“You mean break some more dishes?” Harper smirked.
Sienna smiled sweetly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Harper snorted. “Marcey was pissed.”
“What can I say? I’m the overly dramatic one. Every single cameraman was following me hoping to catch what I’d do next. I couldn’t disappoint them.” Sienna’s smile was bright, but Harper could hear a hint of sadness in her voice.
“I’m sorry. I know how much you wanted to be seen as a serious actress.”
“Actor,” Sienna corrected.
“Actor,” Harper said. “I know that must have been really hard.”
Her sister shrugged. “What was I supposed to do? Let Bruce find out Audrey is gone and ruin everything?”
“No. But it still means a lot.”
“I know. And we’ll find her. You’ll see.”
Harper really hoped so. Between Audrey’s disappearance, Bruce’s attitude, keeping Flour Girl afloat during filming, and whatever was happening with Austin, Harper was dangerously close to losing it. If at least one of her problems could be resolved, she may actually manage to breathe easy for a minute or two. She closed her eyes and massaged her temples.
“And what should I do?”
Reagan’s hopeful voice made Harper look up. She didn't know, and she didn't want to be the one responsible for it anymore. She lifted a shoulder. “Keep covering for Audrey?”
Reagan’s face fell. “Yeah, okay.”
“I know it’s not a fun job.” She started to put her arm around her friend but thought better of it when she remembered the way she smelled. Instead, she grabbed Reagan’s hand. “Hopefully we’ll find her today and we can stop sneaking around.”
“I hope so.”
“Harper is going to flirt with the production hottie and see what she can find out.” Sienna led Reagan toward the door. “And this whole thing will blow over by dinner.”
Harper wasn’t convinced but didn’t argue. She didn't have the energy. So she lifted her hand in a weak wave as the two girls walked out of her room and into the hallway. Finally, she was alone with her thoughts.
It only took about two seconds before they inevitably went back to Austin, the “production hottie” she was now tasked with flirting with for information about what the crew suspected. She almost burst out laughing at the irony of it but settled for a slightly deranged giggle from her place on the bed.
What would Sienna and Reagan think if they knew she’d spent the night kissing Austin instead of looking for Audrey? What would they think if they knew she’d known him for what felt like forever and been in love with him all these years?
They’d be the ones laughing at her for thinking he would ever do more than flirt with her. Whatever Austin and Harper had was never going to last more than one night.
But Audrey still had to be found, even if all Harper wanted to do was hide in her room until the wedding was over. So she turned on some music—loud enough to drown out all remaining thoughts of Austin—and got into the shower.
Sixteen
4 Days Until Dream Wedding
Austin was starting to panic. He couldn’t find Harper anywhere.
He’d seen Sienna sneaking out the back door with Fox. He’d seen Reagan arguing with Harry in one of the hallways. He’d seen more cameramen swarming around than he had all week. But everywhere he looked, there was no sign of Harper.
He was going to go check the kitchen again, and face Marcey’s wrath, when he bumped into Jennifer.
Her mouth fell open as their eyes met down the hall from each other, and she came racing over. “Oh, thank goodness. I didn’t hear anything or see you after you talked to Bruce, and I was sure you were already gone on the first flight back to LA.”
Austin shook his head and bounced on the balls of his feet. He was anxious to keep looking for Harper. He had to figure out how to convince her to host the baking competition, but he also needed to keep his cool around Jennifer. She was smart, and it was a miracle she hadn’t called him out on his crap yet.
He lifted a corner of his mouth into what he hoped was a casual, slightly arrogant smile. It was everything he didn’t feel right now. “You know Bruce wouldn’t pay for a flight back. I’d be hitchhiking the entire way.”
“Good point.” Jennifer giggled. “I’m just happy you’re still here.”
Me too. Though for very different reasons.
“What did Bruce say when you went to see him?”
Austin forced his hands to stay relaxed at his side even though they itched to touch his face or tap the clipboard. “He’s worried about Audrey’s illness lasting as long as it is.”
“You mean her supposed illness.” Jennifer smirked. “That girl isn’t sick, and everyone knows it.”
Austin’s eyes went wide.
“Oh, come on. You’re not that green. The bride’s got cold feet, and her sisters think we’re dumb enough to buy the act. It’s insulting, really.” She sniffed and looked at her bright pink fingernails.
“Well, either way, Bruce needs some footage to keep things moving.”
Jennifer took a step toward him. “And?”
“I think we have the perfect solution. We’re going to do a cake decorating competition.”
She let out a long breath and rolled her eyes. “Does he really think another competition is going to save the show?”
“It, uh, was my idea.”
“Oh.” She paused a beat, then smiled. “Great idea!”
“I figured baking shows are such a hit, it was worth a shot. And since Harper has the bakery—”
“Harper.” Jennifer’s lips pressed together in a hard line. “The girl you went to college with. The girl you supposedly don’t really know.”
“I told you, I don’t.” He hated the way the lie felt on his tongue, but what was he supposed to do? He couldn’t tell Jennifer what was really going on between him and Harper. Not with so much on the line. Not with Austin’s career on such thin ice.
Jennifer stared at him intently. “Whatever. I’m stuck doing coffee runs since the chef won’t let anyone near the kitchen. I’ll see you later.”
Ugh. Austin would take that over his current predicament any day. “Yeah. I’ll let you know when I know more about the competition.”
Jennifer gave him one more strange look before she continued down the hallway.
With a sigh of relief, Austin walked in the opposite direction toward the kitchen. He was just about to go inside—maybe Harper had gone back to drool over the mixer some more—when he saw Sienna speed walking down the hall.
“Hey,” he called out.
Sienna stopped in her tracks, and slowly turned her head toward him.
“Have you seen Harper?”
A smile spread across her lips. “Why are you looking for my sister?”
“I need to talk to her. About show stuff.”
Sienna raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
He let out an impatient huff. “Do you know where she is or not?” Austin did not have time for Harper’s drama queen little sister right now.
“She’s getting cleaned up after last night’s escapade.”
Wait. How much did Sienna know?
“I bet if you ran up there now, she’d still be in her room.”
There was a sly smirk on her lips that Austin wasn’t sure how to interpret, but he wasn’t going to stay there overanalyzing everything until he lost his chance.
Without a word, he raced down the hall, up the stairs to Harper’s room, all while keeping an eye out for cameras, co-workers, and especially Bruce.
Out of breath, he knocked on the door.
“What did you forget this—” The door swung open and Austin came face to face with a wide-eyed Harper. “What are you doing here?”
He cleared his throat and wiped his palms on his pants. “I, uh…”
Harper reached out and grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him inside. She slammed the door and spun to
face him. “Are you insane? You know we can’t be seen together.”
“Actually,” Austin said. “Bruce knows I’m here. He’s starting to get suspicious about Audrey and sent me to find you.”
Her eyes went wide. “Oh, no. This is a disaster.”
“It’s not like that.” He grabbed her hands but was surprised when she pulled them away and took a step back. He hurried to explain. “I convinced him to do another competition. It distracted him from Audrey.”
Harper sighed and then began pacing the small room, not looking even the slightest bit relieved after what Austin had done for her. “Another one? I don’t think I can handle anything else while we search for the missing bride.”
Oh right. He’d left out the best part. “Even a baking one?”
She stopped, and a surge of victory pulsed through him. He knew how to get her attention.
“And I guess that means I need to be a part of it.” She scowled.
Whoops, not that kind of attention. He tried again. “I thought it could be a win-win. You were so good during the s’mores competition. Maybe if you did a good job with the cake—”
“The cake! That’s the baking competition?”
“Well, technically it’s a cake decorating competition. You’d just need to make the cakes beforehand.”
Harper sighed and her hands went to her temples.
Austin shifted on his feet, unsure of what to say. Harper had frosted that cake in her bakery like it was nothing.
“Austin, do you know what you’re asking me to do?”
“Bake a few cakes?”
She threw her hands up in the air. “I’ve already got one wedding cake on the schedule, not to mention a business to keep running. Oh, and a missing sister. It’s not like I can just whip up a dozen cakes in twenty minutes. It’s not a store-bought roll of cookie dough.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know what to tell you. Bruce was—” He stopped himself before he said “yelling at me” unwilling to let Harper see how much trouble he was in right now. He cleared his throat. “He was talking to me about what to do, and this was the first thing I could think of because I knew you’d be so good at it.”
Harper’s face softened a fraction. “You think so?”
Austin lifted a corner of his mouth. “Of course I do. And once everyone sees how great you are, I bet the Flour Girl gets so much business. All the tourists will want to visit the famous Harper Hudson.”
A slight blush hit Harper’s cheeks. “I doubt it.”
“Why wouldn’t they?” Austin’s smile grew, and he took a couple of steps closer to Harper. “Who knows, maybe you’ll get your own baking show.”
She laughed. “Could you imagine? Sienna would be so mad.”
“And?”
“And it’s not going to happen.” She shook her head.
“The show? Or the competition?”
Harper looked up at Austin through lowered eyelashes. “I’ll do the competition, but my own baking show isn’t going to happen, and I think we both know that.”
Austin deflated a little. She was right. She probably wouldn't get a show, but not because she wasn’t talented enough to do it. The business was all about connections, and after the hell her family had put the crew through this past week, Bruce Bigg wasn’t going to help Harper—or any Hudson—get a show even if his life depended on it.
“Regardless, I appreciate you being willing to do it.”
“Anything for my sister.” The small smile on her face nearly broke Austin’s heart.
“And maybe when everything's said and done, you can give me a baking lesson.”
She lifted her brows. “That could be...interesting.”
Austin’s heart lifted. “I mean, it’s kind of far to California for just one lesson, so I’d expect at least three while you’re out there.”
“I’m coming to California, am I?” The corner of her mouth twitched.
“That’s the plan.” He had a plan. With Harper in it. All was right again in his world. “I mean, I want to see you again, when this is all over. But I could come here. Whatever you want.”
A smile spread across her face. “It’ll take more than three lessons to get you anywhere near a decent baker.”
“Doesn’t the crumb layer count as lesson number one? I’m totally ready for lesson number two.”
She shoved his shoulder. “You’re such a dork.”
He chuckled. “Maybe. But that’s what you love about me.”
Harper sucked in a quick breath. It was a phrase that he’d said countless times as a joke to Harper back in college—before she’d confessed that she actually loved him.
But she hadn’t said it since then. And Austin knew better than anyone not to push Harper into something she didn’t want.
Austin took a deep breath. “Look, I—”
“What time do I need to be down in the kitchen for this thing?”
Austin froze.
Harper closed her eyes and sighed. “It’s at Flour Girl, isn’t it?”
She’d always been able to read his mind. “Yeah. Right after dinner.”
Harper opened her eyes and glared at him. “Okay. Then let me call Tiffany and tell her to close down for the afternoon.”
“Okay,” Austin said and walked toward the door. “I’ll start getting the crew together and meet you at Flour Girl in an hour to get set up.”
She nodded, but her eyes were focused on the door. No, not the door. He knew that look. Harper was somewhere far away.
“Hey.” He took her by the arm. She shook her head and looked up at him, as if waking from a dream. “Don’t worry. Audrey will be back. I promise.”
I hope.
She gave him a smile, a real one this time, and he turned to open the door.
He got exactly one step out the door when he felt her hand on his back. It slid down and around his waist, her arms circling him from behind. They stayed like that for a few breathless moments, Harper’s head on Austin’s back, and her arms holding him tight.
“Thank you for having a plan,” she whispered just before she leaned forward to kiss his cheek. “Thank you for not giving up on me.”
“Always,” he whispered back. Just as he was about to turn and kiss her the way he’d been wanting to since they got back to the inn, her hands slipped off of him, and the door closed behind him.
He scrubbed his hands across his face. There was so much to do today to prepare for the contest, but all he wanted to do was run back into her room and talk like they had last night. He sighed and dropped his hands. His stomach dropped right along with them when his eyes caught a movement down the hall.
Jennifer was at the end of the hallway, hands on her hips. She’d seen everything.
Seventeen
4 Days Until Dream Wedding
Just play it cool. Maybe she won’t think it’s a big deal.
“What was that?” Jennifer asked when Austin finally made his way down the hall to her.
“What?” Austin shrugged and kept walking. “I had to talk to her about some set up stuff at the bakery.”
“And that required her hands all over you?”
Austin stopped in his tracks and turned.
Jennifer’s lips pursed together, and she tapped her foot in what he recognized as her irritated rhythm. He had two choices. Pretend nothing had happened, basically gas-lighting her by convincing her she was seeing things, or he could come clean and ask for her help. He knew which one Bruce would do, which one Austin had seen him do countless times. It worked every time, and got Bruce everything he wanted.
Austin knew he had to do the opposite.
“Ok fine, maybe we did know each other in college. We were friends,” he said. “You’re not going to say anything are you?”
“I covered for you because I thought you were stuck somewhere with a flat tire or needed a break and went to a bar,” she said, her eyes an icy blue. If Harper’s gray ones were like a warm summer storm cloud, the
n Jennifer’s were a freezing winter sky. “Not because you were off with a cast member who you knew before we started filming.”
“I wasn’t off with her, I was just with her looking for—” He stopped and took a breath. “Looking for some equipment I lost when we were filming the scavenger hunt. I thought it might be at her bakery. That’s when I got the idea for the cake decorating competition.”
It was close enough to the truth that it flowed from his mouth without hesitation.
Still, Jennifer raised an eyebrow.
“Are you going to tell him or not?”
She licked her lips. “That depends.”
Austin leaned in close, hating that he was flirting with Jennifer just to make sure she didn’t blab to Bruce. It was such a skeezy move. A Bruce move. And if he wasn’t trying to protect Harper, he would confess the whole situation to the shrewd producer just so he didn't have to get cozy with Jennifer.
“I want you to take me out on a date.”
Austin blinked. “What?”
She took a step toward him. “You heard me. I’m tired of waiting for you to wake up and realize I’m your perfect match. I want you.”
“Um, doesn’t Bruce hate the crew hooking up even more than when the crew gets with the cast?”
She waved away his concern. “I’m not saying make out with me in front of everyone at breakfast. But you know the crew can’t be everywhere all the time. A quick walk out on the trails, a rendezvous in the barn.”
“Jennifer…”
She placed her hand gently on his chest. “And once we’re back in LA next week, you can take me on our first official date.”
From the look on her face, she wanted a lot more than a date from him. He swallowed hard. “Look, you’re great but—”
“And as my boyfriend, I’d obviously keep all your secrets for you.” She fixed him with a calculating stare. “All of them.”
Austin’s breath caught in his throat. Did she suspect about Audrey? Man, he’d been such an idiot to almost let that slip. He could feel everything spinning out of control. But what choice did he have? If Jennifer said anything to Bruce about him and Harper, he’d be fired. He’d already used his one get-out-of-jail-free card with Bruce.
The Bridesmaid & The Ex (Wedding Games Book 2) Page 11