Cupcake Overload

Prologue

One night I was out with my girls, enjoying a much-needed ladies’ night while wondering if one more dirty martini would push me over the edge. The next thing I knew we were in the middle of a situation that no group of mostly drunk women should be in.

It started when Bea said she needed to use the restroom, which led to Amy May saying she was about to burst, and Carmen and I deciding we might as well all go so we could head back out onto the dance floor as soon as possible.

It was just our luck that from the stall in the back we heard a woman screaming "No and a man’s voice telling her, I know you want it."

That asshole picked the wrong restroom, in the wrong club, at the wrong time.

Little did I know he was Cade’s VP. And, although we saved her from his clutches that night, a month later, she’d be found floating in a motel pool … which would cause the first bit of adversity Cade and I would have to face as a couple.

Well, that and Branson Braswell.

Who would have thought I’d miss the days where my biggest problem was my cheating, douchebag ex?

Running a PI firm was a lot harder than taking pictures for one, especially when your professional life spilled over into your personal one. And dating an alpha male who rode a motorcycle and looked good doing it wasn’t always sunshine and roses.

I was going through cupcakes like our new puppy went through piddle pads and if I wasn’t careful there would be a Cupcake Overload.

Chapter 1

Pee break, Amy May called, tugging on my arm and pointing to where Bea and Carmen were already walking toward the restroom.

We were having a much-deserved ladies’ night and after three dirty martinis, you couldn’t pull me off the dance floor. At the mention of the bathroom however, I realized I really really had to pee.

I nodded and let Amy May drag me after our friends.

Hey, I said, when some sweaty dude twerked his ass in my face, then gave him a playful shove out of the way as I laughed happily.

It had been a great night.

The craziest part of it all? Cade was home watching my kids.

Yup, you heard that right. My sexy, longhaired, semi-dangerous motorcycle man, was sitting at home with my eleven-year-old twins, eating brownies and watching superhero movies while I was out with my girls having a blast.

If you had asked me a year ago if I thought this would be my life I’d have said hell to the no. In all honestly, I’d never imagined life could be so good. At least not with everything that had gone down with my ex.

But here I was, out drinking with my friends and giddy with the knowledge that when I got home later, tipsy and horny, there was a super-hot guy waiting to make my body sing like a symphony. And he was all mine!

Long line, Carmen explained when we caught up to them in the crowded hallway in the back of the bar.

There’s no line in the men’s; let’s just go in there, Bea suggested. Without waiting for us to agree, she pushed open the door and we all followed her inside.

I looked around, partially fascinated and fully disgusted.

It stinks, I said, trying to whisper, but failing.

Just then, we heard a commotion and Bea held up her finger to her lips, then did some kind of motion with her hands toward the back of the stall.

Bea was a cop, but the rest of us were not, so we all stood there staring at her with no idea what the hell she was trying to say.

She rolled her eyes and moved soundlessly toward the back of the restroom.

Once we got closer, we could make out two voices in the closed stall.

"No, a female voice pleaded. Please, don’t."

I know you want it, a gruff male voice returned. You were practically eye fucking me at the bar.

No, she said again, and I could tell by the look of pure rage that crossed Bea’s face, we were about to come to this girl’s aide.

Was it the brightest idea? Maybe not. Four mostly drunk women of all varying sizes and occupations busting in on what seemed to be a rape in progress, may not have been the greatest play. We could have gone and grabbed one of the many huge bouncers who monitored the club, but since Bea was a cop and not one to back down from anything, I knew we were going in.

Bea caught my eye and gave one sharp nod. I barely noticed the look of worry that Amy May and Carmen shared, because the next thing we knew, our petite friend had raised her leg and kicked the door in.

As if we’d practiced it a million times, we all entered the handicap stall and formed a U, blocking the exit.

Two heads swung toward us and I had a second to take in the situation.

The girl was young, maybe early twenties, with a blonde bob and a cute little red dress. She looked like the kind of girl who came out to let off steam with her boyfriend, not the kind of girl to be having bathroom sex with the grungy-looking dude who was currently palming her ass.

To say the man looked rough was an understatement.

Long, greasy hair, a full, untamed beard and clothes that hadn’t seen a washer in days. This guy was not the yin to her yang. He was more like the Billy Bob Thornton to her Angelina Jolie.

In other words, fucking gross!

Get the fuck out of here, the grizzly man growled after the shock of being cock blocked by a group of women wore off.

The girl just looked at us with wide eyes, her cheeks red with embarrassment.

Well, what do we have here? Bea began, her voice cool and calm. Looks like another small-dick man trying to force a woman to do something she doesn’t want to do.

Yeah, Carmen agreed, her face angrier than I’d ever seen it. She was usually pretty happy and full of pep, but right now she was downright pissed. What is it about men that makes them think that no means yes? Is there some sort of filter in their head that changes the definition of certain words?

Or, what about when you’re asleep and they take that as consent? Amy May added. "Like they don’t realize that if a woman isn’t able to say she wants their hands on her, they shouldn’t put them on her."

Or, I added, crossing my hands over my chest and glaring at the snarling beast in front of us. When they think just because you dress up to go out to a club and enjoy dancing, you’re begging to get laid. Or, as you so eloquently put it, eye fucking men just by looking at them.

I don’t know who you bitches think you are but you’d better get the fuck out of here, grizzly beard snarled.

I work for the local paper and I’m thinking about writing an investigative piece about assholes who think they can take advantage of women in local bars, Carmen said haughtily.

I’m a baker who makes the best desserts in town and you are forever banned from my establishment, Amy May said, causing me to smile.

I’m a woman who’s been wronged by an asshole like you and I have to say, I’m itching to kick your ass, I said, baring my teeth while I grinned somewhat crazily.

And I’m a fucking cop, Bea put in, taking a step closer to the couple. And I’m praying to God you’re going to press charges.

She held out a hand to the girl who was still in Black Beard’s clutches.

"Oh, no, no, the girl replied, stepping around the man to take Bea’s hand and be pulled safely out of the way. Please, I just want to go. I don’t want any trouble."

The girl skirted through us and out the door, leaving us in a full-out stare down with the asshole in front of us.

Get the fuck out of here and hope I never see any of you bitches again, he sneered.

Oh, I’ll be keeping my eye on you, Bea promised. "You’d better make sure all of your future conquests actually want your greasy paws on them or I’ll be there to take your ass in."

They all want it, dyke, he said nastily, causing me to step forward with my fists clenched tight. Amy May put her hands around my waist and pulled me back, pushing me out of the stall and across the bathroom.

C’mon, let’s go, Carmen said from behind us, and I knew she was trying to get Bea out.

Amy May and I waited in the hall for a few moments, then Carmen and Bea finally came out.

I don’t feel much like dancing anymore, Carmen said, once we were all together again.

Yeah, we should probably call it a night, Bea replied, her eyes darting back to the men’s room door, as if she were waiting for him to follow us out and start something again.

Okay, Amy May agreed. You want to share an Uber?

Yeah, I replied, then placed my hand on my stomach and pleaded, But can you give me a few minutes? I still really have to pee.

Chapter 2

"Hel-lo," I called out as I tried unsuccessfully to navigate my way through my dark apartment.

Ow! I cried when my knee hit the corner of an end table. "Shit."

I nearly cried out with relief when I saw the light peaking out beneath my bedroom door, like a beacon to what I’d been waiting for all night.

Swinging the door open and leaning against the doorjamb in my best sexy pose, I smiled seductively as I surveyed the room, then my smile slipped and I muttered, Hey, when I saw Cade sitting on my bed. He was fully clothed, back against the headboard, legs crossed at the ankles, as he watched something on the TV.

You’re not naked, I complained as I pushed off the door and stumbled into the room.

Cade’s dark eyes were on me, a small grin playing on his lips as he watched me.

Why aren’t you naked? I asked, placing my hands on my hips and giving my best stern expression. That’s all I’ve been thinking about all night.

Cade chuckled, swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up to his full height.

Gosh, you sure are tall … and sexy. Sexy, tall. I didn’t really know what I was saying, nor did I care, I just wanted his clothes on the floor and my lips on his flesh.

I frowned when Cade walked passed me.

Turning as quickly as I could manage without toppling over, I spun and saw him shut the door, lock it, then lean against it.

"When you cross your arms like that, your biceps look huge," I mused, thinking I’d like to bite him.

Come here, Cade replied, doing that crook of the finger thing that somehow managed to make my already turned-on body throb in anticipation.

You didn’t answer my question, I argued, standing my ground for some stupid reason. Why weren’t you waiting in bed naked for me, like my fantasy said you would?

Lila, Cade said patiently, causing my eyes to dart to his lips. I was here watching your kids. Alone. No way in hell would I do that with my clothes off, even if they are asleep, which I highly doubt they are.

Huh, I replied, not having thought of that at all. Good point.

Satisfied with his answer, but still needing to see the smooth, tan expanse of his flesh, I crossed the room to him, placed my hands on his chest, and moved them up toward the back of his neck. I may have stopped to pinch his nipples on the way up, but I’m sure he didn’t notice.

Thanks for that, I amended, tilting my head back to look up into his gorgeous face. Now, I’m home, so you’re no longer alone with my kids. Strip, I demanded.

I felt the deep rumble of his chuckle against my breasts, and I swear, just that small touch had me tingling from head to