Page 26 of Forbidden Flame

“Cole is going too,” Marley said as she read the text.

I tried not to react to that information. I was bound to see him. I just hoped we could pretend nothing transpired between us. That was easier to accomplish at home. But here, where Cole lived and worked, it was going to be more difficult to pretend that we hadn’t shared something special that night.

I was already a nervous wreck, worried about whether the girls would bring up the date or if Cole would.

“I think it’s great they included Cole. He must be lonely with everyone paired off,” Ireland said.

“Oh?” I asked, wanting to know more about him.

Ireland nodded. “Emmett said he spent a lot of time here when they were kids. That his home life wasn’t the best.”

Cole didn’t think his cousins knew much about that, but I wondered if his aunt and uncle did and passed along that information to the eldest Monroe brother to look after him. It made me like the Monroes even more.

“Whatever happened on your date with him? We haven’t seen you much since then,” Marley asked as the hair stylist continued pinning her hair in a complicated updo.

“The date you set up was so nice. There was picnic food, bathing suits, and towels. It was like you’d thought of everything. And the atmosphere was very romantic with the twinkling lights you strung around the perimeter and the ones in the hot tub.”

“I have fond memories of the hot tub,” Ireland said with a smile.

“Did you make use of the condoms?” Marley asked as she leaned closer.

I felt hot all over but decided to go with part of the truth. “I didn’t realize there were condoms.”

“Was Cole nice to you?” Sarah stood and went to the mirror to admire her hair, which was curled and pulled back with a clip on one side.

“He was a perfect gentleman.”

Marley shot me a look, and I appreciated that she hadn’t mentioned that I was the one who’d requested the hot-tub date.

“I’d think you could get to know each other easily in a hot tub. You shed your clothes and your inhibitions,” Ireland teased.

“Even if we were looking for a relationship, our families dislike each other.”

“If you like each other, those kinds of things shouldn’t matter,” Sarah said as the stylist handed her a mirror to check out the back of her hair.

“You know they do,” Marley pointed out. “You saw how angry Emmett got when you wanted to order Daphne’s pies for the reception.

I stiffened. “I didn’t know that.”

Regret passed over Marley’s face as Sarah crossed the room to stand in front of me. “It was ridiculous. A rivalry between our families is unnecessary. Besides, everyone loves your pies. Emmett was just being Emmett. He doesn’t like change.”

I had a feeling Sarah was downplaying whatever happened. Marley and Ireland seemed uncomfortable.

“I don’t want to cause any trouble.”

Sarah squeezed my hand. “You’re our friend, and I wanted you to stand up in my wedding. Besides, your pies are going to be a hit. They’re to die for.”

“You’re too nice.” I had orders for my pies that boosted my confidence, but so far, I hadn’t been able to get any contracts with a local restaurant. I assumed my pies weren’t good enough.

Sarah shook her head. “Your pies are amazing. I hope that this will give you more exposure.”

“I really appreciate it. But I don’t think pie will replace cake for weddings.” Not enough on a local level to make a difference for me. Pies weren’t something that were used in catering events often. Not for the first time, I wondered if I should branch out into cakes and pastries.

Pies were my specialty, and the only thing I wanted to make. I just hoped I could make it a sustainable business.

“Maybe not. But this will give you some exposure and contacts. Hopefully, it will help with word-of-mouth referrals,” Sarah said.

“Is that why you chose my pies for your wedding?” It was a nice gesture, but I’d hoped she picked my pies because she wanted them for her wedding.

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