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“I’ll stop.But just let me say this.You and Rick need to give each other a chance.”She smiled, standing to help me out of the dress.“You can’t tell me you don’t want to.If this dress is the catalyst for you to stop dancing around each other, then I amveryhappy to facilitate.”
ChapterTwenty
Cathy, the bride whose wedding would take place on Saturday, called on Wednesday and asked if I could go to the ranch to be shown where I should place the cake, so it would be in the best light for photographs.I agreed before considering that I would need a ride.
While Jenny served an older couple out front in the bakery and one of the college girls restocked the muffins, I slipped into the staff area to call Rick.
He answered on the third ring.Classic rock could be heard in the background, and I imagined him working, peppered with sawdust, muscles twisting as he sawed and measured.
“Maddie, is everything okay?”His accent was deep and syrupy and I felt like his syllables stroked me through the phone.
“Everything’s fine,” I quickly assured him.“I’m sorry to bother you at work.”
“No problem.Gimme a minute.”
The music was turned down, and I heard him ask someone, “Can you finish those two dovetails?”To me, he said, “I can talk now.”
Guilt at relying on him for something like this warred with need.I didn’t have time to try to wrangle other transportation.I started telling him about Cathy’s request.
“I’ll take you,” he said before I’d finished.“Happy to.What time?”
I had known this man for eleven days and he was prepared to drop everything for me.My heart bumped at his generosity.“She said after work, but I didn’t want to leave it too late to ask you.Thank you so much, it would be a massive help, seeing as I have to bake her cake tonight, too.”
“You’re welcome, Maddie.”His smile came through the phone and I wished I could see him.“I’ll pick you up from the bakery.”
Relief made my stomach bottom out.We figured out the details about when Rick would get me, and when we would arrive at Cathy’s.I couldn’t thank him enough.
He chuckled.“It ain’t entirely altruistic.I get to spend time in close quarters with you.Not like I won’t enjoy this.Plus, Two Rivers is gorgeous.The ride there and back isn’t free.You gotta take a country walk with me after.”
Anticipation shivered through me.“You’ve got a deal.I can’t be back late, though.As well as the cake, I have to help bake some more stock for the bakery tonight.”
“Don’t worry.I’ll have you back before you turn into a pumpkin,” he said, a note of mischief in his voice.“I’ll see you later.”
He clicked off.I had to really fight the urge to clasp the phone to my chest like a teenage girl getting off the house handset with her crush.
The rest of the day passed slowly.On my lunch break, I messaged briefly with Jess and then my parents.Aunt Laurie arrived to take over from our college helper, and came on screen during my video call with my cousin and reported on her arm.
Jess was predictably hopping mad, but mostly not at me— thankfully.We managed to talk her down from getting on the next flight home, to the obvious relief of Connor, who’d joined her for part of the call.They were both looking pleasingly tanned.
When the sound of the horn of Rick’s truck filtered in through the open back door, Jenny practically shoved me out of the shop.“Go, go, your chariot has arrived!”
I glanced between her and Aunt Laurie.“But you still have tidying and closing.”
“If your aunt tries to do anything except cash up, I’ll give her my best stern mom look until she wilts,” Jenny promised.
My aunt rolled her eyes, but nodded in agreement.
As I left, they’d started to chat about who had the best stern mom look, and, satisfied, I left them to it.Jenny wouldn’t let my aunt come to any harm.
I practically skipped through the staff area of the bakery and out into the long row of yard behind the avenue of shops.Rick sat in his truck with the engine running and familiar music streaming out of the dash speakers.
His hair was tousled, and his gaze soft as it met mine.He wore another Henley—did he have any other clothes?I hoped not—with the sleeves rolled up, and his face was scruffy with a day’s worth of stubble.
I wanted to feel the scratch of it on my skin.
I opened the passenger door and climbed in.“Didn’t know you were a fan of sixties Brit tunes.”
“Hard not to be.The Beatles are one of my dad’s favorite bands.Him and Mom danced to one of their songs at their vow renewal party last year.”
