Сьюзен Мейер – Mothers In A Million: A Father for Her Triplets / First Comes Baby... (страница 9)
She pulled back, studied him. “Really?”
“I go to a lot of charity events. I don’t want to look like a schlep.”
“Oh, trust me. You’re so far from a schlep it’s not even funny.”
He laughed. The deep, rich, sexy sound surrounded her and her heart stuttered. Now she knew how Cinderella felt dancing with the prince. Cautiously happy. No woman in her right mind really believed the prince would choose her permanently. But, oh, who could resist a five-minute dance when this sexy, bold guy was all hers?
His arms tightened around her, brought her close again, and she let herself go. She gave in to the rush of attraction. The scramble of her pulse. The heat that reminded her she was still very much a woman, not just a mom.
He whirled them around, along the stone path to a colorful garden. As they twirled, he caught her gaze and the whole world seemed to disappear. There was no one but him, with his big biceps, strong shoulders and serious brown eyes, and her with her trembling heart and melting knees. Their gazes locked and a million what-if’s shivered through her.
What if he hadn’t gone away after college?
What if she’d been able to keep their date?
What if she wasn’t so afraid now to trust another man?
Could she fall in love with him?
The dance went on and on. They never broke eye contact. She thought of him being good first to Owen and then to all three of her kids. She thought of him angry when he’d jumped into her SUV. Righteously indignant on her behalf, since her ex was such an idiot. She thought of him wanting to kiss her the other night, and her already weak knees threatened to buckle. If it felt this good to dance with him, what would a kiss be like?
Explosive?
Passionate?
Soul searing?
“Excuse me? Are you the lady who did the cake?”
Brought back to reality, she jumped out of Wyatt’s arms and faced the woman who’d interrupted them, only to find a bridesmaid.
Missy’s senses instantly sharpened. “Yes. Is there something wrong? Do I need to come inside?”
“No! No! The cake is gorgeous. Perfect.” The woman in the pink gown handed her a slip of paper. “That’s my name and phone number. I’m getting married next year. The third week in June. I’d love for you to do my cake. Could you call me?”
Happiness raced through her. Her cheeks flushed. “I’d love to. But I have to check my book first and make sure I don’t have another cake scheduled for that day.”
The pretty bridesmaid said, “Well, I’m hoping you don’t.” Then she slipped back into the ballroom.
Slapping the little slip of paper against her hand, Missy joyfully faced Wyatt again.
He leaned against a stone retaining wall, watching her with hooded eyes.
“Look! I’m already starting to get work for next year.”
He eased away from the wall. “Yeah. I see that.”
She’d expected him to be happier for her. Instead he appeared annoyed. Her heart beat against her ribs. Surely he wasn’t upset that they’d been interrupted?
She licked her lips and fanned the little slip of paper. “She hasn’t tasted the cake yet. This might not pan out.”
“Everybody who ate at the diner loved your cakes. You know they’re good.”
She grinned. “I do!”
“So you’re a shoo-in.”
“Yeah.”
She took a breath. He glanced around awkwardly.
Then she remembered they’d been dancing. Her heart had been pounding. Their gazes had been locked. Something had been happening between them. But the moment had officially been broken.
And now that she was out of his arms, away from his enticing scent, away from the pull of their attraction, she was glad. Really. This wasn’t a happily-ever-after kind of relationship. He’d be around only a short time, then he’d go back to Florida. And her divorce had left her unable to trust. Even if she could trust, she wouldn’t get involved in something that might distract her from her wedding cake business. She’d never, ever find herself in a position of depending upon a man again.
She turned to go back into the country club ballroom. “It’s about time for the bride and groom to cut the cake. Once they get pictures, our big job starts.”
She didn’t even look back, just expected him to follow her. Even Wyatt with his sexy brown eyes couldn’t make her forget the night she’d sat staring at the babies’ cribs, knowing she didn’t have formula for the next day—or money to buy it.
She would build her business, then maybe work on her trust issues. But for now, the business came first.
AFTER THE BRIDE AND GROOM cut the cake, Missy sliced the bottom layer, set the pieces on plates and the plates on trays. Waiters in white shirts scrambled over, grabbed the trays and served the cake.
Wyatt glanced around. “What can I do?”
“How about if I cut the cake and put it on dessert plates, and you put the plates on the trays?”
It wasn’t rocket science, but it was better than standing around watching her slender fingers work the knife. Better than wrestling with the hunger gnawing at his belly. And not hunger for food. Hunger for a kiss.
A kiss she owed him. Had she not stood him up, their date would have ended in a kiss.
Hence, she owed him.
When the last of the cake was served, she packaged the top layer, the one with the intricate orchids, into a special box. They packaged the remainder of the uncut cake into another, not quite as fancy, one. The bride’s mom took both boxes, complimented Missy on the cake, then strode away to secure the leftovers for the bride.
As the music and dancing went on, Missy and Wyatt gathered up her equipment and slid it into the back of her SUV.
Just as they were closing the door, a young woman in a blue dress scrambled over. “You made the cake, right?”
Missy smiled. “Yes.”
“It was wonderful! Delicious and beautiful.”
Her cheeks flushed again. Her eyes sparkled with happiness. “Thanks.”
“I don’t suppose you have a card?”
She winced. “No. Sorry. But if you write down your name and number, I can call you.” She headed for the driver’s side door. “I have a pen and paper.”
The young woman eagerly took the pad and pen and scribbled her name and phone number.
“Don’t forget to put your wedding date on there.”
After another quick scribble, the bride-to-be handed the tablet to Missy, but another young woman standing beside her grabbed the pad and pen before she could take them.
“I’ll give you my name and number and wedding date, too. That was the most delicious cake I’ve ever eaten.”
“Thanks.”
When the two brides-to-be were finished heaping praise on Missy, she and Wyatt climbed into the SUV and headed home.
He’d never been so proud of anyone in his life. He didn’t think he’d even been this proud of himself when he’d bought the comic book company. Of course, the stakes weren’t as high. As Missy had said, she had three kids to support and no job. He’d been publishing comic books for at least six years before he bought the company, and by then, given how much influence he had over what they published, it was almost a foregone conclusion that he’d someday take over.
But this—watching Missy start her company from nothing—it was energizing. Emotional.
“You need to get business cards.”
She glanced over at him, her cheeks rosy, her eyes shining. “What?”
“Business cards. So that people can call you.”
She laughed her musical laugh, the one that reminded him he liked her a lot more than he should.
“It’s better for them to give me their numbers. This way they don’t get lost, and I control the situation.”
He sucked in a breath. She liked control, huh? Well, she certainly had control of him, and it confused him, didn’t fit his plans. Probably didn’t fit her plans. “That’s good thinking.”