It was just a cake.

The next morning, she woke up with the worst hangover she had experienced in years, her head pounding and every part of her body hurting. She looked at her hand; it was a little swollen but nothing she hadn’t felt before. In fact, it was nothing compared to the pain Greg had put her through.

She walked to her kitchen, looking for something to eat, but the only thing she found was a bowl with some frosting… old frosting.

Groaning, she grabbed her keys and some money. She would go to the store down the street and buy something suitable to eat.

When she opened her door, she was surprised to find a package with a little note attached.

“Thanks for standing up for me. S.R.”

She felt her cheeks warm and a smile spread across her face.

She opened the package and found a full hangover kit, pills for the headache, bottles of water, and some breakfast.

She could blame her drunk self for what had happened the night before, but she knew that was a lie. When she saw that woman slapping Steve, she had felt a rush of adrenaline run through her body and the need to defend him.

She shook her head in disbelief and went back inside her apartment. She took out her phone, and without even thinking, she wrote to him.

“Thanks for the package. You are truly a knight in shining armor,” she texted, then added, “Sorry for hitting that woman. Wasn’t my place.”

She wasn’t actually sorry for hitting her, and even less sorry for what had happened afterward with her and Steve in the office. She should feel ashamed, but she wasn’t. It felt… right, and that was all that mattered to her.

Her phone rang, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw that Steve was calling her. He had never called her before, everything had been through text.

She hesitated to pick up the phone but, in the end, decided to answer the call.

“Hi, sweetheart. How are you feeling?” His voice on the phone made her heart beat faster.

“Hi, Steve. Much better now that someone sent me a whole hangover kit,” she said, her voice a little shaky but happy. “Thanks for that, and sorry again for, you know, punching that woman.”

She heard Steve snort out a laugh on the other side of the line.

“Sweetheart, you can hit any woman that gets near me if you want to. You looked pretty hot doing it.”

She had been called many things, but no one had ever called her “hot” before. She was sure her face was as red as a tomato and was thankful that this was a phone call.

“Thanks?” She tried hard to sound confident, but her voice didn’t help her.

“Don’t get too shy on me now, sweetheart,” Steve teased.

She let out a breathy laugh and heard him chuckle. She knew he was enjoying making her all flustered.

“I actually called to ask what kind of food you want for our date.”

“Oh, I’m fine with anything you have in mind. I’m not picky,” she answered honestly.

“Sweetheart, if I’m taking you out on a date, I’m going to take you somewhere you enjoy,” he said, his tone serious, sending goosebumps across her skin. “So, what’s your favorite food?”

“Italian,” she answered without a second thought.

“Italian it is,” he said, his tone more relaxed. “I’ll pick you up Tuesday at 7:00.” There was no room for discussion. “Now, get some rest.”

“I will. Thanks, Steve,” she said, a little smile playing on her lips.

“Oh, and say hi to Sam and Sarah for me tomorrow,” he added before hanging up.

She stared at the phone for a few seconds. She was going to meet with Sam and his sister, Sarah, the next day for them to choose a cake for Cass’ birthday.

She wasn’t surprised that Steve knew about her meeting with Sam, he was his friend, after all, and she had met him because of Steve. She still wasn’t entirely comfortable with the idea of Sam being a cop, but she was working on that, trying to trust people again.

She snapped out of her thoughts, reminding herself that not all cops were like Greg, and she hoped with all her heart that Sam wasn’t like him.

Thanks to Steve’s gift, she could stay at home and relax, watching TV and enjoying a peaceful Sunday.

On Monday, she found herself at the same coffee shop where she had met with Steve for Becca’s birthday cake. She was sipping her coffee when she saw Sam walk in with his sister.

“Hey, Cupcake,” Sam said cheerfully, and she was surprised by the use of her nickname. “This is Sarah, my sister.”

“Cupcake?” Sarah asked, raising an eyebrow.

She chuckled nervously. She didn’t know how many people knew about that nickname by now. “Yeah, it seems like the nickname will follow me forever.”

She had hated that nickname for years, but now, somehow, she liked it. She preferred that people called her that, it was a real part of her, and she didn’t mind anymore.

“It’s a good story, by the way,” Sam said with a knowing smile.

She groaned and covered her face. “Who told you?”

“Steve, obviously,” Sam laughed. “He bragged about it like he was the one who had done it.”

“Sam! Leave the poor girl alone,” Sarah scolded him. “I’m sorry, I don’t know where he left his manners today.”

She openly chuckled now. “No, no, it’s okay.” She was feeling more relaxed. She had thought this meeting was going to be uncomfortable, but Sam seemed like an easygoing person.

For the rest of the meeting, things went well. Sam was funny, cracking jokes here and there, telling her stories about Steve and Bucky growing up. She noticed how much Sam loved to gossip and how Sarah was the more serious of the two.

She couldn’t believe how comfortable she felt around them. Not that she was going to let her guard down just yet, but at least she wasn’t shaking in her boots.

When the meeting ended, she was surprised when Sarah invited her to the party. She had thought they would just pick up the cake and that would be it, but they saw her as more than just a baker. More importantly, they were opening the doors of their home to her.

“See you on Saturday, Cupcake,” Sam waved as he left the coffee shop.

She sighed contentedly at how well things had gone and headed back to her apartment.

Now that her mind wasn’t occupied with Cass’ cake, her body started feeling the nerves about her upcoming date with Steve.

She was looking through her closet, searching for something suitable for her date, when her phone buzzed with a message.

“Hi, sweetheart. Hope things went well with Sam and that he didn’t embarrass me too much. Still up for our date tomorrow?”

She chuckled, almost certain that Sam had already told him everything about their meeting.

“Hi, Steve. Everything went great,” she typed. “Don’t worry, he didn’t embarrass you. I’m still up for our date.”

As soon as she sent the message, a knot formed in her stomach. The idea of going on a date felt foreign, just months ago, she wouldn’t have believed she’d be dating someone, let alone someone like Steve.

“Good to know he didn’t scare you off. See you tomorrow, sweetheart.”

She smiled at the screen. For the first time in years, she felt happy and free, as if the ghosts of her past could no longer reach her.

That night, sleep didn’t come easily. She was too nervous and excited, feeling like a teenager again.

“Get a hold of yourself,” she thought. “It’s just a date.”

“Yeah, a date with the nicest, most handsome, and hottest man you’ve ever seen,” another part of her brain countered.

And so the night went on, her mind refusing to quiet down until exhaustion finally won.

When she woke up, she could feel how tired she was, but her excitement for the day ahead outweighed her exhaustion.

She went about her usual routine, though the knot in her stomach grew with every passing second.

She started getting ready earlier than usual, just in case. She knew Steve was as punctual as she was.

Only ten minutes after she finished, she heard a knock on her door, sending a flurry of butterflies through her stomach.

Taking a deep breath, she walked over and opened it.

She had barely opened the door when she felt Steve pulling her in for a hungry kiss. She was surprised by the sudden display of affection but quickly responded with the same intensity.

When they finally pulled apart, both were breathless.

“Well, hello to you too,” she chuckled.

“I’ve been waiting to do that since Saturday,” he admitted with a charming smile, the kind of smile that made her knees weak. He took her hand. “Shall we?”

She nodded and stepped out of her apartment, following him to the car. He opened the door and helped her in.

“Charming,” she thought with a smile.

The ride to the restaurant was filled with conversation, her telling him about her meeting with Sam and Sarah, and him sharing more stories about Sam, Bucky, and himself, adding to the ones Sam had already told her.

When Steve parked and helped her out of the car, he held her hand, pulling her close as they walked to the restaurant entrance.

“Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?” he whispered in her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. She shook her head. “Well, you are the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen.”

“Thanks,” she said shyly, her cheeks burning.

As they stepped inside, she gasped. She had never been to a place this fancy before. She was sure it was expensive. She had accompanied her former boss to some upscale meetings back home, but nothing like this.

“Welcome, Mr. Rogers,” the hostess greeted him, snapping her back to reality. “Your usual table is ready.”

The hostess led the way, and just like at the party, she could feel people staring at them. She knew Steve was powerful and well-known, but she had never imagined to what extent.

Doubt started creeping in.

“What does a man like him want with someone like me?”

She suddenly felt small and self-conscious. She was just a baker, this wasn’t her world.

They arrived at a table tucked away in a private section of the restaurant, which brought her a bit of relief. Steve pulled out her chair, and she gave him a small smile before sitting down.

“Are you alright, sweetheart?” Steve asked, studying her closely.

“Yeah, I’m fine. This place is… something else,” she said, forcing herself to sound calm.

“It is. It’s the best Italian restaurant in the city,” he said, which didn’t exactly put her at ease.

“Steve, why are you doing this?” she blurted out, her insecurities taking over.

Steve raised an eyebrow. “You told me you wanted Italian food, so I brought you to the best place.”

She wanted to facepalm herself.

“I mean this,” she gestured between them. “You’re… you, and I’m just me.”

“Oh? And what exactly do you know about me, sweetheart?” His tone shifted slightly, more serious now. “And more importantly, what do you mean by ‘I’m just me’?”

His questions caught her off guard.

“Well… you’re a powerful businessman,” her voice wavered, “and I’m just a baker who ruined a shirt I’ll never be able to afford to replace.”

She didn’t know exactly how expensive that shirt had been, but knowing Steve, she was sure she wouldn’t be able to pay for it even if she saved all her money.

“And that’s all you know about me?” he asked. She stayed quiet. The truth was, no, it wasn’t all she knew. In the past few weeks, she had gotten to know him as a person, not just as a businessman. “Because I don’t see you as just a baker. If that were the case, we wouldn’t be here on a date.”

He reached for her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“Here’s what I think,” he continued. “I think you’re trying to sabotage this because someone made you feel small in the past.”

A lump formed in her throat. He was right. This wasn’t about being a baker or not, it was about her feeling like she didn’t deserve a man like Steve.

“So, here’s what we’re going to do,” he said firmly. “We’re going to forget this little conversation and enjoy our date. And if, after tonight, you don’t want to see me again or go on another date, you won’t have to. Deal?”

She nodded and squeezed his hand in return.

The conversation shifted into something more natural for a date. She shared what she could without revealing too much about her current situation. It was difficult, but she had to be careful. She felt bad for hiding parts of her life from Steve, but this was still new. She didn’t know if it would last, if she could trust him enough yet.

Slowly, her nerves and insecurities faded. She was having fun, and more importantly, she was enjoying Steve’s company. Something about him made her feel different in a good way, like she was invincible by his side.

In the end, Steve had been right. The restaurant truly was the best Italian place in the city. The food was the most delicious thing she had ever tasted.

As they walked out, Steve’s hand rested lightly on the small of her back. His touch was warm and comforting, making her sigh internally.

When they reached the car, he opened the door for her.

She had to admit, he was a gentleman. He was kind, funny, handsome, and she genuinely wanted to keep seeing him.

“Don’t let Greg control your life,” she reminded herself.

“So, what did you think of the restaurant, sweetheart?” Steve asked as soon as he got into the car.

She wasn’t sure where the sudden bravery came from, but she grabbed his arm, pulled him closer, and kissed him, slowly, tentatively, savoring the warmth of his lips.

He responded immediately, deepening the kiss, his tongue parting her lips as she granted him access. Their kiss turned heated, hungry.

When they finally pulled away, Steve rested his forehead against hers. “So… does this mean you’re agreeing to a second date?”

“Yes,” she whispered with a smile. “I’d love to go on another date with you.”

She gave him a small peck on the lips.

Steve started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, one hand on the wheel and the other holding hers the entire way home.

When they arrived at her building, he walked her to her door.

She wanted to invite him in but decided against it. This was only the first date, and she wasn’t ready for things to move too fast.

“Thank you for tonight, Steve,” she said, looking directly into his beautiful blue eyes. “I really enjoyed it.”

“No need to thank me, sweetheart,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her into an embrace.

Her body relaxed against his. He was warm, strong, and safe.

“I’ll pick you up on Saturday for Cass’ birthday,” he whispered in her ear before giving her a lingering kiss and tugging her waist gently. “Goodnight, sweetheart.”

“Goodnight, Steve,” she replied, smiling. “See you on Saturday.”

As she stepped inside her apartment, she realized she was smiling bigger than she had in years, excitement bubbling in her chest.

For the first time in a long time, she felt truly happy.

She deserved this. She deserved to be happy.