a chance to touch his hair. No way was she messing with that hairstyle he had worked so damn hard to get right that morning. “I like your haircut. I’m sure it’ll draw a bigger crowd.”
“You’re shameless.”
“It’s a del Toro trait. Can’t help it.”
He grabbed his empty cake plate and pitched it into the garbage on his way to the baking area. “He’s been quiet for the last two minutes. I’m guessing he’s wrapping things up.”
“Gabe…”
He turned, waiting for his sister to continue.
“Please don’t hurt him.”
He planted his hands on his hips. “Do you really think I’m capable of that?”
“Sorry.” She shook her head. “It doesn’t make any sense. I’ve never had a maternal bone in my body.”
He walked back over to his sister and wrapped his arms around her. “It just proves there’s a heart under that mountain of determination and sarcasm.”
“Jerk.”
“I love you too.”
Nat tightened her hold on him. “He’s the reason, isn’t he?”
“He’s one of the reasons.” He placed another kiss at the top of Nat’s head. “You’re the other. So buckle up, buttercup, you’re going to get a heaping dose of brotherly love.”
“Can’t wait,” she whispered, squeezing him tighter. She peeked up at him, a huge grin spread wide on her face. “You haven’t called me that in years.”
“You’ve always hated it.”
“Still do.”
“Good.” He pulled himself out of Nat’s vise grip. “I’m going to the back room to see Ben now and you’re not going to stop me.” He raised a finger and narrowed his eyes. “And you’re not going to walk in there and interrupt us. Promise?”
“Fine.”
“Nope. You have to say the words. You’ll deny it otherwise.”
She scoffed and rolled her eyes. “I promise.”
“That means you can’t barge in with some bullshit excuse. Got it?”
She snickered. “You said bullshit.”
He raised his hands as he shook his head. He loved the women in his life, but he was no match for them when their teasing kicked in.
He strolled into the back room and stopped just inside the entryway, enjoying the private show. Ben faced the opposite wall, granting Bull a perfect view of that round ass in tight slacks. The angle of Ben’s body as he worked showed the flex of lean muscles in his forearms. With a piping bag in hand, he hovered over another cake, decorating it. A subtle tilt of Ben’s head gave Bull a three-quarter view of his face. The concentration in his expression was intense, and the tip of his tongue sticking out the side of his mouth was cute as hell. Ben scooped the piping bag upward and set the bag aside on the table. He grabbed the base of the cake stand and turned.
Sprinkles of flour dusted his dark pants and the apron he wore had a few smears of chocolate. He was a hot mess, but it was the beaming, huge grin aimed at Bull that nearly stopped his heart.
Ben hurriedly set the cake down on the counter in the center of the room and began signing. “Your sister let me bake cakes.” The speed of his signing and brightness in his eyes left little doubt his excitement would fuel him through baking a few more recipes.
“I know. I just ate a slice of one,” Bull signed his reply. “It was the best cake I’ve ever had.”
Ben eagerly grabbed a small plate from the overhead shelf in one hand and the cake knife in the other. He stopped and bit the corner of his lip as he signed, “Can you please tell Natalie I finished? I don’t want her getting mad if she wants to look at it before I cut into it.”
Bull yelled over his shoulder. “Yo, Nat! Ben’s going to cut into the cake and I’m going to have some. You cool with that?”
Ben gasped. “You’re yelling? What about the customers?” he signed, panic etched in every inch of his expression.
“Store’s empty right now.”
“You and your promises suck,” Natalie yelled back. Bull swore he could hear a muttered curse. “Save me a big slice.”
He gave Ben a chin up gesture toward the cake knife. “She said to save her a slice.”
Bull took the plated cake slice and fork from Ben. Without prolonging the nervousness in Ben’s expression, he ate a forkful. He closed his eyes, moaning as he savored the mix of yellow and chocolate marble dessert. His eyes shot open when the coolness of Ben’s palm pressed against the side of his neck. While staring into those green eyes, Bull ate another bit and licked