Cupcake Overload (Cupcakes 2)

I loved being her guinea pig. Seriously. It was my favorite duty in the world.

When the silky frosting hit my lips, followed by a hint of sweet spice, I’m pretty sure my eyes rolled back in my head.

“Oh. My. God,” I managed, before sinking my teeth into the fluffy cake, and then I could speak no more.

I could only taste.

Amy May watched me closely, her face filled with delight at every moan and groan that emitted from my lips.

“I guess it’s going on the menu,” she declared when I licked the last remnants of sugar from my lips.

“Definitely,” I replied adamantly. “It may be my favorite yet.”

“Really?” she asked, then stood up and did a little jig, causing me to laugh.

“Really, really,” I assured her.

“Yay,” Amy May squealed, then looked me in the eye and said, “I’m so happy that you and Cade worked things out. Jason wanted me to see if you guys were up for going tubing next weekend.”

“I’ll check with Cade. We’ll have Elin and Elena with us.”

“That’s okay, we’ll have Cassidy. Jason’s just jonesing for some Cade time,” Amy May said, and we both laughed.

“I’ll let you know,” I assured her, then stood up to go. “I’ve got to get to work.”

“Where you off to?”

“Right now, I’m heading to Clarice’s. Then The Coffee Bean,” I replied. “Hopefully I’ll get a good lead, because right now, I’ve got nothing.”

“Maybe you’ve got nothing, because the VP did it,” Amy May replied wryly.

“Maybe,” I admitted. “But for Cade’s sake, I really hope not.”

“Later, babe.”

“Later.”

I decided to leave my van parked since both Clarice’s and The Coffee Bean were downtown and within walking distance. I checked my phone as I crossed the street. I’d set up an appointment with Clarice to get my nails done, figuring she’d be more apt to talk if she was working on me and had nowhere to go, rather than if I just walked in while she was busy.

“Hey, Delilah, just give me one second and I’ll be with you,” Clarice called when I walked in, so I took a seat by the door and started looking through my phone.

I was contemplating calling the number Carlton had given me. I’d given it to Bea, and she’d said she’d get back to me with a name, after they’d researched it, of course, but I was feeling impatient. I really needed a good lead.

Deciding to wait at least until afternoon, I shot off a text to Bea instead, hoping a little push would get me quicker results.

“Delilah, come on back,” Clarice called, so I hit send and got up to follow Clarice back. “Just a pedi today? No mani or hair?”

“Yeah, just the pedi,” I replied, touching my hair as I explained, “I’ve been trying to let it grow out.”

“It looks great longer,” Clarice assured me with a smile, then gestured to the comfy pedicure chair and bent to turn on the water.

I settled in, turning on the massager and leaning back with a happy sigh.

God, I needed this, I thought, then remembered I was here to work, not relax.

Why not do both?

“Did you pick a color?” Clarice asked as she added some fragrant bath salts to the water.