Yummy Indulgences

Allen Garner, or AJ to friends and family, pulled his old Jeep Wrangler into the crowded parking lot and grimaced. How in the hell did he get himself into this situation? He had just gotten off the night shift at the rendering plant and was about to go to bed when his sister Megan called. His niece was sick with the flu. Apparently, Megan made an appointment with the owner of Yummy Indulgences weeks ago and had no intention of canceling. According to his sister, it was the place in the River Valley to buy special order cakes and pastries. He didn't understand the urgency, the party happened to be two months away. But Megan insisted that Yummy Indulgences cakes were the best and often needed to be ordered several weeks in advance.

After much coaxing and a huge guilt trip she convinced him to take her place and do some taste testing and pick a design for the cake. He knew absolutely nothing about throwing a party, much less picking out an anniversary cake for his parents fortieth anniversary. Knowing his luck, he'd pick out some monstrosity and disappoint his parents, family, and friends. Not to mention his sister, who could be a spitfire when she chose. Even though he towered over her by at least nine inches and she was tiny enough to be blown over by a stiff wind, Megan still scared the hell out of him when she happened to be on one of her terrors. He didn't want to deal with the wrath of an angry Megan. He'd been there, done that when they were younger and had no intention of ever going through it again.

Allen groaned as he managed to squeeze his faded black Wrangler into one of the tiny parking spaces and turned off the ignition. He took a deep breath and fought the urge to start the Jeep back up and escape the hellish chore Megan somehow managed to coax him into. She assured him the owner, Shiloh, would walk him through everything. She also told Allen he couldn't make a mistake, but he wasn't so sure.

If there was a way to fuck it up, he would most assuredly do it.

Allen opened the squeaky door of his Wrangler and maneuvered his way out of his vehicle without hitting the shiny candy apple red '65 Mustang convertible parked beside him. He let out a sigh of relief when the well-loved car escaped a new dent from his Wrangler's door. He did not need to damage the classic car and have a pissed off owner jumping down his throat.

He glanced around at the buildings and tried to decipher which of the glass doors belonged to the bakery. He eyes spotted several pots of colorful flowers and a bright rainbow flag hanging out of one of them. The bold colors stood out in the otherwise dull shopping center.

"That's got to be the place." He mumbled and forced his reluctant feet to walk toward the corner of the cheery building. As he approached, he smelled the mouth watering aroma of baked goods, right before he noticed the window showcased several elegant cakes displayed from the inside. On the gleaming glass door, the words Yummy Indulgences were painted in a bold array of rainbow colors.

Taking a deep breath, he pulled the door open and heard a tinkling bell chime. The delicious smells coming from the pastry display cases filled with baked goods engulfed him. They held everything from cakes to cinnamon buns and made his mouth water, reminding him he hadn't eaten since his break at midnight.

"Can I help you?" a pretty, plump, red headed woman cheerfully called from behind the counter, and Allen relax somewhat. Surely a welcome like that was a sign this wouldn't be as bad as he first thought.

He walked up to the counter and gave her his best smile. "I hope so. My name is AJ Garner. My sister, Megan Warren, has an appointment with Shiloh at ten this morning. She couldn't make it today, so I'm here instead. I'm supposed to taste test some samples and pick out an anniversary cake for our parents."

She smiled, making her pretty face turn into a beautiful one. "Don't look so worried, Mr Garner, we'll take good care of you. If you will excuse me for a moment, I'll let Shiloh know that you're here."

"You're not Shiloh?" he asked, raising his eyebrows in surprise.

She laughed and shook her head. "No, sir. My name is Sheri, I'm Shiloh's sister. Would you like some coffee before I tell him you're here? It's on the house." She grinned and reached for a large Styrofoam cup.

"That would be great. Thank you."

Allen watched her confidently pour some coffee and took it when she handed the container to him over the glass counter.

"Please feel free to look around. I'll go get Shiloh and be back with you in a moment." Sheri winked flirtatiously and walked through a purple curtain that led to another room behind the countertops.

Allen slowly wandered around, looking at the delicious display of pastries and cakes. Everything looked perfectly in place and well displayed. He was impressed; or rather his stomach was, because it started to growl loudly.

In the process of silently telling his stomach to shut up, he heard quick footsteps approaching him from behind.

"Mr Garner? Hi, I'm Shiloh Ballard, co-owner of Yummy Indulgences. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting," a sweet southern voice said from behind him. Allen turned around and practically dropped his coffee when he laid eyes on the man the lyrical voice came from.

To say that Shiloh Ballard was beautiful would be an understatement. His almost black hair was pulled back into a low ponytail. So thick and healthy, it shone in the sun filtering through the window. One piece had escaped its confinement and fell in a sexy wave almost over his right eye and down to his angular chin. His golden eyes were bright and filled with mischief and his full, pouty lips and white, straight teeth dazzled when he smiled. He was breathtakingly gorgeous, from his small straight nose to the arch of his perfectly manicured eyebrows. He had to be at least five inches shorter than Allen's own five-ten frame. A soft-looking, dark purple tunic shirt and black, skintight jeans encased his slight form, making Allen's mouth water for more than the pastries he'd been admiring just a few short moments before.

Shiloh extended a much smaller hand for him to shake. Allen managed to find a smile as he reached out and engulfed that soft hand in his own calloused, much larger one and shook it.

He cleared his throat. "Hi Shiloh, nice to meet you. Sorry my sister couldn't make it today. Believe me, if she could have been here she would have. Sending me was her last resort." He grinned at the gorgeous man and tried to ignore the tingle he started to feel in his stomach.

"Don't be afraid, Mr Garner, I'll take very good care of you," Shiloh said, winking playfully.

That's what I'm afraid of.

"I'm not worried." He managed to croak out.

Shiloh looked down at their hands, still clasped together, and then back up. He raised his eyebrow at Allen questioningly.

Mortified he still held the smaller man's hand; Allen quickly pulled his own away, face flushed with embarrassment.

What the hell's wrong with you, Garner? Stop acting like an idiot and relax.

If Shiloh noticed his faux pas —practically keeping his hand hostage— or the schoolboy blush that reddened his cheeks and neck, he made no comment.

"If you would come with me, Mr Garner, we'll go into the tasting room and you can sample some of the different varieties of cakes you may choose from." The young, gorgeous man smoothly walked toward a door at the end of the counter. Allen followed him and entered a small room. He glanced around quickly at his new surroundings. There was a black lacquered, round table and comfortable looking, black leather chairs pushed neatly against it. The walls were painted a stark white, and several large pictures featuring colorful cakes created a colorful, comfortable feel to the room.

Shiloh gestured toward the closest chair, and Allen pulled it out from the table and sat. Shiloh did the same with the one next to his and easily settled down on it.

"When I last spoke with your sister, she said she was looking for an anniversary cake. We've got several selections to choose from, so I feel very certain we'll find the perfect confection for your parents' party." Shiloh looked both relaxed and confident as he leaned back comfortably in his chair and folded his small, nimble looking hands in his lap.

Allen nodded. "That's right. She's throwing a party for their fortieth anniversary."

"Do you know how many people are expected to come?"

"At last count, close to a hundred. She's invited everyone from family to distant friends. One thing can be said about Megan; she knows how to throw a party." Allen lifted his cup and took a sip of his coffee.

It was hot and delicious.

Just like the man sitting beside him.