head back, she laughed until she was gripping her sides. "Incorrigible." She accused reaching for a towel and slapping him in the shoulder with it.
"You keep that up and I'm going to come back there and get you." Patrick warned with a grin that lit up his eyes.
"Nope. You have to work here." Robin told him.
"Babe, I am working here." Patrick countered, folding his arms in a pout.
"You can do better." Robin argued, rolling her eyes and shrugging her shoulders as if she found it both hard to believe and a real shame.
"I was wondering if you could help me. You see, I have a very special evening planned and I need to pick up a few things." Patrick replied smugly.
"What kind of things?" Robin wondered, her curiosity getting the best of her.
"Well, this girl of mine is crazy for desserts." Patrick explained.
"Maybe if I knew what was so special about tonight then I could better assist you." Robin replied distractedly.
"Nice try." He muttered under his breath. "What about something classic like whipped cream?"
"Just whipped cream?" Robin asked, wiping a smudge of flour off of her forehead. She hadn't baked since this morning which meant only one thing.
"Maybe some chocolate sauce." Patrick went on. "And a dozen gooey chocolate chip cookies."
"A man after my own heart." Robin whispered, not letting the truth of the statement sink in. "Of course, I'm afraid we're all out of desserts."
"A bakery without desserts?" Patrick tilted his head in confusion.
"The morning and afternoon rush just about cleaned us out." Robin lied, swallowing thickly at the unveiled passion she saw swirling in his eyes.
"What should I do then?" Patrick challenged lightly.
"I guess you're out of luck. You could try a grocery store…" Robin suggested airily.
"I wish it were that simple, but I've been spoiled to your desserts."
"That does present a problem, doesn't it?" Robin reasoned.
"I wouldn't mind waiting for you to make another batch." Patrick promised, leaning against the counter.
"But then you'd know the special ingredient." Robin shook her index finger at him.
"I am the special ingredient." Patrick grumbled, crooking his finger around the tie of her apron and dragging her toward him. She giggled when his mouth settled over hers.
"You're lucky I have a soft spot for underdogs." She told him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Less talking. More kissing." Patrick insisted, tilting her head back with his thumb.
"So…" Robin murmured as she moved her hands to rest against Patrick's spine. "I'm your girl now?"
"Well, I thought it'd be a nice code when we're in public." He clarified, dancing Robin behind the counter.
"And in private?" Robin wanted to know, closing her eyes when she felt his knuckles brush over the front of her shirt.
"I'll call you whatever you want me to." Patrick muttered, dropping his mouth to her ear and casually licking the tip.
"You're making it hard to concentrate." Robin insisted, leaning into his touch.
"You're making it hard all right." Patrick countered in a smoky voice. "Tell me you have the apartment to yourself tonight." He nuzzled her neck with his nose and thumbed each of her breasts into impossibly tight points.
"C-Courtney left a message. She shouldn't be home until tomorrow." Robin answered shakily.
"And Morgan?" Patrick inquired, turning her face and capturing her lips with his.
"Laura wanted to keep him for the night. She wanted to see him before school starts back." Robin managed in-between breaths.
"I have to warn you…" Patrick told her as he steered her into the kitchen. "You might find that you can't control yourself when I get you alone." Patrick explained.
"Only if you do it right." Robin assured him, letting out a quiet moan when she felt his shaft tick against her hand a second time.
"When do you want me?" Patrick tore his lips from hers long enough to mutter the question and then regained his hold on her swollen lips.
"Almost always." Robin replied seductively. "I close the shop in about two hours."
"So I should be by about…?"
"Eight. I want a chance to get cleaned up--" Robin began.
"I like you messy." Patrick argued, kissing her nose. "If I show up before eight is there any chance--?"
"No!" Robin shook her head vehemently.
"Killjoy." Patrick accused, snatching a can of unopened whipped cream from the counter and letting himself out of the shop.
As she hugged Daphne good-bye, Elizabeth glared at Lucky's chuckling form. He had been fighting back laughing during the entire conversation the two women had. It was just too funny to watch the dawning realization on Elizabeth's face as it became clear that the only person Daphne was interested in was Marcus Taggert.
"See you later Darling. I gotta go keep my Sugar fed." Daphne reached up and hugged him.
Taggert rolled his eyes. The other man acted annoyed but Lucky would lay good money out that he secretly loved Daphne's nicknames and open displays of affection for him. "Lord Woman, could you use my name once in awhile around people we just meet?" he grumbled, the smile belaying his tone.
Daphne turned from her position in Lucky's arm to stick her tongue out at him. "Hush you. They understand. Don't you Precious?" She looked at Elizabeth for support.
Seeing Elizabeth nod, Daphne turned her eye to Lucky. "You get it don't you Darling?"
"Of course I do." Lucky smirked at Taggert. They had their differences during the production of Daphne's CD but the two men had grown to respect and like each other. Of course Elizabeth's presence in his life had helped calm down Taggert's belief that Lucky was secretly trying to date his girl. "I totally get it Sugar."
"Pardon me Elizabeth but you'll learn that this person you're seeing brings out an immature side of me." With that explanation out of the way, Taggert flipped the bird.
Elizabeth and Lucky burst out laughing as Daphne's eyes widened in horror. "Sugar!" She marched her tiny body over to him and swatted him on his chest. "I can't believe you're embarrassed me in front of our new friend." Her Southern accent became heavier with each angry word she spat at him. She shook her finger at him. "March mister. We got some talking to do."
"But baby..."
"I said, march." Daphne hustled them to the door. "I am so sorry y'all. Sometimes he's just so immature."
Elizabeth cocked her head in Lucky's direction. "So's this one. No wonder they get along."
Daphne smiled and waved her finger in Lucky's direction. "I like this one. You don't go letting her get away from you, ya hear me?"
Giving his new artist a mock salute, Lucky smiled. "Not in the plan ma'am."
"Good. Well I gotta go teach this one some manners. I think a call to his mamma might just do the trick." She waved at the two of them, pushing a protesting Taggert with her. "See ya'll!"
Lucky laughed as he followed the couple to shut the door behind him. When he turned back around Elizabeth fixed a glare in his direction, crossing her arms and throwing herself on his couch.
"You could have just told me she had a boyfriend you know."
"Yes but I don't think you would have believed me." He pointed out, perching himself on top of his desk.
She pursed her lips as if trying to make a point but realizing too late he was right. Blowing out an angry sigh, she shifted to look him dead in the eyes. "So all the pictures in the magazines?"
"Publicity scam I've worked a million times. Nine times out of ten Taggert was at the same club or event, he just arrived earlier than us. I'd show up with Daphne, take some pictures, walk in and she'd go meet him in about twenty seconds."
"And the tenth time?"
"I think he was sick or something."
Elizabeth stood up and began to walk towards him. "So you've run this a million times huh?"
"More or less. Not the most sophisticated of schemes I admit, but it works."
"So every girl I've ever seen you photographed with has been a scam?"
"Well no. There are some of me with my mother and sister out there after all."
"Not the question I was asking and you know it." She stopped directly in front of him. "Just tell me. Has every woman you have been photographed with been purely a scam?"
"Elizabeth..."
"Look Lucky, I'm not a moron. I taught your son. I am well aware you've had a romantic life before we met. It's just the list of women you've allegedly been with is damn intimidating and I'd like to know exactly how flipped out I'm supposed to be about this." Her eyes widened as she finished speaking, almost as if she didn't intend for the words to come flying out of her mouth at all. She blushed and covered her face with her hands, turning around to face the door. "You know what? Forget I asked that. I'll leave now. I'll call you later."
She rushed to open the door but Lucky was faster. He placed his hand on the door to prevent her from opening it. "If I wasn't so sure you would conveniently forget how the phone worked, I might let you leave now."
"Step away from the door Lucky."
"Nope." He crossed his arms and moved his entire body in front of the door.
"Look I've embarrassed myself enough for one day. I just want to go home and forget this whole day ever happened."
"Too bad." He moved forward and grabbed one her flying hands in his, holding it gently. "Can I say something please?"
Taking her silence for yes, he started to rub her hand with his as led her back towards his desk. Sitting them both on top, he took a breath. "First off Max was an asshole."
"Already been said." She wouldn't look up and met his eyes.
"Yes but it deserves to be said again." He caught the smile she gave before she bit it back. "Oh no you don't. I saw that smile."
Reluctantly she met eyes and smiled. It was small but it was a start. "Secondly I'm sorry."
Elizabeth gave him a startled glance. "You're sorry? For what exactly?"
"I should have told you what was going on with Daphne weeks ago. Hell I probably should have told you on our first date. I try my best to keep my personal and professional life separate and I forget sometimes how much they overlap. Most of the people in town know exactly what it is I'm doing. I just didn't remember you're still pretty new here and people might not tell you."
"To be completely fair here, Robin did try to tell me something about it. I was just too angry to listen to her."
"Still you should have heard it from me and for that I'm sorry."
Elizabeth paused to take a deep breath, looking down at their still intertwined hands. When she looked back at him, she smiled. "Apology accepted only if you accept mine for acting like a freak. I should have told you what was going on instead of making insane rule lists and shutting you out."
"Rules lists?" Lucky cocked his eyebrow and leaned towards her. "We were on a rules list?"
She bit her lip and looked at her feet. "Yeah."
"How'd we do?" He continued to inch closer to her.
"Failed pretty miserably." When she looked up, she let out a startled gasp, not realizing how close they now were. "This for example would be a complete violation." Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"I see." He kept glancing down to look at her lips and then refocusing on her eyes. "How about we make a deal?"
"Mmm-hmm?"
"How about we tell each other what is going on?"
She giggled. "Sounds good to me."
His finger reached out to trace her face. "So these miserable failings we had. Were they worth it?"
She smiled and pulled him towards her. "Definitely." She whispered before crushing her lips to his.