Sweet Anticipation Read online

  “Can I see the list?” Rhys asked, and Gregory handed it over. “Okay… we can do the cake, no problem… and the other desserts, no problem.” He lifted his gaze. “What about the savory dishes?”

  Gregory swallowed. “I burn water. I was going to see about a caterer, but everyone I called was already booked. She included recipes, so I thought that I would be very careful and try to make them. They don’t seem too complicated, but I’m so terrible in the kitchen. Annalise tried to teach me, but she ended up kicking me out for safety reasons.”

  “I see….” Rhys continued smiling. “Let me check my calendar.” He pulled out his phone, and Gregory wondered what he had in mind. “Yes. I’m free the day before and the day of the party. So I can make the rest of the dishes for you.”

  Gregory breathed a huge sigh of relief. “Thank you…,” he said, and then remembered. “Umm, there’s one more thing. She wrote a final item on a second sheet of paper.” Gregory handed that over to Rhys, who took one look and burst out laughing.

  “You have to be kidding?” Rhys snickered.

  “It’s a Christmas-themed bachelorette. Apparently the stripper is coming as Sexy Santa, and she wants trees on the cake, and the drinks are all holiday-themed.” Gregory found himself smiling.

  Rhys lightly bit his lower lip. “She wants forty-eight Santa-hatted, penis-shaped baguettes. What is she going to do with them?” His eyes sparkled.

  “In her other notes, the plan is to use them as Christmas tree decorations and party favors.” Gregory smiled. “I can just see the tree now.” He covered his mouth to keep from laughing and failed when Rhys chuckled outright.

  Gregory had missed that sound. Sometimes he still heard the clear, joyous laugh in his sleep. It was one of the things he had liked most about Rhys—his ability to laugh with others and at himself. Gregory was a self-conscious kind of guy, so he tended to be reserved. Rhys had been open, and he laughed easily, which only made those around him happy as well.

  “I think I can help you with those as well. I have made baguettes before, and it’s all about the flour. I have notes about the blend I used, so I could get a good consistency for the crunch.”

  “Oh thank God,” Gregory breathed. “I want Annalise to be happy, but I also want Cynthia to have the best bachelorette party and wedding possible. She’s a kind soul.” And Gregory hadn’t met many of those in his life. His sister was good and fiercely protective, but Annalise tended more toward the awful truth than kindness… if that made any sense.

  “What about all the other decorations?” Rhys handed back the list, and Gregory placed it in the file for safekeeping. Maybe he’d take a picture of it when he got home so he’d have a record in case he lost it. “I remember you were always good at numbers, but not handicrafts.”

  “Hasn’t changed. Annalise got all that talent.”

  Rhys leaned forward and patted his knee. “Don’t worry, I can help you with all of it, if you’d like.” He pulled his hand back, and Gregory swallowed, still feeling the warmth through his jeans. A timer rang in the kitchen, and Rhys jumped up. “I need to get some things out of the oven. Come on.”

  Gregory followed him into the kitchen and came to a stop in the doorway. It was like no home kitchen he had ever seen. Two large wall ovens, as well as a large, professional-looking stove, dominated one wall, with a large island prep area that included an inset butcher block, and lots of cabinets in black, with everything else in lighter colors. “I don’t want to mess anything up,” Gregory said as Rhys pulled a chocolate cake layer out of the oven, the scent making his stomach rumble with the numminess.

  “You’ll be fine,” Rhys said as he set the first layer to cool and pulled out the second layer, before putting two more pans in the oven to bake. “It’s a constant thing around here most days.” Rhys checked the layers again with his finger, seemed pleased, and left them to cool. “I do any number of handmade cakes and bakery items a day. Each is made to order and special.”

  “I see.” Gregory lifted his gaze from the cake layers.

  “These are nothing like the grocery store cakes.” Rhys handed Gregory a scrap piece of cake from his cutting board, and it was moist, light, chocolaty, and melted in his mouth.

  “Oh my God….” Gregory moaned. And this was just the cake. It wasn’t even iced. “What sort of frosting do you do?” He wanted another bite.

  “All kinds—buttercream, fudge, mirror glazes as well. I can do fondant, but I don’t like to. It looks pretty and is all the rage on cooking shows, but it tastes like nothing, and I don’t like the mouthfeel.”

  Gregory tried not to snicker as he thought about something in particular with a really nice mouthfeel. “Do you do cupcakes and things like that?”

  Rhys shrugged. “I have, but there are a lot of places that do them. If I get a special order, then I’ll make them. I did wedding cupcakes last year for two hundred. It was a beautiful display. The cake for the party won’t be anywhere that big. We could do a ten-inch round cake with three layers. Does Cynthia like lemon?”

  “She adores it.”

  “Then lemon cake with a strawberry filling. I can ice and decorate the cake with a holiday theme like on your sister’s list. The mini quiches shouldn’t be a problem, and I can make savory cream puff shells that we can fill. That should take the place of the sandwich things your sister had on her list and elevate it just a little. I can help you pick out the things for the fruit and cheese, and I can make some of the dips and things.”

  “Thank you. You’re saving my life.”

  Rhys nodded. “But I need a favor.”

  “Okay…,” Gregory said cautiously, even though he would do whatever he had to in order to pull this off. He needed this to go well for Annalise and for Cynthia.

  “I’m going to need some help. This is the busiest time of year for me. I have the layers for twelve cakes to bake today and twelve to put together, with people picking some of them up tonight. I can do that. It’s not a problem because most of them are already done, and I can bake layers ahead. But with the additional work for the party, I’m going to be stretched thin.”

  Gregory understood. “Ummm, I don’t know what I can do. You know I’m a danger in the kitchen, and there’s no way I can do any of this.” He motioned around the room and nearly knocked a pan onto the floor. “See.”

  “Really? I could use some help, and I can instruct you.” Rhys got some layers out of the pantry and removed them from the plastic wrap. He started the mixer on the counter and left it running while he got a turntable out of a lower cupboard. “Making a cake is like putting up a building. You need to start with a good foundation.” He put a round cardboard on the turntable and added the first layer. Rhys turned off the mixer, raised the beater paddle, and cleaned it with a spatula. “What I really need your help with will be the savory things. Also, if you want, I can help with the bows and decorations, but you definitely need to work with me on that.”

  “Okay,” Gregory agreed. Annalise had asked him to make this happen, and he’d said he would. “What do you want me to do?”

  Rhys seemed surprised, but Gregory had no place to be. “Open that door. There’s a stack of aprons on the shelf just inside. Get one and put it on.”

  He did as Rhys asked, and when he turned back, the first layers had been filled and Rhys was adding the third. His movements were practiced, flowing, and almost erotic, especially the way he tilted his hips and body to make sure everything went on just right.

  Gregory put on the apron and closed the door. “I’m ready, I guess.” This was strange territory for him.

  “Wash your hands well.” Rhys continued working without looking up, using four layers and then lightly coating the outside of the cake with frosting before setting it in one of the large refrigerators next to half a dozen others. “That one is crumb-coated. Those are iced and ready to be decorated.” He pulled open the door to a second refrigerator. “These are ready for pickup.” There had to be six of them in there, all
standing perfect and beautiful.

  “I see.” Gregory washed his hands and dried them on the towel Rhys told him to.

  “Now. Take that sheet pan and put it over the top of those layers.”

  Gregory got the empty pan off the table and did as Rhys asked.

  “The bottom pan should be cool, so clamp everything together with your hands and flip it over. Take the top pan off and set it aside.”

  Gregory nodded, putting it where he’d gotten the other pan from.

  “Now slowly lift the pans off the cakes.”

  “I did it,” Gregory said when the cake stayed on the tray.

  “Perfect. You can tap the pan lightly before you lift it off—that will usually free the layer… perfect. Finish the last one, then gently wrap the layers in plastic wrap so they don’t dry out.”

  “This is sort of fun,” Gregory said. He followed the instructions and soon had three trays of cake layers packed up. Rhys had finished another cake and put it in the refrigerator. He then helped Gregory pull out a rolling rack and showed him how to store the layers.

  “Fill this one from the bottom up. That way I know the oldest ones are down there. Then if you want, you can do the next set of pans.”

  “All right.” Gregory could hardly believe he was actually doing something useful in the kitchen.

  “You’re doing a good job.” Rhys flashed him a smile that lingered longer than Gregory thought was necessary, and a little flash of heat and wonder shot through him. Was Rhys checking him out? Gregory hoped so, though he was a little leery from what had happened before, but….

  Rhys’s compliment must have jinxed him, because a cacophony of clangs broke the moment and Gregory sighed at the pans he’d managed to knock to the floor. “I did warn you.” He was just a danger in the kitchen. This entire endeavor was going to be a disaster, and he was going to somehow mess up Rhys’s kitchen. Maybe he should quit while he was ahead and before he injured someone.

  Chapter 3

  RHYS STIFLED a snicker. “It’s okay. They were empty. Just pick them up and put them in the sink.” Some of them had been clean, and he was going to have to wash them before he could use them.

  “Maybe I can do the dishes,” Gregory offered.

  “Put the layers in the pantry first,” Rhys said, and shook his head as soon as Gregory turned away. Knocking over the pans was no big deal. Sure, it was more dishwashing to do, but he had the last of the layers he needed to bake for today in the oven, so the pan drop hadn’t affected anything. But Gregory’s shoulders set a little lower, and his head hung. “It really isn’t that big a deal. Don’t sweat it, okay?”

  “But I can’t do anything.” He came back out of the pantry and closed the door. “The last time I tried to help Annalise get ready for one of her parties, I nearly impaled her on a meat thermometer.” Gregory was so earnest, and it took all Rhys’s willpower to try not to laugh.

  “Really?” he asked and snickered anyway, and Gregory nodded. “I don’t even want to ask how you did that. But I remember seeing your sister once. She was pretty intense. So relax and try to have fun instead of worrying what you’re going to mess up.” He finished the crumb coat on the last cake and transferred it to the refrigerator.

  The doorbell rang, and he hurried out front and ushered in Mrs. Halstead. “Are they done? I know I’m a little early,” she said as she followed him through.

  “I have them both. Let me get boxes for you.” He pulled the cakes out of the refrigerator, and she exclaimed with delight, hands on her cheeks as she looked them over.

  “I have parties Saturday and Sunday. The season is starting so early, and these are going to be perfect.”

  “I’m glad.” Rhys got the boxes and put each cake in one, then handed her a box and followed her out to the car. After they were loaded in her trunk and level, she paid him and slowly drove away. Once back inside, he noted her payment on the receipt and put it in a drawer. Then Rhys returned to work.

  “Those were beautiful,” Gregory told him.

  “I try to make each cake special and unique. You aren’t going to find standard designs here. I have books that people can look through, but I have made train cakes and even a cake that was the replica of a home for a housewarming. This time of year, it’s all about the desserts.” Rhys pulled out one of the large iced cakes and set it on the turntable, then grabbed his piping bags of colored icing and got to work.

  “You do all that by hand?”

  Rhys got out his notes for this cake, made a few design marks for scale, and then began piping. “Yes. I know exactly what I want to do.” He piped the outline of a Santa face on nearly the entire surface. The beard would fall down the one side. He returned to concentrating, while Gregory started the dishes behind him.

  Usually he hated having other people in the kitchen—they asked a lot of questions and messed up his concentration. Gregory didn’t do that. He worked quietly, cleaning and drying the pans. When the oven timer went off, Gregory used the mitts to take the last layers out of the oven and set them to cool.

  Detailed cake decorating was the most time-consuming portion of making the cake. He sometimes took hours on one cake, and with the concentration it required, he sort of sank into the creative process and didn’t even realize that Gregory brought him some water until the glass appeared near the edge of his vision. “Thanks.” He piped the fluff of Santa’s beard and stepped back to look at his work.

  “That’s really beautiful.”

  “Thanks.” Rhys was pleased with it too, and put the finished cake in to chill. Then he iced the remaining cakes that had been crumb-coated and checked the clock and his order sheet. “I still have some items to be picked up, but thanks to you, I got that Santa cake done, and that was scheduled for tomorrow. So I’m ahead.” Which was always a good place to be. His order book was full, and so were his days.

  “I did?”

  “Sure. I would have had to stop to handle the layers and wash the pans and all that.” He checked his watch once again. “People should be arriving at any time, and then I thought that if you wanted, we could go get the ribbon and things we need for your sister’s decorations, and maybe we can get some dinner, if you’d like.”

  Gregory seemed shocked. “That would be nice. I have no idea what kind of ribbon to get.” It was pretty clear that Gregory was out of his depth, but Rhys had to give him credit—he hadn’t given up, and he was really trying to do what he could for Annalise and her friend. That impressed him, because not many guys, gay or not, would be willing to plan a bachelorette party with decorations, food, and especially Santa-hatted penis baguettes.

  “I need to finish cleaning up in here, and hopefully the remaining—”

  The bell interrupted him, and he answered it, let in one of his customers, and helped her take the cake to the car. As usual, this time of day, when people got off work, was a popular pickup time. He also took orders for items later in the month and for New Year’s. Soon there was only one order left to pick up.

  “Do you wait all night?” Gregory asked.

  “No. They are told when they place their orders that all pickups must be made by seven.” Rhys finished his cleanup and checked his watch as the bell rang, just before seven. He had had a very productive day, and he locked the front door with a sigh after the last customer left.

  “Do you always have people coming and going to your house?”

  “Yes. The area here is zoned residential/small business, so I can operate the bakery out of the house. I had to have the entire place inspected, but that turned out to be no big deal. I’m a real neat freak, and everything in the kitchen is restaurant grade. I like working from home, and it keeps the business overhead down so I can do the things I really enjoy.” Rhys turned off the kitchen lights and took Gregory’s apron. “Ready to go?”

  “Sure. Working around all that cake, I’m starved.”

  “There’s a nice small diner down the street. They have good sandwiches.” Rhys sighed. “After
baking all day, I usually get something quick to eat and collapse. This is my hardest time of the year, but maybe instead we could go to a burger place I know. It’s near the craft store.”

  “That would be awesome. And dinner is my treat.” Gregory held his gaze, and Rhys’s heart beat a little faster. He really did feel bad about what he’d done to Gregory in college. He’d been stupid, and Gregory was a really nice guy. And if he were honest, it had been quite a while since he’d spent time with a guy like that.

  “Bring your file, and we’ll see what we can get ticked off your list.”

  “Cool. I love a good burger. Do you want me to follow you?” Gregory asked.

  Rhys nodded. He saw Gregory out, then locked up and went out the back and through the yard to the garage, where he got in his car and drove it around. Gregory pulled out in his Corolla and made sure he stayed behind Rhys.

  The burger place was a chain, but they had really good food, and once they were inside and seated, the server took their drink orders.

  “What are you doing now for work?” Rhys asked. They hadn’t talked much about themselves during the afternoon.

  “I always loved math and building things, so I work for an engineering firm. I apprenticed there during the summers, and they hired me on afterward. I didn’t have to work today because it’s Friday.” Gregory drank some of his water. “Our office allows some of us to work nine, nine-hour days in a two-week period, so I get every other Friday off. I really like it, even if I don’t often take the extra time.” Basically he worked. It was what he did.