California Girls

She walked outside. “You know what I hate more than having to pay for that cake myself? It’s spice cake. I hate spice cake, but Glen wanted it so of course I said yes.”

He loaded the last layer of cake, then closed the back of the truck. “You wanted to do right by him.”

“Of course I did, but why didn’t he do right by me?” She stomped her foot on the ground. “I hate this. All of it. Dealing with the wedding, the money I’m spending, where my life is. I need an apartment that’s clean and doesn’t bankrupt me and a promotion and I need a better quality of fiancé for sure. I have to stand up for myself and I’m just not sure I can but I hate feeling like this and I don’t know what to—”

Before she could finish her sentence, Daniel cupped her face in his large, strong hands and kissed her. Just like that—in the bakery parking lot, with the sun beating down.

He kissed her softly at first, a gentle kind of kiss that made her feel cherished. She was just getting into the feel of his mouth on hers and the softness of his beard when everything changed. He pressed a little harder and moved his mouth against hers. Unexpectedly she found herself putting her hands on his back as she somehow moved closer. Or maybe he moved—she wasn’t sure and it really didn’t matter.

He dropped his hands to her shoulders, then slid them around her so that he was holding her as tightly as she was holding him. He tilted his head and stroked her bottom lip with his tongue.

Heat exploded everywhere. Liquid, sexy, take-me-now heat that had her breasts suddenly taking notice and her girl parts murmuring that they liked this new guy a lot. She welcomed the feel of his tongue against her own. He kissed her like he meant it, with lots of tingles and promise and just enough demanding to make her swoon.

Kissing Glen had been perfectly fine but kissing Daniel was taking off in a rocket headed for Mars. Maybe it was tacky to compare the brothers, but she didn’t care, because hey, Mars.

He dropped his hands to her butt and gently squeezed, then slowly, seemingly reluctantly, he stepped back.

She stared up into his dark eyes and blurted, “If I got all that for a cake, I can’t help wondering what you would have done if I’d been unable to cancel the catering.”

He laughed, then kissed her again until they were both breathing hard. Then he drew back again.

“I’m confused,” she whispered.

“Me, too.”

“We should probably pretend that never happened.”

“If that’s what you want.”

Was it? She was so disoriented. How much of this was real and how much of it was because of her breakup?

“Any part of that a pity kiss?”

His dark gaze was steady. “Did it feel like a pity kiss?”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It was not a pity kiss.”

Then what was it? Only she didn’t ask because she honestly didn’t want to know.

“It’s probably best to pretend that never happened,” she repeated, knowing that was the sensible decision, but secretly hoping he would insist they go directly to his bedroom and close the deal.

But that wasn’t Daniel’s style. He lightly touched her cheek and said, “Smart and beautiful. I like that in a woman.”

Which sounded great, but left her slightly squishy girl parts desperately unsatisfied.

Later, when they’d delivered the cake to the food bank and then gone home, she’d wondered if she was being sensible or cowardly when it came to Daniel. While he obviously liked her enough to kiss her and he’d been so sweet and nice, she couldn’t shake Finola’s warning about him. Getting involved with her ex-fiancé’s brother was dumb and getting involved so quickly was dumb and not knowing how she felt about him and how he felt about her was dumb, so she was making the right decision, wasn’t she?

Around ten, she wandered into the kitchen to get a snack. There she found a pink bakery box on the counter, with her name scrawled on top. When she opened it, she saw a two-layer chocolate cake with chocolate icing.

Of course, she thought, fighting a thousand feelings she couldn’t begin to define. The only thing she knew for sure was that when it came to Daniel and Glen, she’d absolutely picked the wrong brother.

Zennie and Bernie sat across from Dr. McQueen. Dr. McQueen looked at the tablet, then up at them, only to smile.

“All right,” she said. “I’ll admit it. This is a first for me. I’ve had heterosexual couples and lesbian couples, but I’ve never had a surrogate and her friend in here before. It’s going to take a little getting used to.”

Bernie grabbed Zennie’s hand and squeezed. “I’m only here as long as she’s comfortable. The second she wants me out, I’m gone.”

A sentiment Zennie appreciated, even if it was strange. Why wouldn’t she want Bernie with her? She was having Bernie’s baby.

“Your blood work looks excellent and there’s no sugar in your urine, so we’re good there. You’re taking your vitamins?”

“Every day, and drinking extra water and eating from the list. I haven’t had any alcohol or caffeine.”

The doctor smiled. “I recognize the wistful tone. I want to tell you it gets easier, but instead I’ll say in a few months, you can eat and drink what you want.”

Bernie released Zennie’s hand and turned to the doctor. “Hayes and I were thinking about a meal service. Food for Two. Do you know it?”

“I don’t,” Zennie said. “What is it?”

“A meal delivery service that specializes in food for pregnant women,” Dr. McQueen said. “Several of my patients find it very helpful. Perfectly balanced meals are delivered every couple of days. All you have to do is heat them up and eat.”

Bernie smiled at Zennie. “We just want to make things easier for you. Please let us do this.”

“I can cook my own dinner. It’s no big deal.”

“No, but shopping and preparing can be. You’re busy at work. This way you don’t have to think about what you’re going to eat. We were thinking of the full package, so three meals and two snacks a day.”

Zennie wasn’t thrilled with the idea of someone else deciding what she was going to eat, but she didn’t want to disappoint Bernie.

“Let’s talk about it later,” she said cautiously.