Mr. Imperfect

chapter 6



Since the smell of Luke’s travel-worn shirt was the last thing Rori remembered, the fact that his scent had been replaced with a new aroma was the first thing she noticed upon waking. Rori turned her face to the mattress beneath her, inhaling deeply and trying to place the aroma. A mix of fresh-cut grass, cologne, and clean laundry. Strangely enough, she liked it.

Opening her eyes, Rori had the moment of disorientation as she realized she was in a new environment. The faded light coming in the window told her the sun was on its way down for the day, but far from gone. The sparse furnishings and framed posters around the room told her that she was in a guy’s space, but not Luke’s. She’d been around him enough to know he was a slob, and this room looked like it was kept up by a maid.

Or by a guy who had a mom that had raised him to be helpful.

Rori sat up abruptly, knowing for certain this was Mike’s room and Mike’s bed, although she had no idea why she would be in it. Confusion ebbed into annoyance when she heard two male voices talking in another room.

Raking her fingers through her unruly hair, Rori stood and took a few sleep-drunk steps in the direction of the voices. They led her down a short hall and to a living room that opened into kitchen, where Luke and Mike stood talking.

She noted Luke before focusing in on Mike. Tall, muscular, and… doing the dishes?

Mike noticed her first, tapping Luke and pointing her way without greeting her himself. Luke turned and immediately smiled from ear to ear. “Hey, there! Hope we didn’t wake you.”

“No,” she said, as Luke came over and wrapped his arms around her.

“I’ve only been up for about an hour,” he said, making her wonder what time it was. “That flight totally wiped me.”

“Me, too.”

“Sorry about the sleeping arrangements,” Mike said from the sink, keeping his back to her. “You’ll have your own bed tonight. It’s just crazy at my parents place for the moment and our couch…well, just trust me on that you’re better keeping you distance.”

She did trust him, but had Rori heard that first part right? Parents’ place? Had Rori heard him correctly? They were expecting her to stay with the Cannons and not with Luke?

“Anyway, I’m glad you’re up,” Luke agreed. “Because we have a party being held in our honor.”

Turning off the water, Mike grabbed his keys from his pocket. “Gazpacho is in the pot. Put it in the fridge when you’re done and don’t eat too much. There will be a lot of food tonight.”

Rori blinked, wondering if she’d heard him correctly. Gazpacho is in the pot?

Luke turned, clearly not expecting Mike’s exit. “Where you headed?”

“Errands,” Mike said. “Last minute stuff. See you in an hour.”

Then he started for the door.

Luke turned to Rori, his smile turning a little wolfish. “Well, isn’t that nice of him to give us some alone time.” But instead of kissing her, he stepped toward the pot. “You’ve gotta try this. No one makes gazpacho like the Cannons. It’s a secret family recipe. Hungry?”

“Starving,” she realized, even as her eyes moved to Mike as he exited the kitchen. “Will we have time to make a trip to the store before going to party? I need a gift for the hosts.”

Luke laughed. “Don’t worry about it. Things aren’t formal like that around here.”

“It’s polite,” Rori said, trying not to channel her mother as she said so.

“Luke’s right,” Mike said, his hand on the door. “You’ll basically be the guest of honor next to Luke. No one will be expecting you to bring anything.”

Mike was being polite—saying what Rori would have said if she were in his position.

“Are you bringing something?” she challenged.

“Well, yes,” he said. “But that—”

“And are other members of your family bringing items?”

“Of course, but—”

Rori turned to Luke. “Then we can bring something. Do we have time to go to the store?”

Luke glanced forlornly at the gazpacho. “Can we eat first?”

“I can wait an hour to eat,” she said. “Let’s get a gift first.”

That got an outright frown out of Luke, until the expression abruptly flipped. “How about you just go with Mike to wherever he’s going? You two can get to know each other a little bit and he can help you find a good gift. He’s good at stuff like that.”

She watched Mike stiffen at the suggestion which was one of the reasons she knew she hadn’t misunderstood her fiancé. Luke wanted her to go with Mike? Alone?

There was a laundry list of reasons the suggestion was completely inappropriate, but in true Luke style, he seemed completely clueless of that fact. It was as if he had no awareness that he best friend was a sculpted, beautiful specimen of a man, or that delegating couple-like activities to another man wasn’t a good way to win points with a woman.

“Luke, I’m pretty sure she’d rather go with you,” Mike said before she could respond. “She doesn’t even know me.”

“All the more reason for you two to go together—so you can get to know each other,” Luke said, this time sending Rori a little wink.

What the hell did he mean by that?

Mike’s slight frown told her he was about as keen on the idea of taking her shopping as she was on going with him, but again his manners had him doing what she would have done in his position.

“You’re welcome to come with me,” he said. “Although we do need to leave now to get back in time.”

“Of course,” Rori said. “Let me just grab my purse…” Mid-sentence she realized she had no idea where it was, and was about to ask when Mike walked over to the couch and picked it up.

“Anything else?” he asked, handing it to her.

She glanced over at Luke, who was happily spooning soup into a bowl. “Are you sure you don’t want to come?”

“Nah,” he said. “Good bonding time for you two.”

Bonding time. With Mike. Did the man not even hear himself speak? But at least Luke did something half right when he set the bowl down, crossed the kitchen and dropped a quick kiss on her. “You’ll have fun and he’ll fill you in on all the ways to impress his family way better than I can.”

“Sure,” she said, looking to Mike hesitantly and wondering if she dared check the state of her hair before they left. Probably best to just stick with a pony tail holder from her purse. “Ready if you are.”

He nodded. “Right this way.”

The awkwardness emanating from Mike was palpable, but Luke had already moved back to the gazpacho in a state of utter oblivion. Rori almost backed out of going. Almost. But the fact was that her breeding would never allow her to attend a party without presenting a gift to the host—guest of honor or not.

The short walk to the SUV parked in the garage was silent. And once they got there, Mike surprised her by opening the door for her—his manners once again allowing for something awkward.

Luke should be opening the door for her. Not Mike.

“Thank you,” she said without making eye contact, and stepped in.

All he did was nod and shut the door behind her before walking around to his side of the car and getting in. It wasn’t until after they had pulled out of the driveway that he spoke.

“You’ll get used to it.”

That surprised her. “Used to what?”

“How Luke is. Laid back—sometimes to the extreme. He’s just a nice, trusting guy who assumes everyone is as guileless as him.” He sent her a sidelong glance. “I can tell you’re having trouble reading him at the moment, but you’ll get the hang of it.”

“Good to know,” Rori said, not quite sure what else there was to say until Mike spoke up again.

“Where do you want to go for a gift?”

“Wherever you’re headed,” she said. “I don’t want you to go out of your way.”

“Oh, I’m going to a grocery store. My mom’s out of vanilla and food coloring, so I can go any which way depending on what you need.”

How accommodating. At every turn the guy just seemed nice. Too nice. “I’m not sure. What would your mother like? Flowers? A nice wine? You’re not religious, right? I know Utah is known for…”

When she hesitated in picking her words, Mike stepped in and answered. “No, we’re not. And she would like either of those.”

“Good to know. What would she want? What would make her smile?”

“Smile?” he said, his bright blue eyes locking on hers with a bit of mischief under the surface. It was just a look, and his eyes were just eyes, but something inside Rori stirred in a way it most definitely should not have. “High-end baked goods. They’re my mom’s guilty pleasure. She normally only lets herself have them on birthdays, but she might make an exception if you bring them. And she’ll love them.”

The enthusiasm in his eyes was difficult to refuse. “Baked goods it is, then. I assume you have a place in mind?”

He nodded. “It’s not far and they should be able to hook you up, no problem.”

“Thank you.” Rori knew she should ask him about his family, but hesitated. It just made the excursion feel a little bit too much like a date. Perhaps if she included Luke in the question it wouldn’t be so bad.

“You have a unique accent,” he said, beating her to the punch. “Where are you from?”

“A bit of everywhere,” she replied and kept it at that.

“You traveled as a child?” he asked.

“Extensively, yes.” This was a date conversation. She needed to change the subject. She just wasn’t sure what subject would be proper.

“Is your dad in the military?”

Rori laughed at that one, trying to imagine her narcissist father putting himself on the line for anyone but himself. “Not at all.”

Mike glanced at her again, his eyes looking honestly interested in what she had to say. It was a dangerous expression on masculine face. “Did he travel for work?”

“You could say that, but it’s irrelevant,” Rori said. “He left my mother and me when I was seven. My mother was the catalyst behind on the traveling. Education is very important to her, and she believes things are best learned firsthand, not in books. If you want to learn about Egypt, go to Egypt. If you want to learn about Buddhism, spend time with Buddhist monks. Stuff like that.”

“That sounds awesome.”

In theory, yes. And Rori didn’t regret it. As an adult, however, she could acknowledge that is hadn’t made for much of a childhood either, though, since she had rarely been allowed time to fraternize with children her own age. Nearly always adults.

“Not awesome?” he ventured, making Rori realize she had taken too long on responding. The jet lag must still have her mind in a slower gear.

“No, it was great,” she said quickly.

“But?”

He sounded as if he really wanted an honest answer to the question. What was even stranger, Rori realized she wanted to give him one.

“Nothing to complain about, really. I have my mother to thank for who I am today.”

“But what would you do differently?”

The guy was persistent. “Probably just a little less rigor and a bit more play. Life doesn’t need to be educational 365 days out of the year.”

He nodded. “That makes sense. But still, you’re probably super smart, right?”

“I’ve seen more than most,” she conceded.

“And how many times have you followed a guy home after a trip?”

He made the question playful, probably to take the tension out of it. Rori gave him points for that—not that she should be giving him points at all. “Once.”

“Once?” he said, his expression surprised even in profile. “Just our Luke? What caught your eye?”

Rori smiled at the memory. “Initially? His incompetence. When I first saw him he was getting ripped off by a local.”

Mike smiled at that. “Won’t be the last time.”

“Not without supervision, no.”

“And you saved the day?”

“Something like that.”

His lips pursed in humor, and Rori found herself studying their shape—sketching them in her mind. “Sounds very romantic. Very Paper Bag Princess.”

“Paper Bag Princess?” she asked.

He glanced at her, his eyes still smiling seductively. “The children’s book?” He then seemed to catch himself. “You know, the book other kids were learning to read at the same age you were probably learning to translate Greek?”

She appreciated his attempt at humor. “Ah, yes. That Paper Bag Princess.” She would need to look it up later.

“Don’t worry about it. I only know about it because it was my little sister’s favorite when she was a kid.”

“Kris?”

He nodded, looking impressed that she knew her name. “Yeah. She’s a bit of a feminist. Traditional fairy tales of girls waiting around to be saved never really resonated with her.”

“Sounds like your sister and I might have a few things on common.”

Mike smirked. “You do.”

He didn’t elaborate, although Rori suddenly wanted him to. He changed the subject too quickly, though.

“So what were you doing in Thailand? Studying?”

“You could say that,” Rori said, using the passing landscape as an excuse to stop looking at the smiles he kept sending her way. “There is a monastery that allows me to come and participate in their artistic meditative practices. It’s not studying in the traditional sense, but rather a practice in making art without becoming attached to it, since you do not preserve anything after it is completed. It’s good to learn to create without attachment. The monks help me with that.”

That got a slow nod out of Mike, as if he were actually thinking about what she’d said. “So you’re an artist?”

She nodded. “By trade, yes.” It was something she could say when her mother wasn’t around. There were at least a half a dozen things her mom would rather say she was.

“Makes sense,” Mike said, eyes on the road.

“It does?”

“Sure,” he said easily. “In a life of so much structure, art must give you an element of freedom and expression.”

Rori looked at him, surprised to the point of suspicion. How in the world could he know that? “Probably,” she said, even though he’d said it perfectly.

Who was this guy? And when was he going to throw his angle at her? She really needed to shut him down, just to get it out of the way.

For the moment the question was pushed off the table as he pulled into a parking lot for a grocery store and about a dozen other shops. Rori scanned the stores and spotted a bakery.

“Is that the place?” she asked.

“Yep. We’ll head in there first. It’s kind of late in the day, so I’m not sure what their selection will be. Ten minutes might be all the difference.”

Rori nodded as he steered the SUV into a parking place. She didn’t mean to study the play of muscles under his skin as he performed the simple task. It just seemed like the most interesting thing happening at the moment.

“What’s your mom’s favorite?” she asked, trying to distract herself.

“Red velvet,” he said without hesitation. “My sisters-in-law all like chocolate and carrot cake. You get any of those and you’re going to be sitting pretty with them.”

Rori didn’t wait for Mike to open the door for her again once they parked. It would just be too weird. Then again, so was walking into the bakery with him, side by side. Like a couple. Mike didn’t touch her—didn’t even try to, but for some reason that didn’t seem to matter. Rori still felt that people would look at them and see a couple, which was exactly why she wished Luke could be there with them. Then she could slip her hand into his and all of the confusion would go away.

Maybe.

The bakery was clearly a labor of love on part of the owner. Anthropomorphized vinyl cupcakes decorated the walls in a way that was half joyful, half children’s nursery. The art snob in Rori had some choice suggestions, but another part of her understood that moms with children probably frequented the store. Interesting walls were likely a lifesaver against the antics of bored children. All in all, the décor was pretty brilliant. And given the bubbly exuberance of the woman behind the counter, likely a direct reflection of the owner. Whoever she was, she recognized Mike on sight.

“Well,” the woman beamed. “My shop just got a whole lot sexier. Come here, you!”

Wiping her hands, she walked around the counter and gave Mike a big bear hug. Rori noted the wedding band on the woman’s hand at about the same moment the woman chose to give her a look over.

“And who’s this beauty?” she said, releasing Mike.

Mike stepped away and motioned to Rori. “This is Rori, and she’s looking to get a present for my mom, so I told her this was the only place to come.”

The woman reached up and gave his cheek a solid pat. “Such a smart boy.”

Mike sent the woman a little smile before looking back at Rori. “Rori, this is Wendy and she owns this place.”

“Good to meet you, Wendy.” Rori offered her hand, only to be surprised when she was pulled into a hug all of her own.

“You’ve got a winner with him,” Wendy said quietly into her ear, so only Rori could hear. “You’ll hold onto him if you’re smart.”

Rori faltered, knowing what she needed correct the woman’s assumption.

“I’m not so sure,” Rori said, offering Mike a coy glance. “What about Luke?”

Wendy’s sly smile grew, looking between them as if she knew a secret. “Well, I think we all know what’s going to happen there.”

They all knew what was going to happen there? Really? Rori glanced at Mike, noting that he didn’t look confused at the statement. Did that mean he knew?

“I’m trying a new recipe,” Wendy said, walking back behind the counter. “I need a man’s opinion.”

“Well, twist my arm,” Mike said, even as Rori wondered how often a man with his physique ate dessert. Not often, she was quite certain.

“I want a Father’s Day special, but you know how men are,” Wendy said, as if there was nothing else to be said on the matter. “I was trying to think of bacon options, but it’s all just too gross for me, you know? My husband loves the bacon and syrup pastries, but I honestly don’t think I could keep in them in the bakery without gagging. Too foul and they would scare the women away. Plus the bacon smell can cling to the frosting of other cupcakes, which is totally ew!”

“Could you keep them separately?” he said, pointing to a small refrigerator that held ready-made cookie dough.

Wendy’s expression turned stern. “Did you not hear me, Mike? I said, EW!”

“My bad,” he said, looking appropriately chastised. “So what’s Plan B?”

Wendy retrieved a chocolate croissant with the flourish of a magician. “Chocolate-filled, chocolate croissant!”

Mike regarded the chocolate creation with some skepticism. “With bacon?”

Wendy gave his arm a slap even as Rori fought a smile.

“What’s wrong with you men?” Wendy roared. “Must things be gross to appeal to you?”

“No,” he said, taking the croissant from her. “They just need to be manly. Something that makes other men covet or respect you.”

He bit into the croissant then, which had Wendy’s expression turning unabashedly hopeful. He chewed a few times before passing the croissant Rori’s direction. She shouldn’t try it. She could hear her mother’s voice in her head declining it. But being both curious and starving, she accepted the croissant, ignoring the light brush of their fingers as it passed between them.

“It’s good,” Mike said.

“Yeah?” Wendy said, beaming. “Father’s Day good?”

Mike moved his hand side-to-side just as Rori bit in to the dessert. Divine. Contrary to Mike’s feedback, there was nothing so-so about it.

“I’d say it’s Mother’s Day good,” he said. “It’s like the dessert Amy makes and calls Better than Sex—which totally pisses by brother off, by the way.”

Wendy wiggled her eyebrows. “Your brother should just bring it into the bedroom and give her both at the same time. Then see what she says.”

A light blush rose on Mike’s face, which mesmerized Rori for some reason. That a guy like him could blush so easily? It made her wonder what else would make him blush.

He cleared his throat. “The point is, chop up a few jalapeños, or something, and stick in that chocolate filling and then you’ll have yourself a Father’s Day dessert. As is, it’s totally girly.”

Wendy’s eyes grew the size of saucers. “Jalapeños? Oh, I could kiss you! That’s perfect!” She looked around manically. “Oh, you make me want to start right now, but I don’t have any jalapeños.”

“We’re headed to the store,” he said. “I can pick you up some, no problem. We’ll grab them while you put our order together.”

“Of course,” Wendy beamed, eyes bright. “Red velvet, then? Chocolate?” Her face fell, immediately distressed. “I’m out of chocolate. Just sold them twenty minutes ago. Dammit. I shouldn’t have let them take them all. But don’t worry. I can make more. Won’t take a minute.”

Rori saw Mike take a covert glance at the display before saying, “Actually we were going to get carrot this time. You know how Kris loves those, and we never get enough of them.”

Rori stole her own glance at the display and fought a smile. Wendy was all sold out except for a few red velvets and about a dozen carrot cake.

“Oh, Kris will be there?” Wendy said, pulling out a travel carton. “Then you have to have carrot. I only have fourteen. Is that enough?”

Mike didn’t even try to hide his smile. “Six should be plenty. Plus whatever red velvets you have to spare.”

“Of course, of course,” Wendy said, pulling out the tray.

“Do you mind if we run to the store and come back for those?” he asked. “It will make it easier if we don’t have to carry them around or put them in a hot car longer than necessary.”

“Of course!” Wendy repeated. “Go. They’ll be ready when you get back. And don’t forget my—”

“Jalapeños,” Mike said with her. “Yes, ma’am. We’ll be right back.”

The world became abruptly silent once the bakery door was shut behind them, and Mike sent Rori an almost apologetic smile. “She loves her work.”

“And she’s amazing at it,” Rori said, gesturing with the croissant in her hand. “This is decadent.”

“A girl dessert. Maybe even a couple’s dessert for a restaurant, but not something you give your dad on Father’s Day.”

Okay. Maybe he had a point. But it was still the best thing Rori had put in her mouth in recent memory. “But jalapeños in a dessert?”

Mike stopped in his tracks. “Are you serious? Have you seriously never tried chocolate and peppers?”

Rori shook her head, trying not to smile at how scandalized he looked. And likeable. A guy like him was far too easy to look at for him to have a good personality on top of it. He must be flawed. Deeply. There was a reason the Mr. Perfect who had just gotten her to eat a chocolate croissant as easy as breathing was currently single. Single, hot men were single because they never committed. No need to romanticize otherwise.

“I’ll get you some,” he said, as if that was the end of the matter.

“Here?” she said, glancing at the store.

“No, they won’t have it here,” he said. “But sometime.”

Rori wasn’t sure why she nodded. She hadn’t eaten a chocolate bar since she was a teenager, but suddenly it seemed like the rational thing to do. One should know what two exotic flavors tasted like together, after all.

Once they entered the store, Mike moved with surprising speed. He grabbed vanilla a food coloring almost before Rori was aware that he had even paused, and after that he headed to the produce section to buy three times as many jalapeños as Wendy could ever need. In under three minutes they were in and out of the store.

That shouldn’t be sexy, Rori told herself. A man knowing his way around a grocery store and buying more for a woman he’d had a casual conversation with than he did for himself?

No, surely that wasn’t sexy. She must be reacting to the croissant. Which had been delicious. Then again, so was play of muscles in his arms as he carried the large bag of jalapeños.

And since when had she become obsessed with arms?

Probably about the same time she’d found a pair of arms worth staring at, Rori decided. Some things were just worth enjoying. Chocolate croissants and strong arms being among them.

“Oh my goodness!” Wendy called, opening the door to her store while they were still a ways off. “I should have told you not to get so many. I would have been fine with a dozen or so.”

Mike waved that off. “No need for you to have to go to the store again today. These should be enough to experiment with.”

“And then some,” she said. “How much do I owe you?”

“You owe me the first taste once you perfect the recipe,” he said without missing a beat.

“Oh, don’t be silly,” she said, eyeing the bag and clearly doing some mental math.

“I’m dead serious,” Mike said, handing the sack over. “It’s more than a fair trade on my side.”

“Hmmph,” Wendy said, eyes narrowed even as she accepted defeat. “Well, then, now that your hands are free, you can be a gentleman and carry these cupcakes for the lady while she pays.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Mike said, walking into the shop. Two large boxes sat on the counter, and Mike picked them up, light as pillows, before looking at Rori. “See you at the car?”

Rori nodded.

Wendy held the door for Mike. “Tell your mother hi.”

“Will do,” he said and gave her one last smile before continuing to the car.

When Wendy let the door shut, she leveled an uncharacteristically shrewd gaze on Rori.

Uh-oh. The woman was going to say something awkward.

“Is he always that nice?” Rori blurted, hoping to distract the woman.

“Always,” Wendy said without hesitation. “Known that boy since he was twelve. They don’t come any better.”

Great. That was just great. “How much do I owe you?”

Wendy held up the bag of peppers. “Are you kidding me? A great idea and the ingredients? This one’s on the house, as long as you take note to treat that boy right. Don’t just take when he gives, even though he’ll let you. Give back to that boy. He deserves it.”

Rori glanced at Mike’s retreating form, curious despite herself. “Is that his fatal flaw? He lets women take advantage of him?”

“And then some,” Wendy said on a huff. “He has a hard time saying no. And guys who like to give will always be able to find girls who like to take, so if that’s you then you can take a walk now and just save yourself some time. His sister has gotten to be pretty effective at clearing away the leeches.”

The open challenge in Wendy’s tone got a raised eyebrow out of Rori. The town baker was protective of Luke’s best buddy? Fascinating.

“Note taken,” Rori said. “And that said, I really would like to pay. Money is not something I’m short on.”

“This time it’s a gift,” Wendy said easily, holding up the peppers. “Pay Mike back for these if you want, but I consider it a fair trade.”

Rori gave a slow nod.

“Oh, and what did you think about the croissant?” Wendy added.

To that, Rori smiled. “Better than sex, for sure.”

A concerned pucker pulled at Wendy’s lips. “Please tell me that you’re saying that in light of the fact that you and Mike haven’t had sex yet.”

“Definitely not,” Rori said without hesitation and with no playfulness as she realized that she’d allowed Wendy to believe that she and Mike were a couple throughout their entire conversation. But again, before she could correct the miscommunication, Wendy spoke first.

“Good. Because I don’t care how good a pastry is, some things should never be better than sex with a man like that.” Wendy fanned herself melodramatically before moving behind the counter. “I have some experimenting to do, but it was great meeting you. Have fun with the Cannons tonight. They’re a fun group.”

Rori barely had time to answer before the other woman disappeared into the back room of the bakery with more peppers than an army could eat.

It seemed there was only one thing to do: try to think about what had just happened as little as possible as she drove to the party with the man whose charm had just gifted her with two boxes of gourmet cupcakes.