The Baker

Chapter 6

“Okay, so take a left up here,” Cassie directed. She wouldn’t tell Ben where they were going, and refused to do so, so he opted to follow her directions. “You know,” he said, as he took a left turn, “I really hope you’re not a murderess, cause that would really dampen the mood and I wouldn’t have my third date.” Cassie chuckled and playfully smacked his arm. “Shut up and take a right,” she laughed. He laughed with her and took a right. They ended up pulling up in front of her bakery. “What are we doing here?” He asked. She unbuckled her seatbelt and said, “You’ll see.” She winked at him as she got out of the car, sending a shot straight to his groin. He got out and followed her to the door, where she unlocked it and let them in. She threw her jacket and purse on a table and beckoned Ben to follow her. He willingly complied and practically floated behind her. They ended up in front of the menu. “I can make us anything on here. Pick something.” Ben studied the menu and gave her a knowing smile when he saw what he wanted. “Let me guess,” she told him, “chocolate croissant.” He nodded like a child, making her laugh. She took his hand, much to his delight, and led him to the kitchen. “Grab an apron,” she instructed. They both grabbed an apron, washed their hands, and got out everything they needed to bake. Cassie instructed Ben to smooth out the dough with his hands. He kept getting it stuck to his hands and Cassie had to come over and spread flour all over the dough and his hands. She went back to preparing the chocolate, when Ben whined behind her, “Cassie, it’s not working!” She smiled and rolled her eyes. She went back over to him and instructed him to move over. “Lay your hands flat on the dough like this. Then, just smooth it over. You barely have to lift your hands.” She then felt a warm presence pressed up against her back and deep voice rumbled through, saying, “Like this?” His hands had enveloped hers over the dough as they stood there, smoothing it. “Mm-hm,” she practically whimpered. Soon, Ben’s hands weren’t focused on the dough anymore. He slowly moved them up her arm, grazing his fingers along and leaving a trail of goosebumps. Cassie had stopped her movements when his fingers had moved her hair to one side of her shoulder, leaving the right side of her neck exposed. Ben dipped his head down to her neck and inhaled. She smelled so good. A lavender scent, mixed with something else, but he couldn’t quite place it. He grazed his nose up her neck and to her jawline. Cassie’s breath hitched in her throat. She turned her head slightly, only to be greeted by the feeling of firm lips pressing against hers. Without breaking the kiss, she turned her whole body around. Ben place his hands on her waist, while she tangled her fingers in his hair. She had never been kissed like this before, nor has he ever felt this way about kissing someone before. He’s been aching to do it all night. Finally, he worked up the courage to open his mouth and graze his tongue across her bottom lip. She didn’t hesitate to open, making him groan, as their tongues clashed. His grip on her waist got tighter as the kiss got deeper. He ended up wrapping his arms around her and pulling her against him, as if he needed to get as close as possible. Eventually, they both pulled back for air and looked at each other with gaping mouths and plump, pink lips. Ben dipped his head and chastely kissed her lips, before saying, “I knew what I was doing. I just wanted to kiss you.” Cassie smiled and shook her head. She stood up on her tippy toes and kissed him long and hard. His hands started to desperately grab at her clothes. He moved his mouth from her lips, to do down her jawline, and neck. He began to move his way down to her collarbone, when she gasped, “Ben, wait.” His head shot up to look at her. “Sorry,” he breathed. “I got carried away.” “It’s okay. We both did. I just…I don’t think it would be right to do anything in here.” Ben looked around and he remembered where they were. “Right,” he said. He looked deep into her eyes and couldn’t help but smile. He rested his forehead against hers and said, “You know, I think I may have found a new hobby.” “What’s that? Baking?” “God no. Kissing you.” With that, he kissed her again, except gentler and sweeter this time. When he pulled back, Cassie snaked out of his arms with a cheeky smile and sauntered back over to the chocolate. Ben bit his lip as he watched her walk. He shook his head away from any dirty thoughts that would emerge and focused on his task of smoothing the dough. By the time he was done with that, Cassie was done with the chocolate. He made his way over to her and watched her place the gooey goodness in a pan, and then into a freezer. “That should take about twenty minutes to freeze over,” she told him. In the meantime, they started to cut the dough into weird shapes that Ben had never seen before. He got  a hold of one piece and placed it on his upper lip, like a mustache. Cassie did the same, except she made it like a beard. They both broke out into a fit of laughter, and then made-out until the timer in the freezer went off. Cassie took out the tray and smacked it against the counter, making a giant chocolate brick fall out on the table. She handed Ben a mallet-type thing and they both started smacking the brick, making chips of chocolate go flying everywhere. After they were done breaking it up, they took the small chunks and rolled them in the oddly shaped dough. Once that was done, they placed one of the trays in the oven to let it bake. They both sighed triumphantly and leaned back against the counter. Ben looked over at Cassie and noticed she had a chip of chocolate on her lip. He smiled and bent down, kissing it off of her. “Mmm,” he hummed, smacking his lips. “Chocolate.”

“Seriously? You never went to culinary school?” Ben asked in disbelief. They’ve wolfed down nearly ten chocolate croissants each and were currently slumped down on opposite sides of one of the couches, just talking about things they might have missed about each other. “Nope,” Cassie answered. Both their eyes were fixed on the ceiling, starring at the painted clouds. “I feel like you’re lying,” he responded. “You have to have some sort of professional preference.” She simply shook her head and said, “I mostly learned from my grandma when I was little. After she died, I just continued to bake. It was almost like whenever I did, she was here with me.” There was a pause before he asked, “You took her loss hard, then?” “Oh, very. I had never been so devastated. Same with my grandpa. They only died less than a year a part. But I have baking to keep them alive.” “Well, you’re doing a damn fine job of it. I may just have to keep you around.” They both laughed. “I’m serious,” he told her, still laughing. “You like the Stones, you can cook, you’re a writer. I especially love how your an England Rugby fan. How an American chose that sport and team to be interested in is beyond me, but it’s sexy and I love it…not to mention you are completely and utterly beautiful.” Cassie’s face was crimson by now. She kept her focus on the ceiling, oblivious to Ben’s gaze on her. “Do you see it?” He asked. Cassie looked over at him and shrugged. “I don’t see much,” she admitted. “I’ve always seen myself as anyone else would.” “And how does everyone see you?” “…Average. Pretty, but not…enough, I suppose. Tom-boy. Band geek.” Ben crawled over to her side of the couch and loomed over her. He asked, “Do you know what I see?” She timidly shook her head. He told her, “I see a beautiful young woman, who can clearly do whatever she sets her mind to. I talked with Jess for a few minutes yesterday and, Cassie…I am enchanted by you. You have a beautiful mind and body. I want to help you see that.” Cassie bit her bottom lip, urging herself not to cry or do anything foolish. Ben could see her efforts and rewarded her with a tender kiss.