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No, he wouldn’t spoil this for her. Not when she’d only just recovered from her panic attack from the night prior. If she could face her fears, he could, too. He’d eat the food and enjoy it, even if it tasted like ashes in his mouth.
Because she was worth every damn swallow.
“I’d recommend carrots and peas cooked in coriander and wine, paired with croquette potatoes. It’s simple and looks elegant once plated. Even the colors will be festive,” the chef suggested.
Martine sat next to them, scribbling things down. They’d already chosen the first course – a simple goat cheese salad that had made all their mouths water. After the main course, they moved onto the cake.
“It’s a three-tiered cake,” the chef told them. “The first layer is fruit, the second is chocolate, and the third is raspberry and vanilla. My plan is to ice it with white frosting, and decorate it with silver snowflakes and glitter, keeping with the theme.” He slid the plate over to them, gesturing to the forks. “Try them.”
After they’d tried all three layers, Caitie asked Breck, “What do you think?”
He looked up at her, keeping his expression neutral. “I don’t know. I’m not a fan of sweet things.” In particular, not a fan of Christmas sweet stuff, but he kept that little morsel to himself. “I’m pretty sure it would work.”
“I think they’re perfect,” Caitie said. “And I love the way the decoration fits with the festive theme. Thank you for working so hard on this. I know it hasn’t been easy with me being across the country.”
“Are you working right up to the wedding?” the chef asked.
“Pretty much. I landed a new contract. I’m redesigning the Christmas theme for the Hollywood Hills Theme Park.” She blushed as she said it. Breck couldn’t help but smile as he looked at the pink in her cheeks.
Her enjoyment of the festive season was obvious as she talked with the chef and Martine. She glowed as she took them through her plans for the table décor and the winter wonderland theme that would be the highlight for the dancing following dinner.
Breck leaned back as Caitie chatted animatedly with the others. He watched as she smiled, leaning forward to point at Martine’s list. Caitie had this aura about her when she worked. A way of drawing people in, of getting them excited. It was a side to her he hadn’t seen before. An enticing one. She was as dedicated to her work as he was to his. He liked that a lot.
“Will you be back here before the big day?” Martine asked.
Caitie shook her head. “No, I’m flying in late on the twenty-first. I can’t get away any sooner. But Lucas and Ember are only an
hour away if there are any last minute issues. And I’m only a phone call away. Hopefully by the time I fly back to New York tomorrow, we’ll have already agreed on almost everything.”
And so the afternoon continued. Once they’d finished the tastings, they moved onto the wedding venue. They’d chosen to have the ceremony inside, in the ballroom. Though the weather in California was pretty reliable, they didn’t want to take the chance that the one inclement day in December might fall on the twenty-third.
“We’ll have the tree here,” Caitie said, pointing to the corner. “The one I’ve ordered is thirty feet. The Christmas Interiors Company will decorate it when it arrives.”
“They’re the ones doing all the decorations, right?” Martine asked.
“Yes, they’re doing this room, the entrance hall, plus the dining room. I’ve known the owner for years. He’s the best.”
“Grant?” Martine said. “Oh yes, he’s a darling. Plus his wife, Catriona, is gorgeous. They’ll do a good job.”
“How do you know all these people?” Breck asked, frowning. “Don’t you work mostly in New York?”
“How did you find the best contractors when you started working in California?” Caitie asked in return.
“Word of mouth, friends of friends. The hotel construction industry is pretty incestuous.”
“So’s the Holiday industry,” Caitie said. “As is the hotel catering industry. We’re stepping over each other all the time.”
“You’re not wrong there,” Martine said, smiling. “Everybody knows everybody in this business. If you make a wrong move, word hits the streets within minutes. It was disconcerting when I first started working in hotel events. But it can be handy, too. Especially when you need to call in a favor.”
“I’ve been calling them in left, right, and center for this wedding.” Caitie sighed. “Some I wasn’t even owed. I’ll be repaying people until 2030 at this rate.”
“You can repay me for as long as you’d like,” Breck whispered, his voice thick and low, when they were alone. Martine was in the corner, measuring the chairs.
“You think I owe you something?” Caitie replied, smiling. He loved that she was back to her old, happy self. He’d done the right thing not burdening her with his own problems. She didn’t need to know that every time he looked at a Christmas cake he wanted to smash it with his hands.
“I don’t know,” he said, pressing a kiss to the tip of her nose. “Do you?”
“What I’ve got for you is freely given,” she replied, grinning. “Isn’t it better that way?”
