Kiss My Cupcake(72)

I’m terrified, because Tori Taylor is planning her trip to Seattle this month and now more than ever, I need business to pick up.

To combat the slowdown, Ronan and I coordinate more joint events with deals and promotions to help entice the college kids to come to us rather than Dick and Bobby’s. I try not to let my desperation show, or to let Ronan know how bad things are getting. I know he’s feeling the pinch, too, but I don’t think it’s nearly as dire for him as it is for me since The Knight Cap is long established and he only has to recover the renovation costs.

It’s a Thursday morning and tonight I have a trivia night, followed by karaoke over at Ronan’s bar. Our duets have become a thing over the past few months, and we’ve started allowing patrons to request songs. I figure it’s a smart co-event with Tori coming to town because it always generates tons of posts and lots of interaction on social media before and after.

It’s only nine in the morning when Ronan drops by, far earlier than usual for him, even on an event night. “Hey, you got a minute? I need to show you something next door.”

“Sure, everything okay?”

“Oh yeah, I just want you to check something out.”

I leave Callie in charge and follow Ronan next door to The Knight Cap.

He ushers me down the hall to his office. “In here.”

I step inside, expecting there to be some kind of surprise, but it looks like the same old in-need-of-updating office. “Okay. What do I need to check out?”

I turn around and he takes my face between his hands, tips my head back, and slants his mouth over mine. I gasp in surprise but sink into the kiss.

His hand eases down my side and curves around my butt, over my dress, and he pulls me closer, grinding his erection against my stomach.

I fight a moan, not wanting anyone to know there are non-business-related things going on behind Ronan’s office door. His other hand leaves my cheek and his ancient and very squeaky rolling chair bangs into the wall. A few seconds later he picks me up and deposits me on the desk.

“What’re you doing?”

“Reenacting the fantasy I’ve had since New Year’s.” His left hand slides under my dress, up my thigh.

I have to press my knees together so they don’t automatically part for him. “Someone will hear.”

“They won’t.”

“I can’t be that quiet and you can’t not say dirty things.” I’d like to say I can bite my tongue, or his shirt, or something, but whatever his plan is, there is no way in hell he’s going to be able to keep his mouth shut and neither will I.

He gives me a knowing, satisfied grin. “We’re alone. There’s no one else here.”

“No one?”

“No one. I came in early on purpose.” He slides his other hand under my skirt and up my thigh.

“So you planned this?”

“Only after waking up for the seventh day in a row from the same damn dream.”

“Which was what?” I lift my butt, allowing him to drag my panties down. I help by removing my crinoline.

“A repeat of New Year’s, except on my desk.” He tosses my panties and crinoline on his chair and drops to his knees, making good on that repeat performance from start to finish.

When I open his office door, I’m a little sweaty and definitely flushed, but oh-so-sated. I accidentally kick something on the floor.

“What’s that?” Ronan grabs me by the hips to keep from knocking me over since he bumps into me from behind when I bend to retrieve it.

I hold it up for Ronan to see. “Air freshener?”

“Weird. I don’t remember leaving that in the hall, but clearly I’m on the ball. Oooh, and it’s festive scented.” He releases a spray into his office. It smells like a cinnamon roll. It’s probably a good idea since it helps cover the latex and sex.

He walks me down the hall and I come to an abrupt stop when I spot Lars behind the bar, cutting lemon wedges. Ronan bumps into me from behind. “Oh, hey!” My voice has that high pitch associated with surprise and embarrassment.

He pauses his chopping to tip his chin in our direction. “Hey.”

“Lars? How long have you been here?” Ronan sounds more annoyed than embarrassed.

“Long enough.” A wide grin spreads across his face.

“Oh my gosh,” I mutter as Ronan ushers me down the hall toward the back entrance.

Once we’re out of hearing range I turn to face Ronan. “He heard me.”

“Us. He heard us.” He rubs his jaw.

I throw my hands up in the air. “I thought you said we were alone!”

“We were.” He glances at his wristwatch. “Looks like we got carried away with the foreplay.”

I twist his wrist so I can check the time. “It’s ten! We were in there for an hour!”

He shrugs. “I was hungry, and you didn’t seem to be in a hurry.”

I poke him in the chest. “This isn’t funny! What if that had been Gramps and not Lars?”

“Gramps doesn’t leave the house before eleven these days.”

“Not the freaking point and you know it.”

“Babe, relax. Lars isn’t going to care, and it wasn’t Gramps so we’re safe.”

“But he probably heard me coming and saying…things!”