Page 47 of Cut The Cake

He barely had time to think, definitely didn’t have time to react, before she flung her arms around his neck. Her soft curves pressed against him in an embrace that was everything he could possibly want. No one could blame him for reaching for her, his hands circling her narrow waist, his heart galloping. Not when he finally had her in his arms, right where he’d wanted her to be from the first moment he’d laid eyes on her.

Except the circumstances couldn’t be worse. Here he was, holding onto the first woman he’d developed feelings for in ages and she was engaged to someone else. Was, in fact, thanking him for helping her shop for the dress she’d wear to marry another man.

The realization struck like a blow to his belly. Air hissed through his teeth. The fingers that had held Jenny straightened. Somehow, his hands found her shoulders. With a strength he didn’t know he had, he gently pushed her away from him.

“I’m sorry,” he said, missing her touch far more than he should. “That shouldn’t have happened. We can’t— I can’t—”

“It’s okay. It really is.” Jenny’s blue eyes bore into his. “We need to talk. There’s something I should have told you, something I need to tell—”

Nick held up a hand, stopping her. He couldn’t think. He could barely breathe. He certainly couldn’t let Jenny finish. “I think you’d better go,” he said, his voice hoarse.

“But I— Can we talk?”

“Not now. Not tonight.” He refused to meet Jenny’s gaze. He couldn’t bear to see the hurt that colored her features. He nearly couldn’t handle the confusion in her voice.

His stomach twisted. She hadn’t intended her hug to mean anything more than an exuberant thank you. He was the one who’d taken advantage of the situation. That was something he shouldn’t have done, something he’d never let happen again.

Turning away from her, he spoke over his shoulder. “It’s going to take me a little while to lock up the shop for the night, and I need to get an early start if I’m going to meet you at Dress For A Day tomorrow.”

“If that’s what you want.”

He didn’t have to see her face to know he’d hurt her. In this case, though, he had to do the right thing for both of them. He and Jenny had spent so much time together over the past couple of weeks that she was confused. That was all. She’d see things in a clearer light by morning. When that happened, he didn’t want her to have any regrets. Not on his account. No matter how much he cared for her.

Not even if he was head-over-heels in love with her. Which he was.

“I think it’s for the best. We’re friends. I don’t want anything to jeopardize that.”

He wasn’t sure how he was going to get through the next few days without letting his feelings show, but he’d manage. No matter what it took. And right now, that meant refusing to watch as Jenny slowly walked across the bakery floor and out the door.

After she’d gone, he leaned over the counter, his heart as heavy as a lump of dough that refused to rise. He’d made a mistake, a terrible mistake. Any red-blooded man would’ve done the same thing, but it had been a mistake all the same. One he could never repeat.

Which didn’t let him feel one iota better about the situation.

Giving up on sleep, he never even bothered to go upstairs. Instead, he planned to get a jump start on the next day’s orders. But solace eluded him. Not even the quiet of the bakery, the silky feel of flour sifting through his fingers, could ease the heaviness in his heart. Still, he had to maintain the facade of friendship with Jenny for a few more days. He didn’t have any other choice. He couldn’t ruin the wedding of a true Heart’s Landing Bride any more than he could confess his true feelings to her.

Even if he regretted not taking the chance for the rest of his life.

Chapter Fourteen

On Wednesday, Nick slipped inside Dress For A Day well before Jenny’s scheduled appointment. He waved hello to a woman who wore a white shell under a black blazer. Her black pants and shoes completed a fashionable outfit that provided stark contrast to the white gowns that hung … everywhere. “How are things?”

“It’s going to be a really good day.” Cheri Clark rubbed her hands together. Lips painted a cheery red widened. “I can’t wait to get started. It’s not often I get to help a true Heart’s Landing bride. What do we know about her?”

“Well.” He stopped before he blurted out that Jenny was perfect. She wasn’t. The pressures and demands of planning her last-minute wedding had left her on edge. More than once, she’d shed a few frustrated tears. Plus, for someone who didn’t make a move without consulting her calendar, she hadn’t put a whole lot of thought into what she wanted for her wedding. In that regard, her mind was as capricious as foam on a wave. But, despite the fact that she’d driven every vendor in town to distraction, she’d never lost her temper and always went out of her way to treat everyone with respect. Her infectious smile teased laughter from those around her. Her kindness and concern drew everyone around to her. Even a grump like him.

“She’s special,” he finished.

“That’s not very specific.” Cheri glanced toward the door. There was no sign of the salon’s newest customer. “I hear she’s trouble.”

The description set Nick’s teeth on edge. “She’s had a few problems.” He’d concede that much, but no more. “Some of the other shopkeepers say she can’t make up her mind, but it’s not her fault. The guy she’s engaged to, he’s the one who keeps making changes. Like today.” He gestured toward the racks of white dresses. “It was his idea to buy a second wedding gown. Something he just sprang on her last night. It’s been like that the whole time she’s been here.”

“Hmm.” Cheri brushed an imaginary fleck of lint from her jacket lapel. “She might be a true Heart’s Landing Bride, but it doesn’t sound like she’s marrying a Heart’s Landing Groom.”

“Is that even a thing?” He’d never heard the term before, but it made sense. For every bride, there had to be a groom. He’d had his doubts about Jenny’s since the beginning. Was that because Bob was wrong for her, or because he wanted her for himself? His brows tied themselves into a tangled knot. He glanced up to find Cheri staring at him speculatively.

“Tell me again why you’re involved in this?”

He’d been asking himself the same thing. Of course, admitting that he’d fallen in love with the bride-to-be was out of the question. He reached for an answer that had nothing to do with his personal feelings. “Mildred and the others asked me to take charge of her, keep her from making any more changes to the wedding plans. I’m only doing what they asked me to do.”

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