Page 5 of It Happened In Paris

Lesson two: Wealth doesn’t guarantee happiness.

And— I stole a glance at Richard, the epitome of tall and handsome, with a fat bank account to match and, if memory served right, well-endowed in all the right places. My eyes briefly dropped to his lap before I quickly looked away because?—

Lesson three: One incredible night with a man like Richard apparently meant nothing, since he didn’t remember me.

The ultimate lesson I’d learned since my daughter was born: Lesson four—rely on no one.

No man could ever care for me and my little girl the way we deserved. I believed that, and I’d rather spend the rest of my life alone than to risk my heart again.

“Sounds like you need someone to show you the best parts of Paris,” Richard persisted.

“And I suppose you could take me away on this dream vacation anytime?” I rolled my eyes.

“Hell yes, Vivian. If you’re game, I have a private jet and crew at my disposal anytime I want to fly off. We’d walk along the Seine. Spend time at a spa. Dine at the best restaurants. Have the most luxurious suite at the Ritz or the Four Seasons…” He went on in a deep tone that dripped with suggestion and vibrated down my spine, as if transporting me back to the bed in his suite, with every orgasm hitting me like new again.

“Of course, only the best for you.” I flatlined, and glanced back at the boxes of cake sitting in the seats behind us, a reminder of my job at the wedding. I wasn’t the carefree girl anymore who would impulsively leave with Richard on a whim trotting the globe.

I was the cake decorator, hired by my cousin Chelsea, to deliver enough cake for five hundred guests at her reception tonight in the Grand Ballroom at the Plaza Hotel.

A skewed tier of the cake I could fix. An accidental smudge in the icing, too, an easy fix. But coming face to face with the rich man who once treated my pussy like I was the most exquisite dessert in the City of Love was something else entirely. I crossed my legs as heat rose in my cheeks—not a mutual feeling, as he clearly recalled nothing of our time together.

Had he been that drunk or high that fateful evening? I’d learned all too late how Adrien often celebrated his business deals in style, with bottles of champagne, drugs… and an endless parade of women. When I surprised him with a visit at his club that night, Richard could have been inebriated by the time he caught Adrien’s hand about to slap me during our argument.

I instinctively touched my cheek. Richard may have stopped Adrien the first time he ever dared try to hit me… but he wasn’t there for everything that followed. It didn’t take long for me to realize that Adrien’s cheating had continued and would only worsen. And that Adrien would slap me and shove me when in a heated argument. What would happen if he ever turned his anger on my daughter?

I found the courage and left him before I could find out, and I no longer believed in fairy tale rescues—like a rich man whisking me away on an unforgettable trip to Paris. I preferred a simple man, a nice one who could fix the back door of the Cupcake Cottage, who drew me a bath after long days, and loved my little girl as if she hung the moon.

I sighed, because I had no luxury to entertain these fantasies. Not with all that cake in the back and a job to complete for tonight’s reception.

“I’ll have to pass. I have no time for flights of fancy.” I gestured toward the back.

“Right, the cake. But if you change your mind, the offer still stands, Vivian,” he said, ending with a wink.

In my dreams.

3

GLIMPSE OF THE PAST

RICHARD

“WasOperation: Save the Cakesuccessful?”Rex asked as I rushed into the church with barely minutes to spare. I joined him and his groomsmen in a waiting room before the ceremony began. Dressed in our custom tuxedos, we looked every bit the debonair, well-to-do group—some of the finest bachelors in the city, all close friends of Rex’s, and by association, mine.

“I saved the day. The cake has arrived, only you didn’t tell me how beautiful the woman was that I’d be playing hero to.” I grinned. Vivian had turned down my Paris trip, but that didn’t kill my desire to pursue her if another chance arose. “Tell me everything you know about her.”

“She’s Chelsea’s cousin and I knew she’d be your type. She’s single and staying in a suite at the Plaza tonight. And she has the cutest little girl?—”

“What?” My hand shot up immediately. “Stop right there. I enjoy women, but I make a particular rule to avoid single mothers.” Well, shit. Any hope for a bit of fun with the alluring Vivian dashed away. Since my ex broke my heart and I cancelled our wedding, I’d sworn off commitment—I wasn’t about to get tied down with a mother and child and jeopardize my rich rogue lifestyle I’d worked so hard to achieve.

“Come on. Don’t you think you’ve kept that wall of yours up long enough? Tear it down and start fresh with someone new. It might amaze you to find something really special, and Vivian is an incredible woman.” Jesus, Rex sounded like he’d joined ranks with our matchmaking mother.

“Thanks for the pep talk,” I snidely retorted. Lifting my glass of Macallan, I declared, “Here’s to my brother. About to make the stupidest decision of his life.” The men laughed, but Rex appeared ready to knock the glass right out of my hand. “Just kidding. Don’t turn all red on us now. It’s not a good look for the groom. But honestly, if you want the truth, Chelsea is one lucky woman, because she’s getting you. And I know she must be amazing because she’s putting up with your ass.”

Rex pretended he’d hit me, only to switch and pull me in for a hug instead. “Brace yourself, Richard. Miriam’s about to transfer the full pressure on you to get married next, brother.”

Great. That wasn’t exactly what I needed to hear.

After a joyful ceremony and a million photos in Central Park, the reception got underway. For most of the cocktail hour, I dodged Mother and her tireless introductions to her circle of friends, many of whom had eligible daughters. There’d be no avoiding her over dinner either, as the seating chart showed me positioned right by her side.

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