The Seven-tier Cake

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The Seven-tier Cake

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A/N: This is my favorite chapter because I'm wicked ;) Enjoy!

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After that meeting with Jake and Sandrine, and because I had realized that I would eventually see Levi again, I was in a panicked state when I came home. I turned on the hallway lamp, sat on the sofa and listened. Quiet. Nothing but quiet.

This was my life.

Chances were slim that Levi and I would patch things up. I was hoping in the days I had left before the big day, I would find courage to face him again. Even possibly get over him. I would be decent and polite when I saw him, and hopefully that wouldn't be until the wedding. I wasn't so sure how he would react.

"I will get over him," I told the still room. There wasn't any protest other than the one in my head. I didn't like the sound of it.

Seconds later, I heard another sound. A buzzing. Pushing with both hands on the sofa, I stood to retrieve the phone vibrating in my purse. Looking at the caller ID, I answered with hesitation, "You've reached Veronica."

"I have, haven't I?" Diego's chuckle was even deeper than his voice, and much sexier. "I know I asked you to give me a call, but I don't want to risk not getting a chance."

There was a pause on the other end. I gripped my phone tightly, eager to hear more. "Would you have dinner with me on Friday? Tomorrow?" he asked.

I couldn't imagine any hot-blooded woman turning this man down. But I had baggage. Baggage that shouldn't really belong to me.

"Veronica, are you still there?"

"Yes, I am! Sorry. This is quite a surprise." And since I didn't really have any reason not to, I said, "I would love to have dinner with you, but I can't tomorrow. I'm available next Tuesday. I've git time off work. It's my mom's birthday and she and my sister are coming in to the city for it."

"Don't you want to have dinner with them?"

I shook my head, not registering that Diego couldn't see me. "They arrive the night before, Monday night, then leave early Tuesday afternoon." It was tradition, and handling visits from my mother had always gone well, provided they were kept short and sweet.

"Wonderful, then. I shall pick you up at eight." By the way Diego answered, I sensed his smile. He was absolutely adorable.

"How about seven? I'm off all day."

Diego chuckled over the phone, and my stomach clenched. Did this man know his effect on women? "I'll pick you up at seven. Text me your address. I will see you Tuesday. Sweet dreams, Nica."

I had a feeling I would have more than sweet dreams. "You too, Diego." I ended the call and hugged the phone to my chest.

I was nervous, not for this date with a delectable gentleman, but for what it could mean for my other non-relationship.

*****

Due to the dramas and delays with the wedding plans, I had a lot of catching up to do, and the 'new' me simply did not take crap from anybody, including the couple.

Normally, an appointment with the baker would have taken place at least six months before the wedding day, especially if such baker was the cream of the crop. We had a week to finalize details, including the cake.

Lucky for Jake and Sandrine-- who wanted only the best --I was connected to the best. Eddi was such man. He was the renaissance man of cakes and pastries, and he did wedding cakes like no other.

In college, I had taken summer and night jobs to help out with my fees and basic life needs. Eddi had hired me right on the spot when I had proved that I was Queen of OCD town to sort out his disorganized mess. I had worked with him tirelessly until I had graduated. He had been a great employer, but what was more important was that he had become my family, and he had treated me like the daughter he never had.

These days, Eddi's bakery was consistently busy and his wife of three years, Nancy, was the one who kept him together. His reputation had flourished, and so he only took four wedding cake orders every year. Jake and Sandrine's was the exceptional fifth.

"Hi, Eddi," I greeted the larger-than-life man behind the display counter as I entered the bright, clean and kitschy shop.

Eddi's eyes popped. "Baby girl!" He rounded the case, and wrapped me in a teddy bear hug. "How's my darling girl doing?"

"Eddi, I spoke to you on the phone yesterday." I rolled my eyes as he pouted. "But I'm fine. Surviving this heat."

"Fine? That's not what I heard. Heard you're in love." Eddi's arms straightened as he held me away from him so that he could train his eyes on me.

I scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous! Where'd you hear such a thing?" I twirled the end of my ponytail with my fingers, avoiding his gaze.

Eddi's eyebrows knitted together. "The Amazonian. And she also ordered me to give you as many goodies as I possibly can. She said you lost weight, and it sure looks like it." His eyes scanned me up and down. He knew that I'd never been one to be too concerned about my weight.

I dislodged myself from him and huffed. "Everyone needs to calm down. My weight should not be something to gossip about. I'm fine. I'm healthy. I'm exercising."

"Ah." Eddi chuckled. "But you don't deny being in love."

My mouth fell to the floor. Damn Chase and her big mouth! I meant to rescue myself from the rumors she'd started when my phone buzzed in my purse. I fished it out and answered hurriedly, "You've reached Veronica."

"Nica! Oh good. Are you at Eddi's?" Jake rushed the words out.

"Yeah, I am."

"Sandrine's very ill. She's been throwing up all night, and I just got called in at the hospital. Massive pileup, blood, bodies, the works!" To add effect, I heard the clamor of people around him. There was no doubt he was at the hospital.

"Oh my, well, don't worry. I'm sure I can reschedule." This wasn't taking crap from them, as they had valid reasons.

"No!" he said quickly. "I've sent someone else so you won't have to do it alone."

I tried to protest, but he wouldn't let me. "I trust you implicitly. And so does Sandrine. I'm sorry, Nica, but I have to go. Don't worry he has a discerning palate." More voices filled the line, as people began directing Jake and giving him more information. I could imagine the chaos surrounding him.

Wait, he? Did he say 'he'? "Jake? Jake, who'd you send?" But his phone had already disconnected.

The ring at the door signalled an entry into the bakery. I didn't need an answer from Jake once I turned towards the front, right on time to witness Levi sauntering in, with his hotter than hot sauce looks and a killer, Cheshire-cat grin.

And he didn't come alone.

With claws wrapped around Levi's left arm, a woman strutted beside him in six-inch fuchsia heels. She flipped a chunk of platinum blond hair over her left shoulder as they stopped in front of me.

The fast and furious hammering of my heart threatened to rip my chest apart. This was the first time I set my eyes on Levi since Paris. And he showed up with a twinset of double Ds?

"Well, lookie what we got here," Eddi piped up behind me.

I immediately had plans to kill Jake the next time I saw him.

"I guess you're the replacement," I spoke to Levi, careful not to inflect my tone.

I wished he would take off his gosh darned wayfarers so I could look him in the eyes. The hot bàstard shrugged and thankfully, he wiped the grin off his face. He was lucky that a marbletop bar-height table separated us, or I would be tempted to shake him senseless.

I cleared my throat as I made introductions. "Levi," his name sounded foreign on my tongue as this was the first time I uttered it for days, "this is Eddi Stone, owner, baker, artiste. Eddi, this is Levi, Jake's best man... and his guest." I waved my hand between them.

"Pleasure," was all Levi offered. I waited for him to tell us what his date's name was, but he never did.

I stared at the woman. Her hand its made way to Levi's chest, and she started circling over his blue Oxford shirt. Her boobs pressed against his arm. A hiss escaped my mouth. I gripped my hand around my phone as I thought of the best way to escape this situation.

As soon as Levi started a conversation with Eddi about the bakery, I stealthily tapped a text to Chase, and tagged it 911. Several seconds later, my phone played Chase's tune. Levi stopped talking and turned to me. I assumed that he must remember my sassy ringtone.

"Excuse me, I better get this." I didn't wait for their acknowledgements. I ran to the back of the bakery, through double-swing doors, and stared through the one-way glass in front of me. I had a good view of the storefront. Of Levi and his date.

"Chase! I need your help!" I rapidly expressed, my voice shaking.

"Nica? Calm down, what's going on?"

"Chase, he's here."

"Who?"

I narrowed my eyes at the people behind the mirror. "Levi."

Chase went silent, then said, "Oh."

"He's not alone," I stated, eyeing the bóob-popping blond beside him.

"Damn. What does she look like?"

"Think Malibu Barbie. I can't even call what she's wearing a dress. It's tight, it's white, and I think Eddi can see her nîpples through it."

Chase sucked in a breath. "Bàstard."

"You have to get me outta here, Chase. This has bad written all over it. Baaaaaad."

"No, Nica."

"No?" I gripped the phone harder. Had I heard correctly?

"No. You've worked so hard to be able to stand up to other people. Levi is other people. Stand up to him and his idiotic actions. Show him what he's missing out on."

"Oh my god!" I blurted as I witnessed D-cups insert her hand beneath Levi's shirt. "She's feeling him up! In front of Eddi! I think she's pinching his nîpple. Oh, I'm gonna throw up." I didn't like what I was seeing, but I couldn't look away. Bile churned in my stomach, threatening to rise. I covered my mouth with a hand.

Chase hissed, "Stop! Go out there and face them. Square off your shoulders. Stick out your tatas and sashay those hips. I'll figure something out. Don't worry."

"Fine. But hurry. I think they're ready to start making a porn film on the counter, and Eddi is watching!"

"I'll hurry." Chase rang off.

I held onto my phone, and sucked in my panic. Exhaled. Inhaled. With the next exhale, I rolled my shoulders back, lengthened my neck, stuck my nose up the air, and made sure my B-cups fit properly in my new demicup lace bra. For good measure, I undid the first two buttons of my peach blouse to show off a bit of cleavage, and fixed my white belt, cinched at my now tinier waist. My clothes weren't designer duds, the 1960's June Cleaver floral circle skirt I was wearing was a vintage find. I opted for cute and comfortable. Not tight and pôrnstar chic.

I had worked my damned ass off this past week. I told myself that I looked fabulous no matter what I wore. I looked fine. No, more than fine... I was hot! Scorching!

When I returned, I touched Eddi's arm to take his attention away from Levi and his pal. "We should get started."

Eddi mumbled something inaudible, then walked to the back of the store, shaking his head.

I schooled my face into something more serene. "We have four cakes to try," I announced. "And remember this is for a seven-tier cake, so it has to be the best."

"Hmmmmm..." Levi's lady friend hummed, but I was sure it was due to something else other than the thought of cake. Her hand seemed to have found something interesting beneath Levi's shirt.

I narrowed my eyes marginally as Levi finally took off his sunglasses and placed it on the table. He wasn't smiling. But he didn't seem upset either. He was stoic. The unfeeling man. And he unnerved me.

I looked away and paid attention to my phone, tapping a text to Chase to hurry up.

Thankfully, Eddi returned with a tray of empty dessert plates, which he left on top of the counter. He then took out four lovely and intricately- decorated round cakes from the display cabinet, and arranged them before us. "What we have here are..." Eddi began but was interrupted by a ring at the door. Eddi looked stunned, making the rest of us turn our heads.

I stifled a gasp as a six-foot-four hunk of a man in plain white tee, dark jeans that hugged every sinful bit of his lower half, sauntered in. Mateo prowled like a male model on a catwalk. Even better, he looked like a male model with his thick dark hair carefully tousled, blue-grey eyes surrounded with thick lashes, and a jaw that could cut glass. He was just plain sexy all over.

"Sorry I'm late," he said, eyes on me, as he neared. He kissed the side of my cheek.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I whispered, then smiled.

"I knew you were gonna see Eddi, so I thought I'd surprise you and stop by. I would have made it on time, but I got stuck in traffic." Mateo glanced over my head, and nodded. "Hey, Eddi."

"Mateo?" Eddi was right to question Mateo's presence.

Mateo was a skillful carpenter, and my company contracted him for ninety-five percent of the jobs. Although Mateo was fabulous at his job, I had a sneaking suspicion that when female clients requested him, it wasn't just due to what he could do with the hammer, rather it was because of what he looked like swinging it-- which any living, breathing female would certainly enjoy watching. But any flirting or fussing around him would be futile, because Mateo was happily married, and Mateo was gay.

And now, Mateo was Chase's solution to my dilemma.

"Hi!" Levi's date spoke up in a high-pitched tone. Mateo and I turned to her, and I swallowed a guffaw as I witnessed her preened her feathers. She stretched out the hand that had been in Levi's shirt moments before, and offered it to Mateo. "I'm Ophelia."

Her name rolled over her tongue, and it sounded as though she said 'I'll feel yah'. I bet she would too. I shuddered.

Mateo, ever the good boy, took the proffered hand and shook it once. "Very nice to meet you." He had to pull away forcefully from Ophelia's grasp. Then he angled and stretched his own hand towards Levi. "Mateo," he introduced himself.

Levi's eyes narrowed into tiny slits. He looked down at Mateo's large, callused hand, up to Mateo's face, then to me, questioningly.

I had to take advantage of the situation. The new me needed it. Levi brought Ophelia to either piss me off or make me jealous. I touched one of Mateo's bulging biceps and left my hand on it. "Mateo dear, this is Levi. He's the best man."

Mateo slowly retracted his hand. I could almost feel my face burning. I knew Levi would be glaring at me, but I refused to glance his way.

Eddi cleared his throat, produced dessert spoons and forks, and placed them on a linen serviette on the table. "Shall we continue?" We all turned to Eddi.

I nodded. "Please."

"Our first cake is an homage to our lovely country: Apple and Cinnamon cake with brown sugar frosting." Eddi sliced the first cake and placed a piece of it on a plate.

"Mateo and I will just share one, Eddi." The words just came right out. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Levi's mouth gape. If he had any doubts that Mateo and I were involved, this should do the trick. As long as he didn't figure out that it wasn't completely true.

"That'll be the same for us," Levi said. His voice did not waver.

I looked at Levi and Ophelia, who was still eyeing Mateo, and seductively licking a spoon.

Eddi peered at the two couples in front of him. He was as confused as ever. "Very well then." He proceeded to cut the next cake, a mocha-coloured frosting over yellow cake. "Next we have almond with mocha icing, chocolate drizzle and pistachio crumbs."

The third cake was decorated more elaborately with Corneille Lace piping, something I had become proficient in when I had worked for Eddi. "This is our blackberry and currant chiffon with raspberry filling and limoncello icing. My dear Nica's favorite." Eddi glanced quickly at me, and I sent him a smile. "And last but not least, dark chocolate with a whipped peanut butter mousse filling, and dark chocolate ganache. Rich, robust, and I believe, is still the groom's favorite."

"You're so good, Eddi. I can't believe you remembered," I quipped, even though I had reminded him about it yesterday. He passed along the plates, and I placed them on the table. Four cakes for Mateo and me, and four similar slices for Levi and Ophelia. I hoped he choked. Well, not really. Maybe just a little.

Eddi had also provided carafes of water and glasses. Perhaps, he could read my thoughts. "Bon appétit!"

None of the people around the table moved, until Eddi reminded us why we were there. Mateo and I took a spoon and fork each.

I watched as Ophelia scooped a piece of the first cake, and lifted it to Levi, who then slowly, very slowly, opened his mouth to take the dessert. So this was his game. I copied Ophelia's actions and fed the cake to Mateo.

"Hmmm, very good. This is definitely a winner," Mateo offered his opinion. He used his fork to lift a piece to my mouth. "Here you go, my sweet."

My throat dried up upon hearing Levi's term of endearment to me coming out of Mateo's lips. In my peripheral vision, I could see Levi's jaw drop. I made sensual sounds with my mouth. The cake certainly tasted divine.

"Good, huh?" Mateo's eyebrows shot up. I nodded, as he continued to feast on the cake. "So good."

"Sandrine's allergic to nutmeg. And if I'm not wrong, I detect a hint of it in the flavors," Levi told Eddi.

Damn, I dropped the ball on that one. I knew she was allergic to it. I had it in my notes somewhere. "Yes, that's correct. Thanks for reminding us." I sent a quick, shy look towards Levi. "Shall we try the next one?"

The same thing happened to the second cake. Ophelia fed Levi. Mateo fed me, and I fed Mateo. Each time, Mateo addressed me as "my sweet". And every single time he did, Levi would move his head from side to side and rub the back of his neck.

Levi noted the complimentary flavors of the almond and the hint of coffee and chocolate of the second cake. My thoughts were that it was good, but it wasn't elegant enough.

When we got to the third cake, my favorite, I added extra oomph in my moan, closing my eyes as I let the flavors of fresh berries and the sweet-tart combination of the limoncello icing explode in my mouth. My hands were pressed against Mateo's broad expanse of chest, and as I let the last bit of sweetness melt on my tongue, I fisted Mateo's white shirt. I opened my eyes slowly, and smiled at Mateo.

"That good, huh?" Mateo's face was plastered with a wide, knowing smile.

"It's a perfect cake for a summer wedding," I replied.

"It's a bit tart." Levi's words sounded petty.

With my hands still over Mateo's shirt, I turned to Levi. "Tart?" I raised an eyebrow. "You're forgetting the sweetness of the fresh berries, the chiffon cake and the icing. It's not tart."

Levi crossed his arms over his chest, exposing the tanned, toned forearms under the sleeves of his light blue button down. "Well I think it's too tart." He narrowed his eyes at me. I shot daggers at him.

"Why don't we have a sip of water before the last cake?" Eddi, who had been observing our little parry, suggested. He poured us a glass each, even offered one to Oh-feel-yah.

After a couple of minutes, we continued. I'd had the pleasure of tasting this cake before with Jake when we were dating. Back then, he had always made me promise that I would buy this cake

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