Weddings really aren’t my thing. Well, baking the cakes for them, that is. I own a successful little cupcake bakery in downtown Seattle, and cupcakes are what I enjoy most.
But when Brynna Vincent, now Montgomery, asked me to bake a cake for her wedding, I couldn’t refuse her. She rushed into my shop just about two weeks ago, her eyes bright with happiness, and asked me if I could bake a cake for her because my cupcakes are her very favorite.
Yes, it was a nice stroke of my ego.
And when she assured me that she just needed a simple two-tier cake for a small wedding, I was in. It didn’t hurt that she had her adorable six-year-old twin daughters with her, and they bought a dozen chocolate cupcakes to go with them.
But now that I’m in the thick of it, arranging the cake, making sure it’s displayed perfectly, while the last of the vows are said and the large family behind me cheers with delight and joy, I’m reminded why I never ventured into the wedding cake business: It’s too damn stressful.
Brynna has been a dream to work with. No bridezilla here, thank God, and I’d even be willing to say that she and I have become friends in the past few weeks while putting our heads together for her beautiful cake.
But the actual execution the day of the wedding is torture for me. I have to be sure that every tiny rose, the placement of the cake topper, everything is perfect.
Because if I were the bride, that’s how I’d want it to be.
I make a mad dash out to my car to gather the last of my supplies and hustle back to the cake table behind the home where Brynna and her husband were married today.
The house isn’t terribly large. It’s in an average neighborhood and probably boasts three or four bedrooms. But the backyard is something out of a Better Homes and Gardens magazine.
Brynna had mentioned that her new father-in-law is an avid gardener, and she wasn’t kidding. The yard is blooming brightly with fragrant summer flowers. There are ponds and paths scattered throughout the large property, giving it a park-like feel.
Kids from toddler to the twins’ ages are running about, enjoying the warm day. Soft music has been piped in, from where I’m not sure.
“When do we get cake?” a man asks from behind me.
I turn and have to crane my neck back to see the man’s face. He has bright blue eyes and dark blond hair, and he’s smiling down at me.
He’s one of the largest men I’ve ever seen and, for some reason, looks very familiar.
“That’s the bride and groom’s call. I’m just putting the finishing touches on it.”
I grin back at him and fuss with the last of the baby-pink rosebuds on the top of the pretty white cake.
“Will you tell if I steal a slice?” he asks with a chuckle.
“I will,” a stunning redhead replies drily and rolls her eyes. “Don’t mind him. He’s always hungry.”
“You caught me,” he murmurs and nuzzles the redhead’s temple. “I’m Will. Brother of the groom.”
He holds his big hand out for me to shake.
“And this is my beautiful fiancée, Meg.”
“Nice to meet you both.” And then it hits me. “Holy crap, are you Will Montgomery, the football player?”
“Yeah,” he confirms almost shyly. “But today I’m just a brother.”
“Cool.” I grin, proud of myself for maintaining my composure. I had no idea that Brynna’s in-laws were those Montgomerys.
Will and Meg wander away, and I finish the cake, then look around for Brynna to say congratulations and leave the party, relieved that my job is just about finished.
I look out over the yard and see Brynna standing with a group of her guests, waving at me. I grin as I wipe my hands on my jacket and join Brynna, standing on my tiptoes to hug her close.
“Congratulations, friend!” I murmur. “Where is your man?”
“Right here,” Caleb announces with a wide smile as I pull away from his bride. “The cake is beautiful, thank you.”
“My pleasure,” I reply happily, relieved that they’re happy with the end result of many hours of planning.
“You make the best cake in the whole world,” a blond woman next to Brynna tells me, but as I turn my head toward her, I swear to God above, I have a hallucination.
Someone slipped me a roofie, and I’m suffering from side effects.
That’s the only explanation I can come up with for why I’m standing here looking at the one man I can’t seem to shake from my memory, no matter how hard I try.
I blink once, but he’s still there, in khaki pants and a white button-down, his light brown hair combed into a tidy style, rather than the messy waves they were in the last time I saw him.
But those eyes…those eyes that are bright blue, narrowed and fixed on my face, watching my every move, are exactly as I remember.
“Holy shit,” I whisper and try to take a step back.
“Do you know each other?” Caleb asks.
Stay professional!
I shake my head and offer Brynna the best smile I can manage. “I’m so happy that you like the cake. It’s ready to go for you. Congratulations again.”
And with that, I turn to leave, but before I can even take one step, I hear, “Stop.”
As much as it totally pisses me off, my body halts and I stand still, my hands folded in front of me, and watch him warily. Just the sound of that one word out of his sexy-as-hell mouth has my nipples puckered.
Thank God no one can tell since I’m wearing this baker’s jacket.
I refuse to cause a scene here in front of all of these people, but what I really want to do is tell him to kiss my ass and stomp off.
Pinning me with his gaze, he grasps my arm and leads me away from the others.
“I’m happy to see you, Nic. You look beautiful. The new haircut suits you.”
His nose pressed to my ear, the clean, masculine scent of him surrounding me, has me turned inside out, and frankly, I can’t deal with it.
I can’t deal with him.