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“They did a write up about Dad, and another whole post about Honor’s jinxed cakes.”
His stomach sank for her sake even as annoyance flared. “That’s bullshit.”
Celia gave him a quick look. “You think Roxanna’s wrong?”
Well, hell. He was damned if he did and damned if he didn’t on that question. He forced a casual shrug and stepped up to the sink. “I talked to her last night. She doesn’t really know for sure about the jinxing thing.”
“Oh.” His sister hesitated, then said, “Still…better not to take any chances, you know? I’ll leave the first divorce in the family to Merit.”
They always left the screw-ups to Merit. He did own most of ‘em, but suddenly it didn’t seem fair to always expect him to mess up.
Asher rinsed plates and handed them over one at a time. “I don’t think it’s such a big deal. And really, if you think a piece of cake has the power to jinx your relationship, maybe you and Robert shouldn’t be getting married in the first place.”
She huffed out a breath and paused. “Well, hell, when you put it like that…”
When she didn’t add more, he prompted, “So…are you going to hire her or not?”
Celia gave him a longer, measuring look. “You really love her cakes, don’t you?”
Oh yeah. And he liked the woman just as much. Maybe more.
Definitely more.
“All I’m saying is it seems kind of shitty to give her the job and then take it away again because of something Roxanna said. As Honor pointed out, a few divorces out of a couple hundred couples isn’t exactly shocking. I’m sure the divorce attorneys at your firm can back that up.”
“I get what you’re saying, but I don’t want to be one of the few.”
“That’s on you and Robert, not the person who bakes your wedding cake.”
Shelby and Loyal walked in as Celia set the last plate in the rack. Asher shut off the water and reached for a towel to dry his hands while turning to lean back against the sink.
Loyal nudged their youngest sister’s arm. “I told you they’d be done if we waited long enough.”
She tossed him a grin, but Celia ignored the two as she met Asher’s gaze and shrugged. “I’ll think about it.”
“Are you two talking about what happened with the cake baker last night?” Shelby asked.
“Yeah.” Celia closed and started the dishwasher. “Asher’s playing major defense.”
Loyal’s humor vanished in the blink of an eye. “He always defends that quack friend of his.”
Asher stiffened, and he and Shelby said at the same time, “She’s not a quack.”
“Actually, he was defending Honor,” Celia corrected. Her brown gaze fixed on his face. “This is more than you liking the woman’s cakes. Come on. Spill.”
Knowing they’d hound him for the truth, it was easier to fess up now than later. His neck warmed as he admitted, “She moved into the house across from me last week. I’m simply being neighborly.”
“Right,” Shelby scoffed. “I’m sure it has nothing to do with how pretty she is.”
“She is very pretty,” Celia agreed.
Whether dressed up for a formal event, or barefoot in her kitchen with no make-up and messy hair, she was stunning.
But then his youngest sister’s eyebrows drew together. “You did hear Roxanna, though, didn’t you? She said Honor doesn’t believe in love.”
The words came out like a warning. Because they’d all had it drummed into them for years; Diamonds don’t divorce.
“Roxanna doesn’t know everything,” Loyal snapped.
