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He’d shaved, showing off that amazing jawline.His gaze held mine for a long, hot second, and I watched his chest rise and fall as he took a deep breath.
A bronze star hanging from a red and blue shield was pinned to his suit jacket.
“Maddie.You look–wow.”He shook his head, bit his lip, and he was adorable.“I’m sorry I haven’t got any better words.Wow.That dress is Jenny’s, isn’t it?It looks totally different on you.”
“Well, thank God for that.”
He chuckled.“I...You look beautiful.Do we have to go to the wedding early?Can the cake just arrive a little late?”
I grinned.“No, and please know that I say this withimmensereluctance, the cakecannotbe late.Especially because it’s your cousin who’s getting married.You look fantastic, Rick.”
His smile reached his eyes and warmed them.“Thanks.Been a while since I got dressed up all fancy like this.My razor didn’t know what hit it this mornin’.”
I stepped out on to the porch, lifted my face for his kiss.When we parted, I said, “While you looksuperhandsome like this, I hope you give shaving a rest after today.I like feeling the scrape of your stubble on my lips.And other places.”
He closed his eyes, obviously summoning inner reserves.“It’srealearly to try’n kill me off like this.”
I pulled him down for a long kiss.“Maybe we can leave the wedding early.”
His hands slid down to my hips.“I’d say there’s a hundred percent chance of that.”He gave me one more kiss, his tongue tangling with mine for a hot second, and then he pulled back, resting his forehead against mine.“This dress looks stunnin’ on you, Maddie.The only place I think it’ll look better is on my bedroom floor, while I take my sweet time making you forget how to say anythin’ but my name.”
My pulse spiked.“Rick,” I breathed.
He smiled.“Turnabout is fair play.C’mon.Let’s get this cake loaded into the truck.”
It took both of us to carry it.Rick settled the box in the footwell of the back seats, and packed it with old carpentry sheets, rags and blankets to keep it steady.
“I’ll drive two miles an hour.”
“Good thing we’re leaving early, then.”
I couldn’t stop looking at him as he drove us up to the ranch.He was a walking advert for sex, basically.I’m not ashamed to say I kept my hand on his leg the entire drive, just to feel connected to him.
I was in full helpless teenage girl crush-lust mode.
We talked about everyday things as he drove.
“Honestly, Maddie, it makes this fuckin’ noise at a pitch you can’t ignore, and there don’t seem to be an off button.He loves it,” he described a new toy of Toby’s, a gift from Rick.He told me about the bedframe Rick had sent me a picture of, and I shared the fact that all my bakes had sold out each time I’d put them inCake Away.
“That’s amazing, Maddie!”he cheered, and the happiness on his face,for me,filled me with pure joy.
I wasthrilledwith the results of my little test.
I wondered how I’d feel when I went back to being one baker in a million in London.
The thought of being back sent a little pang through me.I missed my home city, but I thought I might miss Rick more…
The florists had already arrived at the barn when we parked, and they were building a gorgeous flower arch over the big barn doors.I breathed in and smelled lavender and roses.The arrangement looked worthy of any magazine cover.
Rick and I carefully carried the boxed cake in through the open barn doors and set it on the table, which was exactly where Cathy said it would be, draped in a purple cloth.
At the head of the room, more florists were constructing two pillars of lavender, roses and greenery where the couple would say their vows.
With Rick’s help, I carefully lifted the three-tiered cake out of the enormous box.It looked fantastic, all shimmery gray and dark purple.
One of the florists approached with a circle of lavender and eucalyptus, and roses.“For the top tier.And here’s the cake topper.”
“Thanks.”I settled it on with the utmost care, then added the delicate clay polymer topper, and snapped some photos.
