Page 88 of Challenged By You
“Left all catering decisions in your hands, I know. You would think after living with me through the first one of these”—I rub my hand over my slightly protruding stomach with a beaming smile—“you’d be used to my insanity.”
“I’m used to you, all right,” she retorts. “It’s your fiancé who’s a pain in the ass.”
With a groan, I slide back against my office chair. “What did Jonas ask for now?”
Elle begins mimicking Jonas’s deep voice, something she excelled at doing considering the amount of time she spends with us. “I know we said one big cake, but do you think it should be mini cakes instead?”
Laughing, I reach over into the basket a supplier sent over of samples of wine from a vineyard in Virginia we’re considering for Seduction. “Here, chug that and you’ll feel better,” I assure her. “All you have to tell Jonas is I’ve never tested the apple buttercup cake as mini cakes. Then what would happen if our wedding cake was ruined?”
“I know I’ve said it over the years, but I love you.” Elle toasts me and tips her bottle back.
“I love you too.”
“No, Trina.” Her exquisite face shifts from humor to humble. “Everyone here loves you. I don’t think there’s anyone who could have slid into Sterling’s shoes when she was promoted to take over London quite the same way you have.”
“Damn you.” I reach for the box of tissues sitting on my desk. “You know how easily the waterworks start when I’m pregnant.”
She shrugs, completely unrepentant. “Blame your soon-to-be husband. More often than not, I’ve been blaming him as of late.”
I burst into laughter which is how Jonas, Annie, and Chris find me. “Mama!” Annie hurls herself into my arms.
“Well, baby, don’t you look adorable in your uniform.” I admire how neat she still looks after a half day of school. Holding out my arms for Chris, I chuckle. “And darling, you look like you found the only mud puddle in the city.”
“I did,” he informs me proudly. “We were on the playground during break.”
“Well, you know what that means?”
Chris groans. “A bath?”
“A shower at the very least,” I tell him gently. “We’ve got big plans the next few days, baby.”
“Have any idea what those might be?” Jonas leans down and brushes his lips against mine. Just like the first time our mouths met, that electric charge surges between us. “How’s work?”
“I’m just finishing up.” I smile against his lips. “That’s because I had to tell Elle you can’t have individual cakes.”
Jonas pulls back and frowns—first at Elle, then at me. “Why not?”
“Because unless you want me to miss our rehearsal dinner by testing the recipe to make sure it will be perfect for our guests, then one large cake is being made.”
“I’m sure Elle could…”
“No,” I say flatly. “I’m not having you complain about a single morsel of food on our wedding day. And the cake is one thing I know for certain you’ll be eating.”
“Mama, are you going to shove the cake in Daddy’s face?” Annie asks excitedly.
Jonas is torn in that moment between overwhelming pride each time one of the kids calls him “Daddy” and an instinctive need to argue with me about food here in my own kitchen. “I just think the presentation…”
“Should have been thought of six months ago when you asked me to marry you and we started planning. Not twenty-four hours before the event. You’re worse than Bridezilla, Jonas.” Quickly turning to my desktop, I pull up our internal communications platform. My hand hovers over the mouse. “Don’t make me pull in the big guns,” I warn him.
“The changes I asked for shouldn’t be a problem. I’m not asking for the menu to be changed. Well, except for the cheese. Would it be possible—” He turns to an infuriated Elle.
I double-click on the name at the top of my list.
The room goes silent as a soft bleep-bleep resonates through the room. “I’m on the way to the airport to make it in time for your wedding. What the hell’s wrong?” Mia’s voice comes through loud and clear.
“Two things. First, the kids are in my office,” I warn her.
“Hi, Annie. Hi, Chris. Are you excited for tomorrow?” Mia’s voice becomes effervescent with excitement.
