Page 14 of Cut The Cake

While she doubted she’d have a veil emergency so urgent it justified waking the shop owner in the middle of the night, Jenny nonetheless tucked Ames’s card in her wallet. They said their goodbyes, and Nick guided them toward their next stop.

They hadn’t gone far before he inclined his head to hers. “You nearly turned green when you looked at that price tag. Too rich for your tastes?”

Jenny gulped. For a second there, she’d forgotten she was supposed to be marrying a man with very deep pockets. “Sometimes I forget I’m not still in college and eating ramen noodles every night because that’s all I can afford.”

Nick’s laugh, deep and throaty, rose from his chest. “I hear you. While I worked my way up the ladder from apprentice to assistant to head pâtissier in Paris, I lived in an actual garret. It wasn’t nearly as romantic as the novelists make it out to be.”

Picturing Nick’s tall form stooped beneath the rafters of a tiny attic apartment, Jenny smiled. It was nice to know that neither of them came from wealthy backgrounds. It gave them something in common. Besides a dozen smashed cupcakes, that was.

A couple of doors down, a young woman twisted the key in the lock outside a store called The Memory Box.

“Closing up for the night, Helen?” Nick’s footsteps slowed to a stop.

“Yes. It’s about that t-time.” The fashionably dressed brunette hesitated. “Did you want s-something?”

“Nothing special. I was just showing Jenny around town a bit and thought we’d drop by for a minute or two.”

“S-sorry, Nick. I’d open back up, but it’s my mom’s birthday. I don’t want to be late.” Turning, Helen pocketed the key.

“That’s okay.” Nick smiled agreeably. “Helen, meet Jenny Longley. She’s getting married at the Captain’s Cottage in true Heart’s Landing tradition later this month. Jenny, this is Helen Berger, co-owner of The Memory Box.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Jenny said, her hand outstretched. She glanced over Helen’s shoulder at the intricately carved boxes on display in the front window. Even through the thick glass, the detail was stunning, and she longed for a closer look.

For several beats, Helen stood as though rooted to the sidewalk while her delicate nose crinkled with indecision. “Would you like to go inside and l-look around?” she asked, giving Jenny’s hand a quick shake.

Touched by the offer, Jenny shook her head. “I wouldn’t dream of making you late on such an important night. But I’m intrigued. I’ll have to stop by again while I’m in town.”

“You do that.” Helen’s voice and her features smoothed. “You won’t find anything quite like our boxes anywhere else. I’d be happy to help you pick out something really special to hold your wedding memorabilia.” She straightened the strap on her shoulder bag and gave Nick a brisk nod. “S-sorry, but I have to run.”

As Helen hurried off, bells chimed the hour from the steeple on the church at the end of the block. Jenny surveyed the rapidly emptying sidewalks. Up and down Honeymoon Avenue, store lights had been turned off, and signs in windows had been flipped from Open to Closed. Taking their cue, she aimed a grateful smile toward her host for the afternoon. It was time to go.

“I appreciate your showing me around, Nick. I hope I haven’t kept you away from the bakery too long.”

“Not at all.” His deep voice rumbled in his chest. A mischievous sparkle ignited in his dark eyes. “Are we even now? Have I repaid my debt?”

“I suppose. As long as you promise not to smash into anyone else.”

“And waste another batch of cupcakes?” Nick shuddered. “Got it. No more plowing into unsuspecting brides. At least, not for the rest of the week.”

Standing there, seeing the mirth dance in his eyes, she wished for an instant she could tell him she’d only come to Heart’s Landing as a favor for her cousin. She even thought about asking him to join her for dinner.

She quickly slammed the lid over that idea. The run-in with the baker notwithstanding, her stay in town had gotten off on the right foot. Not one person had questioned her claim that she was a harried bride-to-be, here to plan a last-minute wedding. In fact, everyone she’d met had gone out of their way to be helpful. Nick especially.

But sooner or later, someone would see through her act if she wandered too far from the script. And that was something she definitely needed to avoid.

Chapter Six

The sun had barely risen the next morning when Jenny pushed the covers aside in the bed that had been every bit as comfortable to sleep in as it had looked. Eager to get an early start, she shut off the alarm before it had a chance to ring. A tour of the grounds at the Captain’s Cottage, appointments with florists, photographers, and DJs crowded her schedule. With any luck, she’d cross the biggest items for Karolyn’s wedding off her To-Do list this week, leaving her plenty of time to handle the rest of the not-so-minor details, like arranging transportation to and from the airport for the happy couple, before she returned to California.

As she showered and dressed, she couldn’t stop thinking about how well things had gone so far. Everyone she’d met in Heart’s Landing had been more than helpful. Granted, the accident outside I Do Cakes yesterday hadn’t been her finest moment, and when the same man she’d run into had rounded the corner inside the bakery a little while later and introduced himself as the owner, she’d thought her heart would stop beating altogether.

Though Nick would have been well within his rights to blame her for his ruined cupcakes, he’d gone out of his way to assure her he didn’t hold a grudge. When he’d agreed to bake Karolyn’s wedding cake, she’d nearly swooned. She loved how he’d taken her under his wing, so to speak, and introduced her to some of the nearby shop owners. It had been a long time since she’d met anyone like him. Certainly not since she moved to L.A. There, wannabe actors were so focused on taking advantage of every opportunity to get their big break that people often forgot about being just plain nice to each other.

Yes, Nick was different, all right. She wouldn’t mind a second—or even a third—glimpse of his gray-blue eyes. As if that wasn’t reason enough to see him again, one thought of his amazing buttercream frosting made her hungry. She licked her lips. There was nothing for it, she supposed. She’d simply have to find the time to stop by the bakery later today and treat herself to another of his luscious cupcakes. No matter what it cost.

With that to look forward to, she slipped into a sleeveless floral dress. Paired with a light jacket and low heels, the outfit was one of her favorites and perfect for the busy day ahead. By the time she grabbed her purse, the inviting smells of freshly brewed coffee and sweet rolls straight from the oven wafted in the air. She sniffed appreciatively and followed her nose to the dining room, where domed lids covered two different breakfast casseroles and enough baked goods to fuel a small army. While she ate, she exchanged snatches of conversation with Marybeth, who bustled about refilling coffee urns and replenishing dishes as her guests came and went. A little before nine, Jenny tucked her portfolio under one arm, adjusted the strap of her purse at her shoulder, and ventured out the door.

A short ride took her to the Captain’s Cottage. From the circular drive, she stared up at the mansion that far surpassed its name.

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