No Time for Romance

by Raine English

  “Lizzy said you wanted to see me?” When he turned around, she knew right away by the look on his face that something was wrong. Her hands, hidden from sight, twisted nervously in the folds of her cotton dress.

  His voice was carefully colored in neutral shades when he answered. “Looks like I don’t have an assistant chef today. A flat tire on the highway has put her out of commission. I’m afraid by the time she makes it here, the wedding will be over.”

  Emilia’s breath seemed to have solidified in her throat, making it impossible to speak.

  Two deep lines of worry appeared between his eyes. “Please, don’t panic. I’ve got it under control. A couple of dishes might need to be eliminated. No big deal. I just thought you should know.”

  Her shoulders sagged. “Are you sure it’ll only be a few dishes?”

  “If I had another pair of hands, I could get them all done,” he said with exasperation. “But what are you going to do? Stuff happens.”

  The look in his eyes told her he was more upset than he was letting on. “Hang on. I’ll be right back. And don’t say anything to Kinsley. I think I might have a solution.”

  Emilia ran outside, hoping to find her sister still over by the arbor. Luckily, she was there talking to the florist. “May I steal you for a minute?” she asked, taking hold of Lizzy’s arm and leading her just far enough away so that they could speak in private.

  “What’s going on?” she asked nervously.

  “Chase’s assistant won’t be able to make it here until much later, if at all. Would you be able to handle things for a while, while I help out in the kitchen?”

  Lizzy’s gaze scanned the yard. “Looks good out here. Go do what’s needed to make sure the guests will have a fabulous meal. Just be sure to meet me out here thirty minutes before the ceremony begins. I’ll have a headset ready for you.”

  Emilia gave her a hug. “Thanks, sis. We make a great team.” Without waiting for Lizzy’s usual snarky reply, she ran back to the house.

  Chase was working on some hors d’oeuvres that had a crescent roll dough and a delicious looking pesto sauce when she returned. “Did Kinsley come by?” Emilia asked.

  He wiped his hands on his apron. “She did. She stopped by on her way upstairs to get her hair and makeup done, but I didn’t say a word about the food like you asked.”

  “Good because I’m going to be your assistant. I just wanted to check with Lizzy to make sure she could handle things on our end for a bit.”

  He stared at her with disbelief. “Can you cook?”

  “I consider myself a pretty good one.”

  “All right, then, let’s get to work.” Chase took an apron from a box on the floor and then tossed it to her.

  There was no missing the fact that his face had brightened considerably, knowing that he now had help. “What do you want me to do?” she asked as she slipped the apron over her head.

  “Prepare the salmon. It needs to go in the oven soon.” As he walked over to the refrigerator, he rolled up his sleeves, exposing his strong, muscular arms. On his left one, he had a tattoo.

  She was able to get a closer look at it when he brought the fish over to her. There were two vines entwined around what looked like some kind of symbol. “Nice tattoo. What’s that in the middle?”

  He set the platter down and then ran his finger over the spot she had asked about. “I had this done right after I moved to Minnesota. I hoped maybe wearing Em on my arm might act as a talisman and bring you back to me.”

  She gripped the counter to keep from falling over. She was swimming through a haze of feelings and desires.

  His gaze traveled over her face and searched her eyes. “Did it work?”

  She was in such a shock. She didn’t know what to say.

  His lips curved up into a half-smile. “Don’t answer now. We have work to do. You can tell me later.”

  She tried to throttle the dizzying current racing through her and pay attention to the instructions Chase was giving her for the salmon. Apparently, she retained enough of what he said because he shot her a smile of approval when she placed the fish in the oven.

  They worked well together, as if they’d shared a kitchen many times before, making Emilia glad her mother had been such a good cook and had passed her skills along to her daughter.

  She’d just finished making some cookie dough. It was chilling in the refrigerator when a couple of employees from Pascal’s Bakery arrived with the wedding cake. It was five tiers of perfection, accented with chamomile clusters, including the plant’s pretty daisy-like flower. Three different flavors of cake were featured: lemon, chocolate, and strawberry, all paired with Swiss meringue.

  Chase was in the pantry, so she looked around for some place for them to set it. There was nothing on an old wooden cart. It looked plenty large enough to hold the cake, and it was in a corner so it would be out of the way. “You can put it over there,” she said, pointing to the cart.

  Emilia held her breath as she watched the two men put down the cake, exhaling when they were done.

  A few minutes later, Chase was back. He let out a loud whistle. “That is one gorgeous cake. Glad it wasn’t part of my job to provide it. I can make one, but nothing I could do would rival that.”

  He set the eight large eggplants stacked in his arms down in the sink, and then for the next hour, they peeled, sliced, and prepared a wonderful vegetarian dish.

  Things were moving along quite well, and it looked as if they were going to get done everything that had been planned for the buffet until the kitchen erupted into chaos. A pack of dogs led by Madison, and consisting of Sunny, Benny, and to her horror Newt, charged into the room. The delicious aromas coming from the kitchen sent them into a frenzy. They were jumping everywhere, trying to pull things off the counter and table. And then the unthinkable happened. Sunny and Newton put their front paws on the same side of the wooden cart, tipping it over and sending the cake crashing onto the floor.

  Someone screamed. It took her a few seconds to realize the shriek had come from her lips. Her brain was in tumult. She looked over at Chase. His face was white as a ghost as he tried to keep the dogs from eating the cake. Footsteps thundered down the hall, stopping just outside the doorway. Both she and Chase looked over there and found Kinsley, dressed in her robe and with a head full of curlers, staring at the scene in horror.

  Her dark eyes were focused on her once gorgeous cake. “What happened?” she cried, and then her glance shifted over to the dogs. “And how did they get in here?”

  “I don’t know.” Emilia replied as she scooped up chamomile. “We were about to make a sauce when all of a sudden the dogs came bounding in.”

  Kinsley glanced at Emilia’s apron, as if just now noticing it. “Why are you cooking? Didn’t I hire you as my wedding planner?”

  Emilia’s heart was in her throat. She sure as heck didn’t need Kinsley worrying about the buffet food now too, but before she could reply, Chase did.

  “She’s helping me out. My assistant got a flat tire on the way here and hasn’t shown up yet.”

  Kinsley ran a hand over her forehead. “I feel a migraine coming on.”

  Tears blurred Emilia’s eyes. “I’m so sorry. We’ll get this all cleaned up and… and, well…”

  “We’ll make you a new cake,” Chase blurted. “It might not be as beautiful as the old one, but I can guarantee you it’ll be delicious.”

  Kinsley’s bottom lip quivered. “Do you have time for that? I mean, who needs cake anyway with all the buffet food. Besides, we’ve got chocolate chip cookies.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. You’ll have a cake if Emmy will help me.” He looked over at her pleadingly.

  “Of course, I will. There’s no need to even ask.”

  Three of his prep staff had stopped what they had been doing at the sink when all the commotion broke out. “Get me some flour, eggs, and butter,” Chase ordered. “I’ll also need oil, vanilla, baking powder, and buttermilk. Got it?”
>
  Their response was to jump to action, with each one grabbing a few of the ingredients.

  “Come on, guys,” Kinsley said. “I need to take you back to Dylan’s place and have a talk with my fiancé while I’m at it. I can’t believe you guys got loose.”

  Emilia took hold of Newt’s collar. “I’ll take the dogs there. You need to destress and get dressed. Everything is under control. And you sure don’t need to confront Dylan,” she warned. “You can do that after you’re married.”

  Kinsley let out a small laugh. “You’re right about that. If I got my hands on him now, there might not be a wedding.”

  13

  Chase hadn’t known before today that Emmy was so good in the kitchen. Just another one of her many talents to add to the list. They were able to make a moist and fluffy cake, topped with buttercream frosting and fresh fruit. They used some strawberries and blueberries from the salad one of his staffers had made. They were even able to salvage most of the chamomile to use as a decoration.

  Despite the problems, the buffet tables were set up, the food was all made and put in the appropriate heated and non-heated holding areas, and the chocolate chip cookies were ready to pop in the oven after the guests were finished with dinner.

  Emilia had gone upstairs to get ready for the wedding. The ceremony was set to start in a little over thirty minutes. She was staying over tonight, as was he, and they’d each been given the room they’d stayed in the last time.

  Chase went out to the van to get his tote bag so that he could change too when Karen pulled up alongside him. When she got out, he said with a chuckle, “Just in time for the wedding.”

  “At least I didn’t miss that.” She waited for him to grab his bag and then walked into the house with him. “I’m so sorry, boss. That’ll teach me to never go anywhere without a spare.”

  “You wouldn’t have made it here with one of those donuts, anyway. Good thing you got a real tire.”

  She sighed. “I feel like I let you down.”

  “Don’t,” he said with quiet emphasis. “Everything is fine. We’re right on schedule. I’ve got to run to my room and get cleaned up, though. The rest of the crew is outside, getting the bar set for cocktails.”

  She flashed him a grateful smile. “Thanks. I’ll see you in a little bit.”

  It didn’t take Chase long to shower and put on a suit. When he was leaving his room, Emmy was coming out of hers at the same time. She had on a soft-pink colored dress. Her hair was up in a twist, giving her an added air of sophistication. She was always stunning, but this evening was even more so. “You look beautiful.”

  A slight blush warmed her cheeks. “Thank you. You clean up pretty well too.”

  He smiled with satisfaction that she would say so. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you how much I appreciated your help. Without you, Em, I’m afraid the guests might’ve gone home hungry. And there certainly wouldn’t be a wedding cake.”

  “We do what needs to be done, right? It’s part of the job.”

  “Not everyone would go above and beyond like you, though.” He offered her his hand as they headed down the stairs, and she took it without hesitation. “Can’t have you slipping in those heels.” He winked.

  “Now, that would be a disaster.”

  “Where are you off to now?”

  “I have to find Lizzy, she has my headset, and make sure Kinsley is ready to walk down the aisle.”

  He quirked a brow. “Headset?

  “A little device wedding planners use to communicate with their staff.”

  “Ah, got you.”

  “How about you? Where are you going?” she asked, stepping onto the bottom stair.

  “My crew is setting up the open-bar. I need to make sure there’s still some liquor left.”

  Although she laughed, she shot him a quizzical look.

  “Yes, I am kidding. See you later?”

  “Definitely.”

  The way she said it sent a warm glow through him, and as he strolled into the backyard, it felt like he was walking on a cloud.

  14

  Emilia found Kinsley alone on the back porch with tears in her eyes and her gorgeous Austrian crystal tiara in her hands, broken. “When my hairdresser was trying to put it on me, it cracked, and now it won’t stay on.”

  “Never fear, your wedding planner is here.” Emilia took the tiara from Kinsley, reached into her crossbody evening bag, and took out a tube of fast-drying glue. A few minutes later, the headpiece was good as new, and she carefully placed it on her friend’s head.

  “You’re amazing.”

  “That’s what everyone says,” Emilia joked. “Come on. We’ve got a wedding to go to.”

  All of the bridesmaids—Kinsley’s best friends and original No Brides Club members—were already lined up in the gazebo when they got there. They looked beautiful but were nervous about walking down the aisle. After reassuring them that they would do just fine, she left to go find Lizzy.

  Her sister was waiting for her as planned at the arbor. Once her headset was attached and tested, they made sure all staff manning the ceremony were in position. When the check-in was complete and the last guest seated, Emilia nodded to her sister, and they proceeded to walk down the aisle, sprinkling rose petals from the basket hanging off the crook of Lizzy’s arm.

  At the last row of infinity chairs, they each quietly said into their microphone, “May this be our best wedding yet.” A signal for the procession to begin.

  Emilia and Lizzy quickly took their place in a remote spot out of the way, yet close enough to have a clear view of it all. When the music started, Emilia got choked up, as she usually did, but then when Kinsley walked down the aisle, looking like a princess, the tears she’d been fighting so hard to hold back threatened to stream down her face and ruin her make-up. She wasn’t about to let that happen. At least not when she was on the job. Thankfully, she was able to suppress them and enjoy the ceremony.

  The next couple of hours went by without a hitch. Everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time. The food was fantastic, and the wedding cake not only tasted delicious but was so pretty, she doubted anyone could tell it wasn’t the cake that had originally been planned.

  It wasn’t until Kinsley and Dylan, now Mr. and Mrs. Reese began their first dance that she got choked up again.

  “They make a beautiful couple, don’t they?” Chase asked as he came over to watch the bride and groom glide across the illuminated dance floor.

  A lump had formed in her throat, so it took her a moment to answer. “They’re so perfect for each other and so in love. Not many people have the kind of chemistry they do.”

  “We do.” He looked directly into her eyes, and there was no denying the heart-rendering tenderness of his gaze.

  Before she could answer, a woman wearing a Naturally Delicious shirt interrupted. “Sorry, boss, but we’re out of vodka. Is there another bottle in the van?”

  “There might be, but the keys are in my room.” He placed his warm hand over Emilia’s. “I’ll see you later.”

  As she watched him walk away, she realized that every day, her love for him deepened and intensified.

  She watched the bride and groom dance to a few more songs, but when the floor grew crowded, and she could no longer see them because of all the people, she decided to go get something to eat.

  Emilia had only taken a few steps when the band began to play “My Girl,” stopping her in her tracks. That had been hers and Chase’s song. She scanned the crowd for him, thinking maybe he had asked the band to play it, but she couldn’t find him. The song choice must be a coincidence. She again began to head over to the food tent. This time, though, she was swung into the circle of his arms, and then they were on the floor, dancing like when they were in high school. Memories of when they were young and innocent and totally in love flooded her mind. She dropped her chin on his chest with a sigh of pleasure. She was conscious of where his warm flesh touched her, and her body tingled from the
contact.

  Later, after all the guests had gone home, Kinsley and Dylan had retired to their bridal suite—the master bedroom specially decorated for the occasion, and everything had been cleaned up, they sat out on the back porch with a glass of wine and a piece of wedding cake. Lizzy had taken Newt and gone home. She found out from one of the servers that Ron had been cheating on her, so she broke up with him. All she wanted was to curl up in her own bed and snuggle with her dog. That left Emilia with no one to worry about except herself.

  “To us,” Chase said, clinking her goblet. “May we do many more weddings together?”

  Does that include our own wedding? She wasn’t bold enough to ask him that. Especially since she hadn’t yet told him that she knew what had happened to the missing letters. Now seemed like a good opportunity to do that.

  She took a big gulp of wine, gathered her courage, and then blurted, “If I were to tell you I found out my father had taken the letters, would you still want to do more weddings with me?” She squeezed her eyes shut as she waited for his response, too afraid to see his expression. But when his large hands took her face and held it gently, she opened her eyes.

  “How could you ask me that? Why would I blame you?”

  She shrugged. “I should’ve tried to contact you. I should’ve known you would never just walk away.”

  His lips brushed hers. “Stop blaming yourself. You did nothing wrong,” he whispered against them and then kissed her slowly and passionately.

  She relaxed against him, sinking into his cushioning embrace, relieved that she’d told him about her father and that he’d taken it so well.

  “We’re quite a pair. Both doubting the other, yet never letting go of the love that binds us together.” He looked down at her. “We need to make a promise that we’ll never let that happen again.”

  “I promise.” Her dream to start over had come true, but there was one thing getting in the way of pure bliss. That was having had Lizzy go on a date with Chase. If he ever found out, and she wasn’t the one who told him, he might never forgive her. “I have something else I need to tell you.” She sensed his alarm, so she didn’t waste any more time. “That dinner date… the one where you brought up the letters, well, you didn’t go out with me. You went out with Lizzy.”