Baking Love Read Free Page A

tremble. I guess skipping breakfast on account of my nerves finally caught up to me. “Mr. Prescott, Eric, can I get you each a slice of the cake Cecilia and Loraine selected for the wedding?” So I can get a slice for myself.
    “Sure, thanks,” Eric said.
    Kate hurried behind the counter and took the white chocolate cake out of the display case. She cut two slices and plated them, then cut a slice for herself. She crouched to the floor and started cramming cake in her mouth.
    Jess came around the corner, and her eyes landed squarely on Kate. “I don’t understand what I’m seeing right now.”
    “I’ll explain later,” Kate whispered. “Would you get my water bottle off the work table?”
    Jess disappeared into the kitchen and returned with the water. She knelt beside Kate and handed it to her. “Have you noticed the guy at the table looks exactly like Eric Wagner?”
    Kate chugged the entire bottle. “That’s because it is Eric Wagner.”
    “No way! What’s he doing back in Hillsborough?” Jess frowned. “Why’s he sitting next to Cecilia?”
    Wait for it.
    Jess clapped her hands over her mouth. “No.”
    “Yes.”
    She lowered her hands. “ Eric is Cecilia’s fiancé?” she hissed.
    “Yes, ma’am.” Kate stood up and brushed the crumbs off her clothes.
    Jess stood up as well. “From the way you talked about Cecilia, I understood her to be a b—” Her gaze slid to the table and back. “Not a friendly person.”
    “You understood correctly.”
    “An unfriendly person doesn’t seem like Eric’s type.”
    “I agree.”
    Jess clicked her tongue. “Guess beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.”
    Kate grabbed the plates and two forks. “Maybe Eric should have his eyes checked.”
    Jess stifled laughter as Kate headed toward the table. She set the plates in front of the men and took her seat. “See anything you like?” she asked Eric.
    “I’d take any of them.”
    I knew you’d be easier to please. “Which one’s your favorite?”
    “The one with the fish on top.” He showed her the photo in the album.
    “You still like to fish, huh?”
    “Love to.”
    “Are you sure you don’t want Kate to sketch you some more choices?” Cecilia’s voice rang out.
    Unbelievable.
    “No need for more choices,” Eric replied. “This one’s perfect.”
    Way to go, Eric. “What flavor of cake would you like?” Kate asked him.
    “Red velvet is my favorite.” His eyes lit up. “Wouldn’t it be awesome if you made the cake blue instead of red? You know, like the fish is jumping out of water?”
    That’s absolute genius .
    “Absolutely not,” Cecilia balked. “What would our guests think if they were asked to eat a blue piece of cake?”
    The table fell silent.
    Well, this is awkward. “Tell you what,” Kate finally said. “Why don’t you call me or come by later this weekend and let me know what you decide?”
    “Good idea,” Loraine chimed in. “Before we leave, we’ll sign the contract if you have it ready.”
    “I do.” Kate pulled the two-page document from the back of her sketchbook and passed it across the table to Loraine.
    “My parents said they’ll stop by next week to sign the contract for the groom’s cake,” Eric told Kate.
    “That’s fine. Incidentally, will the groom’s cake be served at the rehearsal dinner?”
    “Yes,” Loraine answered.
    “What time does it begin?”
    “Seven o’clock.”
    “Great, thanks.”
    While Walter and Loraine poured over the contract, Kate flipped mindlessly through her sketchbook. Keep your eyes down and maybe you can avoid further interaction with Cecilia.
    After going through the sketchbook twice and still not hearing a word from Walter or Loraine, Kate started to curse this alternate universe. It won’t allow time to speed up for me, but it will allow time to slow down for them? She glanced at the wall clock. Have the hands indeed ceased to move?
    “Here you are, Kate.”
    She snapped her attention back to the