Sugar and Spice Kisses, page 7
“If you mean, are we eating at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant then no, I am absolutely not kidding you.”
“Eli. Oh my god, I can’t believe you did this. You know I love Gordon Ramsay.” He grabbed my arms in his excitement and shook me.
I laughed and grabbed his arms as well. “I know you love Gordon Ramsay, now come on, there’s a table with our name on it.”
“Oh my god,” he mumbled as we hurried to the entrance. We were immediately seated and the whole experience was surreal. The only thing that would have made it better would have been if Gordon himself had been there. But I couldn’t imagine it could have been any better than it was. We chatted and tasted everything they brought us, and it all went by so fast.
When it was time for dessert, we studied the choices and discussed which would be better, the sticky toffee pudding or the famous brownie. “I wish they offered a warm cookie. I’d love to taste a cookie Gordon baked,” Randy said.
“I’m going to try the sticky toffee pudding, it just sounds too good,” I said and set down the menu.
“I’ll try the brownie, then we can share.” Randy set his menu down and took my hand. The waiter took our order and after he left, we sat quietly and soaked up all the atmosphere. Tahoe wasn’t Vegas, but there was plenty to look at and so much going on everywhere. I watched as a woman walked through the casino in a wedding dress surrounded by a group of rowdy women who all had giant drink cups. I laughed, and imagined it must be a bachelorette party, or perhaps even a divorce? I wasn’t sure but they looked like they were having fun.
“Eli, I have a surprise for you too.” Randy shifted around in his seat and took out a manilla envelope from inside his jacket. He looked nervous but excited, and I had no idea what was about to happen.
“You do? When did you have time to plan anything?” I said and bumped his foot with mine.
“Well, you know how you saw me downtown last week?”
“Yes, you were delivering cookies.”
“I lied. I had a meeting with Emily Jones.”
“The president of the downtown association?” I racked my brain for a reason for their meeting but had no clue. “What for?”
“She wanted to show me a building that’s become available. It’s on the block her family owns. A small café that was there moved out. She thought P.M. Kisses would be a perfect match for the area.”
“Oh, wow. We were just talking about how nice it would be to have a place to work from. I mean you know I love working at home, but it would definitely be nice to leave work at work. But can we afford that? I mean is it a good idea?” He smiled at me while I talked and waited for me to finish before he began again.
“You won’t believe this, but apparently her family has always leased that building out to businesses that need a boost. She’s willing to let us use the space for a dollar a month.”
My eyes widened in shock. “That can’t be right.”
“Oh, it is, I had a lawyer friend of my dad’s check it out. It’s all legit.”
“What’s all that?” I asked and pointed at the envelope he still had clutched in his hand.
He blew out a deep breath before he spoke. “Eli, I know I was such a dick to you for years, and I will never be able to fully make up for that. But we’re amazing together.”
“Babe, we’ve already talked about this. None of the past matters, and you’re right, we are amazing,” I whispered and leaned in close to him just as the waiter set our food down.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” he said before rushing off.
“What are you trying to say?” I asked.
He took another deep breath and handed me the envelope. “I wanted to make sure that you feel as much a part of the business as I am. We’re partners and I wanted to make that all as legal as possible. I never want you to feel like you’re not a part of it all.”
I opened the envelope to find a contract not only for the building which confirmed our rent would be exactly one dollar every month, but that also put in writing that we were equal partners in P.M. Kisses. When I looked up at Randy his eyes were already on me. “When we started this business, it felt like we sort of just fell into it. But the more we work together the more I want to work with you. I can’t imagine anyone else I’d rather share this adventure with, but are you sure you want to share it? I know this business is your dream.” I waited for his answer, and realized I was holding my breath. I knew exactly how much this meant to him, and I needed him to be sure.
“Eli, you are my dream come true. A sweet guy that loves to bake. You’re the only person I could ever imagine sharing my dream with. Now what do you think? Will you be my partner?” I knew what he meant, and a part of me wished he meant a different sort of partner, and somehow, I knew someday we’d be partners in more than just business. I took his hand and kissed it making him grin while his lip trembled.
“So, it looks like we’re going to doing a lot of baking.”
He smiled then and took a forkful of brownie and put it to my lips. “Looks like. But first, let’s eat this wonderful dessert.” He waited for my reaction as I hurried to get a forkful of sticky pudding to share with him. “Mmmm so good,” he groaned.
“So good,” I agreed. We laughed and after both of us read over the contract he’d brought, we spent the rest of the time trying to deconstruct each of the desserts. Dinner was amazing, dessert was even better, but knowing without a doubt that Randy and I were on equal ground was the surprise I never thought I needed.
Epilogue
Randy
It had been a year ago that Eli had surprised me with a trip to Tahoe, now here it was the week before Valentine’s Day and the two of us were working the front counter of P.M. Kisses. It had been a year of adjustments and I’d learned just how much patience Eli had because I was not an easy person to work with.
“Three more orders of cookie nachos,” Eli said as he walked into the kitchen of our small business. The front had originally been a café, but we decided we didn’t want to deal with drinks and other foods. So, we operated more like a bakery with daily and monthly specialty cookies. So far, it had been very successful.
“On the counter,” I said and worked on the custom iced hearts we were nearly done with for the year. “I’ll have these done soon so if the customers come in to get them just yell and I’ll bring them up front.”
He kissed me on the cheek as he took the boxes from the counter. “I will.” He hurried off to the front, and I thought about the plans I’d made for us. Eli was here helping but he still worked at his aunt’s gift shop, so he’d be going there for his shift soon. Then I’d be on my own, which was fine. I’d realized I really did like working here better than at home. It was a great place to test recipes but was also so much easier to bake all the orders we got here.
Memories of last year ran through my mind making me smile. Eli always surprised me, and it had been nice to do something for him he didn’t expect by making him legally a full partner in all aspects of the business. It wasn’t a hard decision. He worked hard, and never once asked for anything in return other than the joy of seeing the business grow and succeed. And succeed it did. This year it was my turn to surprise him again. He knew we were going to Tahoe for the evening, but he expected it to be like last year. I’d actually booked the same room as we’d had last year and made reservations at the same restaurant. But this year would be different.
He walked back into the room pulling me from my thoughts and for a moment I thought I’d somehow spoiled the surprise with my thoughts alone. It hit me how important this was, and how badly I wanted to get it right.
“Okay, I think almost everyone who has an order has picked it up. No one has come in yet for the custom hearts so I’m sure they’ll be here soon. I’m going to go ahead to the gift shop.” He took off his apron and hung it on the hook we always kept them on and washed his hands. “Is there anything else you need me to do before I leave?” I pointed at my lips, and he leaned in and kissed me. “Anything else?”
“Nope, that’s all I need,” I said, and packed the custom cookies I’d decorated earlier. “These are all ready. I’ll clean up and double-check we took care of everything. Don’t forget to leave the sign on the door with my number in case I don’t hear them knock.” I worked here alone a lot, and we’d decided it was better to put a sign out front with my number so they could call rather than knocking and me not hearing them. I could relax knowing I wouldn’t miss a customer, and it kept them happy knowing they could reach someone.
“Okay, I’m off to work. Well, to my other job,” Eli said and laughed. He worked so hard, and he made it all look easy. “Don’t forget we have tomorrow off.” He kissed me again before hurrying out the front and down the street to the gift shop.
He didn’t know it yet, but I’d made a few more plans that would blow him away, one of them was the ring that was currently hidden in the bag I planned to take with me. I had it all planned out. We’d eat dinner just like we did last year, and when they served dessert, his would include a little box just to the side of his dish. Imagining his face made me smile to myself and my eyes prickle with emotion. I loved him, and if I was ever going to commit my life and heart to someone, it was going to be Eli.
“Now if I can just get everything done in time to leave,” I mumbled to myself.
“Randy?” A familiar voice was barely legible through the locked front door a while later. I hurried out front to find my sister there with her hands shading her eyes trying to look inside. She rushed in when I unlocked the door. “Do you have it all ready?”
“Yes. I have the ring already packed in my bag. I called the restaurant, and they had no problem with setting it all up. I just need to get it to them when we first get there,” I explained to Kelsey. She’d helped me plan this from the very first moment I’d had the idea while sipping a coffee at the coffee shop she worked at.
“When you’re seated just get up and go to the bathroom, then on the way grab a waiter and explain to him you need to talk to whoever it is you set it all up with.”
“Oh, good idea.”
“I’m good with sneaky,” she said and pulled me in for a hug. “I’m so happy for you. Eli is the best.”
“He really is. I’m a lucky guy.” I wasn’t the easiest person to deal with, but Eli always smoothed things out and made me see things differently without the haze of stress and concern. He made everything better.
“You are, now go get your guy. Aren’t you guys leaving to go to Tahoe soon?”
I checked the time and rushed around closing everything down for the night. The special-order people had yet to show up, so I wrote a note telling them they could find their order at the gift shop and after a few minutes I was locked up and carrying a few boxes of cookies with Kelsey hurrying along next to me. I was nervous as fuck and Kelsey kept having to jog to catch up. Finally, she pulled me to a stop.
“Give them to me, I’ll give them to Carol, she knows what to do. You go home and get your man.” Without giving me a choice, she took the boxes and continued down the street. I stood there a full minute before breaking into a run to get to my car that I’d thankfully driven to work today.
I rushed into the bedroom and was double-checking I’d packed everything when Eli came up behind me and settled his hands on my hips while kissing my cheek. “Hey, babe, are you ready to go?”
I clutched the ring box in my hand and forced myself to answer him and not give away the surprise. “Yep, just making sure I didn’t forget anything.” He kissed my cheek again before walking into the bathroom.
“That’s a good idea, I’m going to do that too,” he said from the bathroom while I shoved the ring box back into the bottom of my bag.
A few hours later we were seated at the same table we’d had last year. My nerves were shot, and I was barely able to eat. “Are you feeling okay?” Eli asked, taking my hand.
“Yes, I’m fine. I’m just going to go use the restroom.” I stood and walked toward where the bathrooms were located, which happened to be just past the front counter. “Excuse me. I called and spoke to your manager, Steven. I discussed with him about proposing to my boyfriend and I was hoping I could get the ring to him without my boyfriend seeing us.” The dark-haired man at the counter listened to me and grinned as I explained what I needed.
“You’re Randy Miller,” he said, checking a note that was tucked under the reservation book. “Steven told us to be on the lookout for you. I can get him for you if you’d like or you can give the ring to me, and I’ll make sure he gets it.”
I considered making him get Steven but thought better of it when I decided that Steven wouldn’t have told his staff if he didn’t trust them. Not to mention Gordon Ramsay would never hire someone who was questionable. “Here,” I whispered. “Please take good care of it, and make sure it comes out with his dessert.”
“You got it. By the way, my name is Gregory. If there’s any issue at all, please come get me.”
“Thank you,” I whispered back, still not sure why I was whispering.
“Is everything okay?” Eli asked when I returned to the table.
Wiping the sweat off my brow and taking another deep breath, I settled my hand over his. “Everything is perfect. Did you want to order dessert?”
“I can’t believe you could ask me that with a straight face, of course I want to order dessert.”
As if on cue our waiter brought the dessert menu and we both studied the choices. “I think I’ll try the bread pudding this time,” I said and set down the menu. Eli was still studying it when the waiter walked back to our table, and it was so unnerving knowing he knew what was going on, but Eli didn’t.
“I’ll take the brownie. It was delicious last year.” The waiter took our menus and walked away toward the kitchen.
It was time, and nerves and emotions tightened my throat forcing me to swallow hard and take yet another deep breath. Eli reached for my hand and his warm, gentle smile reassured me even without him trying. The waiter showed up with dessert and a sparkler was added to Eli’s making us both laugh . . . until the waiter set down the box next to Eli’s brownie. “What’s that?”
“Go ahead and open it,” I said and watched every move he made.
His hands shook as he scooped up the small black box and pried it open. The simple platinum band shone in the lights of the restaurant making him gasp. “Are you serious?” he asked before taking it out and looking at it.
“Oh, I’m very serious,” I said, and took it from him. “Eli, I love you. I think I’ve probably always loved you, but I was too stubborn to see it.”
“We’ve talked about this before—” he started but I stopped him with a raised hand.
“I love you and there’s not another person in this world I would rather spend my life with. Eli Canton, would you do me the honor of becoming my husband?” His eyes widened, and for a moment it was him swallowing hard and taking a deep breath or two.
“Are you serious?” he whispered, and I reached up and brushed his cheek where a tear had fallen.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been more serious about anything in my whole life.” The sound of the restaurant and everyone in it faded to the background and for a moment there was only him and me. He covered my hand that covered his and squeezed.
“I’d love to be your husband,” he whispered before gently kissing me. “I love you.”
“I’m going to take that as a yes.” I slid the ring on his finger and breathed a sigh of relief that it fit like it had been made for him.
“It’s definitely a yes,” he said, still preoccupied by the ring now on his finger. “Now I need to get you one to match.”
“I’d like that,” I said. The rest of the night was filled with us falling in love all over again, or maybe it just felt that way and we fell deeper in love. Either way it was romantic, and sexy, and filled with more love than I would have thought I had a right to even wish for. But somehow, someone somewhere had decided that I deserved all the love and happiness this wonderful man had given me. And I planned to spend the rest of my life showing him how much I loved him right back.
THE END
About the Author
BL Maxwell grew up in a small town listening to her grandfather spin tales about his childhood. Later she became an avid reader and after a certain vampire series she became obsessed with fanfiction. She soon discovered Slash fanfiction and later discovered the MM genre and was hooked.
Many years later, she decided to take the plunge and write down some of the stories that seem to run through her head late at night when she’s trying to sleep.
BL Maxwell loves to hear from readers who enjoy her stories, so feel free to reach out at any of these links:
Website: https://blmaxwellwriter.com/ (Free book)
Newsletter: https://sendfox.com/blmaxwell
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bl.maxwell.35/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/bl-maxwell
BingeBooks: https://bingebooks.com/profile/blmaxwell
Also By BL Maxwell
Thank you for reading Sugar and Spice Kisses. Please read Randy and Eli's first book Peppermint Mocha Kisses.
https://books2read.com/PMKisses
Enjoy a Free copy of A Night To Remember . A short story with Andy and Link.
thttps://blmaxwellwriter.com/free-reads/
Enjoy a FREE copy of The Cemetery Tour a Valley Ghosts Short Story.
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/ev7b5oxqaz
It was just a fun Halloween activity until the ghosts showed up.
Jason Thomas has always loved the supernatural, and anything to do with ghosts. But when it comes to going on haunted tours he’d rather not. His boyfriend Wade books a tour for them at the local cemetery before Halloween thinking it would be fun way to get in the mood for the holiday.
