AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What would be a mistake?” I held my breath.
He moved his hands from around my waist to my upper arms. Despite the barrier of my crisp white shirt, I felt the warmth of his skin.
“Kissing you.”
Dismay washed over me. He thought it might be a mistake. Well, I did too. Didn’t I?
“You work for me.” His eyes lingered on my mouth. “There are so many ways this could go wrong.”
“Right. You’re right.” Hewasright, but that didn’t mean I was happy about it.
His eyes dimmed. “We should be responsible adults.”
But I didn’t want to be. I wanted to tell him how much I longed for his kiss. How much I liked him. Instead, I shivered.
“Have I made you cold?” Caspian asked.
I wasn’t cold. Quite the opposite. “Not really.”
I straightened his tie and stepped away. “I should get to the kitchen. Good luck this afternoon. You’ll be great.”
“Thanks. And thanks again for working tonight.” His mask had returned. He was back to his enigmatic state. Good. That would keep me away from him.
Sammieand I stood near the door of the restaurant welcoming the wedding guests. Besides the Moon family, there were a few friends as well as Annie’s dad, stepmother, grandparents and her two younger sisters. In addition, the Moon brothers’ mother, Stella, held an older woman’s arm as she walked up the steps and into the dining room. Stella introduced her as Iris, former neighbor and best friend.
“I moved to Florida and left them here in the cold,” Iris said. “But I wouldn’t miss this wedding for the world so I came back a little early. I helped raise this flock of goofballs.”
I wanted to ask about Caspian—what had he been like as a little boy—but knew better than to reveal my interest in him. Instead, I welcomed her and gave her a program. Rafferty had given specific instructions that every guest was to have one.
Iris went to find a seat, but Stella remained behind for a moment to thank Sammie and me for all our help.
“It’s our pleasure,” Sammie said.
“Please let us know if you need anything tonight,” I added.
Stella looked stunning as the mother of the groom in a champagne-colored gown. Usually she wore her dark hair just below her chin, but tonight it had been teased into waves. Her makeup looked really good too.
“You look beautiful,” I said. “Your makeup’s impeccable.” As a person who lived and breathed to add beautiful details to my desserts, I noticed these things.
“Sammie did my makeup last-minute,” Stella said. “I’m not much for painting up my face. Too much work. I was rubbing some wayward eyeliner when Sammie arrived and offered to help. I’m pleased with what she did. She’s magic.”
Sammie beamed. “It was fun. Any time you want to do it again, just holler.”
“If God answers my prayers, there will be four more weddings in the next few years,” Stella said. “So I’ll take you up on that, should he answer them.”
Stella’s husband Jasper called out to her from across the room, and she excused herself. Minutes later, Atticus and Rafferty walked through the front door. Atticus remained dry and composed. However, blotches of red stained Rafferty’s cheeks, and his hair was wet and messy. He barely glanced at us as he ushered Atticus toward the arch, where Caspian and Thad chatted quietly.
The hair dryer had done pretty well to get Caspian’s suit dry. Unfortunately, it was now wrinkled. When I’d offered to get an iron, he’d said there was no time. Hopefully Rafferty wouldn’t notice the less-than-perfect presentation.
Soren and Finley showed up next, with our local vet, Arabella Collins, following closely behind.
“The bride’s on her way,” Finley said in that perky way she had, made even cuter by her British accent.
“Good afternoon, ladies.” Arabella greeted us with a warm smile while sliding out of a raincoat. Her shiny dark hair had been pulled back and seemed unbothered by the weather. “How’s everything going?”
“Great,” Sammie said. “Except for the rain.”
“It’s lessened somewhat,” Arabella said. “Just in time for the bride to arrive.”
