“Thank you for giving me a night out. The two months since the restaurant opened have been amazing, but I needed a break.” He gulps air from the open window. “It’s just a shame you don’t have air conditioning in this rust bucket.”

 

“If you took your hand off my thigh, it might cool you down,” I say with a smile.

 

“Never.” He squeezes my thigh. “Not getting to touch you every second of every day is a travesty. I’m making the most of not being surrounded by your family, even if they are amazing. I can’t wait to buy a house with you in this small town so I can christen every surface. It’s bad enough that they’re always popping around the flat above the restaurant, but I swear they’re behind every corner, too.”

 

I chuckle as I park. “I love them, but they are such a cock block.”

 

“Tell me about it,” he laughs.

 

“With the restaurant shut for the evening, maybe we can use the hideaway later.”

 

“Is that a promise?” he growls.

 

“Yes, baby.”

 

I hold back a yawn. With the current heatwave, the flat has been roasting, and Cookie has woken us at dawn every morning – another cock block.

 

“But your surprise tonight is this place,” I continue. “Welcome to Bakes and Cakes. One of the most popular places in the town.”

 

I point at the mixture of classic and modern cars through the windscreen.

 

“This place is buzzing. Does everyone know about it except me?” Garett asks as I help Cookie out of the backseat.

 

Wicksy waves at us from the passenger window of a Ford Mustang. Gravel flies as the driver hits the brakes and performs a handbrake turn into a parking space outside the café.

 

My brother jumps out of the driver’s seat, and I nearly fall over. He raises his arms triumphantly. The crowd cheers as I hold my hand to my chest.

 

“Okay, so Wicksy knows, and my brother the daredevil knows,” I stutter.

 

“When did the daredevil get a Mustang?” Garett grips my hand as we walk across the grass and join my brother, who is pumping his fist while a crowd of people I don’t recognise pat him on the back.

 

“I have no idea. I still don’t know all the reasons he left university.”

 

Flora greets Wicksy and Jem with a slow hand clap as she walks over from a table she’s been sitting at alone. “It wasn’t that impressive,” she says loud enough for us to hear.

 

“You know about this place?” Garett shouts, drawing stares from the three housemates.

 

Flora quickly ditches the lads to join us. “Yeah. I’ve been coming here for a while on my evenings off and before I started working at the cookery school. There’s not much to do in this small town. So many people come here.”

 

She briefly hugs Garett and me before giving Cookie a proper squeeze.

 

“I didn’t know you were into cars,” Garett replies as Flora continues to give Cookie lots of fuss.

 

“I’m not, but I met the owner, Stevie, at a badminton course last year. This is also the café Jem was working at before he started at your restaurant,” she adds. “Stevie lets me sit and read without anyone bothering me. It’s perfect. What are you doing here?”

 

“Ask Ruby.” Garett’s thumb strokes my hand. His eyes soften, and half his mouth turns up in a smile. It’s the look he reserves only for me.

 

Cookie dances around Flora’s legs, and she beams at him. There’s so much about her I don’t understand, like how she’s so physically uncomfortable around me and how her emotions can be unpredictable. Still, I love these moments when her smile comes out because of Cookie.

 

“This is Garett’s first night off in two months,” I explain. “Stevie told me the café is screening Die Hard on the outside wall.”

 

“You didn’t tell me that,” Garett says. “Ruby, baby, I love you and would follow you into the fiery pits of Gordon Ramsay’s oven, but it’s a sweltering August night and not the right season for a Christmas movie. Why would you want to see it tonight?”

 

I turn to him and cup his face as Flora stares. Something she does a lot when Garett and I talk like this. She confided in me that she hasn’t had good relationship role models, so we “fascinate” her.

 

“Garett, we spent last December working and pretending we weren’t in a relationship, and then on Christmas Day, we were in the maternity room while my nieces were born. I thought on a rare break from the cookery school, we could bask in the grumbles of Bruce Willis and eat Christmas treats. They’re celebrating a summer Christmas here at the café all week.”

 

I point at the spectacle to our side, where tinsel glitters under the headlights and baubles spin from the tall trees that line the field. Benches crowd around the grass, and groups of people scoff turkey dinner pizzas, gingerbread brownies, and chocolate orange cupcakes with Santa hats on top.

 

“They’re your bakes?” Garett asks as he stares.

 

“Yep. Cloud Nine recently started supplying treats here. Sorry, with everything being so busy I forgot to tell you.” It’s the only business we’ve agreed to supply because we don’t want to go too fast. But with Stevie being Jem’s friend and doing great things for men’s mental health, I jumped at the chance to supply the café.

 

Garett’s mouth drops open as I point out different Christmas items. The servers, dressed in elf suits, thread through the groups of people.

 

“They also wanted to do a Christmas theme in celebration of the local ice hockey team. Although they play at the city rink twenty minutes away, they’re all regulars here. Their season starts next month, so this is a way to drum up local support for them,” Flora explains. “They’re the rowdy ones over there with Jem and Wicksy.”

 

“Does my brother know everyone?”

 

Jem and Wicksy, who probably sense we’re talking about them, turn and wave at us. Jem gives me a look that I don’t understand because I still don’t know my brother as well as I want to. We’re hanging out more, though. I’ve also watched him at the skatepark a couple of times, although the way he drove that car suggests he might be graduating to bigger machines.

 

“Yeah, pretty much. But mostly through me,” Flora replies matter-of-factly. “Once I introduce them, I leave them to it. I just want to read my books.”

 

I can’t tell if she’s joking or not, but Jem has mentioned that she loves finding cafés where she can sit in the corner and read. Apparently, she enjoys being around people but not having to talk to them.

 

“Wicksy hasn’t been here before, but he loves Die Hard. Unfortunately, he’s not going to see it. Stevie told me they’re not showing the movie tonight. Did you see the forecast?” Flora asks, and I shake my head. “Storms are coming. I’m heading home to find ways to keep the house dry.”

 

“It can’t be that bad. You’ve got a tiny little lake at the bottom of your garden. It’s not going to rain that much, surely? We’ve never had flooding around here like that,” Garett says.

 

“Mark my words, Garett,” a voice says behind us. We both turn while Cookie bounces on his back legs in greeting. Kath points her finger at us, and her eyes glow as dusk creeps up on us. “It’s going to be torrential. There will be flooding.”

Wicksy and Jem bound up. “Did you get one of your headaches?” Wicksy asks.

 

“No, my big right toe is sore when we get big storms and torrential rain,” Kath replies, stroking Cookie.

 

“For real?” Wicksy squeals. “Your big toe?”

 

She sighs. “No, Wicksy, I saw it on the weather forecast.”

 

Jem pats him on the back, shaking his head. “Oh, mate. You’re so gullible.”

 

Wicksy shrugs him off. “Do you want us to come back with you, Flora? We can help protect the house.”

 

“No, I’ll be okay. I’ll make sure your chickens are safe. I need some alone time in our place anyway. I’ve not had it to myself for weeks,” Flora replies. “You know I need time alone to re-energise. That’s okay, right?”

 

“Yeah. It’s fine. But if it looks bad, we’ll get home as soon as possible to help,” Wicksy replies.

Flora nods.

 

“And if the worst comes to the worst, you three can live with us,” my mum says, appearing from god knows where.

 

“Everyone knows about this place but me,” Garett grumbles, folding his arms.

 

“Yep,” my dad replies, joining her. “Amber, Kalen, and the twins were coming, but the rain put them off, and Kalen is looking into freelance bodyguard work. He wants the occasional challenge, although I suspect he needs a break from—”

 

“Bossy Amber,” Jem cuts in.

 

I attempt a jump to clip my tall brother around the back of the head, but he ducks away, colliding with Garett, who taps him on my behalf.

 

Garett puffs up his chest as I reach up to kiss him on the cheek.

 

“Team Grumpy Sunshine, baby,” he says, beaming before turning to my dad. “So you all knew about this place before me?”

 

“Yes, and we’re here for the movie. We’re big Die Hard fans in this family, Garett. The fact you don’t know this means I will have to work on some Cloud Family trivia at the next Cloud Burst. Prepare for an hour of home videos and a photo show as well.”

 

“You don’t need to do that, Dad,” Jem moans.

 

My mum pins him with her beady stare. “Don’t you want your dad to be happy, Jem? Don’t you want your future brother-in-law to fit in with the family?”

 

Jem huffs and rolls his eyes, risking my mum’s reprimands. “Of course I do. Speaking of people being happy, the hockey guys mentioned they’ve got a new signing joining them from America next week in time for the season, and he’s bringing his kid. They asked if we do courses making the treats like they’ve eaten from here and Cloud Nine. The kid might like to join a class and make friends because they don’t know anyone. I gave him a card.”

​

“Thanks, Jem,” I say. “You’re the best salesman.”

 

“Damn right, I am. I’d like to discuss my career prospects and development at some point. Seeing as all of my nosey family like to be consulted on everything, I’ll save it for a Cloud Burst,” he says.

 

“I will ignore that dig,” my mum replies. “Instead, I’m ecstatic that you’re thinking of your future.”

 

My mum threads her arms through Jem’s and my dad’s. “Now, Flora, get home, and your sister and Garett can carry on with their date night. Do you want us to take Cookie tonight so you can get a long lie in, too?”

 

I kiss her and my dad on the cheek. “That would be amazing. The heat in the flat is a lot for him.”

 

“And we have the air conditioning unit,” Mum replies.

 

“A great purchase of mine even though you said it would be…”

 

I miss the rest of my dad’s monologue. The air conditioning unit has been a bone of contention between them as he got it in the January sales without consulting my mum, so he revels in any chance he gets to justify his purchase.

 

“We’ll pick Cookie up before we go. We’re leaving in about half an hour,” my mum shouts over my dad’s chatter.

 

Kath walks behind them. “The sooner, the better if you ask me. The storms are coming.”

 

“She’s like a soothsayer,” Garett mumbles.

 

“I heard that,” Kath replies, although there’s a twinkle in her eyes. “I was right about the snow, and I’ll be right about this. Mark my words.”

 

Garett gulps and nods. “Let’s have one quick drink, Rubes, and a nibble on your treats before we head off.”

 

“You dirty bastard,” I say, elbowing him in the side.

 

His face relaxes, although he still rolls his eyes at me in that grumpy way I love.

 

 

 

“I’m sweating so much,” I say as Cookie rests his head on my thigh, his legs hanging off the end of the picnic blanket.

 

Garett cradles me between his thighs. His chest is hard against my back, and his forearms wrap around my waist to pin me to him. I stare at the tattoos climbing beneath his T-shirt. He’s got a new one on his forearm, a cupcake with Ruby on top.

​

“I like you all sweaty. It gives you a sexy glow, and it means you keep wetting your upper lip. I’m getting the filthiest thoughts, baby.”

 

His breath against my neck sets tingles running down my spine. Belly butterflies have been in constant frenzy for the two months we’ve been engaged. “And what thoughts are these?”

 

His palms are hot as he slides them under my vest. They stroke higher as he speaks. “Do you remember when we used that frosting on your nipples, and I licked it off slowly? Maybe it’s time we used it on my—”

 

“That’s enough of that, Garett! Innocent dogs are present,” my mum says, making us jump. “Speaking of which, we’re heading off.”

 

“Where the hell did they come from?” he hisses.

 

“It’s one of our skills,” my dad adds from the other side.

 

“For fuck sake, Dad. Could you both wear bells or something in the future? Garett will need mouthguards again at this rate,” I say as Cookie sits up.

 

“I did put a bell on your dad at Christmas one year, but I’m not sure you want us to recreate that here. It was on his—”

 

“Go, you two, just go,” I grumble.  

 

Mum and Dad giggle as they walk Cookie towards their car. My mum gives a coy wave and says, “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

 

I lean back into Garett even though the heat of his chest makes me sweatier. “Now, where were we?” He licks a bead of sweat off the back of my neck and grunts. “I know. I was reminding you of the fun we had with buttercream.”

 

I swallow loudly at the memory. “Who knew that me saying ’Yes, Chef,’ while we tried new blondie recipes would end with me naked and becoming your special dessert?”

 

His laugh causes a pulsation between my thighs.

 

“I’m sure we could recreate that tonight. Maybe slip into the hideaway, and you could wear that thigh-high—”

 

“You two should be getting home. The storm is coming, and you’ll be drenched before leaving the car park,” Kath says brusquely.

 

I wish.

 

“We’re leaving in five minutes,” I say between gritted teeth.

 

She nods. “I’ll see you at the restaurant tomorrow night, Garett,” she replies before walking towards the car park.

 

“I love the Cloud family, all of them, including Kath and Wicksy, but they’re cock blocking me while I’m trying to seduce you,” Garett says.

 

I move my bum so that I’m slowly grinding on him.

 

I lower my voice. “No seduction needed. I’m here for whatever you have to give me and—”

 

“You two aren’t going to have sex here, are you?” Jem asks with Wicksy by his side. “It’s bad enough that we caught you in the hideaway that time. I still throw up in my mouth when I think about it.”

 

I let out a low scream. “No, we’re not. But if you don’t leave us alone right now, I will find your car and do it on the bonnet to piss you off. Now get out of here.”

 

“Someone needs to get laid,” Wicksy mumbles, forcing Garett to hold onto my arms so I don’t jump up and punch him.

 

“Nah, she’s always been this much of a grumpy cow,” Jem replies.

 

Garett’s grip tightens so I don’t knock my brother and Wicksy out.

 

“Bye, Jem and Wicksy. Me and your sunshine sister will see you tomorrow night,” Garett replies.

 

“Don’t stay too long. Or you’ll get soaked,” Wicksy replies.

 

I bite my tongue as Garett runs his lips across my ear and murmurs, “You will get soaked and laid and everything else you need tonight. But let’s get back to the flat first.”

 

 

 

As we reach our parking space outside the cookery school, raindrops the size of golf balls hit the windscreen.

 

I jump out of the car. The smell of hot, wet tarmac fills the air as the fresh rain beats down around me. I jump and spin, my mouth open and my head thrown back.

 

“Ruby Cloud, what are you doing?”

 

I spy Garett out of the corner of my eye. He leans on the van's bonnet, watching me. A smile toys with his lips as he stares.

 

“Cooling down for the first time in weeks,” I call back as I breathe in the smell of wet grass and let my hair out from its bun.

 

My vest is drenched in seconds, my nipples hard against the fabric. My cotton skirt sticks to my legs like a second skin. I stick my tongue out and catch raindrops on it.

 

I don’t hear him move as the rain pelting the tarmac is louder than my grumpy chef. He pulls me into his arms.

 

“It’s fucking glorious, isn’t it?” he growls. I jump as he lifts me and wrap my legs around him. “It makes you look impossibly sexier. Say those words you know I love.”

 

“Yes, Chef. Fuck me right here.”

 

We get as far as the wall next to the doorway to our flat. He pins me against the brick, out of sight from the security camera. Our lips crash, and I wrap my arms tightly around his neck as he alternates between kissing me hard and sucking and biting at my neck.

 

His lips graze my throat. The sounds of the rain swallow up my moan as I grind against him, my body fused to his.

 

“I’m going to pop you on the step. I want to touch you everywhere.” Our height difference means we must think carefully about locations, but we always find somewhere or something to use. Our front doorstep is usually out of bounds because of customers, but not tonight. Even if someone drove past, they wouldn’t see us through the rain.

 

He eases me down

 

His hands are tight against my hips as he stares at the way my breasts heave as I pant.

 

“So fucking beautiful,” he grunts.

 

His mouth returns to my throat as his hands slide all over my body, pulling down my right vest and bra straps before kissing my nipple. His hand makes light work of my other straps, and soon, his fingers pinch and squeeze my other nipple.

 

I lean my head back against the door as he slides his fingertips up between my thighs, his fingers climbing under my skirt and straight into my knickers. I rock my pelvis against his touch.

 

“More,” I demand breathlessly.

 

“Not until I’m ready. Not until you’re begging for me,” he growls. I grab his arm and press him deeper, my fingers gripping his forearm, and he laughs into my ear. “Such a needy, good girl. Are you going to ride my fingers?”

 

My agreement is more of a desperate mew than a word.

 

His thumb rubs my clit lazily as he grunts in my ear. “You’re mine, aren’t you, baby?”

 

“Yes, Chef,” I pant. “I’m all yours, Garett. I belong to you.”

 

“And I belong to you, beautiful.”

 

I open my legs wider, desperate for more.

 

“Yes, baby. Don’t stop,” I gasp as he presses deeper.

 

“Never,” he growls. “I love how wet you get for me.”

 

He works faster. His fingers are rough from his time in the kitchen. The friction is incredible, and I’m already close.

 

“When you’ve come all over my fingers, I’m going to carry you into the kitchen and cover you with frosting and lick every inch off your skin.”

 

“But I want to suck it off your cock.”

 

“All in good time. But once I promised you that I would lick it off anything, and I want to keep good on that promise tonight.”

 

He licks my nipples with the tip of his tongue as a reminder of promises I know he’ll keep. As my body starts to shake with the hint of my burgeoning orgasm, he murmurs, “My sexy baker.”

 

His lips vibrate against my skin, and I open my legs even wider.

 

I’m so close to coming, and he pushes harder and faster as he nips at my neck. I move my body to keep in rhythm with his fingers, grinding against them. I grab his forearm tighter as I hiss my need.

 

My limbs tremble in anticipation. Rain has soaked my hot skin. It collects in his sexy curls.

 

“Are you going to come for me, baby?”

 

“Yes, Chef.”

 

I kiss him hard on the mouth as I ride his fingers. Our tongues tangle, and he swallows my gasps as I come. He twists and teases my nipples as I hang on to him for dear life.

 

My world explodes as huge raindrops continue to pelt us. Glorious wave after glorious wave takes me under before his hold on me pulls me back to the surface.

 

As my orgasm ebbs, he kisses my forehead, pressing his lips against my wet skin in adoration.

 

“I will never get enough of watching you come on my fingers, Rubes,” he says. His smile is pure love. “I can’t wait to be your husband.”

 

“I can’t wait either. Now let’s get you inside so you can cover me in frosting.”

 

As we rush inside and ditch our clothes in the hallway, he whispers, “Let’s not tell Kath how we ignored the storm. I don’t think she’d be impressed with our flagrant disregard for weather safety.”

 

I wink at him over my shoulder, his eyes firmly fixed on my butt. “She knows better than anyone what we’re like. Now, let’s make up some buttercream. I want your dick in my mouth.”

 

“Yes, Chef,” Garett replies with a wink.

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Thank you for reading the extra epilogue of Go Cook Yourself.

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You can find more of my books here

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