50 Shades of Cake

After much research, considering new potential bestseller, T&W presents 50 Shades of Cake ..... takes quick bow ...

Christian watched Anastasia intently: "Battenburg?"

Anastasia looked startled. "Damn you Christian", she thought. Yesterday, it had been Apple turnover and a quick Florentine topped off with a Pineapple upside down cake. The dizziness had been unsettling but this was raising the stakes.

"What are you thinking Anastasia?" Christian stared straight into her eyes.

"It's just everything's changed", she faltered. "Sharing a 'Paris-Brest' was .... unexpected".

"It was only a 'Paris-Brest'!" said Christian frustratedly.

"I know but we were in the bank Christian! The woman at the cash-till was gaping so much she trapped her fingers in the till".

Anastasia paused then continued, "the vanilla cheesecake was okay, I mean I'd have preferred to use a plate but at least your foot was clean."

"Vanilla cheesecake with strawberry topping Anastasia" he corrected her.

"Yes Christian, but it was vanilla! In essence, it was vanilla!"

He looked uncomfortable.

Anastasia liked it when he looked uncomfortable. She remembered the weekend before; how could she forget, the banana tarte tatin, the spiced apple muffin cake with (she took a deep breath) pecan streusel topping.

And it had all started so innocently. She could remember clearly that first meeting when he'd asked her if she'd wanted some "low-fat moist carrot cake". Yes, it was something about the way he'd said that word .... slow, drawn out ... that word, carrot.

She held her ground. "I've altered the contract Christian" she pushed the papers towards him. "I refuse to eat two cakes at one time ...ever, and I've deleted the bit about a "3 layer wafer with Ken from next door". I've put a line through the bit about the chocolate eclair/ miniature flapjack combo and no, I don't want to be pelted by cookie dough from a great height. Finally, I refuse to have a lemon meringue pie thrown in my face on a regular basis."

Christian paced the floor. "Ok Anastasia. You drive a hard bargain. Liquour Mille-Feuilles?"

Anastasia, "You disgust me Christian!"

Christian looked confused. "Grand Marnier Mille-Feuilles, I thought you loved them?"

Anastasia "Er, yes .. I do." Anastasia chastised herself.

He softened. "Have you recovered from the jam roly-poly?"
"Yes" Anastasia smiled "I can barely feel the pin they had to put in my dislocated hip".

END OF CHAPTER