Page 33 of Cut The Cake

Nick glanced out the window; the sky had darkened. “I’d better get going,” he said without moving.

“Yeah. Me, too.” Aware of how much she needed to put distance between them before she did something she’d regret, she turned toward the stairs. “I’d better go now.” She ran halfway up the first flight. There, she paused for a quick glance over her shoulder. When Nick remained exactly where he’d been standing, another dose of warmth spread through her chest.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she called. Then, willing herself not to take a second look, she hurried toward her room while she regretted every step.

Chapter Eleven

By nine thirty the next morning, chocolate smeared the starched white aprons of the two I Do Cakes assistant bakers who divided the duties of rolling, cutting, and decorating dozens of cookies for the display cases. Seated at his own table in a corner of the room, their expert piped ribbons of royal icing onto a nearly finished wedding cake. Meanwhile, at yet another workstation, Jimmy carefully added proofed yeast to the ingredients he’d measured into the gigantic bowl of a commercial mixer.

Nick inhaled the typical smells of the bakery on a busy morning. “Be sure and save me a loaf of that onion bread,” he called on his way past Jimmy’s station. Baked to golden perfection, the fragrant loaves were a house favorite.

“Will do, boss.” Surprise registered on the assistant’s face as Jimmy studied Nick’s casual clothes. “You going somewhere?”

“Yep.” He grinned.

“But what about tomorrow’s special?” Jimmy looked around as if afraid he might be on the receiving end of another assignment.

Nick grinned. “All done and in the cooler.” He adjusted the blanket roll he’d slung over one shoulder. He’d set the alarm for three a.m. and had been hard at work ever since. “I’ll have my phone. If anything comes up while I’m gone, call me. Otherwise, I’ll see you in the morning.”

“You don’t say.” The young baker dumped the last of the yeast into the enormous bowl. “Been a while since you took a day off. Have a good time.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

But he shouldn’t be, should he?

The question slowed his exit. The idea of keeping a wayward bride out of trouble hardly qualified as relaxing. Yet he wanted to spend time with Jenny more than he cared to admit, though he couldn’t really put his finger on the reason. She was pretty, he’d give her that much. Hair that was neither black nor brown but an intriguing in-between brushed her shoulders. It fell in soft curls around her face and framed a pair of sparkling brown eyes. The hollows beneath her high cheekbones led to full lips, which frequently widened into a warm smile that made his heart beat faster.

But she wasn’t his type. Whereas the women he usually dated tended to be tall and leggy, Jenny packed just the right amount of curves into a compact figure. The top of her head would barely brush his collarbone if he pulled her into an embrace.

Not that he ever intended to get that close to her.

Though his thoughts sometimes drifted in that direction, each time they did, he firmly lassoed them and brought them right back where they belonged. No, he and Jenny had merely struck up a friendship. They were just two ordinary people who enjoyed each other’s company. And as long as she planned to walk down the aisle in front of friends and family at the end of the month, there couldn’t ever be anything more between them. Lately, he’d been spending extra time with her because the entire town had practically begged him to. That he looked forward to seeing her was just a bonus.

He was still working hard to convince himself he had the best of intentions where Jenny was concerned when he stepped into the alley behind I Do Cakes. There, he stopped to empty his pockets at the bowls he filled before he locked up each night. The faint noise of a handful of treats landing in the metal containers caught the attention of a calico cat that peered at him from behind the dumpster. Nick made a friendly clicking noise with his tongue. When the stray only darted out of sight, he shrugged and headed in the opposite direction. Eventually, the young kitty would get used to him.

Striding along Bridal Carriage Way, he spotted an extraordinary amount of activity on the street. Shopkeepers who rarely stepped beyond their front doors during the busy morning rush found excuses to step outside and greet him. He waved to Mildred, who watered the flowers outside Forget Me Knot. The florist returned the gesture with an approving glance. At Food Fit For A Queen, Janet stopped sweeping the sidewalk long enough to wish him well as he passed by.

Aware that word of his plans for the day must have spread, he shoved his hands in his pockets. That was one of the drawbacks of small-town life—everyone knew your business.

Not that he didn’t appreciate the good wishes. They served as a reminder that the reputation of Heart’s Landing rested on his shoulders. Much as he liked Jenny, much as he’d even begun to suspect that her upcoming marriage to Bob wasn’t actually a match made in heaven, he’d agreed to get her through the next couple of weeks with a minimum of fuss. He intended to do just that and nothing else.

Reassured that he was doing the right thing for all the right reasons, he trotted up the steps to the front entrance of the B&B. The house was quiet, the lobby and living room empty. He passed through the dining area. Freshly brewed coffee, baskets of sweet rolls, and stacks of clean plates sat untouched. Not a surprise. The Smith wedding had lasted into the wee hours. The guests were probably sleeping in. In the kitchen, he spied a large picnic basket. Reading Jenny’s name on the tag, he resisted the urge to peek inside while he toted it out the back door to the pair of bikes that stood in the bike rack. He’d just finished strapping the heavy basket on the back of his when Jenny pushed open the screen door.

She rushed down the steps wearing a bright yellow T-shirt above longish shorts. He swallowed at the sight of trim calves that tapered down to slim ankles and forced his gaze down to the pair of sturdy athletic shoes that snugged her feet. Swallowing an appreciative whistle, he thumbed the bell on the bike handle. The clapper struck a cheery note.

“Sorry I’m late,” she offered with a grin.

Nick concentrated on checking out the bike chain and brakes. “No hurry. I just got here myself. You ready to go?”

“Ready.” Beneath the hair she’d slicked into a ponytail, she’d scrubbed her face clean. Her smile brightened as she gave him the thumbs-up sign. She stuck her ever-present cell phone in a back pocket and mounted the bike with an easy grace he hadn’t expected.

Riding single-file, they hugged the side of the road until they were well out of Heart’s Landing. Another five minutes took them to the bike path that led north along the rugged coastline. Not sure how far they’d go, he coasted around the corner and headed toward a spot where they could stop for lunch. He glanced over one shoulder at Jenny. Clearly in her element, she zipped along smoothly.

Once they were on the wide path, he motioned her forward until they were riding abreast. “You look like you know what you’re doing. You ride much in L.A.?”

“Whenever I can. There are some pretty bike paths throughout the city and up into the foothills. I mostly get out in the winter. Summers are too hot.” She expertly steered around a downed branch. “How about yourself?”

“The opposite. Too much snow on the ground in the winter here. I manage to get out once or twice a week from spring through fall. It clears out the cobwebs.”

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