Page 59 of The Gingerbread Bakery
Annie rolled her eyes. ‘Those two are obsessed with each other. There’s no way even a curse would pull them apart. I'm not worried.’
Daisy gave her a weak smile. ‘Well, I do appreciate you recommending me to Jeanie.’
If Annie could help the fools in this town see that Daisy was talented and in no way responsible for the end of other people’s marriages, then she was happy to do it.
‘Of course! Your flower arrangements are the best. It’s silly to waste them on dead people.’ A laugh burst from Kira's lips at that remark and all three women were quickly giggling again.
‘What’s so funny over there?’ Bennett asked from across the barn.
‘Just the usual girl talk,’ Kira called back. ‘Nature documentaries and funerals.’
To his credit, Bennett didn’t even look surprised at that answer. ‘Come over here and let us know what you think.’
The three women finished up the last table and joined Bennett and Mac. They’d managed to arrange a half dozen fresh Christmas trees to create a backdrop for the ceremony. They’d covered them in white lights and, when Bennett flipped off the overhead lights, the effect was magical.
‘It’s beautiful,’ Daisy whispered.
It really was.
Annie looked around at the work they’d done tonight. The wood rafters of the barn were covered in white, twinkle lights. Annie was pretty sure there were even more than there had been the night before and they made the room glow with golden light. White chairs stood in rows flanking the aisle and at the end of each was a white lantern with candles inside. On the other side of the barn were a dozen round tables, each draped in a cream-colored tablecloth with Daisy's beautiful centerpieces in the middle, moody reds and dark greens; like Christmas but sexier.
The gingerbread house was on a table in the corner with a curtain in front of it, to keep it a surprise for the groom and the guests. Tomorrow, the table beside it would be filled with cookies and cupcakes fresh from the bakery.
Everything looked perfect.
Jeanie was going to love it. Annie wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
‘Crying already?’ Mac asked, appearing beside her.
Annie sniffled. ‘I can’t help it. It’s just… I love those two! And I’m really happy for them.’
‘So, are you ready to go?’ Mac’s voice was a low rumble in her ear. When had he gotten so close?
‘I should probably make sure Kira doesn’t need anything…’
‘Kira is just fine,’ Kira said, butting into the conversation. ‘You are free to go.’ She gave Annie a devious smile. Annie would remember this. She’d make sure Kira got stuck talking to whatever offensive relatives Jeanie and Bennett happen to have in attendance tomorrow.
‘See, there you go,’ Mac said. ‘We’re dismissed.’
And there was that hand again on the small of her back leading her toward the door. She should really tell him to knock that off. She wanted to protest but she also didn't want to inconvenience Bennett and Kira by sticking around.
‘Daisy, do you need a ride?’ she called, in a last-ditch effort to not be trapped alone with Mac.
‘No, I'm good. I drove my truck and I’m not far from here.’
Damn Daisy and her four-wheel drive. Mac was smirking at her when she caught a glimpse of him from the corner of her eye. Definitely up to something.
Bundled into the passenger seat with the box of kittens on her lap, Annie felt like when they were teenagers all over again. She felt out of control, her body feeling things she had never given it permission to feel.
But also like when they were teenagers, she felt ready to give into it all. Give it all up to Mac, consequences be damned.
‘I thought we could go to my place first and get the kittens settled in. It’s closer,’ he said, getting into the truck. It was a stupid excuse and made no sense, but Annie found herself agreeing. The kittens needed settling. Obviously. They’d had a traumatic few days.
She needed to go back to Mac’s for the kittens’ sake.
ChapterTwenty-One
Then
