Free Delectable Desire by Farrah Rochon Page B

Carter. His ability to make fun of himself was as charming as anything she’d ever encountered.
    “Are you ready to see the cakes?” Carter asked as he helped her down from the carousel.
    “Yes. Finally.”
    “Let’s go over to the South Pond Pavilion,” Carter suggested.
    On their way to the arched pavilion where the cakes were on display, they strolled along the Nature Boardwalk, yet another feature that had not been installed the last time Lorraine had visited the zoo. It boasted an array of plant life, birds, insects and other residents of an ecosystem you would never expect to find in the heart of a thriving metropolis such as Chicago.
    As anxious as she was to see the cakes, Lorraine had to stop when they came upon a spray of irises. She stooped down and brought a bloom to her nose.
    “Heavenly,” she said, breathing in the scent. She looked over her shoulder at Carter. “Most people prefer roses, but I just adore irises. They don’t get nearly enough credit for their beauty.”
    They continued on to the South Pond Pavilion. The wooden structure was a mark of ingenious architectural design. The artist in her could fully appreciate the creativity that went into molding the strong, smooth lines of the wood. It was simply breathtaking.
    Lorraine gasped as they came upon the cakes from Lillian’s, which were all prominently displayed.
    “Carter, these are...” She turned to him. “Unbelievable.”
    The gorilla had the signature flat face and piercing eyes. The giraffe warranted attention for its sheer size, standing at least five feet, with its face pointing regally in the air.
    “Is everything edible?” she asked.
    “For the most part,” Carter answered. “There’s some internal hardware used as reinforcement, but the majority of what you see here is cake and frosting.”
    “Phenomenal,” Lorraine breathed as she rounded the Bengal tiger cake. The stripes and whiskers seemed so real it was a bit frightening.
    She pointed to the bird with elaborately colored feathers. “That isn’t a peacock, is it?”
    “It’s a Nicobar pigeon. The zoo is known for the colony that resides here. It’s one of the few places you can find them in the United States.”
    “Fascinating,” Lorraine said as she continued to study the cakes. The detail was absolutely outstanding, the animals so lifelike.
    “So you approve?” Carter asked.
    She whipped her head around. “Is that a serious question? Of course I approve. They are works of art, Carter. Each and every one of them. How long did it take you?”
    “It took a team of six of us nearly three days to make these. It was not easy, but it was worth it.” He gestured around. “Based on the crowd here, the hospital will pull in a nice sum of money tonight.”
    Lorraine was about to ask him about the whiskers on the tiger when she let out a yelp. “I do believe that tiger’s eyes just moved.”
    Carter laughed. “Yeah, we incorporated animatronics into it. These days, a fancy cake isn’t good enough. You’ve got to figure out ways to up the ante.”
    “After seeing these, I cannot wait to see Trina’s cake.”
    “It will be just as spectacular, if not more,” Carter promised.
    He was so close she could feel the heat coming from his body. Lorraine was almost afraid to believe he could really be as sweet, and funny, and charismatic as he appeared. He was just a sweet talker doing what sweet talkers did, wasn’t he?
    But what if he wasn’t? What if this man, who made her laugh, yet made her blood boil with hot need, was really what he appeared to be? Could she even dare to hope?
    “Do you want to take a walk?” Carter asked. “The zoo is magical at night.”
    Lorraine nodded and placed her palm in his outstretched hand. They ambled along a walkway, moving farther and farther away from the music, laughter and noise. Carter was right: this was magical, with Chicago’s distinct skyline stretched out ahead of them and the aroma of fragrant flowers imbuing