by Leigh Duncan
“I’m sure no one was happy about that.”
Nick’s sympathetic tone didn’t make her feel one iota less miserable. “No one could have been more upset about it than I was, if that helps any.”
One of his eyebrows lifted. “If it bothered you so much, why’d you go along with it?”
“I didn’t have much choice, did I?” Suddenly, the pressure of the last few weeks closed in on her. Unable to sit still, she rose and paced the room. “I had a plan,” she said, emphasizing the word. “It was a good one. This was going to be a small, simple wedding. I should never have gone along with inviting those extra guests. That was my first mistake. After that, things got out of control. Now, the wedding is two weeks away, and everything is a mess. The whole town hates me. Alicia’s mad at me. There’s so much to do, and I’m running out of time.” Her breath hitched, a sure sign she was moments away from falling apart.
At some point during her tirade, Nick must have come to his feet, because he stepped in front of her, his hands out like two stop signs. “Whoa, now. You want to know what I think?”
“What?” She stumbled to a halt in front of him.
“I think you need to get out from under the pressure for a while. Do something to take your mind off the wedding.”
Stricken, she pressed a hand over her heart. “I can’t. I need to get everything organized. I need a new plan. There’s a million other things left to do, too. I haven’t even decided on a restaurant for the rehearsal dinner.” Though she’d raved about Bow Tie Pasta, Kay had recently expressed a preference for steak and lobster.
Nick dropped his hands. “Things won’t get done any faster if you’re exhausted. You’ve been going at this full-steam for weeks. You should take a day off. Refresh and recharge. When you go back to it, you’ll be amazed at how much faster everything will fall into place.”
So far, every piece of advice Nick had given her had been exactly what she needed. This time, he was right again. She certainly could use a break. The last few days, the weight of Karolyn’s wedding had pressed done on her heavier than ever.
Nick lifted one shoulder in a nonchalant shrug. “What do you say? You’ll take tomorrow off? Do something fun?”
“Any suggestions?” She was fresh out of ideas.
“Have you done any sightseeing while you’ve been here? Newport’s not too far away. There’s lots to do and see there.”
As wonderful as that sounded, she couldn’t quite justify the hour-long drive to the town famous for summer cottages the size of castles. “Isn’t there something a little closer?”
“Lots,” Nick said with a confidence she found endearing. “There’s a great path along the cliffs. Very scenic. I bet Marybeth would lend you a bike—she has several for the guests’ use. How’s that sound? Fresh air and sunshine? It’s better than being cooped up in your room all day, don’t you think?”
“I don’t know, Nick.” She’d always done the responsible thing. In this case, that meant keeping her nose to the grindstone, though every fiber in her being urged her to try something different. “I have so much work to do.” Even as she said the words, she felt her resistance weaken.
Nick stared past her shoulder for a long minute. “In two weeks, over two hundred people are going to show up for your wedding. At least a few of them are going to have some free time on their hands. You should probably look into activities for them, right?”
He had a point there. Chad had arranged for a private jet to ferry friends and family to and from L.A., but the ever-changing wedding plans had kept her so busy that she hadn’t given a moment’s thought to what Kay’s guests were supposed to do while they were in town. They couldn’t very well spend the day wandering the halls of the Captain’s Cottage. She supposed she really ought to check out the local scenery and leisure activities. But going for a long, solitary bike ride over terrain she wasn’t familiar with had the earmarks of an accident waiting to happen. She had a sudden thought and tipped her head to gauge Nick’s reaction. “I’ll go, but only if you come with me.”
“Hmmm. I’ll have to think about that for a minute.” Nick’s gaze dropped to his shoe laces.
Jenny stifled a grin. She hadn’t missed the interest that flared in his eyes. “Now who has to adjust the plan?” she prodded.
“Touché,” he said, meeting her gaze once more.
At the easy smile that spread across Nick’s face, warmth spread from the tips of her toes to her face. “So you’ll come?”
He edged the tiniest bit closer. “We’ll make a day of it.”
“Great,” she said, aware of his breath on her cheek. She swallowed slowly. Get a grip. Nick was a friend, nothing more. “The B&B has box lunches. I’ll ask Marybeth to fix a couple for us.”
The moment stretched out between them. She fought a sudden urge to trace one finger along Nick’s jaw, but stopped herself before the thought went any further. She had a part to play, one that didn’t include falling for a handsome baker, no matter how attracted she was to him. As far Nick knew, she was engaged to be married to another man. Now wasn’t the time for him to find out anything else.
A door slammed somewhere in the back of the house. The noise helped stiffen her spine. She shuffled back a step.
Nick glanced out the window; the sky had darkened. “I’d better get going,” he said without moving.
“Yeah. Me, too.” Aware of how much she needed to put distance between them before she did something she’d regret, she turned toward the stairs. “I’d better go now.” She ran halfway up the first flight. There, she paused for a quick glance over her shoulder. When Nick remained exactly where he’d been standing, another dose of warmth spread through her chest.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she called. Then, willing herself not to take a second look, she hurried toward her room while she regretted every step.
Chapter Eleven
By nine thirty the next morning, chocolate smeared the starched white aprons of the two I Do Cakes assistant bakers who divided the duties of rolling, cutting, and decorating dozens of cookies for the display cases. Seated at his own table in a corner of the room, their expert piped ribbons of royal icing onto a nearly finished wedding cake. Meanwhile, at yet another workstation, Jimmy carefully added proofed yeast to the ingredients he’d measured into the gigantic bowl of a commercial mixer.
Nick inhaled the typical smells of the bakery on a busy morning. “Be sure and save me a loaf of that onion bread,” he called on his way past Jimmy’s station. Baked to golden perfection, the fragrant loaves were a house favorite.
“Will do, boss.” Surprise registered on the assistant’s face as Jimmy studied Nick’s casual clothes. “You going somewhere?”
“Yep.” He grinned.
“But what about tomorrow’s special?” Jimmy looked around as if afraid he might be on the receiving end of another assignment.
Nick grinned. “All done and in the cooler.” He adjusted the blanket roll he’d slung over one shoulder. He’d set the alarm for three AM and had been hard at work ever since. “I’ll have my phone. If anything comes up while I’m gone, call me. Otherwise, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“You don’t say.” The young baker dumped the last of the yeast into the enormous bowl. “Been a while since you took a day off. Have a good time.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
But he shouldn’t be, should he?
The question slowed his exit. The idea of keeping a wayward bride out of trouble hardly qualified as relaxing. Yet, he wanted to spend time with Jenny more than he cared to admit, though he couldn’t really put his finger on the reason. She was pretty, he’d give her that much. Hair that was neither black nor brown but an intriguing in-between brushed her shoulders. It fell in soft curls around her face and framed a pair of sparkling brown eyes. The hollows beneath her high cheekbones led to full lips, which frequ
ently widened into a warm smile that made his heart beat faster.
But she wasn’t his type. Whereas the women he usually dated tended to be tall and leggy, Jenny packed just the right amount of curves into a compact figure. The top of her head would barely brush his collarbone if he pulled her into an embrace.
Not that he ever intended to get that close to her.
Though his thoughts sometimes drifted in that direction, each time they did, he firmly lassoed them and brought them right back where they belonged. No, he and Jenny had merely struck up a friendship. They were just two ordinary people who enjoyed each other’s company. And as long as she planned to walk down the aisle in front of friends and family at the end of the month, there couldn’t ever be anything more between them. Lately, he’d been spending extra time with her because the entire town had practically begged him to. That he looked forward to seeing her was just a bonus.
He was still working hard to convince himself he had the best of intentions where Jenny was concerned when he stepped into the alley behind I Do Cakes. There, he stopped to empty his pockets at the bowls he filled before he locked up each night. The faint noise of a handful of treats landing in the metal containers caught the attention of a calico cat that peered at him behind the dumpster. Nick made a friendly clicking noise with his tongue. When the stray only darted out of sight, he shrugged and headed in the opposite direction. Eventually, the young kitty would get used to him.
Striding along Bridal Carriage Way, he spotted an extraordinary amount of activity on the street. Shopkeepers who rarely stepped beyond their front doors during the busy morning rush found excuses to step outside and greet him. He waved to Mildred, who watered the flowers outside Forget Me Knot. The florist returned the gesture with an approving glance. At Food Fit For A Queen, Janet stopped sweeping the sidewalk long enough to wish him well as he passed by.
Aware that word of his plans for the day must have spread, he shoved his hands in his pockets. That was one of the drawbacks of small-town life—everyone knew your business.
Not that he didn’t appreciate the good wishes. They served as a reminder that the reputation of Heart’s Landing rested on his shoulders. Much as he liked Jenny, much as he’d even begun to suspect that her upcoming marriage to Bob wasn’t actually a match made in heaven, he’d agreed to get her through the next couple of weeks with a minimum of fuss. He intended to do just that and nothing else.
Reassured that he was doing the right thing for all the right reasons, he trotted up the steps to the front entrance of the B&B. The house was quiet, the lobby and living room empty. He passed through the dining area. Freshly brewed coffee, baskets of sweet rolls, and stacks of clean plates sat untouched. Not a surprise. The Smith wedding had lasted into the wee hours. The guests were probably sleeping in. In the kitchen, he spied a large picnic basket. Reading Jenny’s name on the tag, he resisted the urge to peek inside while he toted it out the back door to the pair of bikes that stood in the bike rack. He’d just finished strapping the heavy basket on the back of his when Jenny pushed open the screen door.
She rushed down the steps wearing a bright yellow T-shirt above longish shorts. He swallowed at the sight of trim calves that tapered down to slim ankles and forced his gaze down to the pair of sturdy athletic shoes that snugged her feet. Swallowing an appreciative whistle, he thumbed the bell on the bike handle. The clapper struck a cheery note.
“Sorry I’m late,” she offered with a grin.
Nick concentrated on checking out the bike chain and brakes. “No hurry. I just got here myself. You ready to go?”
“Ready.” Beneath the hair she’d slicked into a ponytail, she’d scrubbed her face clean. Her smile brightened as she gave him the thumbs-up sign. She stuck her ever-present cell phone in a back pocket and mounted the bike with an easy grace he hadn’t expected.
Riding single-file, they hugged the side of the road until they were well out of Heart’s Landing. Another five minutes took them to the bike path that led north along the rugged coastline. Not sure how far they’d go, he coasted around the corner and headed toward a spot where they could stop for lunch. He glanced over one shoulder at Jenny. Clearly in her element, she zipped along smoothly.
Once they were on the wide path, he motioned her forward until they were riding abreast. “You look like you know what you’re doing. You ride much in L.A.?”
“Whenever I can. There are some pretty bike paths throughout the city and up into the foothills. I mostly get out in the winter. Summers are too hot.” She expertly steered around a downed branch. “How about yourself?”
“The opposite. Too much snow on the ground in the winter here. I manage to get out once or twice a week from spring through fall. It clears out the cobwebs.”
“It does that.” She scanned the path ahead. “I can’t get over how green everything is. It’s so different from the West Coast. Southern California is dry and dusty.”
Nick studied the land, trying to view it through the eyes of someone who’d never been here before. On his right, beyond the waves that pounded against the rocky shore, the ocean stretched to the horizon. To his left, tall oaks and maples trees dappled the path with shade. Broken by clumps of wildflowers that bloomed in riotous colors, grass carpeted the ground.
“You’re right,” he said slowly, thinking about how lucky he was to live in a place where tulips and bulbs burst through the ground each spring. Rhode Island’s summers were lush with new life. Its crisp fall days were filled with rich oranges and deep reds. Even the snowy winter had its own stark beauty. “I guess I’ve taken it for granted.” In the distance, a gleaming white house sat on a small hill overlooking the ocean. Nick pedaled slower. “That’s the Captain’s Cottage up ahead.”
Jenny took in the rear of the sprawling, three-story home. “Where we’re holding the wedding. I’m not sure I would have recognized it from this angle.”
Nick’s eyes narrowed. Jenny, unlike most brides, had always referred to the wedding rather than her wedding. Filing the subtle difference away to discuss at another time, he filled her in on a little bit of the local history. “It’s a pretty big house. It had to be. The original owners, Captain Thaddeus Heart and his wife Mary, had a dozen children.”
“Whew,” Jenny whistled while she gave her head a slow, careful shake. “I’ve always wanted children, but maybe not quite that many.”
Nick rubbed one finger over his upper lip. He’d often thought of having kids of his own—children he could pass the tricks of the baking trade down to like his father had with him. Cooing infants who’d wrap him around their little fingers on Day One and never let go. Toddlers to bounce on his knee and play hide-and-seek with. There’d be flag football games on crisp fall afternoons. Dance recitals, science fairs, and spelling bees.
His front wheel struck a pebble. The bike wobbled. He cleared his throat and forced his thoughts back to the present. What had he and Jenny been talking about? Oh yeah, Thaddeus Heart. “There’s a statue of him in a small park off Champagne Avenue. Have you seen it?”
“Just a glimpse,” Jenny nodded. “I wondered who it was.”
“The one and only Captain. He was an eighteenth-century seafarer, the founder of Heart’s Landing. We know he plied the seas from Boston to the West Indies. Being a ship’s captain was a hard life in those days. There were pirates to battle, bad storms, and weeks when the winds didn’t blow. They say his love for Mary was what kept him going. For a dozen years or more, he dropped anchor in Heart’s Cove in time for her birthday each year. He’d stay for a few months, long enough to have repairs made to his ship and take on provisions. And make a baby.” He laughed, self-conscious. “Rumor has it, every year he brought his wife the same present, a heart he’d chiseled out of stone during the long, lonely nights at sea.”
Curiosity colored Jenny’s dark eyes. “I’ve seen one or two on buildings downtown. That’s what you’re talking about?”<
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Grinning, Nick nodded. “The very same. Mary and the Captain had them mounted around town. Most of them still exist.”
“Paula showed us a broken one the day we visited Something Old, Something New.”
“That she did.” He nodded as they pedaled past the rear of the mansion. Leaning to one side, he pointed to a white fence atop the mansard roof. “See that railing? That’s the widow’s walk. They say you could see Mary standing there, day or night, fair weather or foul, watching for her husband’s sails for a month before his ship was due. One year, a hurricane struck just before Captain Thaddeus made port. With the winds howling and the storm raging around her, Mary refused to come down. She had the servants lash her to the one of the posts until the storm passed and the good captain made it home. If you’re interested, ask Alicia to take you up on the roof. You can still see the path she wore in the slate.”
He caught the sidelong glance Jenny shot him. It was clear she wasn’t entirely sure about that part of the story. Nick shrugged. He hadn’t actually read Mary’s diary himself, but children for miles around grew up listening to tales of Mary and Thaddeus’s love for one another. And every fall, the town put on a pageant reenacting how the captain had battled the hurricane in order to drop anchor in Heart’s Landing in time for Mary’s birthday. For the past five years, Jason and his cousin Evelyn had played the lead roles.
In the distance, the land jutted out toward the sea. Nick pointed in that general direction. “The cove where Captain Thaddeus made landing is a mile or so on the other side of that point. We can stop there for lunch, if you’re up to it.”