she knew it was hopeless—she had been stuck in there earlier that afternoon—she walked toward the door.
Marc intercepted her and steered her back toward the window. “I’m smiling because you’re cute when you’re riled. Now relax, we’re only stuck in here until tomorrow, when Pricilla comes to open the bakery.”
“Easy for you to say. I haven’t eaten since noon. I spent all day prepping for my meeting with Vince, so I’m behind on my dish for tomorrow night and—” She paused “Wait! Give me your cell. I can call my grandma or Abby.”
He shrugged. “Sorry. I must have left it on the counter outside.”
“But you brought in the wine?”
“Champagne.” He turned the bottle so she could see the label. It wasn’t the cheap kind. Then again, nothing Marc ever did was cheap. “And I figured this would be more likely to get me invited to dinner than a phone.”
“This isn’t funny, Marc.” She smacked his chest, trying to not smile back. Marc’s charm was potent enough to break through her suddenly bad mood. “Saturday is important.”
“I know it is.” He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her. And God, he felt good. Warm, strong, and totally safe. Marc had a way of making her feel like she was the most precious thing in his world. It took everything she had not to nuzzle closer and get lost in him.
“But it’s also not the end of the world. So to address your concerns. First, we are in a pantry surrounded by food.”
“Ingredients.”
“I have champagne in case we get thirsty.” He pulled back enough so that he could meet her eyes. “And I think this is just what you need. A little time away from the kitchen to really celebrate landing your first client before you drive yourself insane trying to perfect an already perfected dish for your soon-to-be second client.”
She rolled her eyes. “My hopefully soon-to-be second client. Natasha’s a talented chef. I won’t underestimate her again.”
“Who cooks from the wrong place.” Marc tightened his arms just enough to bring all of his yummy parts in contact with all of hers. “You put Lexi on a plate and there is no way those judges won’t choose you.”
When he said it like that, confident and sincere, as though his belief in her was unwavering, Lexi’s heart rolled over.
All that flirting and swagger was a front. Beneath the easygoing façade was a man who craved connection. Lexi could recognize it anywhere. It was like looking in the mirror.
Marc was lonely. He was starved for that intimate bond that only comes from committing wholly to another person, but he was terrified of giving a part of himself away. And that, more than anything, called out to her.
Lexi tightened her arms and gave in to the moment, burying her face in his chest. “Thank you,” was all she said, but something between them shifted. His body relaxed, molding around hers, and as he rested his cheek on the top of her head, she knew that somehow her feelings in this fauxmance had become 100 percent real.
Marc cleared his throat and, his charm firmly back in place, took a step back. “Grab that tablecloth and lay it down. We can do this picnic style.”
Lexi took in the small quarters, the locked door, the champagne, the sexy bachelor in jeans and a ball cap, and laughed. “Why does this suddenly feel like one of those ‘whoops, baby, my truck ran out of gas’ moments?”
He neither confirmed nor denied, only popped the cork.
“Come on,” Lexi said, reaching for the tablecloth to spread it across the concrete floor. “A guy like you has to have used that trick once or twice.”
“Nope.”
“Not even back in high school?”
“Never needed to.” Marc lounged on the tablecloth, his back against the wall, long legs stretched out in front and crossed at the ankle. He held up the bottle. “To you, for getting your first of many clients.”
“You planned this?”
“Getting locked in the pantry? No. Seducing you with expensive champagne and my good looks? Yes.”
“Why?” She should have known something was off when she saw the bubbly.
“Because you’ve had a long few weeks and a big day tomorrow, and it’s my job, as your boyfriend, to pamper you.” He blinked, as though shocked at what he’d said.
“We’re in a pantry.”
Lexi liked this new Marc, the one who seemed unsure and a little off balance.
“With champagne. Now drink up. Quickly.”
She rolled her eyes. “Trying to get me drunk, huh?”