His Sister's Wedding

by Carol Rose

  Flipping open the sample book, Lillie made herself blindly go through each page of rose-encrusted, frosting-laden wedding cakes. She'd seen each of these samples twenty times, but she refused to keep watch for him.

  "Isn't he coming?" Maud appeared beside Lillie, her motherly face nowhere near as belligerent as Lillie felt.

  In her experience, the little baker took most things in stride. It would take more than a tardy brother of the bride to fluster her.

  "He knows when we agreed to meet," Lillie said crisply, trying to suppress her aggravation in the face of Maud's nonchalance. Not only was the woman a world class cake baker, she went way back with Lillie. On the occasions when Lillie had accompanied her mother to the bakery, Maud always managed to sneak her some tidbit.

  "He's probably lost," Maud said with a laugh. "Men can't ever follow directions, much less ask for them."

  "If he doesn't come in the next five minutes, I'll make the decisions myself," Lillie declared militantly.

  "Fine." Maud wiped her hands on her immaculate white apron. "He may be upset at not tasting the cakes, but he'll have to be pleased with whatever you choose."

  Lillie watched as the baker headed back into the kitchen. She wasn't sure Luke would feel terribly deprived if he missed out on the cake sampling.

  The bakery door swung open just then and Luke walked in still wearing his working attire of worn blue jeans and a "Morgan Landscaping" t-shirt.

  "Hey," he greeted her as he took off his sunglasses. "So where's the food?"

  "I'm glad you could make it," Lillie said, her mouth tasting a little like lemons.

  "Me, too." Luke grinned, although the expression in his eyes stayed guarded. "So are you taking me out to supper afterwards or do we fill up on cake?"

  Lillie glared at him, outraged at his casual attitude. "I'll tell Maud to bring the samples."

  Slipping behind the display counter, she swung open the door. "He's finally here, Maud. Shall I help you with the samples?"

  "Never mind," Maud said. "I have them on a tray like always." She hoisted the tray and went through the door Lillie held open.

  Luke sat at the table, occupying the seat Lillie had vacated.

  "Good afternoon, sir," Maud said, her voice pleasant.

  "Good afternoon." A smile curled Luke's mouth.

  Balancing the tray, Maud swiftly unloaded each small sample cake onto the table. "I didn't include the ice cream cake," she said to Lillie. "You said you wanted to keep the cost down."

  "That's right. Thank you, Maud," Lillie said as the baker disappeared back into the kitchen.

  "I would have at least liked to sample the ice cream cake," Luke said softly, a mischievous, trouble-making gleam dawning in his eyes.

  Oh, how she loved him...and hated him.

  She'd seen that look in his face before, an expression that said he knew she was mad at him, but he was going to keep after her till she caved in. It seemed incredible that he was acting as if nothing had changed between them.

  "Well, that's too bad. No ice cream cake. You'll just have to make do with these." Lillie sat down in the opposite chair, picking up the serving knife.

  "Am I being punished?" Luke's eyebrow climbed but the smile on his face didn't waver. "Are you and Maud feeling crabby today?"

  "You were more than twenty minutes late," Lillie snapped, suppressing the urge to assault him. "And Maud's never crabby."

  "So it's just you I have to sweet talk?" Luke leaned forward, his shoulder almost brushing hers.

  "Can we just taste the cakes and get this over with?" she asked with frustration, trying to ignore the tango her heartbeat did whenever he was near. How dare he be so flippant when her heart was breaking? She knew he preferred to ignore emotion, but did he honestly think it would work at a moment like this?

  Truthfully, she'd have given a lot to be sweet-talked by Luke, but she wanted him to really mean it, not just to flirt with her like she was a casual date.

  "I'd rather give you a hard time than taste cake," Luke said, his voice low as she sliced through one sample after another. "It's the most fun I've had all day."

  Lillie shot him a murderous look. "I'm sorry your day has been so dull, but I don't have time to play with you."

  "No time at all?" he teased, his eyes hot.

  "Eat this." Lillie shoved a plate into his hands. Several mouthfuls of cake might slow his heckling tongue down.

  Balancing the plate in his hands, he obediently took a bite. "Too flat." He put the plate on the table. "Don't you want to go back out to the lake with me? We don't have to be formal. We could pick up some burgers and go skinny dipping."

  She knew he was just trying to get a response from her, but that didn't keep her blood pressure from rising.

  "Try this one." Lillie slapped another sample piece on his plate and started slicing through the next one. If she could get through this without doing him physical harm, she'd be doing good.

  Luke took a forkful. "Too sweet," he said, dropping his fork. "The lake will look so beautiful with the moon up."

  Trying to ignore his persistent entreaties, Lillie concentrated on moving the next slice of cake from the platter to his plate. Balanced on her serving knife, the small wedge wobbled and then tumbled to the floor just before she could scoot it onto his plate.

  "It'll be great," Luke said. "A romantic evening picnic for lovers by the shore."

  Lillie's fingers closed around the fallen piece of cake just as the word "romantic" left his mouth. His casual reference jolted through her with enough voltage to crackle in her ears.

  Without thinking, she straightened in her chair and let the piece of cake fly.

  Luke's expression of shock, dotted with Swiss Amaretto flecks, just made her madder.

  "What the--?" he sputtered, swiping at the crumbs on his face. "What did I do?"

  "Your romantic evening for lovers," she ground out between clenched teeth.

  "What? Gets me cake in the kisser?" he asked incredulously.

  "Yes!" Lillie could feel anger throbbing through her veins.

  "Well, two can play that game," he said grimly, lifting the slab of chocolate of his plate and lobbing it at her.

  Ducking too late, she felt the cake slam into her forehead and stick there, the thick chocolate frosting acting like glue as chunks broke off and began sliding down her nose in slow motion.

  Luke broke into a belly laugh, clutching at his side and pointing at her.

  Goaded beyond endurance, Lillie grabbed for the closest slice of cake and hurled it. The spongy confection bounced off Luke's chin and landed squarely on his chest, obliterating the "Morgan Landscaping" under a generous portion of orange-flavored frosting.

  His laughter died quickly as he stared down at his chest and then lunged for an untouched cake. He hefted the white cake in his hand. "So, you really want to play dirty?"

  "No, you don't, you jerk!" Lillie heard herself squeal as she too groped for larger ammunition,

  her attempts made more difficult by the need to dodge Luke's approach. Her fingers closed around the lemon chiffon sample just as she felt the wet thud on her shoulder.

  "Aaeeeiiiii!" Grabbing at the cake as it slid down her arm, Lillie spun and slung the crumbling chunks back at him. In the fraction of a second it took for him to dodge the shot, she managed to snag a whole cake from the table and heave it randomly in his direction.

  Already grabbing more ammo from the table, Luke didn't even hesitate when the cake sample broadsided his left cheek. Flicking frosting out of his eyes, he scooped up two cakes and advanced on her with deadly menace.

  "No, no!" Lillie yelled, her fingers clutching for the last remaining cake.

  Before she could even get her mouth closed, vanilla sponge cake slammed into her face. Lillie ducked and pulled away from Luke's grasp, half-throwing the last cake from the table as she squirmed away from him.

  Within seconds, every sizable piece of cake was demolished, exploding into crumbs on impact. Chunks of it
littered the table, chairs and floor beneath their feet like multi-hued confetti. Cake pieces clung to the wall next to the table and decorated a nearby display case.

  In the middle of the war zone, Luke and Lillie stood, chests heaving, completely covered in Maud's five fabulous flavors.

  "What the heck is going on out here?" Maud demanded, skidding to a halt in front of them, the kitchen doors still flapping behind her. "Are you two crazy?"

  The diminutive gray-haired baker scanned the debacle, her face shocked. "What a mess! You should be ashamed of yourselves. Acting like kids."

  "I'm sorry, Maud--"

  "We'll clean it up--"

  "Quiet! Both of you," Maud barked, effectively silencing them as her face grew uncharacteristically grim.

  They stood before her contritely, covered in splatters of frosting, cake crumbs in their hair, as messy and dirty as two year olds caught in a mud-slinging match.

  Lillie started to shake a glob of frosting from her hand, but stopped in the face of Maud's appalled stare. She knew without moving that her shoes were stuck to the floor and she had a suspicion that her pink silk shirt would never be the same.

  "I know it looks bad..." Luke began, his face apologetic beneath the splotches of frosting.

  Maud silenced him with a glare.

  Luke Morgan had a lot to apologize for, Lillie thought, still furious with him despite the bubble of a giggle in her throat. She looked at Maud, trying to decide between blaming it all on him or going for a more mature version of damage control.

  "I can explain--" she started, not knowing what she was going to say.

  "I don't want to hear any excuses," Maud declared. "Just get out of here."

  "But the mess," Lillie protested weakly. "We should clean--"

  "Out!" Maud raised a rigid arm, finger pointing toward the door. "Before I lose my temper!"

  Not knowing what else to do, Lillie moved tentatively toward the door, acutely conscious of Luke beside her.

  "And you can be grateful, if I deliver that wedding cake of yours on time," Maud declared as they retreated.

  "I'm sorry, Maud," Lillie called out, relieved that the woman wasn't washing her hands of them completely.

  "Go on," Maud ordered, the tight expression on her face softening a little.

  Lillie went through the doorway, suddenly conscious of the cake-damp cling of her clothes and cascade of crumbs with every movement. She paused on the front sidewalk awkwardly, not looking at Luke before taking the few steps to her van.

  He followed her, stopping at her elbow as she gingerly picked through her purse looking for her keys.

  Aware of his presence, Lillie concentrated on her purse. Not since her teen years had she let her impulsive side tempt her into a food fight. Despite the severity of his provocation, she couldn't believe she'd actually hefted a whole cake and thrown it in Luke's face.

  Finding her keys, she fidgeted with them before finally glancing up at Luke.

  Standing next to her, his dark hair was liberally sprinkled with white crumbs and his t-shirt sported a tasteful collage of pink, yellow and chocolate frosting. A brown smear decorated his left cheekbone and she thought she saw a crumb in his ear.

  Their eyes met. The need to giggle gripped Lillie more fiercely. She tightened her lips and concentrated on subduing the laughter rising in her chest.

  Luke held her gaze for an instant, his mouth beginning to twitch.

  In a flash of a second, Lillie realized she also looked like a refugee from junior high. Her cheek felt stiff with frosting and her hands were covered with the stuff.

  The squelched giggle erupted from her finally, only to be followed by another and another until she was rolling with laughter, leaning against the side of her van for support. Next to her Luke clutched at his side, his deep laughter ringing out as uncontrollably as hers.

  They laughed until Lillie gasped for breath. She drew in a gulp of air as chuckling aftershocks rippled through her. Collapsing against the van, she mopped the tears out of her eyes.

  Next to her, his arm braced against the van, Luke's laughter subsided as well.

  She was the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen, Luke decided. With cake scattered through her blond curls and frosting on the end of her nose, she could beat any other woman hands down.

  She was just what he'd been looking for, a woman who could fulfill all his dreams and plans. He wanted her, wanted her passionate enthusiasm, wanted her permanently in his life. And he wanted badly to kiss every speck of frosting off her body and make hot, hungry love to her. Right here in front of the bakery.

  Action following impulse, he bent down and layered his lips against hers. Lillie went still as he pulled her into his arms, not resisting, her body going soft against his.

  She tasted of sugar and secrets, longing and passion. Maybe he couldn't give her everything she wanted, maybe they were doomed to hurt each other. At this point, Luke couldn't bring himself to care. He only knew he had to have her, not just as a sexual companion, but as his woman, his mate.

  If she would just give them a chance, he could show her how perfectly they were suited. Committing to each other would be the most beautifully logical thing. Maybe it would make her happy.

  Their kiss deepened, the texture of hunger mixed with fear. Luke drew her more tightly against his body and poured every ounce of his persuasion into their touch, his mouth caressing and coaxing.

  He couldn't be sure of anything anymore. She haunted his thinking, disturbed his sleep and kept his hormones on overload. The image of her, head thrown back, cries of ecstasy flowing from her soft pink mouth.

  The difference between needing and loving didn't seem important. Luke only knew he couldn't let her walk out of his life...and after the blasted wedding, she would.

  When they broke apart, their breathing ragged, he looked intently into Lillie's face and said, "Marry me, Lillie."

  She stiffened, her eyes widening with shock. "W-What?"

  Luke took her hand in his. "I'm asking you to marry me. We're so good together. We can make a great life together. A home and a family. You make me crazy and you make me laugh. I don't want to lose you. Let me make love to you for the next fifty years."

  Lillie stared up at him as if he were speaking Greek. "You're proposing to me? Now?"

  He shrugged, the ridiculousness of the situation curling his mouth. "Yeah."

  In the back of his mind, he'd been toying with the idea ever since she'd asked him to leave. But time was running out; he had to act now. Marrying Lillie was unquestionably the right thing. He couldn't image letting her go, seeing her marry another man.

  Her perplexed expression shifted into a unhappy mixture of confusion and concern. "I don't know what to say. I'm...."

  "Don't say anything," he told her, not wanting to hear the refusal he feared was on her lips. "Just think about it."

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Pulling the gnawed pencil from her mouth, Lillie checked off the last item on her list. "That does it. I'm glad you came home early enough to go over some of these things."

  "Me, too." Melanie said, fidgeting with a string on the chair cushion.

  Scanning the girl's face, Lillie laid her note pad aside. Melanie had seemed distracted all morning. Lillie could relate to her preoccupation since Luke's proposal had kept her mind in a whirl for two days.

  She hadn't talked to anyone about the sudden turn in their relationship. Everything felt too tenuous. She felt too unsure of her answer. How did a woman refuse to marry the man she loved?

  If it wasn't so ridiculous, she'd be tempted to think he'd proposed just to shatter her peace of mind.

  Why had he really asked her to marry him? Did he think marriage was the only way to get her in his bed permanently or did he have feelings he hadn't expressed?

  "Can I ask you something?" Melanie said abruptly.

  "Of course."

  "Has Scott always been stubborn?"

  "Well," Lillie hesitated, caught off guard.
"He's always had a mind of his own."

  "That's an understatement." Mel's voice was faintly aggrieved.

  Concern filtered through Lillie's preoccupation. "Are you two having problems?"

  Melanie sighed. "Not really. I mean I love him and I know I want to be married to him, but sometimes he's just so difficult," she finished in a burst of indignation.

  "Yes," Lillie agreed bitterly. She'd never realized it before, but lately "difficult" seemed synonymous with "male." "Did you two have an argument or something?"

  "Yes, and then we made up. Even though he said he was sorry for walking out in the middle of our discussion, I know he thinks I was being unreasonable." The younger girl fidgeted with the pillow, looking unhappy. "I just want him to be a little more sensitive to how I feel."

  Lillie struggled for something to say. While she had no trouble understanding Melanie's plea, she also knew just how much Scott loved her. "Sometimes it's hard to see things from the other person's point of view."

  And then again sometimes it was impossible. She was beginning to think she'd never understand Luke's mind.

  "I know," Melanie agreed glumly. "Luke thinks I'm trying to keep Scott on a leash, but I don't mean to."

  "Luke said that?" Lillie asked, indignant.

  Mel smiled ruefully. "Yes, but I asked for it. I was being really crabby. And he's probably right." She sighed again. "I don't mean to be demanding, but I just want to know that I'm number one in Scott's life."

  Lillie stared at the girl, hearing an echo of her own longing.

  "I guess you both need to compromise a little," she said slowly. Wondering suddenly if the same could be said of her and Luke. Did she need to compromise with Luke more? So many of his actions spoke of love. Why couldn't he acknowledge how he felt? Then again, was she being unreasonable requiring him to verbalize something so difficult for him to say? Could she actually marry him with only a hope that down deep he really loved her?

  "I suppose so," Melanie agreed, her face becoming thoughtful. "You know, I was really mad when Luke took Scott's side, but at least he didn't say 'I told you so.' It's been a while since he tried to talk me out of getting married."