Page 6 of A Wilder Wedding

She laughed and pointed to the next one. “This is ginger and passion fruit, and I’ve actually made it as a yogurt cheesecake before, but I wanted to try it like this.”

The flavors burst on my tongue, and I had to take a seat, smiling the whole time.

“Okay, what else do you have? Because I’m dying.”

“Here we have a coconut mocha. Which is probably too much, but I can’t help myself.”

I took a bite, the flavors settling deep, and I swallowed, humming to myself.

“This is amazing, but I think the chai might be my favorite.”

“Same. Plus, the spiced pear? It’s perfect for a fall wedding. Of course, I might throw this all away and go with an almond cake so I could have a lot of fun with the cake decorations. I’m such a huge almond cake fan.”

“Whatever you do, have this as one of the cupcakes,” I said, pointing to the yummy confection in front of me.

“Then I was thinking maybe go with the almond cake with a sour cream frosting, or just go completely traditional.”

“No, you go with what you like. Yes, people love cake, but you go with the cake that makes you excited. You’re a baker. Have fun with all the flavors.”

“I really love the chai.”

“Then have it. And then make the almonds and the lemons and all of the other flavors as cupcakes on the side for those who want them. Because you know you want to make them.”

“A cupcake tower might not be trendy anymore, but I still love them. Because I love cupcakes.”

My stomach rumbled, and I reached for another bite of the chai cake. “I love all cake. Seriously, you’re the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

She smiled and winked.

“I would say you’re the best thing to happen to me too, but sorry, Ridge beats that.” Something flashed over her face, and I knew there was a little regret there.

Because the first time I had really gotten to know Aurora was when Amos and I had broken up for the final time.

The problem was, Amos and I were really good at breaking up. We would get together, and then realize we were looking for different things. The first time was because I wanted fun and happiness, and he wanted heat. And then he decided that this was too much and getting in the way of work, and while I had somewhat agreed, I hadn’t realized that breaking up was the way to fix that. And then there was another time when my brothers had shown up and been such assholes that I had been the one to break it off. I was tired of Amos trying to protect me when I knew I could protect myself.

I knew none of it made any sense. Yes, I should just move on. But I had long ago realized that I loved Amos. And he was going to be my undoing.

Aurora and I went over a few other things before I helped her clean up the cakes and I went back to my paperwork. All the guests were checked in and didn’t need me for now. Meaning I could finish this up and head home.

Alone.

I lived in the innkeeper’s apartment, a place that had been mine for far too long if I was being honest with myself. But I loved the place, I loved how I had made it mine over time.

Though it wasn’t really mine. I didn’t have to pay for it, it was a perk of my job. I didn’t own a home. I didn’t have a pet. I wasn’t married. I didn’t have children. I didn’t have all the things I thought I would have at my age. Not that I was aging out of them. It was this being stagnant. Something needed to change, only I wasn’t sure what that was going to be.

I finished up my paperwork, humming to myself, thinking that I should probably eat and not just have cake for dinner. Kendall would have something in the kitchen for me, or I could go out. I could even order in. I could probably cook something for myself in my small kitchen, but I wasn’t much of a cook. That was something my father had always lamented about.

I frowned, annoyed with myself for thinking about him again.

I did my best not to think of my family. Nothing had changed in the years since I had walked away. They still hated me for leaving and begged me to come back. They still thought I should be at their beck and call, so they didn’t have to make any decisions or do anything on their own.

They still tried to bully me into doing what they wanted. I was always the good daughter who came home for Christmas to make sure my father wasn’t drinking himself into a puddle.

Which was usually the case.

Annoyed with myself for letting my thoughts wander, I ran my hands over my face and decided to take a walk.

I would let the breeze hit my face, breathe in and out, and then go find something to eat. And then I’d go home—alone—and figure out what to do next.

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