Always Room for Cupcakes (Cupcakes 1)

Seriously worried the loaded hot dog I’d eaten was about to make a repeat appearance, I braced my hands against the side of my van and hung my head. I breathed deeply in and out, letting the fresh air calm my stomach. Once I felt my food settle, I jumped and headed back to town.

I parallel parked in the library parking lot and called Moose, figuring it would be easier to let him know I was about to email him the shots and get the details of what he needed for the Coke Club case.

Once I was done with the computer, I waved goodbye to Claire and walked out of the library, punching out a text to Bea as I walked.

Can you and Shannon hang with my kiddos tonight for a few hours? I have to work. Thx.

I was almost to my car when the roar of pipes hit my ears, and I looked up to see Cade riding toward me. I tried to contain my excitement as I watched him draw near, but didn’t bother trying to keep the happy smile from lighting up my face.

“Hey,” he said while he idled beside me.

“Hi,” I replied, my eyes devouring every inch of him. I don’t know how it was possible, but he seemed to get hotter every time I saw him.

“Your kids gone this weekend?”

“Not Friday, but Saturday.”

“I’ll pick you up,” he said. “Dinner at my place.”

My heart jumped at the thought of seeing where he lived.

“Sounds great,” I replied, not caring that I sounded eager. I totally was…

“Six,” he said, then gave me a wink and drove away.

I watched him, breathless with anticipation, then looked down at my phone to see that Bea had replied. She and Shannon could be over at seven.

I texted back, Perfect, then looked up for one last glance of Cade’s retreating form, before getting in my van and heading home.

I made sure my kids were fed, their homework was done, and they were ready for school the next day, before Bea and Shannon came over. I wanted the evening to go as smoothly as possible for them. The kids loved them, so they’d probably want to hang out until bedtime, but at least I knew everything else was done.

You’d think that would ease some of my guilt at leaving them, but I always felt guilty leaving them with someone else when I had to work. That had never happened while I was married to The Douche, and it was just one more thing I could admit that I blamed him for … bitter shrew that I am.

After meeting Cade, and actually talking to my ex and coming to terms with some of my issues, I was hoping that soon, I too would be happily moving on.

I was ready to let this anger and bitterness go. We’d been unhappy bedfellows for so long though, I was worried it would take more than a few good conversations for that to happen.

Maybe a great bout of sex with Cade would help things move along faster.

It was thoughts like that that were making me equal parts ecstatic and terrified about going to his house for dinner.

I left my apartment, knowing my kids were happily chatting Bea’s ear off, and turned my van toward a popular joint in The Heights, which was known for its tapas and killer cocktails. Moose said he’d heard word of a couple of the Coke Club women meeting Hector there tonight, so I was all dressed up in a cute tank top and mini-skirt, ready to blend in with the evening crowd.

The parking lot was full, so I valeted the van, smiling sweetly at the young stud who was eyeing my baby with disdain.

Guys just didn’t get the benefits of driving a minivan.

I walked straight to the bar on thin heels, my hair fluffed out and full, my makeup a little heavier than I usually wore it, but this was Tapas in The Heights. You didn’t show up looking like a scrub.

Like this, I blended. If I’d shown up in my regular uniform of jeans and a T-shirt, I would have stuck out like a sore thumb.

I’d just ordered a dirty martini from the bar, when I noticed one of the big-breasted blondes from the Chinese place walking into the back and entering the hallway that led to the restrooms.

I was about to follow, when familiar face caught my eye.

Tall and built, with short dark hair and glasses, Amy May’s husband, Jason, was always easy to spot in a crowd. Seeing him was unexpected, so it took me a minute to realize that was him and he was here.

I started toward him, my hand raised to get his attention, when I saw him approach a woman at the other end of the bar.