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Her gaze wandered to the door again. No Patton. It seemed like forever since she’d been wrapped in his arms. Had it really only been three days? So much had happened since she’d seen him last.
Bianca and Zach had reconciled and were going ahead with the wedding. They’d lost their spot at the gardens, but Zach’s company had come through in a big way. They were pulling out the stops for him and Bianca and allowing them to use a luxury resort they managed—for a fraction of the cost.
And her dinner with Mr. Hembrecht had made all of her dreams come true.
Except for Patton. He was the only piece of the puzzle that was missing. And she felt it—a huge hole in her heart.
“You look great.” Spence hugged her. “How’s it going?”
“You looking spiffy yourself.” Cady shook her head. “I think it’s going well. They look happy and that’s what counts.” She nodded at the bride- and groom-to-be.
“Yep, they look sickeningly happy,” he agreed, making her laugh.
“Cady, Cady, Cady.” Mrs. Ryan drew her into a long hug. Then she held her at arm’s length. The older woman was all smiles as she said, “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you.”
Cady hugged her, casting a curious gaze at Spence—who was trying not to laugh.
“You look so pretty,” she paused, glancing at Spence. “Doesn’t she, Spence? Such a lovely girl.”
“Thank you,” Cady murmured, uneasy. Why was Mrs. Ryan looking at her like that? As if she had a secret?
“Come on, Mom, let’s go find your daughter-in-law-to-be.” Spence steered Mrs. Ryan into the room, leaving Cady to wonder what that was all about.
Cady was straightening presents when the cake was wheeled into the room. A huge pink-and-blue cake, decorated with a massive sugar stork and marshmallow fluff diapers. A hard knot of panic landed heavily in the pit of her stomach. It was the baby-shower-sabotage cake, not the bridal shower cake with lacy frosting and edible pearls. And it was her fault. In all the confusion she’d forgotten to call the bakery and switch the cakes... She moved as quickly as she could, putting herself between the cake and the room full of people.
“There’s been a mistake,” she said to the young woman pushing the cart. “This can’t be right—” But the cart caught on the edge of the area rug, bringing it to a stop—but not the cake. The cake slid forward, splatting the front of Cady’s dress.
“Oh, no,” the young woman squeaked, covering her mouth with her hands. “I’m so sorry.”
Cady looked down at her pale blue-and-white dress...and the smear of bright pink frosting that ran across her stomach and chest.
“Cady?” Mrs. Ryan was up in an instant. “Oh, darling girl, what a mess. You’ll need to get club soda on that right—”
“Oh, Cady, your pretty dress,” GG said.
She turned to see pure shock on their faces.
“What happened?” Bianca joined the group.
Cady stood—icing sliding down her dress—knowing every pair of eyes in the room was on her. And the cake. The horrible pink-and-blue baby shower cake she’d ordered...
“Is this from Diandra’s bakery?” GG recovered first. “Does she know it’s a wedding shower? Not a baby shower? That girl was never very bright.”
“What’s with the huddle?” Spence’s eyes widened as he stared at the cake then her dress. “I’ll get this back into the kitchen and we’ll see about cleaning up this mess.”
Zach stepped in. “Spot cleaner? Hose? Napkin?”
Everyone seemed to react at once. Napkins appeared, someone tracked down the front-desk attendant and some spot cleaner. Cady stood there, waiting. No one blew up or jumped to conclusions.
“You are not using Diandra for your wedding cake,” GG declared.
Zach was all smiles. “I’ll call our number two.”
Cady started to laugh then—she had to. She was wound so tight it was laugh or cry. And there was no way she was going to fall apart in front of a room full of people.
The cake cart was on the way back to the kitchen when she saw Patton. He walked across the room, pausing to take in Cady, the cake explosion and the growing pile of napkins and tissues as her feet. “The bakery called. Something about a mistake and switching the cakes.” He held out the large box he was carrying.
But Cady didn’t give a damn about the box. Seeing him in a sharp gray suit and light blue shirt, she knew her off-limits plan was in serious jeopardy.
