Always the Baker

Chapter 7

7

B rax

I couldn’t wait to show Billie my favorite spots in the city. Her eyes lit up as we wandered down hidden alleyways and ducked into secret gardens tucked between skyscrapers.

“This is incredible,” she muttered, trailing her fingers along a vine-covered brick wall.

That was how I felt about her—that she was incredible. Billie was beautiful. The cinnamon brown skin, round face, slanted eyes, round lips… I couldn’t get enough of looking at her. She was petite but had curves. I had to force myself not to touch her… kiss her. Aside from her beauty, I loved her spirit.

She was creative and artistic, she had dreams and goals, and she was honestly one of the easiest people to talk to. We’d been having a good time, and I felt like for the first time since the fame came that I was with someone who wanted to be with me for me—not the status, connections, or money.

“I never would have found these places on my own. I mean, I’ve explored, but these are places I didn’t know existed,” Billie continued.

I grinned, loving how she was soaking it all in. “That’s the beauty of having a local guide slash someone needing to keep a low profile. We know all the best-kept secrets. I wasn’t raised here but this is my second home.”

As we walked, I found myself watching Billie more than the sights around us. The way she moved with an easy grace, how her dark eyes sparkled with excitement. I was captivated.

“Want to grab a coffee?” I asked, pointing to a nearby black owned cafe. “This place makes the best lattes in town.”

“Oh, um, sure! I love that place. Total regular.”

I raised an eyebrow as we headed inside. Billie was trying way too hard to seem casual as she approached the counter, and I bit back a smile. I could tell she was hiding something, what, I wasn’t exactly sure. It wouldn’t be the first time a woman felt she had to be more than what she was to chill with me, and I hated that. More than anything, I craved something real. Someone real. Regardless of how simple that realness was, I wanted it, especially after dealing with a superficial liar and user like Amalia.

“The usual?” the barista asked me with a grin.

“Yeah, that’s cool, Mark. How about you, Bill?”

“Oh, uh, yeah. I’ll have my usual too,” she said, fidgeting with her purse strap.

Mark looked at her blankly. “And what would that be?”

I watched, amused, as Billie fumbled over her words. “You know, the… coffee… drink. That I always get. Here. Where I come all the time.”

Lil baby was digging herself deeper with every word. I decided to put her out of her misery.

“How about we both try something new today?” I suggested. “Any seasonal lattes, Mark?”

As Mark rattled off the options, I gave Billie’s hand a subtle squeeze. She shot me a grateful look as her body relaxed.

She was adorable when she was nervous. I had a feeling this day was going to be full of surprises.

As we settled into a corner booth with our drinks, I couldn’t help but notice a girl at a nearby table. Her head bobbed rhythmically. She had her eyes closed, lost in whatever was playing through her oversized headphones. She had it so loud I could clearly hear what it was. Or maybe I recognized it so easily because it was me.

I nudged Billie.

“You hear that?” I whispered, nodding toward the girl.

Billie glanced over, then back at me with confusion covering her pretty ass face. “What about her?”

I leaned in closer with a grin spreading across my face. Quite frankly, I’d take advantage of any moment to get closer to her. “Listen carefully. Recognize that beat?”

As if on cue, the girl started humming along, and I saw Billie’s eyes widen in recognition. It was “Me on You at Midnight” which was my latest single.

“Oh, that is so cool.” Her eyes darted between me and the oblivious fan. “Are you going to say something?”

I shook my head, chuckling softly. “Nah, let her enjoy it. Besides, it’s kind of fun being incognito sometimes.”

Billie took a sip of her drink, then made a face. “Ugh, this is not what I expected.”

“Not your usual, huh?” I teased, unable to resist.

She rolled her eyes, but I caught the hint of a smile before it turned into a laugh. “Okay, fine. You got me. I’ve never been here before.”

I laughed. “I figured. You’re not exactly a master of deception.”

“Hey, I’ll have you know I’m an excellent liar,” Billie protested. Her eyes twinkled. “I once convinced my entire high school that I was a descendent of one of the queens of Egypt.”

“Oh really?” I leaned back, crossing my arms. “And how’d you pull that off?”

She told me about the scheme she ran. By the end, we were both laughing so hard that the girl with the headphones finally looked up, startled by the noise.

As our laughter died down, I found myself staring at Billie. She was nothing like the polished, image-obsessed women I usually dated in the industry. There was something refreshing about her.

“I think you missed your calling as a storyteller,” I said, sliding her my latte to try since hers was a bit too strong.

We tasted each other’s drinks at the same time. I kept it simple with a pecan and white chocolate latte and hers was ginger and cinnamon. It definitely had a spice that was probably an acquired taste, but I actually liked it. She thanked me for the trade, but I was willing to do just about anything to make her smile and keep her happy.

“You know,” I said softly, “I’m really glad you’re terrible at pretending to be a coffee shop regular.”

Billie’s smile softened. “Yeah? Why’s that?”

I reached across the table, taking her hand in mine. “Because the real you is way more interesting... and funny. I haven’t laughed and smiled this much with a woman… ever.”

“You’ve inspired me in ways you’ll never know, Brax. It’s truly my pleasure to make you smile, even if it is at my expense.”

After finishing our lattes, we stepped out into the city streets. The afternoon sun was warm on my face as I led Billie toward our next destination. It wasn’t my plan for us to stay there talking for two hours, but I didn’t mind at all. It was nice being with someone that could actually keep a conversation going.

“So, where to now, Mr. Tour Guide?” Billie asked as her eyes sparkled with excitement.

“I thought we’d check out this art gallery I know,” I replied, guiding her around a corner. “It’s new, so you might not have heard of it, but they showcase amazing local talent.”

As we entered Divine’s , I watched Billie’s face light up. Her eyes darted from piece to piece, drinking in the colors and textures. It was clear she had a genuine appreciation for art.

“This is incredible.” She spoke breathlessly, pausing in front of a vibrant, abstract painting.

I nodded, feeling a surge of pride in my city. “Yeah, it’s pretty dope. How’s your mural coming along?”

Billie froze for a split second, and I saw a flicker of panic cross her face before she recovered. “Oh, right! My mural. Yeah, it’s… it’s a work in progress.”

“Tell me about it. What’s the concept?”

I watched as Billie’s mind seemed to race. She pushed her braids off her shoulders and onto her back, a nervous habit I’d noticed earlier.

“Well, it’s this massive piece I’m doing for the community center. The theme is ‘Dreams Take Flight,’ and it’s all about how people of all different shades and from all walks of life can achieve big things.”

As Billie continued to describe her mural, I found myself caught up in her enthusiasm. She painted a vivid picture with her words, describing soaring birds taking flight over farm fields, famous landmarks in the city, and how the children were birds with paintbrushes for wings in the sky. She made sure to mention how no two people would be the same shade of brown and how important it was to promote inclusivity so everyone who looked would feel seen.

“Wow. That sounds amazing. I’d love to see it someday.”

Billie’s smile faltered for just a moment.

“Yeah, maybe someday,” she said softly, before quickly changing the subject. “So, tell me about your music. How’d you get started?”

As we moved on to the next exhibit, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to Billie’s story than she was letting on. But her warm smile and genuine interest in my own past pushed those thoughts aside. For now, I was just happy to be here with her, surrounded by art and possibilities.

I couldn’t help but stare at Billie as she examined a few paintings. The way her eyes lit up, the slight wrinkle of her brow as she tried to decipher their meaning… it was captivating. She must have felt my gaze because she turned, catching me red-handed.

“What?” she asked as she blushed.

I grinned, not bothering to hide my interest. “Nothing. Just enjoying the view.”

Billie rolled her eyes, but I caught the smile she tried to hide. “Smooth talker. Come on, Romeo, let’s get out of here. I could use some fresh air.”

We left the gallery and started walking with no real destination in mind. Before I knew it, we’d ended up at a small park tucked away right before you got to the river. It was a hidden oasis that not a lot of people came to because it was so small, but it was complete with a bubbling fountain and wrought iron benches.

“This is nice,” Billie said, plopping down on a bench. “Reminds me a bit of home, actually.”

I sat beside her, close enough that our knees touched. “Yeah? Tell me about it.”

She told me about growing up in a small town, painting a picture of summer nights catching lightning bugs and winter mornings sledding down the big hill behind her house. Trail riding, horseback adventures, and moonshine that poured like a fountain. Line dancing and mud stomping that led to river plunges to get clean. I found myself hanging onto every word, imagining this simpler life so different from my own childhood.

“Your turn,” Billie said, nudging my shoulder. “What was little Brax like?”

I chuckled and ran a hand over my head. “Hmm… Where to start? I was a terror as a kid. My parents used to listen to soul and R&B all the time. Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding… the greats. But it was when I started listening to Prince and Michael Jackson that changed everything. I saw Prince with his guitar and decided I wanted to be a rock star, so I redecorated my pops favorite guitar with glue and stickers.”

Billie burst out laughing. “No way! What did he do?”

“He was surprisingly cool about it. Said if I was going to wreck instruments, I’d better learn to play them first. That’s when I started taking lessons.”

We traded stories back and forth, laughing at each other’s childhood antics. As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the park, I realized I hadn’t felt this comfortable with someone in a long time.

As we grabbed ice cream, I couldn’t help but smile as Billie recounted another story from her hometown.

“So, there I was, covered from head to toe in mud, no duck to be found, trying to explain to Mrs. Simpson why her prized petunias were completely flattened,” she said, laughing. “I swear, I thought she was going to have a heart attack right there in her garden! She tried to beat my ass, man.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Man, you were quite the troublemaker, huh?”

“Oh, you have no idea.” Her grin was infectious. “Small town, big imagination, and a best friend that was just as wild as me… It was a dangerous combination.”

As we continued talking, I found myself more and more drawn to Billie’s authenticity. Every story she shared felt genuine, filled with little details that brought her world to life.

“Real talk,” I said, leaning back on the bench, “I really admire how open you are about your life. It’s… nice.”

Billie’s smile faltered for a moment, and I caught a flicker of something in her eyes. Was it guilt? Sadness? But it was gone so quickly, I thought I might have imagined it.

“Thanks,” she said, her voice a little quieter. “I, uh, I just believe in being honest, you know?”

I nodded, not oblivious to her internal struggle. “I feel you. It’s one of the things I like most about you.”

Billie shifted in her seat, tucking a braid behind her ear. “Brax, I…” She trailed off, biting her lip. I waited, curious, but she just shook her head and forced another smile. “Never mind. Hey, tell me more about that time you snuck into your own concert. How did that even work?”

I chuckled, remembering the ridiculous scheme. “Well, it was actually pretty simple. I…”

But as I started to explain, I found myself distracted by Billie’s eyes. The way the setting sun caught them, turning them a brilliant shade of brown that almost looked black. Before I knew it, I was leaning in closer.

Billie’s breath caught, her words trailing off mid-sentence. The air between us seemed to crackle with electricity. I hesitated for a moment, searching her face for any sign of hesitation. Finding none, I closed the distance.

Our lips met, and it was like striking a match. Soft at first, then building in intensity. I pulled back, needing to make sure she was still okay with this. She tugged her bottom lip between her teeth as her eyes slowly fluttered open.

“More,” she requested softly.

With a smile, I connected my lips with hers again. My hand found its way to her cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my fingertips. As I deepened the kiss, she pulled me closer. The warmth of the kiss combined with the coolness of the ice cream was fucking magnificent.

When we finally broke apart, both slightly breathless, I couldn’t help but grin.

“Wow,” I muttered.

“Yeah. Wow is right.”

I pushed her braids off her shoulders since it was clear she preferred it that way, marveling at how natural this felt. How right.

“I think I’m falling for you, sweetheart.”

For a split second, I saw panic flash across her face. She quickly covered it with a smile, but I caught the way her shoulders tensed.

“Brax, I…” She started, then stopped, biting her lip.

I waited as my heart raced. Had I said too much, too soon?

Billie took a deep breath.

“I really like you too. I just… I don’t want this to ever end.” Her eyes watered as she looked away. A low hum escaped her as she nibbled her bottom lip.

“Talk to me.”

Billie took my hand into hers. She gave it a quick kiss. “I stopped baking cakes for a while because… I was tired of baking for brides and never being one.” Her chuckle was quiet and strangled as she avoided my eyes. “I’d lost hope that love would ever find me. Then I met you.” Finally, she looked at me. “And I know we just met but… you gave me hope again, Brax. Even if we never see each other again after today, I want you to know how much I appreciate this time with you.”

Pulling her into my side, we stared out into the distance. It was risky getting this comfortable. We’d already messed up having ice cream before dinner, but I was confident we’d still make it to dinner on time. I wanted to take full advantage of every moment I had with this woman. I wasn’t sure why she mentioned never seeing me again, because little did she know, her ass wasn’t going to be able to get rid of me.