Page 51 of Confessions of a Smutty Romance Author

After the way things got off track with Mara last night, I had to find a way to make it right, and maybe, selfishly, I wanted to spend a little extra time with Mara too. Sitting next to her in her car, I couldn’t help but take her in. She was so adorable in her shirt and her hair in a pile atop her head. Her nose was especially cute from this angle.

“Is there something on my face?” she asked me, wiping at her cheek.

I laughed. “No, I was just admiring you from over here.”

She gave me an exasperating look. “You’re still drunk.”

“It’s possible.” I laughed again. It seemed like with Mara I laughed more than I ever had with another woman. Hell, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d laughed so much at work or playing poker with the guys. I was glad she’d agreed to come along with me today. Wedding prep would be so much more bearable with her at my side.

We arrived at Seaton Bakery and walked inside together. Gayle came around the counter, wrapping her slender arms around Mara’s body. “I didn’t know you were coming!” Gayle said. “It’s so great to see you! We’ve been following all the news, and we’re so excited for your movie to come out.” She yelled over her shoulder, “Aren’t we, Chris?”

A tall, thin man with a receding hairline and a big smile came out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on an old white apron. “So excited.”

Grinning, Mara gestured at me. “You remember Cohen’s friend Jonas.”

Gayle turned her smile on me. “Of course we do. But he’s more than Cohen’s friend, isn’t he?”

Mara’s expression was blank for a second, before I stepped forward and said, “It wasn’t easy pinning this one down.”

Gayle laughed, one arm still around Mara’s shoulders. “Of course not. She deserves the best.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

Chris said, “Tess and Derek aren’t here yet, but I set up the cakes on that corner table back there if you want to give them a look.”

I followed his thumb to see three single-tiered cakes beautifully frosted sitting on the table. One had fluffy white frosting, another rich chocolate, and yet another a mocha color in between.

“These are beautiful, and I know they’re going to be delicious,” I said. “Tess is going to have a hard time deciding.”

Gayle said, “His head just grew three sizes.”

Just then, the bell over the door rang, and Tess and Derek came inside. They looked adorable together, holding hands. It made me think back to when I was a dumb teenager getting married after my high school graduation to the girl I thought would be my forever.

We’d picked up a plain cake from the grocer and a topper from the dollar store because we couldn't afford a fancy wedding, and my parents thought if I was old enough to get married, I was old enough to pay for it myself. It had been a hard lesson to learn, because I hadn’t been ready. Not even close.

This wedding was going to be everything Tess dreamed of and everything I hoped I could have someday down the road.

Tess and Derek joined us, and Chris launched into a more detailed explanation about the cakes. One was chocolate with chocolate cream cheese frosting. Another vanilla with vanilla buttercream. And then the last one was a mocha cake with white chocolate frosting and mini milk chocolate chips all throughout. My mouth was already watering.

We sat together at the table, and I loved the way Mara’s arm brushed against mine. Something about having her close was comforting. Especially after last night. I was so worried we’d messed everything up, but the way she just fit right in at my side... it was right.

Tess grinned across the table at us. “I’m so happy you could come, Mara. Jonas is always bored out of his skull at these things.”

Mara smiled over at me and said, “I'm happy to be here.”

Gayle came back to the table with four plates, forks, and a serving knife to dish up pieces of cake for all of us. Just when I thought it couldn't get better than the vanilla cake, we tried the chocolate one, and then the coffee one knocked us off our feet.

Tess looked forlorn at the half-eaten cakes. “How in the world are we supposed to decide?”

Mara replied, “I don’t think we can go wrong. They’re all so good.”

Derek joked, “Why don't we just get all three?”

Seeming excited, Tess looked at Gayle. “Is that even an option?”

“Absolutely,” Gayle said. “Anything for your wedding day, sweetie.”

“Sold,” Tess said. Then she glanced at me. “Sold, right?”

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