by Olivia Miles
Kate sighed as she reluctantly reached for the carafe and filled her mug. “Do you like your eggs scrambled or fried?”
He hesitated. “Excuse me?”
“Your eggs. I suppose it won’t hurt if we’re a few minutes late. And something tells me you’ll feel a little better once you have something in your system to soak up the remains of last night’s party.” She slipped him a small smile and he grinned in return.
“Fried,” he said.
Kate jutted her chin. “In the lobby, take a left at the elevators.”
Alec smiled gratefully. “Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me. Can’t have you sick all over the menswear,” she remarked, but she was doing a damn poor job of hiding her smile.
When he returned, there was a pitcher of ice water and a plate of buttery toast on the table waiting for him.
“Your eggs will be up any minute,” Kate told him. She clutched her mug in front of her with two hands, as if warming her fingers.
“Cold?” Alec asked as he eagerly bit into a square of toast.
Kate shrugged. “You get used to spending time in hotels in my profession. Besides, this beats the office.”
“Cold air?”
“Cold boss.” Kate grinned ruefully before hiding her smile behind the rim of her coffee cup, but the light in her eyes seemed to fade by the time she set the mug back down.
“Ah,” Alec said a little begrudgingly. “I understand. People think working for a family business has its perks. But my father isn’t an easy man to please.”
He thought of the two missed calls from his father he’d already received today, the last one coming as he was scrambling to meet Kate. It wasn’t like him to be unavailable, and his father didn’t care that he was in Misty Point, partaking in William’s wedding week plans. No doubt the man wanted some update on how things were going with drumming up new business or convincing his brother to come back to the firm, and as of right now, there was nothing to report on either front. But Alec would have to change that, and soon.
The waitress arrived and set a steaming plate in front of Alec, causing his stomach to churn. He pushed the plate away and Kate swiftly pushed it back.
“Eat it,” she said with a hard look once the waitress had moved on to the next table. She reached for the pitcher of water and filled a glass to the rim. “Seriously,” she said, softening her tone. “You’ll feel better if you do. Trust me.”
Alec lifted an unconvinced brow but reached for his fork. He folded the napkin into his lap and cut into his eggs. Watching her as he chewed, he remarked, “Has anyone ever told you that it’s okay to smile once in a while?”
Kate bristled. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Alec shrugged, wondering why he was bothering to have this conversation with a woman he would probably never see again after this week. It was the remark she’d made about her boss, he realized. The twitchy look in her eyes she had every time she glanced at the clock. It was that five-pound binder full of plans for a party. A party that was supposed to be fun. “I’m just saying, you could lighten up a little bit. That’s all.”
“Lighten up? You don’t even know me.”
“Perhaps,” he said, dousing his eggs with salt, “but I’m just going off what I see.”
“And what do you see?”
Alec offered her a gentle smile. “Forget I said anything,” he said.
“No. I want to know,” she insisted, leaning over the table until he could see the flecks of green around her pupils.
Alec set down his fork with a heavy sigh. Here it goes.
“You had a steady boyfriend all through high school, went to the prom both years. Or maybe you didn’t date at all. Too pretty and too standoffish. A tricky combo with adolescent boys. You come from a good family. Maybe you’re an only child, but more likely the eldest. You were a good student, but you worked hard. You took your grades seriously, and you approach your career the same way. I’m guessing you ran for student council. You probably initiated bake sales for various fund-raisers, too. Your parents are probably still married, and I bet they still hold hands. So you believe in a fairy-tale ending and you expect one for yourself. That probably includes a big wedding, a European honeymoon, and a four-bedroom house in the suburbs with impeccably organized closets where you’ll raise your two point five blond and blue-eyed kids with your equally preppy husband.” He paused. “Am I right?”
She didn’t blink. “What makes you think I believe in fairy-tale endings?”
Alec frowned. “You’re a wedding planner. You mean to tell me you’re not buying the dream you’re selling?”
Her mouth curved into a slow, mysterious smile as she pulled back against the chair.
Alec took another bite of his eggs. Combined with the coffee and water, he was already feeling a little better. Not that he’d be repeating last night anytime soon. And not that he’d likely have opportunity or reason to again. None of his friends in the city were getting married anytime soon, either. And like him, they’d rather be able to get up early to hit the gym for a few hours before clocking a fifteen-hour workday.
Kate silently drank her coffee, saying nothing more about his opinion of her, and strangely offering none of her own about him.
“You’d better eat fast,” she finally said. “That fitting is in less than ten minutes now.”
“Tsk, tsk.” Alec shook his head and glanced at her with mock disdain. “There you go again.”
“Okay, you win,” she said. “I am being a little…bossy—”
“A little?”
Kate grinned. “Okay a lot. I just…I want everything to be perfect. For your brother and Elizabeth.”
“That makes two of us,” he said through a tight smile.
* * *
Kate eyed Alec’s plate, calculating that he had about six more bites to go. She signaled a passing waitress for the check. A few minutes late to the fitting was one thing. Half an hour late meant their appointment would be lost. And then…She sighed. Her week was jam-packed, as the week before a big wedding typically was.
“So how long have you known Elizabeth?” Alec asked as he slid the bill from Kate’s side of the table to his own and picked up the pen.
“We’ve known each other since we were kids.” Kate smiled fondly at the memories of those carefree days spent building sandcastles on the beach and collecting shells. The bike rides into town to get ice cream. “We lived next door to each other growing up. We live next door to each other again now,” she added, and noticed that Alec’s eyes widened at that tidbit. “I recently bought the house next to theirs.”
Another slight narrowing of the eyes. No doubt he wasn’t expecting that. He was probably circling the possibility of whether she was in fact attached and happily living with someone, or if she’d actually bit the bullet and purchased a home for herself. Admitted that she wasn’t going to find a man anytime soon.
“I’m guessing you’ve probably heard some not so nice things said about me,” Alec said ruefully.
“Oh, now, I wouldn’t say that.” She gave a watery smile and pushed the sugar bowl to the side, careful not to rattle the porcelain lid.
But Alec just chuckled softly. “Don’t worry. I know my reputation.”
She lifted her gaze to meet his sad smile, sensing he was waiting for her to say something. “And what would that be?”
“That I’m ruthless. Arrogant. Cold. You get the drift.”
“Funny, I was thinking something along the lines of overly sure of himself, overly ambitious…” A few other choice adjectives that would be better kept to herself.
“Ah, so you’ve formed an opinion of me as well, then.” He studied her, and Kate shrugged. “Go on.”
Kate sighed. “We have an appointment.”
“It can wait,” he said, and something in his tone told her she had no choice but to oblige.
“Okay, you grew up in a wealthy family, didn’t have to ask for anything, wanted for even less. You
have good looks, and you rode them all the way through high school. You probably didn’t even bother to ask most girls out, because they were busy asking you. And you liked it that way. You still date casually, but not seriously, and you don’t really care how it plays out or who gets hurt. You’re the same in business, which is your top priority. You like a fast-paced life with no strings attached. You think about kids, but not in the immediate future, but deep down you know you have neither the time nor interest for them, or a wife.”
Jeez, where had that come from? Jake, she realized with a start.
A twinge of shame fell heavy, but only for a moment. Men like Alec and Jake weren’t put in their place often enough. Maybe if they were, they’d be held accountable for their actions. Maybe if they were, she wouldn’t be planning everyone else’s weddings instead of her own.
* * *
Alec pushed his empty plate away and reached into his pocket for his wallet. The morning’s fog had finally lifted and his mind was as clear as the sunny blue skies. He glanced at Kate as he slapped a fifty-dollar bill on the table.
“We should probably go,” he said abruptly. He glanced down at his watch and frowned. “How long will this appointment take?”
“Depends on how cooperative you are,” she said pertly.
Alec sighed and followed her through the door, plucking a peppermint candy from the dish on his way out. He popped it in his mouth as a warm, salty breeze hit his face, clearing his head almost to a state of normalcy. Now he remembered why he didn’t go out much anymore. His life was his business, and he was jeopardizing the one thing that he revolved his existence around. It was a mistake he wouldn’t be making again, at least not on this trip.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. Without a response to Kate’s wide-eyed questioning gaze, he answered. He’d already ignored too many calls for one day.
He listened to his assistant’s feedback and disconnected the call. “Change of plans,” he said to Kate.
“Are you kidding me?” she asked, but her voice was flat with accusation.
Suddenly, his mind was racing with the implication of a meeting with Mason Lambert a day early—he’d been preparing for this meeting since he set it up three weeks ago, but he’d have to clean himself up, clear his head, and get into the right mindset.
“We’re going to have to reschedule,” he said distractedly, thinking of the notes he had upstairs in his room. He’d have to hurry to look over them. Mason Lambert was a sharp businessman. Any sign of weakness would be sniffed out immediately.
Kate’s eyes were unnaturally wide as she stared at him. “What do you mean, we have to reschedule?”
“It’s important,” he said, raking a set of fingers through his hair.
“Your brother’s wedding is important, Alec.”
“I wouldn’t be rescheduling if it wasn’t important. It’s my business. You have to understand.”
“Business!”
He eyed her. Most of the time when women gave him that look it was because he was canceling plans a little more of the personal nature. “Kate, work with me here. I’m in town for a week. Tomorrow. I promise. Three o’clock work for you?”
She folded her arms across her chest, taking her time in giving him an answer. “I’ll have to call and check, but let’s plan on that. But I still don’t see what could be more important than your brother’s wedding,” she was sure to add as she walked away.
Chapter Seven
Kate’s feet were burning by the time she’d pounded her way back to Harbor Street, muttering under her breath as she wound her way to Colleen’s Cakes, the bakery owned and operated by none other than her dear friend Colleen.
Thanks to Alec’s cancellation, she was more than an hour early to check on the status of the wedding cake, but hopefully Colleen could squeeze her in. With any luck, she’d cross the cake off her list and return a few client calls before meeting Elizabeth for lunch.
She checked her texts to see if Elizabeth had replied to her suggestion that they meet a little earlier than planned. Excellent. She’d be heading out in fifteen minutes.
Kate took a calming breath before pushing open the door of the shop, but it was a pointless exercise. As soon as she entered the room, all the stress rolled from her shoulders and a smile teased her mouth as she breathed in the smells of vanilla and sugar.
The room was airy and light, with creamy white walls and big windows. Kate made her way past the glass display case, admiring the birthday cakes and “everyday” cakes like coffee cake and death by chocolate cake and a colorful selection of cupcakes, and walked to the back of the room, where Colleen was hard at work piping pale green petals onto a buttercream frosted cake with a pastry bag.
“You’re early,” Colleen remarked. “Just give me a minute to finish these petals. It’s for a fiftieth birthday dinner. You remember Mrs. Channing?”
Kate tried to connect the name. “Middle school art?”
Colleen grinned. “The very one. Hard to believe she’s fifty, huh?”
Kate shook her head in wonder. Mrs. Channing was always so youthful and exotic, with her waist-length braid swinging against the back of her long, floral dresses. “Hard to believe we’re thirty.”
“Don’t remind me.” Colleen groaned. She rotated the cake and began swiftly adding the rest of the petals.
Kate watched the effortless movement, knowing just how difficult it was from her attempts at making fancier birthday cakes for friends and family over the years, and sighed. “Someday you promise to teach me how to do that?”
“It’s not so tricky once you have the hang of it,” Colleen said happily. She placed the piping down on a plastic sheet to set and wiped a loose strand of hair from her forehead with the back of her hand. “I wasn’t expecting you until eleven thirty.”
“I’m not catching you at a bad time, am I? I can come back.” She could. And she would, if need be. But she’d learned the best way to stay on track was to batch her errands in one trip, and seeing as she didn’t plan to leave the office tomorrow until the suit fitting…and there would be a fitting, if she had to kidnap the man and drag him there herself, so help her, there would.
“Actually, this is a perfect time. My morning customers just left, and I don’t expect another wave until after lunch. And I could use a break before I finish this cake. I want to mull over the color scheme a bit before I add the gum paste flowers. Oh, listen to me! Thirty years old and I’m still eager to impress my art teacher.” She waggled her eyebrows. “You want to see what I have so far for Elizabeth?”
Kate looked around at the empty tables and nodded eagerly. She trusted Colleen nearly as much as she trusted Elizabeth, and not just as a friend. She recommended Colleen to all her brides—the woman didn’t just make the best cakes for miles around, but she was also organized and dependable, and she took pride in what she was making. Still…Kate was ultimately the fall guy if anything slipped through the cracks.
“Don’t mind the mess,” Colleen said gaily as Kate followed her through the stainless steel door into the kitchen. Cakes in various stages of completion lined the counters, some iced, some tiered, some sitting in their pans, waiting to go into the oven.
She pushed through one more set of doors, and Kate felt her tread slow. She’d been back here many times, but each time she felt the wave, the stir of nausea, the sense of dread, the slow, unavoidable reminder that always made her heart hurt a little. Even now. Nearly a year after her wedding had been called off.
“You coming?” Colleen paused in the doorway and looked at her quizzically.
Kate smiled wider but her cheeks felt stiff. “Just caught up in all the cakes you have going on here.”
She needed to get a grip. If she didn’t, she’d have to find a new profession. And why should she let Jake rob that of her, too?
“If you think these are nice, then check these out. This is where the magic happens…” Colleen winked as she held open the door for Kate to pass, leaving no room for furthe
r hesitation.
Kate put one foot in front of the other and walked into the back room, where wedding cakes of all heights and shapes towered high around her, all belonging to someone, all waiting for their special day.
She walked over to a particularly beautiful five-tiered circular cake, covered in a creamy white fondant and lined with a lavender ribbon. “This is beautiful,” she breathed, giving it a closer look. “That shade of purple is…”
“Perfect. I know. It reminds me of—” She stopped, her pale cheeks turning a shade of red that Kate knew had nothing to do with the heat of the ovens in the adjacent kitchen.
Kate turned away from the cake and the memories of her own wedding cake, or at least the design she and Colleen had come up with for it. Three round tiers, white fondant, lavender ribbon, and burst of flowers at the top to match the freesia she had in her bouquet. Make that would have had, she corrected herself.
“It’s okay,” she said, hating how familiar that sounded. How many times since she’d announced that the wedding had been called off had she been forced to smooth over awkward situations with those words? Somehow it was her job to eventually put on the bright smile and reassure everyone that it was fine; she wasn’t bothered by the reminder of the love of her life cheating on her with her sister or the humiliation of calling off her wedding. She was fine; she was over it! No worries. No worries at all.
Only something told her no one was buying her brazen attitude. There was too much pity in everyone’s eyes, and they twitched at the slightest potential reminder. Her parents tiptoed around her, eager to please, never mentioning their younger daughter in her presence, a look of desperation often taking over her mother’s expression.
Everyone just wanted her to be happy. And everyone assumed she was not happy.
Would it take finding a new man to get them to all stop defining her by her past once and for all?
