Sweet Temptation

LIAM

Liam leaned against the table, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips. He hadn’t expected such a reaction from a woman who appeared so delicate and unassuming. He was used to women throwing themselves at him, but Chloe Sweets was different. He had noticed her from the very beginning, and he couldn’t deny that he was intrigued.

He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the thoughts that had invaded his mind since their encounter. Her big, round hazel eyes, the way her cheeks flushed when she was angry, and her full, trembling lips—he had even noticed the curves hidden beneath her modest clothing. But he couldn’t afford to let her get under his skin.

With a sigh, Liam ran his fingers through his hair and decided to put an end to his musings. He had a board meeting to attend, and he couldn’t afford any distractions.

CHLOE

Chloe’s phone rang on Saturday morning, pulling her from her thoughts. It was Melanie, and it had been two days since she had met Liam Kingston. She hadn’t mentioned the encounter to her friend, not because she didn’t want to, but because she had been swamped with work. Jeremy’s project was due that night, and she had been busy preparing a bridal shower cake, dessert, and cupcake souvenirs with an adult theme.

“Yes?” Chloe answered, trying to keep her tone neutral.

“Hey, where have you been? And why didn’t you tell me about Liam?” Melanie demanded, her voice tinged with hurt.

Chloe sighed. “I’ve been busy, Mel. And I didn’t tell you because I thought you and Scott should meet him first. Besides, he’s not exactly friendly.”

Melanie was silent for a moment before she spoke again. “Well, Scott was pretty upset with Liam, and he wants us all to meet for lunch on Sunday. Can you come?”

Chloe hesitated. “I’ll think about it,” she finally said, and they ended the call.

As soon as she hung up, Chloe’s thoughts drifted back to Liam Kingston. She couldn’t deny that he was attractive, but his arrogance and attitude left much to be desired. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts, and turned on her music to help her focus on her work.

***

By five thirty p.m., Chloe had nearly finished her preparations. The two-tier cake, croquembouche dessert, and fruit pies were ready, and she was just waiting for a few extra cupcakes to finish baking. She took a quick break to shower and get dressed, but as she was pulling on her underwear, there was a knock at the door.

Assuming it was her friend Amy, who had volunteered to help her transport the desserts to the hotel, Chloe called out, “Come on in! It’s unlocked!”

She didn’t bother to look up, focused on finding her oven gloves in the kitchen. But the person who entered her apartment wasn’t Amy—it was Liam Kingston.

Liam had intended to greet Chloe as soon as he walked in, but the sight of her in nothing but her underwear stopped him in his tracks. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her, and he found himself admiring her curves and the way her body looked in the black lace.

Chloe, still unaware of Liam’s presence, continued to talk as if Amy were there. “I know, I know! I’m only in my underwear… You know how I hate it when my dress gets spotted with buttercream. So much wasted time cleaning the sticky, sweet stuff that’s enough to ruin the dress.”

As she bent over to retrieve the cupcakes from the oven, Liam couldn’t help but appreciate her small waist and curvy hips. He was torn between revealing his presence and not wanting to startle her when, thankfully, the real Amy arrived.

The moment Amy walked in, Chloe finally realized that it wasn’t her friend who had entered her apartment earlier. Her face flushed with embarrassment, and she scrambled to cover herself as Liam tried to hide his amusement. The situation was far from ideal, but it was clear that their paths were destined to cross again.