by Eliza Ellis
“Which actress?” Keke pressed.
Pete shook his head. “Not going down that road. I see the danger signs.”
Keighly laughed and squeezed his hand. “You’re not going to lose me.”
“Good. Because this is just the beginning.”
“What do you mean? Is there another project the studio wants to do?”
Pete shook his head. “Hold that thought.”
Keke took in the lovely golden hue of the sky, the sun slow in setting over the deep turquoise blue ocean. She really loved the beach and never wanted to leave. California had great weather year-round.
Soon, the helicopter descended and they stepped out onto a platform overlooking a private vineyard.
“Where are we?” Keke asked, stunned at the view of the ocean mere meters below.
“It’s a property that’s for sale. I wanted to get your opinion about purchasing it.”
Keke eyed the large, single-story home sitting prettily a little ways up the hill. “I didn’t know you wanted to move.”
“It’s a short flight away from both the studio and Warp Entertainment. Like I said, I’m thinking of keeping the helicopter.” He winked and offered his arm, which she accepted.
They toured a modest, Spanish-style mansion with six bedrooms and eight baths, a pool, basement entertainment room, tennis and basketball courts, and—of course—the vineyard. Keke loved the architecture and the private garden, which they found themselves walking in as the colors of the sky deepened toward nightfall.
“So, what do you think?” Pete asked, a look of nervousness on his face.
“It’s absolutely perfect. But what do you think? It’s going to be your house.”
Pete rocked his head from side to side. “Well, I thought it’d be our house. One we could raise our kids in.”
Keke halted, restricting Pete’s progress as well. “Are you asking me to move in with you?” She searched his eyes for any hesitation.
Pete shook his head. “I’m asking…” He tugged her hand, forcing her forward. They came to a small alabaster pedestal surrounded by pink and red rose petals. One top sat a red jewelry box.
Pete took the box and dropped to one knee. “Keighly Kaye, I’m asking you to marry me.”
He propped the box open to reveal an oval-shaped engagement ring.
Keke’s jaw hung open. Marriage? Now? “Oh, Petey…”
“I know you’re probably thinking we’re young and have our wholes lives to experience things, but the truth is…Keke, I want to experience life with you.”
How could she say no to that? He was her rock and she loved him. Keke held out her left hand and nodded.
After he slipped the ring onto her finger, he wrapped his arms around her waist and twirled her around. They laughed together until their lips met in a lingering kiss.
“I guess you better tell the agent we want to buy the house,” she whispered, before sealing their love with another kiss.
Continue reading the first chapter of Hers to Marry, and then click the cover to own it!
Hers to Marry Chapter 1
K atrina Kaye smoothed the final layer of her signature buttercream icing over the top of the birthday cake. It looked absolutely perfect, even though it still needed flowers, a border, and the happy birthday message.
This was the perfect way to get over stress. She eyed the letter from the bank she saw on the small table across the kitchen. She let out a breath and refocused on her cake. Cake was wonderful. It never made a snarky comment, nor reminded you of your failures, nor demanded you empty your already zero-balance bank account to pay for a loan you stupidly took out because you trusted an ex.
Cake made everything better.
Using the turntable, she slowly inspected the cake for any areas where the icing seemed thin. People loved her cakes, but raved about her homemade icing, a proprietary recipe that could only be enjoyed with the proper amount—which was a lot.
It would be worth the extra pounds, or minutes sweating it out in the gym, and definitely the coma this cake could put anyone in. Time and time again, people returned to the bakeshop for more. It wasn’t just the flavor of the icing and the richness of the thick cake beneath it. It was the care and the love she put into each cake—no, each dessert—she created.
Satisfied with the layer, she stepped back and sighed with a smile. She grabbed the dispenser with purple icing and got to work on the flowers.
“Katrina!” Susie burst through the kitchen doors, out of breath. “Katrina! Someone wants to meet you. Finally!” She lifted her hands to the sky. “You don’t know how long I’ve been praying for this moment.”
“What?” Katrina put down the flower dispenser. “What are you talking about? Praying? Susie—”
“Yes, praying! A man. A real man is outside and wants to see you. Marcus who?” She laughed. “He’s eating one of your cupcakes. Says it’s wonderful. Wants to meet the baker.” She twirled like a little girl, which she hadn’t been in decades. “And he’s gorgeous,” her voice plummeted to a low, dramatic tone.
“Oh.” Kat rolled her eyes and chuckled. “He’s just being appreciative, that’s all.”
Susie ran around the island and started undoing the bow that tied Kat’s apron. “Take this off. For goodness’ sake, lose the hairnet too and fluff up your hair.”
Kat twisted away and swatted Susie’s hands. “Get back, crazy woman! What would it look like if I came out of the kitchen with my hair all out and no apron on?”
Susie put her hands on her hips. “Like his dream!”
“Like a health code violation,” Kat countered.
“Like he’d want to take a bite out of you instead of all the desserts we sell.”
“No! I’m keeping everything on.” Kat retied her apron. “It’s very nice of him to say thanks, but that’s all it’s going to be, and then I’ll be right back in here to finish the Johnsons’ cake.”
Susie waved a dismissive hand. “Who cares about the cake when you have a gorgeous man out front asking for you?” she cried.
Kat grunted. “Gorgeous, right.”
From behind, Susie shoved Kat toward the kitchen door. “Just get out there! You’ll see that I’m right. And for goodness’ sake, Kat, don’t mess this up. Smile, say nice things, giggle. Do whatever you have to do to get a date, or you’re fired. Do you hear me?”
“Susie!” Kat felt her cheeks heat. She did…okay, so she didn’t really date. She’d spent all her time here in the kitchen not meeting anyone. In the last year, she had tried online dating but got too many messages asking if she was overweight because she was a baker and around cakes all day. Apparently, her job could filter through the shallow guys—which were all of them.
Meeting a nice guy who wanted to get to know the real Kat—not the baker—had been difficult. Her sister Keighly had begged her to move out of Springfield, but Kat enjoyed home. Their quaint spot in the city had a small-town feel, and everyone knew her.
Plus, Mother was still here. Father had died months before, and her mother still needed help adjusting to life without a domineering husband. Kat couldn’t abandon her now. Both her sisters had left town as soon as they had graduated—and Kat wouldn’t have minded going—but her mother had suffered emotional abuse too. It didn’t seem right to Kat to let their mother fend for herself.
And Kat enjoyed her job and working for Susie. Nowhere would she find a more understanding, caring boss who allowed her creative flexibility that made their menu famous for the best cake and icing flavors in all of Springfield. Where else could she go and enjoy that freedom?
“Hurry up! This is just who you need to get over that lying ex-boyfriend of yours.”
Oh, yeah. Marcus was another reason why she hadn’t dated that much in the last year. Being dumped by the man who was responsible for her current financial crisis still hurt. “Thanks for the reminder,” Kat said dryly.
Susie’s strength added velocity to Kat, who burst through the kitchen doors as thou
gh the kitchen was on fire. Startled patrons snapped their heads in her direction, and all eyes were on her.
But the only eyes she saw were the gray-green ones of Andrew Callaghan.
“Drew…” she whispered.
She dug in her heels.
Susie tried to conspicuously push her forward, but Kat didn’t budge. Susie eventually gave up that approach and took Kat’s hand, tugging her forward. Kat reluctantly allowed herself to be led closer and closer to Drew.
Who was every bit as gorgeous as Susie implied.
God-like gorgeous—if such a thing existed.
Reddish-brown hair and a matching five o’clock shadow; intense, stormy eyes; and a smile that hinted of…recognition? Did he truly remember her? It had been…um, math was too hard at this moment. Kat recalled the skinny eight-year-old boy, but the man before her filled out the untucked, button-down shirt that hung nicely over a pair of dark jeans fitted firmly over muscled legs.
“Amazing…” Kat whispered.
“Okay, stop acting crazy,” Susie hissed. She cleared her throat. “Ah, this is our baker—”
“Kat,” Drew said smoothly. “I thought it was you. You look…”
His eyes strayed from her hairnet—which she now wished she had followed Susie’s advice and removed—down to her flour and icing-covered apron.
A mess. She looked a hot mess. If he just said it, it’d be over and she could start dealing with the aftermath. Why hadn’t she ditched the apron, at least? She wasn’t overweight, but at least she could’ve shown off her legs in the slimming yoga pants she wore.
Susie interrupted. “Oh, she doesn’t normally look like this. The hairnet and apron are really deceptive, believe me.” Susie laughed awkwardly.
Kat wanted to drown in a vat of her own icing. At least she’d be smiling when she took her last breath.
Drew laughed. “You look amazing, Kat. I remembered you had knobby knees and your mouth was too big for your face.” He wagged his brows.
Kat ducked her head. Her legs happened to be one of her best features. The Kaye sisters all had long, dancer legs, although Keke was the dancer of the trio. Their height was one thing they could thank their father for inheriting.
The only thing.
As for her mouth? Kat pinned her bottom lip beneath her top teeth. She had full, round lips, the kind models used fillers to recreate, and she kept telling herself one day they would be kissed in a way that would truly make her swoon.
“But now…” Drew’s voice faded as his eyes settled in on her face. Kat couldn’t read them, but she liked how they were looking at her.
Drew’s smile turned shaky. “Uh…” He held up a half-eaten cupcake. “Incredible. You made this?”
Kat nodded. “It’s one of my newest flavors. Has a touch of elderberry in it.”
“Wow. Yeah, it’s really, really good. I ordered a dozen of them.” He looked down at the display case. “If everything in here tastes as good as this, then I would order everything, but then I’d never leave the gym.” A hand went to his stomach, and he laughed.
From what Kat could see, his shirt hung smoothly over his abs. They were probably just as muscular as his arms, which bulged and strained the fabric. Kat’s eyes scanned the expanse of his chest. He definitely spent a lot of time in the gym—time well spent.
“I wouldn’t mind it,” Susie spoke. “Cake and gym seems like an excellent combination. Kat doesn’t eat all day, contrary to popular belief. She works out regularly, too.”
Okay, she would definitely choke on icing and cake.
Kat didn’t know where to look, so she hopelessly stared at Drew, who winked.
“I’m surprised Kat even bakes. I remember she burned our mud pies.”
Susie laughed heartily while Kat smirked. “Those weren’t edible anyway.”
Drew took another bite of the cupcake, leaving a trace of icing on his top lip. The image of Kat licking it off flashed in front of her, and she lost her breath. Where did that come from?
“Well, I could never work in a bakery,” Drew said, licking the icing off his lip. “Nothing would make it to the front counter.”
“It’s a good thing Kat has strong willpower. Everything she creates should win an award,” Susie said with a bright smile. She side-hugged Kat and then was called away to serve another customer.
Kat sighed.
Drew laughed. “She’s just showing you off. You’re an amazing baker.”
“Still doesn’t lessen the embarrassment.”
Drew’s smile lingered. He shook his head. “Wow, Kat. How many years has it been?”
“Um…nearly twenty?”
Drew blinked. “That long?”
Suddenly nervous again, she rubbed her arms. “I’m surprised you still recognize me.”
He popped the rest of the cupcake in his mouth and groaned in delight. Kat giggled. “Thank you. That’s actually the best compliment.”
“You’re welcome. Thank you for making me spend an extra hour in the gym tonight,” he said playfully.
“You don’t need it, but you’re welcome.”
His eyes flashed a knowing look, and his lips curved up to one side. Kat suddenly felt self-conscious and moved a hand to brush her hair back, but her fingers got caught in the hairnet instead. She yanked her hand down and clasped her hands firmly behind her back.
She never thought she’d say that to him. After all, they’d been eight years old when his family had moved away. She cried a lot that summer. Her heart hadn’t been the same since.
Her childhood best friend. Gone. Forever.
Until today.
He leaned in over the counter and whispered, “Not to knock Susie or anything, but you should open your own place.”
She wished she could have the same enthusiasm she saw in his confident grin. Unfortunately, she had tried that route.
And failed.
Big time.
Opening her own place would never happen again. That dream was long dead. She had learned to be content as a small bakery baker.
“Katrina!”
Katrina’s eyes spotted her second-ever best friend in the world, and her eyes nearly bugged out of their sockets. “Parker? What in the world are you doing here?”
Parker laughed loudly and ran forward, her left hand outstretched. “Getting married, silly!”
“Getting married? You’re engaged?” When had that happened? “Since when? You’ve said nothing for months! I didn’t—”
Parker looped an arm through Drew’s. Katrina’s heart stopped suddenly. If she closed her eyes, she wouldn’t see it. But it couldn’t be unseen.
Her heartbeat thumped loudly in her ears, its rapid pace slowing as the seconds ticked by. She had to breathe, or she’d actually die.
Her gaze slowly rose to Drew’s. His skin had paled, making his reddish-brown hair look more red.
Parker hopped up and down like a giddy kid in a bakeshop. Her hand roamed slowly down Drew’s thick bicep. “Have you met my fiancé, Drew?” She looked up at him with love. “Oh, you have a little bit of icing just…here…” She kissed the corner of Drew’s mouth.
Ugh. That didn’t look as good as Katrina’s daydream at all.
***
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