Page 34 of Seaside Cowboy's Marriage of Convenience

“Sorry, Ms. Crawford, I mean, Mrs. Lawrence.” Emma sent Kennedy an apologetic glance. “I was hurrying to tell you that, while I was outside, a car drove by and slowed down near the hotel. I think I glimpsed guns inside. They drove off, but I wanted to let you know in case it mattered.”

“Thank you. You did the right thing letting me know.”

Pretending to need information about the menu, Kennedy gestured for Rachel to follow her and, in a whisper, relayed what she’d learned.

Rachel nodded. “I’ll check that, too.”

Austin, who’d stepped out to take an emergency call from a veterinary client, walked back into the room while looking at Kennedy.

Uh-oh. While she wanted him to have eyes only for her, there was that spillage on the tile. And he didn’t see it.

“Austin, be careful, please!” she shouted.

“Why?”

His foot slipped on the wet floor. His arms flailed like a windmill. He’d managed to stop his fall but somehow glided forward.

Right into the table with the wedding cake. “Noooo!” He did his best to catch the tall, elegant construction. And he did catch it. Just notallof it. He caught one layer while another smashed into his face, then slapped onto his suit before splattering over the floor.

For the third time that day, everyone gasped, but this time, Kennedy did as well. She leaped forward and rushed to him, but it was too late.

Okay, okay.She took several deep breaths of air still carrying a perfectly-charred-steak scent sweetened with orchids and vanilla.

Austin’s eyes went huge as he eyed the five-tiered cake decorated with orchids now decorating the floor and his tuxedo. His shoulders inched up, and his neck reddened as he cringed. “That answers my question.”

Breathe in. Breathe out.

This wasn’t a disaster. Desserts were replaceable. Even five-layered ones. The main thing, Austin didn’t fall and wasn’t hurt. But she asked to be sure, “Are you okay?”

“I am.” He wiped vanilla cream from his cheek and tried it. “Everyone, I can attest that this cake is delicious.”

She’d been through way worse things than this. But why did Saylor have to be recording the entire scene? Chin high, Kennedy didn’t let her facial expression change. And the videographer she’d hired kept recording, too. The photographer snapped their photos, though he didn’t get the spectacular falling-down part.

Oh well. She pulled her shoulders back. She’d done plenty of damage control in the hospitality business, and the damage here was insignificant. She had to make the best of it. She always did. But for the first time since becoming independent from her uncle, she didn’t have to do it alone.

Her smile in place, she scooped some frosting from Austin’s face with her finger, enjoying touching his face. “Mmm, this is really good.” She turned to the guests. “I wonder if this counts as feeding each other the wedding cake?”

“Yes, butwedidn’t get to try it!” Saylor called out.

Austin turned a hopeful gaze on her. “Do you, um, have a backup wedding cake?”

Kennedy didn’t even blink. “I’m surprised you even ask, though it only has three layers.”

He chuckled, relief evident on his cake-smeared but dear face. “You’re amazing.”

“No, just prepared.” If she didn’t need the backup cake, she’d planned to donate it.

She dabbed his face with a napkin, causing his eyes to widen when her fingers touched his skin trailing the napkin. She leaned to him, breathing the fresh scent of his aftershave and yummy vanilla cake, and her pulse skyrocketed from his proximity. With her lips so close to his, it took all her willpower not to kiss him. The kiss would be so sweet—literally.

The emotion in his blue eyes deepened, giving her hope he had the thoughts and desires she did. She wanted to tell him so many things.

Instead, she just whispered into his ear, “I guess that’s what it means to have your cake and eat it, too.”

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