Page 46 of Cut The Cake

“I do.” Nick blinked. “Quite often, the wedding party doesn’t have a chance to eat during the reception. I always decorate a dozen or so for them to enjoy later.”

“What if this time, you made the cupcakes, but you didn’t frost them?”

“Naked cupcakes?” Nick’s lopsided grin dipped to one side. “It’s a good compromise. I like how you did that.”

She crossed her fingers and hoped Karolyn would see it that way, too. Whether her cousin did or didn’t, it was the best solution she could come up with to resolve the latest wrinkle in Kay’s wedding plans.

But thinking of wrinkles led to thinking of wedding gowns, which, in turn, reminded her that she’d added more places to go and people to see to tomorrow’s busy schedule. “I’d better get back to the B&B,” she said, not bothering to hide her regret.

“You’re sure?” Nick’s glance drifted to the clock on the wall. “It’s early yet.”

“Much as I’d like to stay longer, I need to make an extra stop first thing tomorrow morning. That is, if I can even get an appointment.” She couldn’t help the way her shoulders drooped. Kay had conveniently overlooked that important detail. “It seems I’m suddenly in need of another wedding gown.”

“Another dress.” Nick felt questions crowding his mouth, vying to get out. Why on Earth would Jenny need another gown for her wedding? She was only walking down the aisle with Bob once, which—in his book—was already one time too many. He tamped down his frustration with yet another useless reminder not to question the actions of a true Heart’s Landing bride-to-be.

“It’s not that unusual.” Jenny stood, her arms akimbo. “The one for the ceremony is really more for show. It’ll look stunning in the pictures, but it’s not made for sitting down. It’s definitely too snug for dancing at the reception. For that, I need something a little less structured.”

The idea of down-to-earth Jenny walking down the aisle in a clingy dress took his breath away. He swallowed and rubbed his eyes. Focus. He had to focus on the current problem. “And you’re just deciding this now?” A bad feeling rumbled through his gut. He’d narrowly averted disaster with her cake. Shopping for a new gown at this late date sounded suspiciously like there’d been another huge change in Jenny’s wedding plans.

“It was, um, Bob’s idea.” Jenny stared down at her feet. “He thinks I should wear something in a different style for the reception. I’ve already chosen the second dress—I just have to try it on to be sure it’s the right one. The thing is, I hate to go to that appointment alone. I’d ask the maid of honor to go with me, but she won’t get here until Friday. I’m afraid to wait that long.”

“You think?” He didn’t know much about buying dresses, period, but he’d walked through his mom’s living room a time or two and found her glued to a TV show about bridal gowns. In every episode, the bride and an entire entourage descended on the salon months before the actual wedding date. “You’re right. Someone needs to go with you. Is there anyone you can ask?”

“Everyone is so busy preparing for the wedding, I hate to ask them to take the time to go shopping with me. But I do want a second opinion.”

Jenny looked forlorn and unsure of herself, standing there studying her toes. Here she was, trying to make the best of a difficult situation, and he’d just added to her troubles instead of helping her like he should.

Guilt and responsibility teamed up to aim him toward the obvious decision. Not that he had much choice in the matter. He’d already promised to keep a close watch over the town’s wayward bride, hadn’t he? “Look, you could pour everything I know about fashion into a measuring cup and have room to spare, but I’ll come if you want me to.”

“Really?” Tears sparkled in the brown eyes Jenny turned on him. “It won’t take long, honest. I know exactly what I’m going to buy. They’re holding it for me at Dress For A Day.”

Understated elegance was the theme at the bridal salon on Boutonniere Drive. Though the shop had initially catered only to local brides, the owner gave every client the star treatment. As a result, the store’s reputation had spread in recent years. Now, it wasn’t unusual to see cars sporting license plates from Boston or even New York parked in the parking lot.

“That’s Cheri Clark’s place. She’s one of my best customers.”

“A bridal salon?”

“She orders dozens of petit fours to serve to her clients. Why don’t I call her now and make sure she has an opening?” Not that there was any doubt. Cheri, like every other shopkeeper in town, would go an extra mile for a true Heart’s Landing Bride.

“You’d do that for me?”

“Sure. I’ll get right on it.” Nick turned away, unable to watch in case the threatening tears spilled onto Jenny’s cheeks. Afraid he wouldn’t be able to resist wiping them away if that happened, he ducked into his office, where he took a minute or two to regain his own composure before he selected Cheri’s number from his contacts list.

Once he’d explained the situation, the longtime resident of the area was quick to offer her help.

“You can fit her in then?” he asked, half afraid, half hoping the shop owner would turn them down.

“Nick, I earn my living by supplying gowns to brides who, for one reason or another, show up in Heart’s Landing without one. Of course I’ll work with your friend. If I’m not mistaken, I already have one on hold for her. A Sophie Olsen,” she said, rattling off the name of a designer so popular, even he’d heard of her. “Is that right?”

He gave his head a barely perceptible shake. He should have known Cheri would be up to the task. The woman hadn’t so much as taken a beat when he’d asked about a last-minute purchase. Poking his head out the door, he passed the question along.

“Ask her if it’s a strapless mermaid,” Cheri added. “In a Size Four.”

He hadn’t watched all those shopping shows with his mom without learning a thing or two about dresses. Though Jenny would look stunning in a flour sack, the gown she’d chosen was so far outside her normal wheelhouse he couldn’t picture her in it. When the shop owner confirmed that she did indeed have the gown on hand, he bit down hard over a groan and issued a silent vow that he’d support Jenny’s choice, no matter what.

Returning to the kitchen, he announced, “We have an appointment at ten o’clock tomorrow. Cheri is going to work with you herself. You’ll be in good hands.”

“Oh!” Stars burst in Jenny’s eyes. “You’re my hero!”

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