by Eliza Ellis
She ran over to Drew and flung herself in his arms. “I got it! I got it! I’m president! Oh, Andrew!” She planted her lips on his and kissed him passionately.
Drew kissed her back for all the times he hadn’t been there for her and the time he had almost kissed Kat. He felt his heart breaking the longer their lips remained fixed, although he wasn’t sure who it broke for: Parker or Kat? Softly, she pulled back and stared into his eyes. Confusion swirled in her round depths.
“Congratulations, Parker,” he whispered. “No one deserves it more than you, and I mean that. I know you’ve been working hard and how stressed out you’ve been about this deal.”
She sat beside him. “I have been incredibly stressed, and I’ve taken it out on you unnecessarily so.”
“No, don’t apologize. I’m the one who should be sorry. I looked at another woman, and…and that’s not me at all.”
She smiled sadly. “She was there first.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Parker…”
She laid her hands on Drew’s chest. “Look, Andrew…I…I know I haven’t exactly been the easiest person to be with these last few months. I understand if…if you’re looking elsewhere for attention—”
“Parker, I’m not looking!”
She studied his eyes and then nodded, appearing satisfied. “Okay. Well, I’d like to propose a change.”
“Okay?” Drew tentatively asked.
“How about counseling? I still want to marry you.”
“Even though you threw your ring at me?”
Her eyes went to the ceiling. “I was angry. And I know I need to work on that, before you say anything.”
He wasn’t going to say that. She had a right to her anger. He’d almost kissed Katrina, and the thought wouldn’t go away—how he still wanted to actually feel her lips against his.
“What do you think about what I’ve said?”
Drew nodded. “I’d like to work on it, too. Counseling? When are we going to fit it in?”
Parker’s phone buzzed. “How about we try to get a couple of sessions in with anybody while we’re in town? Maybe we can get some exercises to work on.” She went to her phone and read the screen. Her lips angled down to one side.
“What is it,” Drew asked, keeping his annoyance to a minimum.
“They want me in London tomorrow,” Parker whispered.
“Already?” Drew’s voice elevated. Parker shrank back. “Well, there goes counseling.”
Parker rushed to his side. “Looks like it’s only to discuss a few things in person.”
“They can’t pick up a telephone?”
Parker shrugged. “I’m thinking they don’t want any misunderstandings and want to keep this close. It’s only for a few days.” She looked down at her phone. “I’ll be back in time for the wedding.” She grinned up at him.
“What wedding? Who’s going to put it together?”
She bit her lip and walked slowly away. Drew held his breath. The woman they had counted on was the one person Parker probably didn’t want to think about right now.
Parker sighed and faced him. “Okay, okay. I’ll make up with Kat and ask her.” Her eyes hardened. “But you have to promise not to spend any more time with her than you need to. Only for wedding stuff.”
Drew placed a hand over his heart. “Promise.” And he meant it.
He hoped.
Chapter 12
Kat turned at the knock on the kitchen door in Susie’s bakery. Parker peeked her head in. Kat stiffened and blinked. Parker had ignored her apology texts and wouldn’t return her phone calls.
Parker shot her a lopsided smile. “Hi. Can I come in?”
Kat wiped her hands on her apron. “Of course. Parker—”
She put up a hand. “No, let me. I…”
Kat felt rooted to her spot. She didn’t know if she was supposed to hug her friend or stand here and take whatever judgment Parker had for her.
“Drew and I made up yesterday.”
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for anything to happen.”
“Well, technically nothing did. And I haven’t said anything to anybody about it.”
Kat let out a shaky breath. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I’ve been feeling so guilty about it and the business to Susie…”
“Well, that’s kind of why I’m here. It’s back on. The wedding and everything. So, if you don’t mind giving another tasting to Drew, that would be great.”
Kat’s brows bushed. She hadn’t expected to ever see Parker again, let alone hear her ask to bake their wedding cake. Did Drew say something to convince her to come back? She must be desperate. “Okay,” Kat said with a nod. “Um, sure. But you don’t want to taste the cake?”
“I trust him. And I’m not going to have time. I have to catch a plane in a couple of hours. I figured I’d stop here on my way to the airport.”
“A plane? You’re leaving? Where are you going? What about the wedding?”
Kat put up both hands and leaned back. “Whoa! Calm down. Everything is under control. I’ll be back in time for it.” Her lips spread into a wide grin. “I got the job!” She grabbed Kat’s hands and squeezed them tight. “I made president of the international division. Senior leadership wants me in London early tomorrow morning to discuss the particulars.”
Kat hugged her friend. “Parker, that’s amazing. It’s what you’ve always wanted.”
Parker laughed and hugged her back. “Yeah, to be president of something and lord it over people.”
Kat leaned back and gave her friend an encouraging smile. “You’ll definitely be good at it.”
Parker wagged her brows. “I certainly hope so. Anyway, it’s a big step for me, and I can’t screw it up. Drew’s a little miffed that I’ll be going out of town, but I think I took care of that.”
“How?”
“I’ve reinstated you as our wedding planner!” Parker looked pleased with herself. “I overreacted yesterday. Sorry. I need you back as our wedding planner.”
Kat didn’t share her enthusiasm. “I don’t know, Parker. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Parker’s suspicious gaze studied her. “Because you’re too attracted to my man to keep your hands to yourself?” She was always blunt. “Or because you think Drew will stray?”
“Neither,” Kat said firmly. “I don’t want to cause any more trouble than I already have.”
She waved a dismissive hand. “It’s water under the bridge.” She eyed Kat’s neck and lifted her necklace. “Even though you were first, Drew wants to marry me.” She let the necklace fall back, the cold metal stinging Kat’s skin.
“Of course he does,” Kat said in a shaky whisper.
“Drew and I had a nice talk and a really nice evening”—she smiled deviously—“and he has my complete trust. We’ve decided to go to counseling. Well, he’ll go since I’ll be out of town. That’ll help us out a lot.”
“That sounds wonderful!” Kat forced her tone to be more enthusiastic than she felt. She was still hung up on what kind of evening Parker had implied she had had with Drew. That meant Kat really was a distraction from the stress. He hadn’t meant anything he’d said.
She hadn’t slept a wink, thanks to that almost-kiss. Her mind plagued her with Drew’s smile, his lips, his strong arms offering comfort and support. When before she didn’t want to hurt Parker, now all she wanted was to kiss her fiancé.
Ugh, she was a terrible person.
“It is. Anyway, Drew will pick the cake—he knows what I’ll like—and I’ve already picked the venue, so you don’t have to worry about that. I went online and saw some flowers to throw around, and it’ll be nice and pretty. Now Drew can’t say I wasn’t involved. See, I’m trying!” She gave an accomplished grin.
Kat stared at Parker, willing her mouth shut. She’d have to double-check that because if she knew Parker, the last thing she would want is for her wedding to look tacky, even though she wasn’t an activ
e participant in planning it. “Okay…”
“I’ll email you the details from the airport. I’ve got to go.” She hugged Kat again and waved before disappearing through the door with a “thank you.”
Susie appeared moments after Parker left. “What was that all about?”
“Parker and I made up. She wants me to continue planning her wedding and bake the cake.”
Susie let out a relieved breath. “Good. Give her the platinum package for all the work you’ll have to do in such a short period of time.”
Kat arched a brow. “What platinum package?”
“The one I just made up yesterday after all that drama. Rush fee, a last-minute fee, the wedding fee…”
Kat laughed so hard she had to hold her constricting stomach. “Susie, that’s terrible.”
“Uh, it’s good business.”
“Agreed. Platinum package it is then. You’re the boss.”
“That’s right, I am. This is good news, isn’t it?”
Kat blew a breath up to cool her face. “I’m still not sure.”
“Because you like Drew?” she whispered after looking over her shoulder. Did she expect Parker to be at the door listening?
Maybe she was. Kat took a few steps closer and lowered her voice. “I don’t deny that I’m attracted to him.”
“Honey, I’m attracted to him.”
Kat chuckled.
“But that’s not what I asked,” Susie said. “Do you like him? Are you afraid that what happened yesterday will happen again?”
Kat leaned against the counter and thought about Susie’s questions. Parker had said she and Drew worked things out. They were still going through with the wedding.
Although Kat was happy for both her friends, and that Susie still had business coming in, Kat’s heart had fractured after hearing Parker’s words, and now the pain intensified. She didn’t have a chance with Drew if he could want to kiss her and then recommit to making things work with Parker. What about where they were going to live? What about Parker’s new position? She was flying out today to go to London. What did Drew think about that?
Whatever he thought, it didn’t matter. All that Kat knew was he still wanted to marry Parker, despite everything. Kat’s soul shuddered, but she suppressed the freezing feeling stealing over her body. She’d turn the temperature of the ovens up if she had to warm her body. Drew had made his decision, and Kat wasn’t a part of it.
End of story.
No happy ending for Kat.
Kat put a smile on her face. “I don’t think anything will happen. Drew and Parker are back together, and they want to make things work. I’m just an old friend to Drew. He and Parker have been stressed out about the wedding and Parker’s job. Now that she has the position, there’s nothing to worry about.”
Susie gave her an exaggerated look of disbelief. “Do you hear what’s coming out of your mouth?”
“Yes,” Kat said firmly. “And they are my friends. I’m committed to seeing this through. To seeing them happy. I’ll continue to plan their wedding as if nothing happened.”
“But something almost did happen,” Susie argued.
“But nothing actually happened. It’s over. Whatever it was, or could have been, it’s gone. Drew made sure of that by staying with Parker. And I’m going to make sure of it by getting them to the altar.”
Susie sighed and crossed her arms. “Well, I don’t like it.”
“You don’t have to. But you’re about to get a lot of money for their cake, so that should make up for it.”
Susie’s bottom lip poked out. “I want to see you happy, Kat. That’s all. I’m not pushing you to break them up…I mean, unless it’ll mean your happiness.”
Kat genuinely laughed. “You’re a good friend, Susie, thanks. But I…I am happy. Life’s not perfect, but it could be a lot worse.”
“I love your outlook, even if it’s unrealistic.”
Kat rolled her eyes. “Get out of here. I have to make some more cupcakes for Drew to eat so they can pick their cake.”
“Too bad we sold all the ones you made yesterday. They were an absolute hit! You’ll have to add them to the regular menu.”
“But then they won’t be selective flavors for wedding cakes.”
Susie frowned. “Yeah, you’re right. We’ll have to come to some sort of compromise. Those cupcakes flew off the shelves. I meant to tell you that yesterday before you left. We might have to consider how much money we’ll make if they’re part of the daily menu.”
Kat had kept to the kitchen after the incident with Parker and Drew. Too many patrons had eyed her, and she was embarrassed over what they might’ve heard. She worked on perfecting recipes and creating ones that would pair well with melodrama and depressed feelings like unrequited love.
“Okay, whatever you want. You’re the boss.”
“Thanks,” Susie said dryly. “I’ll let you know. Good work, Kat.”
Susie left, and Kat went back to work kneading dough for a new bread recipe she was just dying to try.
Tears of Rye.
Chapter 13
Drew sat with his ankles and arms crossed, watching a few pairs of dancers twirl around the floor. Parker didn’t know how to dance. And she wasn’t going to learn now that she was in London.
He really was happy for her. Parker was a goal-oriented, driven individual, and he respected those qualities a lot. Their goals might not line up perfectly, but if she thought they could work on that, then the least he could do was give their relationship his maximum effort.
She was on her hands and knees yesterday looking for her ring and found it underneath the bed while he ordered them expensive steak dinners. They’d spent the rest of the evening in her room celebrating her promotion and talking about what that would mean for her professionally and for them relationally. She showed him all the locations they could visit while in London and Europe. He’d been overseas plenty of times, having grown up in Guam and Germany as a military brat, but there were a few places he hadn’t been like Sardinia and Iceland. They would make great vacation spots.
The perks of Parker’s job had to be considered. As the president of the international division, she would be given a penthouse suite in an extremely nice building, rent-free. She’d have a car and driver available at all times and free tickets for her and her spouse to any place she had to do business. The company would pay for tickets and lodging for pre-approved vacations, and her salary would triple.
As she was a silent investor in his firm, the potential for his business to surge was high. She had talked about investing twice the amount she had already contributed. Drew hated to see the world through dollar signs, but there were projects on the back burner and the gas suddenly flamed on. The people he could help and the communities that would be influenced couldn’t be easily ignored.
He suspected her offer was to placate him on moving to London. He liked to be hands-on in his work, and he’d have to do a lot of traveling if they did more work. He wouldn’t mind that, but the one project he wanted to work on the most would inevitably be delayed: building his forever home, the lake house in Springfield.
He emailed Parker the updated plans for the home, including the designs provided by the interior decorator. If Parker could see herself in the home, then maybe she would reconsider the length of stay in London. Right now, her tour would be at least a year. If she succeeded in becoming president of the entire company, then she’d be back in Boston and having a second home in Missouri wouldn’t be a stretch.
The more he considered his plans, the less he felt they were attainable, but he would give Parker the benefit of the doubt. She had said she wanted to work on their relationship, and that meant making compromises. Once she saw the designs, he figured she’d be willing to compromise a little on her professional goals.
At least he hoped so.
The door to the studio burst open, and Kat practically fell in. Drew smiled. He remembered her being slightly clumsy. He’d wondered w
here that girl had gone. Kat’s eyes frantically searched the room. When they landed on him, her expression relaxed.
Drew stood when she was near. “Hi. Thanks for coming.”
“I’d forgotten that I had set this appointment. When what happened yesterday…” She visibly swallowed. “Happened, this was the furthest thing from my mind.”
Drew’s own throat constricted as his thoughts traveled back to the moment his fiancée had interrupted what had been brewing between himself and Kat for far longer than he had realized. His gaze traveled to her slender throat. There his necklace still hung. His heart thumped strangely, but he ignored it. He was marrying Parker. A childhood promise meant nothing.
“Okay, dancers! Come out onto the floor. It’s time to start!” A woman clapped and hollered at the rest of the couples who hadn’t been brave enough to dance in front of everyone else. Kat tossed her purse onto Drew’s seat and took his offered hand.
Her warm hand felt delicate and tender tucked into his own. He had to force himself to let go once they’d found a spot on the floor. After a quick lesson on how to stand and where to place hands, the instructor teased them with some music. They really had to do this.
“The waltz is a dance everyone should know. This piece, The Emperor’s Waltz, is a perfect one to learn this dance. You’ve probably heard this all of your life. Well, now you’re going to dance to it. Grab your partners!”
Both Drew and Kat let out a breath at exactly the same moment, and then they chuckled. Drew held out his hand for Kat’s, and she slipped hers in. His other hand fingered the curve of her shoulder blade until he found the spot just beneath it. He edged her a couple of inches closer than what was taught.
Kat kept her gaze lowered, and he could almost swear the light rose color on her caramel cheeks was an actual blush. He felt heat rise in his own neck. He stiffened his back and forced himself to concentrate on the beat of the music. He didn’t want to screw this up. Kat already knew how to dance the waltz.
