Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
“Wow. You told him.” Lauren began to clap, applauding her. “What the hell did he want?”
Jade placed her hand over her chest, aware of her pulse racing. She took a deep breath to calm herself. “He’s not happy I’m spending time with Knox. He actually accused me of having the photos taken and posted on purpose to make him jealous or to get back at him for cheating on me.”
It wasn’t in her nature to hurt someone on purpose—and she hadn’t meant to be so blunt about her relationship, or whatever it was, with Knox—but Theo deserved that… and more.
“Asshole. Like he has a say in what you do.”
Jade shook her head. “I’m just in shock that he even cares at this late date.”
Lauren glanced at the phone she held in her hand. “I wish we had time to go for lunch and discuss this in detail, but we have appointments to get to. Promise me a girls’ night soon?”
Jade smiled. “You got it. How about this weekend?”
“I have a date on Friday night. How’s Saturday night?” Lauren asked.
Jade admired her friend’s ability to put herself out there by dating strangers. “New guy?”
Lauren nodded. “Last one ghosted me.”
Jade frowned. “Okay then. Saturday night is perfect.” She pushed her chair back and rose to her feet. “I’m going to the ladies’ room to freshen up and head out. I’ll talk to you this afternoon. Good luck with your appointment.”
“Same to you.”
A short time later, Jade stepped out of the Uber she’d taken to the bakery where she was meeting Holly for the cake tasting. Despite feeling like she’d finally gotten the upper hand with Theo, she couldn’t seem to calm her nerves. Her confrontation with him had brought on the stomach churning she hated, along with a dull throb on one side of her head. Ignoring how she felt, she walked inside to do her job.
Holly didn’t need her to choose flavors—those were personal preference. As for cake style, Holly had promised to bring photos of what she had in mind so they could collaborate on keeping with the general colors of navy and cream.
She stepped into the showroom, expecting to see Holly and meet her groom-to-be, Miles. But Holly had brought her brother along, as well. The young couple sat looking through an album of cakes, while Emmaline, the owner, baker, and creator, spoke to Knox. Holly and Miles looked up, waved, then returned to their perusal of cake pictures.
Knox and Emmaline both turned her way. Emmaline, always Jade’s first choice for any event that needed a cake, rushed over to give Jade a hug.
“Hi, Emmaline! It’s so good to see you.” Jade embraced her in return.
She stepped back and glanced at Knox. “You’re a surprise.” A handsome one, wearing a sport jacket she wanted to peel off him so she could bury her face in his chest and inhale his masculine scent.
Emmaline stepped away, looking at Holly and Miles over her shoulder. Knox stepped closer and leaned forward.
“A good one, I hope.” Jade expected his lips to brush her cheek. Instead, he’d whispered in her ear, causing her to tremble.
“Come see!” Holly’s voice had her stepping back and reminding herself to act more professional.
She cleared her throat, took a deep breath, then walked over to the happy couple. For the next two hours, they tasted samples, listened to Emmaline describe what flavors went well together, and discussed the shape and type of cake they wanted. For someone so certain of her wedding venue, Holly kept changing her mind on the various elements of the cake. Miles mostly left the final decision up to Holly. Which meant, at the end of two hours, she was still waffling.
Though it was Jade’s job to keep the bride calm and facilitate her choices, today had been a rough one for her. Her headache, which had started as a slight pounding, had turned into a full-blown migraine. She just needed to wrap things up here and she could go home, take her meds, grab an ice pack, and fall into bed.
“You don’t have to make the final choice today,” Emmaline said. “You can get back to me. Take some time and think about it.”
Yes, Jade thought. “That sounds like a good idea.”
“No.” Knox shook his head. Until now, he’d been quiet, letting the couple taste and discuss their options. “It’s a cake. It’s going to be beautiful, you’ll be so busy you’ll barely taste it, and everything today was delicious. You can’t go wrong. So choose.”
He folded his arms across his chest, but despite his firmness with his sister, he appeared more frazzled than when he’d arrived. His hair was messy from running his hands through it, and he’d undone a button on his shirt when the room had grown warm.
Holly looked at him with wide eyes. “The almond cake with almond cream and white chocolate buttercream,” she blurted out.