C.A.K.E

Chapter 4: You Knew She Was Comin'

"Close your mouth, Casper. You're drooling." Karma rolls her eyes, and breezes away from the front door toward their bedroom.

They just walked Arden and Elliott out of their home. Casper has to admit, he did a horrible job at hiding his affinity for Arden. Touching her felt like shoplifting, a rush of guilt, and intoxicating adrenaline. Given the opportunity, he would make Arden his next five-finger discount. He stares at the door a moment longer, before going after the one woman who should have his concern.

"I was telling her goodnight. I have to look at her to do that."

"You were looking at her breasts." Karma glares at him.

"I was saying goodnight to a friend."

She kicks off her heels and shoves them into their assigned space in the walk-in.

"Here's a word of advice, women's eyes are above the chest area. Remember that, next time you're touching another man's wife."

Casper shrugs. "All I did was dance with her."

"But that's not all you wanted to do. I've seen the way you look at her." A hint of wounded jealousy sparks in her expression.

"Then you shouldn't have invited her over here."

"You're not even going to deny being attracted to her?"

"That is not what I ... " He drags his hands over the trimmed hairs of his goatee. "What was this—some sort of test?"

"If it was, you failed with flying colors." She turns her back to him, while she removes her earrings.

"Because you set me up."

A flash of clarity that comes with several years of marriage strikes him. No, that's not right. Be apologetic. Don't make any more excuses.

He grabs Karma's elbow and asks her to look at him. "I was wrong."

"Yes, you were." She lets him pull her into his arms.

He kisses the crown of her head. "If she makes you that uncomfortable, we don't have to see them again."

"I didn't say that." She lifts her head from his chest. "The Stones are the type of well-heeled people we need as friends."

A revelation dawns on Casper, and he looks down into Karma's brown eyes with a knowing smirk. "Her father ... You knew she was Senator Mitchell's daughter."

Karma moves away from his incredulous stare.

"Former senator," she corrects. "But still very connected. And yes, I thought I recognized her at the culinary school. I wasn't sure until Elliott confirmed it tonight."

"You can't just use people to get what you want."

"Get off the damn high horse, Casper." She stabs his chest with her finger. "The only reason you want Elliott around is to lust after his wife. Can you honestly tell me you want to be his friend?"

She's right. Casper knows seeing Arden means seeing Elliott as well. He makes polite conversation with Eli because he's trying to ignore how much he wants to take a long stroll through the forbidden garden of Arden.

genuine guy, and Arden is a charming woman. Friendship is as far as my interest in either of them

turns her nose up like she can smell the

attracted to

of drawers and crosses his right leg over

when a man is

undo his belt. Karma kisses him the way she used to when they were still in high school, and their Motel

by her gentle show of affection, he forgets his train of thought. All he can concentrate on are the doe eyes looking up into his. What he says next

can't think of anyone but

nape of her neck, letting his fingers get lost in the thickness of her hair. Karma smiles and an impish giggle leaves her parted lips. Seeing the laugh lines crease her cinnamon complexion, makes him feel like the

and sucking the blush pucker that is her greeting card for the world. She relaxes, lets him lead. Casper lifts her and lays her body on their bed with a feather-light touch. After some unzipping and unbuttoning, they're both naked as the day they were

her toes and working his way up her dewy skin. She squirms, as he nears her warm, sugary center. He goes slow, tasting her. How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? ...

by the bombastic thundering of an orchestra from the next room. Beethoven's Fifth Symphony in C Minor shocks the air with a power and presence that demands the undivided attention of the senses. Having lost his concentration, he lifts his head. Karma flies from the bed like she's fleeing the Titanic.

moves farther from the open door of the bedroom, its tone quiet and happy.

on her left leg and her right foot arched like she's ready to transition to en pointe. That

one of her black-lacquered nails and

my way . . . I'll make up

master bedroom. Her seductive simper disappears and

"Who was that?"

slides past him.

and eyeballs her. "At

back into her flowy dress. Casper notices that she neglects to put on underwear. There's nothing preserving her modesty, but the thin

came forward. I have to get his

"Can't Frome do that?"

pole. You know, I do all the grunt

Casper nods. "Uh-huh."

a pair of too-high-for-work (unless work is a street corner) black stilettos, and pack a change of clothes into her YSL duffle bag. She slings the bag

that, Mrs. Callaghan

his legs reminds him that he's flashing the neighborhood. Good thing it's almost midnight, and their house sits at the end of a cul-de-sac

face and gargles with a bit of mouthwash. After cleansing his wife's taste

soft arm lays across his chest. He reaches down and pulls her thigh snug to his body. Her hair caresses his dark skin like strands of velvet, as she settles her head against him. Casper buries his face in her locks, letting his

his neck, and he runs his hand along her back. She lifts her head and he opens his eyes. Arden and her scarlet lips are smiling back at him. She's wearing one of his pinstripe dress shirts. Its starched fibers are the perfect complement to her feminine curves. Sienna-hued curls fall in her

to him, her voice sweet as fresh lemonade on a summer day. "You don't need her ... I'm right

small scar on her right cheek. She tilts her head to kiss his

you came," Casper whispers into the shadows, immersed in the intricate

his arms again and sighs. "Where

out of their marital bed like it was

are getting even flimsier. She didn't even bother to spin a tale for canceling their plans to visit the Horizons exhibit

for a spin. Then he throws a stapler and other office supplies at an

for seven figures—that's net, not gross. Oh, the joys of working for a Fortune 500 company, and being skilled at the art of bullshit. Casper keeps

see just how much free time he has on his hands, he pulls out his Google tablet to work on a personal document. The words, "Lee walks onto the set of his first lorno, sweat and lube puddling in his palms ... " stare back at him from a sea of

difficult to stay focused long enough to make any headway. The constant challenge it

just now returning my calls? ... What the hell, Cain?" Casper sounds upset. But he

semi-finest. You're worse than that stalker I had in college. And that girl was ten different shades of crazy." He

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