From the bestselling author of Double Dippin’ and Big Juicy Lips —scandal abounds as a husband, his wife—and their lovers—become entangled in a dangerously delicious dance of revenge, lust, and deception. Solay is the proud owner of Scandalicious, a trendy cupcake boutique that’s raking in the dough. Practically married to her business, Solay does not have time for romance or its complications. What she needs is a friend with benefits. That’s when Lincoln steps into her bakery. Lincoln has been a faithful husband for seven years. His world collapses when he discovers that his trophy wife has been cheating. In order to save their marriage, they must make some drastic changes. Could an open marriage be the solution? Lincoln is free to have as many meaningless flings he desires in a newly open marriage, but forming emotional connections wasn’t a part of the deal. So when he and Solay begin to fall for each other, Lincoln’s marriage and family is at risk. Worlds spiral out of control when they are confronted with the reality that the desire for true love with one person is an innate yearning of the heart. What happens when you combine sweet treats, explosive sex, and dirty little secrets is absolutely Scandalicious! Allison Hobbs is a national bestselling author of more than thirty novels and has been featured in such periodicals as Romantic Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer . She lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Scandalicious CHAPTER 1 A n hour before dawn Solay was out of bed, dressed and ready to take on the new day. Situated beneath her modest apartment was her cupcake bakery, called Scandalicious. In six short months, Solay’s store-front business had taken off like a rocket. Known for their eye-catching appearance and scandalously delicious flavor, Solay’s cupcakes were all the rage. Keeping costs down, Solay offered limited selections. Racy menu items like Double Chocolate Decadence (chocolate cake and frosting), Red Hot Passion (red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting), and Vanilla Kiss (vanilla bean cake topped with hot pink butter cream) added to the allure of Scandalicious. For special orders only, Solay offered gourmet and savory cupcakes. The Moulin Rouge-themed bakery was filled with antique furnishings and elaborate embellishments. A crystal drop chandelier cast sultry lighting upon walls that were painted a shameless, bright red. In the center of the back wall was a provocative wall sculpture—hot-pink, neon lips. A full-length floor mirror was draped with matching feather boas on either side. The latest sensual addition to the dining area was a foot-and-a-half-tall pair of legs that were adorned with seamed stockings and stilettos. Solay walked swiftly past the black velvet couch that was situated in a cozy corner. A red brocade chaise lounge was directly behind bistro-style chairs and tables. Feeling a twinge of dissatisfaction, she stopped suddenly and looked around the small dining area. She needed a bigger space. The wrought-iron tables and chairs were crammed together; there wasn’t nearly enough seating to accommodate her growing clientele. An unfamiliar sweet and spicy scent wafted from the kitchen. Holding a clipboard, Solay strolled behind the empty display case and pushed open the door to the kitchen with her hip. Her baking assistant, Melanee, was hunched over a butcher block table, chopping ginger root—of all things! Her work station was cluttered with oranges, lemon peels, ginger root, a vast assortment of spices, and expensive-looking cellophane bags filled with gourmet caramel. Solay scanned the odd assemblage of ingredients, and scowled at her baking assistant. “What’s going on? What’re you baking, Melanee?” Solay tried to keep an even tone, but the quaver in her voice indicated that she was livid. “I’ve been working on some new flavor profiles,” Melanee said confidently as she carefully sliced oranges. “We discussed a new addition to the menu, so I came up with an orange ginger cupcake, with a couple of twists.” Melanee gave Solay a conspiratorial wink, and then jumped up and pulled a tray of cupcakes from the oven. Solay felt anger settling around her, infuriated by the gall of Melanee. Melanee wasn’t the loud, in-your-face type. She was quietly willful. And somewhat sneaky, in Solay’s opinion. Melanee picked up another orange, cut it down the middle. “I’ll use our signature butter cream frosting, but it’s gonna be kick-ass when I mix in some tangy orange and lemon zest. I’m gonna drizzle it with caramel, and then I’ll add extra flair and drama by topping it off with a caramelized orange slice.” Solay found it odd for Melanee to talk about flair and drama. Everything about Melanee was drab. She was straight up and down, and very thin. She seemed to have lost so much weight in the past month, she was beginning to look undernourished—scary skinny. She wore big, unflattering eyeglasses, and her wardrobe was nondescript. She came to wor