Brent held the knife over the cake and began the process of slicing into the moist, delicious goodness. She wanted to moan as she saw how smoothly the knife went through the cake. It had been months and months since she’d had one of her cakes. Usually, she didn’t have leftovers, and she already baked enough her need to create was filled.

“Sweetheart, if you gave me the look you’re giving the cake, I would be your slave.”

She laughed and moved closer to him. “I can say I’m close to begging to be yours because of the way you did that thing with your tongue.”

His pupils dilated, and he stilled as his gaze raked lower, pausing at her chest. After a short moment, his gaze flicked up to her face, and he licked his lips.

“I like licking you.”

His words made her wet. How could just the words he said get so deep into her mind that she had such a strong animalistic reaction?

“I’m not perfect at all and you’re so…” She waved her hand at his body, taking in his bulging biceps and broad chest.

He quirked up his lips as he looked at her. “I’m what?”

“Your body is near perfect.”

He shook his head and put down the knife. His hands came up and framed her face so he was cupping her cheeks. “This body is just an outer shell. There’s nothing here that can’t be changed. My gut could expand, my thighs could shrink. The muscles in my arms could go away.”

Worry filled her. “You said you were attracted to my body. What if I expand to the point I’m no longer recognizable?”

He leaned in and brushed his lips against her cheek, but he didn’t move away. Instead, his lips came close to her ear, his breath tickling her senses. “Yes. Your curves are beautiful, and you have an awesome set of boobs, but what kept me coming back, was how nice you were. Every day, day after day, I would come in and your smile would make me feel better. You didn’t always have time to chat, but when you did, you asked about my workout, my day, how I was doing, and you remembered each time what was going on in my life.”

“That’s just good customer service.”

“No, Jen, it’s the light inside of you. You’re a good person. That’s why you turn me on so much I almost lose my mind. So yes, your body is nice, but really it’s what’s inside making me so freaking hot for you I can’t think straight.”

She had no response. He turned back to cutting the cake and served them both small slices. With both plates in hand, he moved to the patio door and glanced over his shoulder. “Come with me, and we’ll get lost in this cake before I take you back to bed and show you again how much I want you.”

She chuckled but her heart wasn’t light. His words still twisted through her. Everything she’d ever thought about attraction was being challenged. How could this man see past her flaws? Was she too shallow to be with him? He saw her inner beauty, and all she saw was how sexy he was. But that wasn’t the whole truth.

“You’re thinking hard,” Brent said.

“I’m still mulling over what you said.”

He’d placed the plates on opposite sides of the table and she took a seat, watching as he stuck his fork into the cake and broke off a piece. He lifted the treat slowly, then met her gaze, sliding the fork with its delicious contents into his mouth. His eyes lit up and his chest rose as he drew in a deep breath. Then Brent closed his eyes as the cake sat on his tongue. Finally, he swallowed, and his eyes popped open.

“Jen, I’ve got to say this is the best cake I’ve ever had. It’s fresh, moist, perfect.”

A thought formed at the back of her mind and she wanted to give it a voice, but maybe she was making a mistake. “You know, it’s hard to not be confused about all of this, the attraction thing and all when we seek perfection in everything from the food we eat to the color we paint our walls.”

He nodded and took another bite before setting down his fork. “I get what you’re saying. And for some people, they’ll never get past the outer shell of attraction. They have this fascination with what they think is beautiful. But for me, the heart matters more.”

“How do you know what is in my heart?”

He picked up his fork again, and she picked up hers. She stared down at the cake she’d made, not sure if she could take a bite. What if it didn’t live up to her expectations and Brent thought it was perfect? Dissatisfaction swirled, and she hadn’t even tasted the cake.

“You’re thinking too hard on this.”

She glanced up, “What?”

“I can’t explain why I’m into you, but I am. We’re in Hollywood where looks seem to matter more than other places. And yes, there are a lot of people—women, who tweak their looks to make them seem perfect. And yes, I look. I’m not a saint and I’ve had sex with women who were pretty on the outside, but their lives were hollow. But real life that is lived in backyards like this, for it to last, it has to be deeper than just what we look like. The outer shell cracks so easily, like an egg.”

She glanced around, taking in the fairy lights on the trees hanging over the yard. The setting was amazing, near perfect, just like Brent. “I wonder if I’m only with you because you’re perfect.”

“Jen, I can honestly tell you you’re not with me just because of my looks.”

She shook her head. “How can you tell that about me, because I can’t?”

“Eat your cake and then after you take a bite, we can sit out here and talk about it while you drink wine and I consume enough water to clean me out.”

She chuckled and put the first forkful of her own creation into her mouth. It was delightful in a way which could only be described as perfect. She had done it again. This was why people kept coming back to buy her expensive cakes. Box cakes were okay, but her creations were as close to chocolate heaven as you could get.

“Do you like it?” Brent asked.

“God yes. It’s perfect.”

“It is. But it’s a cake and only has a short shelf life. You'll last longer, so the outside will change, it’s a fact of life. We grow older and there’s nothing we can do about it. I know here in Hollywood people fight the change brought on by age, but I’m not so entrenched in the life here that I can’t see what is good.”

She wanted to ask, to find out if Brent thought she was good enough, but she knew she couldn’t handle the truth.

They ate, mostly in silence except for their moans of delight as they finished their slices. Brent pushed his plate to the side, put both elbows on the table and rested his head in his hands.

“That was amazing.” His voice was low, caressing her and drawing her in.

She nodded and took the last bite of her cake. “It was. I love the cakes I create.”

Brent stood and stretched. Her gaze stayed on him, thinking about how good he’d felt on top of her.

“I’ll grab you another glass of wine.”

She shook her head. “I need to drive home.”

He paused and lifted his brows. “You could stay the night.”

She bit her lower lip and met his gaze. “Are you sure? I don’t have to go in tomorrow, but I’m used to waking early.”

His lips turned up and his eyes narrowed as he squinted from his smile. “Yes, I want to wake up with you lying next to me. We don’t have to have sex again if you don’t want, but Jen, I’m kind of hooked on you and if we wake early, well, we’ll find something to do.”

She chuckled as she stood and grabbed his plate. “Fine, you’ve convinced me. But I think we'll want to have sex.” How she’d gotten this amazingly sexy guy was beyond her.

Brent poured her more wine, and he drank a glass of water before they even left the kitchen. He made a detour to his bedroom before following her outside. She relaxed in one of the lounge chairs as she watched the lights twinkle in the wind. Millions of people surrounded them, but none of that mattered here in this sanctuary Brent had created.

Brent was a welcome surprise. He seemed to want her, and maybe she read him wrong, and he wasn’t really into her, but he’d voiced his desire for her more than once.

“You look deep in thought,” Brent said as he took a seat on the chair beside her.

“I was thinking about how quiet your yard is considering there are millions of people surrounding us.”

He chuckled. “I like it here. Sometimes, after a long week, I’ll relax and read in one of the lounge chairs. My favorite times are when it cools off and I need a sweatshirt. I love sitting outside with a cup of hot tea or coffee, just getting lost in a story.”

She closed her eyes and imagined how nice it would be to relax in his yard, the wind blowing in her hair. She wasn’t sure how long she sat with her eyes closed before she felt Brent’s hand on her thigh. His touch felt good, and she uncrossed her ankles and let her legs fall apart a little. Brent’s hand moved higher and she spread her legs even more.

He adjusted on his lounge next to her, but she didn’t open her eyes. His fingers slid under the material, brushing over her pussy lips. She pressed into his touch as he moved even closer, his fingers seeking her clit. She blew out a breath of relief when he found it.

The man was masterful with his fingers and had her panting in no time. Her body was on fire and close to orgasm when he moved and slid two fingers into her as he ran his thumb over her clit. She clutched the sides of the lounger and pumped her hips. Brent moaned and moved away.

She glanced up and saw him strip off his clothes, his cock pointing up. Emotions swirled as she thought of licking him. His body was very nice, but that wasn’t why she was thinking of spending the night. He’d been so sweet. There was more to this guy than his looks and she liked what she’d found so far.

He tugged at the boxers she wore, stripping off her underwear too before pulling the shirt over her head. He shoved one hand into the pocket of his jeans then pulled it out, holding up a condom wrapper. Fear rose at the thought of his neighbors hearing them, but Brent didn’t seem to care as he pulled her to standing. He settled on the lounger where she’d been before tugging her hand. She squeaked out a laugh as she adjusted so her knees were on either side of his body. He helped her move so she was right over his cock. Brent held onto her waist as he guided her lower. She hovered over his cock before sinking down. The position made her feel every glorious inch of him. The moan on her lips was automatic.

“So good,” Brent growled as she lifted then lowered again.

The lounge chair made it a little awkward, but she adjusted, and it wasn’t too bad. Brent cupped her breasts and squeezed her nipples, sending sparks along her spine. She lifted a little then sunk down, gasping as his cock speared her. She looked up, staring at the black sky. Few stars shone in the city, but she imagined them in the middle of nowhere, stars shining bright. She’d never had sex outside like this. Maybe she should care about someone hearing, but nothing other than the two of them mattered.

Brent’s hands felt good on her, and he was taking her higher. Then he lowered on the lounge chair an inch or so and it made all the difference in the world. He was deep inside when her orgasm struck. She pressed her fingers against his chest, holding on as he ground against her.

Brent was breathing hard as he grasped her waist and thrust into her. Sweat coated their skin, and she was about to drop to his chest when he came, shouting her name. After his orgasm, she dropped lower, resting her head on him. It felt magnificent to be stretched across him. The wind was low and soft as it tickled her damp skin. Neither one of them moved for a long moment.

The sounds of the neighborhood slowly came back into focus. A car drove by and embarrassment heated her. Oh God, she was naked in Brent’s back yard, having sex.

“Do you think your neighbors heard us?” Her question was whisper quiet as fear laced a knot in her stomach.

“No clue, but if they did, I’m sure they're jealous.”

She slapped at his shoulder and sat up, awkwardly pushing him off. He stood and grabbed her wine glass and his water before heading inside. She looked over her shoulder and saw him staring at her ass. He made her feel special. It had been a long time since anyone had made her feel that way.

After a quick shower to rinse off, they snuggled in his bed, falling asleep fast. She woke before Brent and headed into his kitchen, finding supplies to make a quiche. The timer had about five minutes left on it when Brent stumbled in and reached for a mug she’d set out for him.

He wore low slung sweats and no shirt. The man was incredibly sexy with his sleep rumpled hair. She watched as he poured up a cup and took a sip, his gaze finally meeting hers. He looked exhausted. After a few more sips and then a couple gulps of coffee he smiled and set down his mug before reaching for her, nuzzling her neck. He nibbled his way to her lips, delivering a sweet kiss which turned scorching. The timer rang, and it took her a few seconds to pull herself away from him.

“It smells great,” Brent said.

“Quiche, but it’s healthy, I didn’t overload it with a thick crust. And if you don’t want the crust, you can just eat the egg parts, I won’t be offended.”

He nodded and took another sip of his coffee. “I ran a few extra miles yesterday before you came over. If your quiche is half as good as your cake, I know it will be delicious.”

She set the hot dish on the stove and moved to stand closer to Brent. He pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her head.

She stroked his back and shoulders before she spoke. “Last night was nice.”

“It was freaking awesome,” he said. “I liked having you close.”

She sighed and nodded. “It was good.”

“Would you like to go for a hike?”

“A hike? Where?”

He leaned back so she could see his face. “Runyon Canyon. We could eat then go.”

“Sure. I need to catch up on the baking for the store. Last week was busier than I’d planned for, but I can do that later.”

“It shouldn’t take too long to hike the canyon. We don’t have to do the full loop either.”

After another scorching kiss, she cut the quiche and plated their slices. It wasn’t heavy, mainly because she hadn’t used heavy cream in the eggs, just skim milk. Brent poured them both more coffee and brought the mugs to the table.

It had been ages since she’d stayed the night after sex. Though she felt a little awkward, it was good. Brent blinked a few times then got up and opened a drawer in a small desk and pulled out a pair of glasses.

“I can’t see well without them and I haven’t put in my contacts.”

His glasses made him even more sexy. She wouldn't last through breakfast with him looking so amazing.

He took a bite of the quiche and moaned as he chewed. She watched in fascination as he took another bite.

“It’s very good.” Brent took a swig of coffee then went back to eating.

“The days I make quiche they always sell out. Maybe I should have them every day.”

“Good idea.”

After eating, they headed to her place so she could grab appropriate hiking clothes and shoes. The hike wasn’t as difficult as she’d imagined it to be, but still, they were both sweating at the end. Brent gave her a long, hard kiss when he dropped her at her condo. She didn’t want to say goodbye but leaving was a part of dating.

She showered quickly then started making cookies, scones, bread, and a few other treats. At nine, she dropped into bed and drifted off fast. The next morning, Brent showed up at her shop, his smile wide.

“Hey, sexy,” he kept his voice low so her other customers sitting at the front table in her store doing their bible study didn’t hear.

Her insides bubbled with excitement. “Good morning.”

“I get off work at five thirty today. Could I bring dinner to your place?”

Brent looked so sweet asking if they could eat dinner together. “How about I cook something? I’ll make sure it’s good for you.”

He bit his lip then nodded. “Sure.”

“Really, I know I bake a lot of unhealthy stuff at the bakery you can’t eat right now, but I swear I’ll make something delicious which you can consume. It'll be healthy.”

“Okay, sounds great. I’ll be there between five forty-five and six, depending on traffic.”

“Sure, and I’m looking forward to it.”

The rest of her day went well. They had a decent number of customers, but she hadn’t been slammed. She had to order more supplies since she’d cooked so much. Once home, she began preparing chicken breast and vegetables, not using any added fat and no bread on the chicken. She’d pounded the meat thin and applied a layer of spices mixed in with potato flakes. Once the food was in the oven, she sat at her computer, ordering the supplies she needed for the coming weeks. There was a knock on her door and she moved to answer.

Excitement pulsed through her when she saw Brent standing in the hallway. He’d shown up early, making her day even better. She tugged him in and pressed him against the door, holding him there as she kissed him eagerly. The timer rang on the chicken and she stepped away.

“There’s more to come later.” Her words were a promise she intended to fulfill once they were done with dinner.

Brent’s lips turned up in a sexy smile as he dropped his jacket on the back of her recliner. “I gotta tell ya, I like being met with your kisses.”

“I like giving you kisses.”

“So, what are we having for dinner?”

“Roasted vegetables and spice encrusted chicken. I used potato flakes to thicken the crust. It’s not breaded, but potato encrusted.”

“I’ve never heard of using potato flakes as a breading. I can eat potatoes.”

“Good.”

She took the meat out of the oven and the roasted vegetables out of the warmer where she’d left them. Brent came into her kitchen and helped her get the dishes to the table. It was nice but odd to have a man around. Brent had snuck into her life in such an odd way. They’d known each other for months, but not really. He would come to her shop for coffee, and now she was feeding him dinner before they would have sex. And she knew they would because the heat in his eyes grew with each minute they were together.

The food was delicious, and Brent thought so too, or he at least moaned when he took a bite. “This chicken is excellent. I’d love to have the recipe for this.”

“Sure, I can send it to you.”

“Wait, was my question rude. You’re a cook and the food you serve is your success.”

She laughed and shook her head. “No, it’s fine. I don’t really serve things like this at the store. I’m more a cake and cookie with breakfast sandwiches thrown in kind of girl.”

“I can’t wait until after my race.”

She chuckled and took a bite, moaning. He was right, the chicken was delicious. They chatted about their day, nothing much had happened to either of them, so the subjects flitted from random facts to people they’d seen. It was odd living in a town where you saw movie stars doing normal things. Brent helped her with the dishes before he reached for her and pulled her close. He tugged at the hem of her shirt, pulling it up.

“We should go to the bedroom,” she said.

“I think here would be good.” Brent captured her mouth and held her tight, kissing her like she belonged to him. The kiss ended, and she gulped in air.

“But the blinds are open. The people across the way can see us.”

Brent glanced around then reached for the light switch, throwing them into darkness. “They can’t see inside now.”

She chuckled as he tugged at the button on her pants. “You like living dangerously?”

“I do. I like pushing limits. Like right now, if it were dark out, I’d see if I could talk you into having sex outside on the balcony.”

She shook her head. “Oh my, there’s no way I would ever have sex out there.”

“Never say never. No moon, late at night, I think we could do it.”

She laughed until Brent slid his fingers over her slit and found her clit. His fingers were as deft as ever as he worked her higher, leaving her needy and wanting.

He stepped back, and she reached for him. “I want to taste you again. Go sit on your couch and I’ll be there in a minute.”

She nodded but thought about defying him. His gaze narrowed, and she rolled her eyes, there was no way she would pass up being licked by him. “Sure, let’s meet on the couch.”

One thing she’d learned about Brent, he liked to play bossy, but he was too nice to be mean about it.