Page 6 of A Cornish Wedding Retreat
‘It’s beautiful.’ His husky words forced her to turn around and look at him.
‘Thank you.’ Maggie managed a tight smile. ‘You’re doing well,’ she conceded, noticing the long line of cupcake filled glasses in front of him.
‘Not sure I’ll be giving up the law to start my own bakery anytime soon, but it’s always useful to have another talent.’ His enigmatic reply was unsettling.
‘Yes, well, I’ll start icing the ones you’ve finished while you carry on with the others.’ Chad’s intense gaze unnerved her and she dropped the piping bag she was holding. He leapt forward and caught it a second before it could hit the floor.
‘Butter fingers,’ he teased.
‘Butter cream icing actually.’ Maggie grinned, unable to keep up her cool attitude any longer.
Chad placed the bag in her outstretched hand, but before she could whip it away wrapped his long, lean fingers around hers and held on tight. The warmth rising from his tanned skin made her hotter than she’d any right to be. Maggie’s gaze slid to the soft dark hairs on his muscular forearm, itching to stroke her fingers down over them.
‘Do you know what I think?’
No. Pretty sure I don’t want to. She shook her head and waited, nibbling at her lip while he did the staring thing again.
‘I think we need to get back to work.’
Maggie exhaled slowly and caught the hint of a smile lurking in his eyes. He’d done all that on purpose. Chad sauntered away and her shoulders sagged with relief, at least that’s what she’d claim if anyone asked.Are you sure you aren’t disappointed because he didn’t kiss you?She refused to answer the naughty voice in her head and went back to work. Dealing with inanimate icing was much safer than this flesh and blood man who appeared to see right through her.
* * *
Years of practise at concealing his emotions stood Chad in good stead now. His gut was in tortuous knots but he was sure no one would guess by looking at him. He wasn’tsurewhatjust happened but suspected he’d fallen hard for Maggie Taylor. While his mind spun around in circles Chad continued to fill jars and glasses, smoothing off the tops before pushing them to one side. Kissing her would’ve been so easy, but at the last second he’d drawn back. Harmless flirting was part of his easy-going persona, but it wasn’t good enough for Maggie. He realised that now.
Chad worked on steadily and steeled himself not to keep glancing over at Maggie who was equally intent on her speed-icing. ‘How much longer do we have?’ he asked and she frowned up at the large black railway clock on the wall.
‘Not long enough. The cake should be in place by now for people to admire. Thankfully Fiona and Peter decided they weren’t going to do without pudding after the meal so we’ve got miniature chocolate cheesecakes and lemon granitas ready to go out next.’ Maggie gave him a quizzical look. ‘Why are you looking confused? It’s not complicated.’
‘I’m guessin’ it’s a language thing. I’m imagining you serving the childish chocolate pudding out of a box that I would’ve lived on if my Mom let me but I’m guessin’ pudding to you is any sort of dessert, right?’ Chad ventured.
‘Of course.’ Her words had a slight edge but the sharpness was mitigated by the hint of pink colouring her cheeks. For the second time in a few short minutes it almost took more willpower than he possessed not to give in to the urge to kiss her.
With a flourish he finished filling the last glass. ‘There you go. All done.’
Maggie’s eyes shone. ‘Wow. You’re amazing.’
Chad wished she wasn’t talking about his creativeness with smashed cake but for now would take what he could get. ‘All part of the service.’
‘Would eating lunch with Tonya and Great Aunt Audrey really have been worse than this?’
I’d scrub the damn floor I’m standing on to be in here with you. Of course he didn’t dare be that honest. She expected light-hearted and that’s what he’d give her. For now. ‘Far worse. Between them they’d have eaten me alive.’
‘There’s still time. Why don’t you go out and join them while I finish icing these?’
‘Are you rejecting me too?’ Chad said with a rueful smile and Maggie opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out but a strangled breath. ‘Ireallyhope not,’ he murmured and stared deep into her eyes. ‘You need to get back to icing.’
‘Yes.’ The reply came out automatically but she didn’t move.
The kitchen door slammed back against the wall and Emily ran in. ‘You’d better get out here and do something with Fiona. She’s furious because there’s no cake on display yet and hasn’t bought my feeble explanation.’
‘I’m sorry but I’ve got to get this finished. You need to go back out and smooth things over. Usually you don’t find pulling the wool over people’s eyes a challenge,’ Maggie retorted, and Chad held his breath, waiting for the inevitable explosion.
Chapter Five
What was she thinking?Upsetting Emily was always a bad idea. Maggie had caught on to that as a small child and learned to tiptoe around her sister’s volatile temper. The phrase “mood swings” must’ve been created with Emily in mind. Their parents explained that Emily was “sensitive” but Maggie suspected her sister hadn’t liked her arrival one bit and behaved badly on purpose. After three years as an adored only child she’d made sure no one would overlook the family’s princess.
‘You’ll pay for this later,’ Emily hissed and left in a flurry of temper.
