Baking Love Read Free Page B

table and saw Loraine sliding the contract and a cash deposit in her direction. “Thank you,” Kate said, sticking both in the back of her sketchbook.
    Everyone stood up, and Kate inadvertently met Walter’s gaze. “Thanks for your hard work,” he smiled.
    Kate returned his smile. In the case of Cecilia Prescott and her parents, the apple had clearly fallen a great distance from the tree.
    “Bye, Kate,” Eric called out, while holding the bakery door open for his fiancée.
    “Bye.” Once they were gone, Kate sighed. I hope Eric knows what he’s gotten himself into.
    * * * *
    Kate sat at the work table, staring at the wedding cake sketch Cecilia had chosen earlier in the day. How is it possible that I missed the mark on every single cake I drew for her? Why did she settle for one instead of taking me up on my offer to sketch a new set of choices?
    “Knock, knock!”
    Kate looked up. “Eric!” What are you doing here? “How’d you get in?”
    “I ran into Jess as she was locking up, and she let me in. She told me she’s your assistant now.”
    “Yeah, I hired her after I inherited the bakery. It turned out to be the best professional decision I’ve ever made because she’s damn good at decorating.”
    “I bet you two kick ass together.”
    “Some days more than others.” Kate ran her hand across the sketch of his wedding cake. “So what brought you here tonight?”
    “I wanted to give you Cecilia’s mobile number and my new mobile number since we’re working together now.” He pulled a folded piece of paper from the back pocket of his jeans and handed it to Kate.
    “My mobile number hasn’t changed, and neither has the bakery’s number, so you can call either one.”
    “Okay.” Eric cleared his throat. “There’s one more thing.”
    “What?”
    “Cecilia and I discussed the groom’s cake. You can make it red.”
    Why am I not surprised? “Red, huh?”
    “Yeah.” He shrugged. “Either color is fine with me.”
    Even after all this time, I can tell you’re lying. “Your cakes will look awesome.”
    “I know. Sullivan’s never disappoints.”
    “I appreciate you choosing us, by the way. I’m flattered.”
    “It never crossed my mind to choose anyone else.” Eric’s eyes twinkled. “You’re the best.”
    “Thanks.”
    He held her gaze, but didn’t reply. She noticed the corners of his mouth curl upward ever so slightly. “What are you thinking about?” she asked.
    He looked away. “Nothing. I’ll let you get back to work. Sorry if I startled you when I came in.”
    Kate contemplated questioning him further, but decided against it. He probably needs to go. “You didn’t startle me. I’m glad you stopped by.”
    “I’ll see you soon.”
    “See you soon.”
    Eric left through the back door of the bakery, and Kate’s thoughts immediately returned to his instructions to make the groom’s cake red. Anger filled her frame. Cecilia gets the wedding cake she wants…picked, so Eric should get the groom’s cake he wants. The fish alone isn’t enough: he should get the color, too.
    Resolve surged through her. Like hell Eric will have to compromise. Cecilia might’ve had the final say over him, but she didn’t have the final say over Kate for one simple reason: Kate was the person making the cake.
    She laughed. Eric’s groom’s cake is so going to be blue.
     

 

Chapter Four
     
    Tuesday, January 31
     
    “I’m going to show you how to make your cake look like a basket,” Kate told the women in her decorating class. “To do it, you’ll need tip number forty-seven.” The women shuffled through their personal cake decorating kits for the appropriate tip while Kate attached hers to a pastry bag.
    Jess arrived at the table. “I’m sorry to interrupt,” she whispered to Kate. “Loraine Prescott is on the phone for you.”
    “Loraine Prescott?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Did she say what she wants?”
    “Only that she wants to talk to you.”
    Nerves gripped Kate.