A Slice of Summer

by Melissa McClone

  He appreciated her thoughtfulness. “I won’t be long.”

  Garrett sat at her desk and called Jenn, who picked up the phone on the first ring.

  “When will you be home?” she asked in her no-nonsense voice, yet she could purr on command if that would sway the jury. The woman was a tiger in the courtroom.

  “Sunday night. Why?”

  “You reeled in a big fish even away on vacation.”

  That was one reason he’d been hired, and he kept making the big bucks. “Criminal or financial?”

  “Billionaire arrested for bundling debt.”

  “Not illegal. Unless the Feds are changing the rules again, looking for another scapegoat.”

  “Bingo. Give yourself a gold star.”

  “He wants me?”

  “You’ll have a row of stars by the time we hang up.”

  “Fill me in.”

  Jenn did. When she finished, Garrett knew everything about Jedidiah Hoppes. “Tell my assistant when the meeting is, so it goes on my calendar.”

  “Have fun at the wedding tomorrow.”

  “Thanks. It should be a good time.” Especially with Taryn there.

  He disconnected from the call.

  Garrett glanced around the office. Not as neat as her house, but he imagined she wasn’t the only one who used it. His gaze landed on what appeared to be a vision board.

  Hadn’t she mentioned this to him?

  Something about wanting to remodel and leave her mark on the bakery.

  He peered closer—did a double take.

  Wow.

  This would do it.

  Everything from the table and chairs to the painted wall coordinated with a new Lawson’s Bakery logo and branding. Underneath the vision board were magazines with sticky tabs sticking out, catalogs, lists, budgets, furniture, and floor plans.

  Sketches of signs that had a similar feel to the ones on the patio. Speaking of which, the branding of the new interior matched perfectly with the patio.

  This would take time and money. Two things Taryn was short of right now, but the changes would help her compete against the other bakery.

  Garrett flipped through a magazine and a catalog full of page flags. She’d picked out the furniture, and it matched the photos on her vision board. Not surprising because that was how she operated, researching, leaving no stone unturned. He returned everything to its place.

  He hoped she remodeled and left her mark the way she wanted. If anybody deserved success, Taryn did with her hard work, loyalty, and love of this bakery, its customers, and baking.

  Back in the kitchen, she focused on the cakes and nothing else.

  She stretched her arms overhead. “I need a break.”

  He would give her one. “Dance with me.”

  Her eyes widened. “Dance?”

  “I don’t understand your question.”

  “Do you want to dance with me?”

  “Yes.” Garrett knew what might sway her. “It’s a way to warm up for the wedding. There’s a dance floor, so we can safely assume there will be dancing.”

  “Does this line of reasoning sway juries?”

  “Come on. What’s stopping you?”

  “I’ve never danced in a bakery. This would be a first for me.”

  “It’s like dancing anywhere else.” He held out his hand. “Take it.”

  As a popular John Legend song came on the radio, Garrett assumed the proper position and held her.

  She touched his shoulder, but hesitation gleamed in her eyes.

  “And we’re off,” he whispered.

  They danced around the kitchen, careful not to bump into anything.

  Holding her close felt so natural. Garrett never wanted to stop. His heart pounded. He tried to memorize everything about the moment—about her.

  Taryn stared up at him. “What are you thinking?”

  Dare he tell her the truth? “How much I’m enjoying this dance.”

  “Me, too. A good thing there will be more tomorrow.”

  Anticipation swelled. “I’m counting on it.”

  “I want to keep dancing, but I need to work on the cakes, or I’ll be up all night.”

  “Can’t have that.”

  Her face was so close to his. She moved forward, and he met her halfway. Garrett wasn’t in any rush, even though he was leaving soon. He pulled her closer until she was up against him.

  Right where she belonged.

  Hands in her hair, his lips moved over hers.

  His.

  Not really, but he enjoyed pretending. And he would keep doing so as long as he could.

  Sunday, a voice whispered.

  The song ended, but Garrett didn’t want to stop dancing.

  Taryn let go of him. Her breathing was haggard, and her lips swollen.

  “I’d love to keep…dancing, but the cakes await.” Longing filled her eyes.

  He kissed her cheek. “I’ll see if there’s anything I need to pick up before I walk home.”

  She smiled up at him. “Thanks for the company and the dance. I can’t wait until tomorrow.”

  “Me, either.” He raised her hand to his mouth and kissed each knuckle. “As soon as you finish the cakes, go to bed. You’re going to need all your energy for tomorrow night. We’re going to dance the night away.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Saturday morning, Jayden helped Taryn load the cakes into her car. He would follow her over, help her unload, and then go to the bakery to work with Carl. She would run home, change clothes, and return in time for the ceremony.

  “It’s a beautiful day for a wedding.” Jayden carried one of the groom’s cakes. “I hate we won’t be open tonight, but everyone’s burnt out from working double and split shifts.”

  “We’ll take a hit, but everyone needs a break.” Herself included, and she hadn’t wanted to miss the wedding.

  Jayden gently closed her hatchback. “See you over there.”

  A few minutes later, she parked at the winery on the outskirts of town. She hopped out of the car and went to check out the layout.

  Two steps inside, she froze.

  The room was empty. None of the banquet tables were set up. No cake table. Nothing.

  A man ran into the room. “You’re the baker.”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m Tomas, the manager.” He pulled out a table. “There’s been a…misunderstanding.”

  “With staffing?”

  He blew out a breath. “Someone called last night claiming to be the groom and canceled the wedding. No one notified me, but they took it upon themselves to call everyone scheduled to work today and tell them not to come in. I phoned Mr. Winslow this morning to see if he’d called, but he said he hadn’t.”

  Nick Baxter. Taryn grimaced. It had to be him. The guy had it out for Brandt and anyone involved in his wedding, including her.

  “I notified the employees, but some had made other plans, so we reached out to the catering company. We’re a little behind, but as soon as people show up, we’ll have everything ready.”

  Maybe, but she could call others now.

  “Give me a minute.” Tomas’s breathing was ragged and his face red. “I need to bring out the linens. Those are ready, but aren’t out here.”

  As he hurried into a room, she sent a text to Garrett and a few others, telling them what happened. Anna was the maid of honor, so Taryn didn’t notify her. She didn’t want Callie to worry.

  Taryn tucked her phone in her pocket. “What can I do to help?”

  Tomas’s eyes gleamed. He pulled out a floor plan for the room. “Set up the cake table?”

  She took a picture of the paper. “Of course. I asked a few friends to come over and help until your staff arrives.”

  He wiped his eyes. “Thank you. This has never happened. The wedding coordinator was on her way to Seattle. She’s turned around, but…”

  “It’ll work out.” Taryn sounded more confident than she felt, but she would not let Nick Baxter ru
in her friends’ wedding.

  “What the…” Jayden stared in disbelief.

  “Nick struck again.” She showed him her phone. “We need to make this room look like that, starting with the cake table.”

  Jayden rubbed his forehead. “Whatever you say, Boss. But we can’t leave the cakes in the car.”

  “I forgot.” Which wasn’t like her. “Let’s put them on the piano for now.”

  They carried in the cakes and set up the table. Both Taryn and Jayden had experience with table skirting, or they would have been in trouble.

  He straightened the bottom. “Is this where it should be?”

  She checked the layout. “Yes.”

  “I’ll help you with the wedding cake and then work with Tomas on the tables.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  Together they placed the wedding cake in the center of the table. Taryn still had some decorations to add to it. “Go help Tomas.”

  She removed a pastry bag from her box of supplies.

  Two hands touched her shoulders.

  Taryn jumped.

  “It’s me.” Garrett kissed the top of her head. “Thanks for sounding the alarm. I brought my brothers, dad, and Brandt’s dad. None of the moms or Margot know what’s going on.”

  “Good.”

  He glanced at his family, who rolled round tables into place. “Don’t worry. We’ll have this set up, and no one will be the wiser.”

  “How do you know I’m worried?” she asked.

  He touched the spot between her eyebrows. “You get these two lines.”

  Garrett was as bad as Jayden. “I’m not as worried now that you’re here.”

  “Any idea how this happened?”

  “A man called last night claiming to be the groom and canceled the wedding. Sounds like something Nick would do.”

  Garrett’s nostrils flared. “After we’re finished setting up, I’ll see if there’s a phone number we can follow up on.”

  “You can do that?”

  “My firm has investigators on staff. They are some of the best in the business. If they can’t figure out who did this, a strongly worded letter with way too much legalese from Brandt’s attorney will be sent to Mr. Baxter.”

  “Is his attorney standing in this room?”

  Garrett grinned. “Maybe.”

  Affection overflowed for this man. “Thank you. Now, I need to work on the cake.”

  “Have fun.” He kissed her cheek.

  The setup continued. As soon as Taryn had the cakes in place, she sent Jayden to the bakery, so Carl wasn’t alone, and she helped the others. More winery staff and catering people arrived, including a harried wedding coordinator named Chelsea, who shrieked when she saw what hadn’t been done.

  Two hours later, Pippa arrived at her scheduled time, and soon the centerpieces and other flowers were in place.

  Callie’s dad called everyone together. “I want to thank Taryn for letting us know what was happening and thank each of you for helping us make sure Callie and Brandt get the wedding they deserve. Drinks are on me tonight.”

  People cheered.

  “The entire wedding is on you, Dad,” Flynn said.

  Everyone laughed.

  “Now, go get ready.” Mr. Andrews glanced at his watch. “The wedding starts in less than an hour.”

  Garrett grabbed her hand. “We don’t have a lot of time, but I want you to save me a dance.”

  “Just one?”

  He kissed her forehead. “All of them.”

  Her stomach fluttered. “My dance card belongs to you.”

  “I’m going to hold you to that.”

  Her grin spread to the tips of her toes. “You’d better.”

  *

  As Garrett sat in the first row of chairs on the bride’s side of the aisle, in between his two brothers, the sun beat down. The temperature was in the eighties, and sweat dripped down his back. He didn’t mind. His tuxedo could be dry-cleaned. Luckily, the roof of the gazebo provided shade for three of the most important people there. Six, if he counted the wedding party—Anna, Sam, and Rex.

  The officiant, a boisterous man who didn’t need a microphone, wiped his forehead with a pink handkerchief that matched his tie. With his bushy white beard, he would fit on a Hallmark Christmas card, wearing a red suit and sitting on a sleigh pulled by reindeer, but his gray suit would make for better wedding photos.

  Callie’s eyes gleamed. She hadn’t stopped smiling since she walked down the aisle. Her stunning white gown made her look like a princess, especially with the diamond tiara holding her veil in place. Brandt wiped his face more than once. The guy glowed as much as his bride and couldn’t stop staring at Callie. Anna wore a pale pink one-shouldered gown. The color matched the roses in Callie’s bridal bouquet and the floral swags on the gazebo. Sam, the best man, rocked a black tux. Rex, however, outshone them all but the bride. He looked as handsome as Callie claimed he would in his bow tie with a satin ring pillow attached. He sat patiently next to the groom as if being in a wedding happened every day. No leash required.

  Garrett imagined himself getting married in that gazebo, standing with his bride. Not a nameless, faceless woman, either.

  Heart pounding, he glanced over his shoulder to where Taryn sat with Raine from the coffee shop. The two women dabbed their eyes with tissues.

  When Callie said her wedding vows, Garrett’s eyes stung. He blinked before rubbing them. He wanted to blame the wetness on pollen, but it was all his sister.

  Keaton elbowed him. “Mom has a tissue.”

  “Shhhh,” Flynn said.

  Garrett focused on their sister. He couldn’t believe she was getting married. He remembered her following him around the house with a stuffed cat in one hand and a robotic dog in the other. That didn’t seem so long ago, even if it had been over two decades.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The officiant grinned widely. “You may kiss the bride.”

  Callie and Brandt kissed.

  Guests applauded and cheered, but none louder than Garrett, Flynn, and Keaton.

  “Nice wedding,” Flynn said. “But if Brandt hurts her, he’ll wish he were never born.”

  “Times that by three,” Keaton added.

  Garrett covered his ears with his hands. “La, la, la, la, la. I can’t hear anything you’re saying.”

  All three of them laughed.

  As they held hands, the newlyweds made their way up the aisle as “All You Need Is Love” played. The song was familiar from one of Callie’s favorite movies, Love Actually. The two beamed brightly. Even Rex smiled.

  “The youngest got married first.” Keaton shook his head. “I didn’t see that happening.”

  Flynn shrugged. “When do the three of us have time to date, let alone get serious?”

  Garrett nodded. “Truth.”

  Though he’d dated Taryn, he’d also been on vacation, so his brother might have a point.

  “Odds suggest the oldest will be next.” Keaton came up with weird calculations and facts. Not that he taught math, but it must be a professor thing.

  Flynn held up his hands. “Not me.”

  Garrett’s money was on Keaton. Well, Margot. But he wouldn’t admit that to his younger brother. “Time will tell.”

  Flynn’s gaze followed the newlyweds. “I hope Callie and Brandt have kids sooner rather than later to take the pressures off us. As long as Mom and Dad keep working, it shouldn’t be a problem, but as soon as they retire…”

  Garrett and Keaton both nodded.

  “Boys,” his mother called, motioning them over. “Time for photos.”

  As Garrett followed his brothers, he searched for Taryn but didn’t see her. No worries, he would find her at the reception and claim his dance.

  All of them.

  *

  As Callie and Brandt danced, Garrett sipped champagne. He sat at the family table while Taryn was at another with friends from the First Avenue Business Association.

 
Margot sat in the empty chair next to him. “You should invite Taryn to sit with you.”

  “Callie assigned the seating.”

  “That was before you and Taryn—”

  He straightened. “Before we what?”

  “Worked together on the booth.”

  The woman wouldn’t give up. “Good catch.”

  Margot’s eyes twinkled. “It was, wasn’t it?”

  Garrett laughed.

  “I hope you plan to dance with Taryn. Without her help earlier, Callie and Brandt would have been disappointed.”

  He turned toward Margot. “How did you find out?”

  “Oh, sweet barrister, I know everything that happens in Silver Falls. I’m like that part in the center of a bicycle wheel where all the spokes meet. That’s how I get all my info.”

  “You’re not only the town matchmaker but also the head gossiper.”

  She gave him a cheeky grin. “Someone has to do it.”

  Garrett raised his glass to her. “Welcome to the family.”

  “Same to you. We added two doctors, two lawyers, a professor, and a dog whisperer with one ‘I do.’ Given Brandt’s the only kid in the family, the boy did well.”

  “So did Callie.”

  “For sure.” Margot’s mouth formed a perfect o. “I’m not sure if your people called you, but the sheriff had enough evidence to visit Nick Baxter this evening.”

  “I turned off my phone.” Garrett pulled his out of his pocket and turned it on. Notifications popped on his screen. He scanned them. Nick had gotten sloppy this time, and his investigator’s information had been provided to the police. “Your sources are correct.”

  “Let’s hope it finally stops him. He’s had it out for Brandt ever since my nephew wouldn’t get involved in some business deal in December. I’m sorry Taryn got dragged into it by making their wedding cake.”

  “Everything worked out.”

  “And it’ll work out even better if you ask her to dance.”

  “No matchmaking.”

  “I said dance, not kiss her until you can’t breathe or see straight.”

  Garrett wouldn’t mind doing that later. He stood. “I want to get the first dance out of the way.”

  So he couldn’t wait for all the other ones.

  As he approached the table where Taryn sat, Raine nudged her.

  Taryn looked his way, and her smile lit up her face.