She peered up at him with a scowl. That look meant she was deep in thought…and pissed off as all hell that he had interrupted her. Probably a little peeved at the nickname jab as well.
He leaned over the glass counter and pecked her cheek. “What new dessert has you thinking about manhandling it into submission?”
Finally, a laugh broke free…even if it was a small one. She turned and grabbed a small plate from the table and sliced into a cake she had on display. “Try this.”
Holding back a groan of protest, he took the small dish. There was a reason Nat didn’t bake cakes. He loved his sister, but after taste testing hundreds of different recipe variations, he really wished the del Toros weren’t known for their persistence.
She held up the small plastic fork, eyebrow arched in challenge.
He snatched the fork and dug into the cake, shoving the piece into his mouth before he had a chance to second-guess things. He frowned down at the slice as a burst of flavors filled his mouth. Before he finished off the first bite, he had a second one ready.
“I need you to stop eating and talk. Tell me what you think.” She turned and grabbed one of the bottled waters from the small glass case and set it on the counter.
He finished the second bite and sipped the water, not wanting to wash away the flavors. “It’s good.”
“Just good?”
He set the plate on the counter. “Don’t let your ego swell, but that’s the best cake you’ve ever made.” He quieted when her expression brightened. “I’d go as far as to say it’s the best cake I’ve ever had. It’s plain and simple, but it’s not. It doesn’t have any of that froufrou stuff you usually use.” He waited, figuring she would try to squeeze in a comment or defend her usual cake recipes, but she remained silent. “That fancy stuff is great for those pretty things you make,” he said, pointing to the display case with the different bite-sized pastries. “Sometimes, a cake just needs to be cake so you enjoy it rather than spend your time dissecting it, trying to figure out what the mystery ingredients are in it that make it taste different. That’s what this is. It’s a good ol’-fashioned cake that tastes great because it’s just a fricken great-tasting cake.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Are you finished?”
He nodded. “You mad?”
“Nope. Because I think you’re right.” She scoffed at his expression. “Whose ego is swelling now?”
“Can I finish my cake now?” he asked, reaching for his plate and breaking off another piece with his fork.
“Ben made it.”
He stopped the fork midway to his mouth. “Yeah?”
Natalie nodded. “I’ve had four slices. It’s addictive, isn’t it?”
He set the plate down, ready to make his way to the back baking area.
“Don’t you dare disturb him right now.” Nat’s firm hand on his forearm stopped him. “He’s inspired. He put one to bake and immediately started work on a second. Until that second one is finished, I don’t want him interrupted.”
After countless nights of video chatting, he knew exactly how important this opportunity was to Ben. He nodded and grabbed his plate, finishing off his slice of cake.
“Haven’t seen you much for the last two weeks.”
“Been busy. Just getting a few things in order.”
“Did you really quit?” Nat asked.
He glanced up, curious by her expression. “I didn’t quit…not really. Just made some changes I’ve been thinking about for a while. I’ll be focusing more on security assessments. So that’ll cut down on my travel time. Not all of it since some clients prefer onsite inspections after the initial assessment. But I’m ironing out a few things.”
“No more bodyguarding?”
“Is that a word?”
She playfully shoved him. “I’m being serious. I’ve got one brother and I’d like to keep him around a bit longer.” She fidgeted with the cake knife in her hand. “I know I don’t really say it, but I worry about you all the time.”
He set his fork down and walked around the counter. He wrapped his sister in a bear hug and planted a kiss on the crown of her head. “No more bodyguarding.”
“You could work here if you want. You’ve always talked about spending more time together and helping your baby sister expand her dream.”
He inched back from the embrace, clearly seeing through the sugary sweet compliment. “You bank more money when I handle the storefront, don’t you?”
She chuckled and reached up. He pulled away before she had