“No, not broken into, although someone did enter overnight.”
“Nothing is making sense.” I gasp. “What will I do today? Monica’s wedding is in a few hours and we don’t have a cake.” My breaths come out heavy and its only Marissa’s arms around me that keep me from a full-blown panic attack.
“We’ll think of something.” Marissa glances at Paul. “We have to.”
Not an hour before I was making love with the man I’ve fallen in love with, and now, this. “I’ve ruined Monica’s wedding,” I mumble, dropping onto a stool. “I promised her an amazing wedding cake. Now I have nothing.”
“Oh honey.” Marissa cups my face in her hands and brushes at my tears as they slip down my cheeks. “We need to think on how to fix this, but you have to know that it isn’t your fault. Someone has purposely destroyed the cake. It has nothing to do with you or your ability.”
“But…”
“No buts.” Marissa grabs my shoulders. “We can do this, and if we can’t, then as the owner, I’ll be the one to explain.”
I shake my head; a sad smile on my lips while my heart is breaking. “I won’t let you do that. If anyone sorts this mess out then it’s going to be me. I just hope they’ll forgive me.”
“Stop blaming yourself, Sofia,” Paul says, having stayed silent. “If Shane blames you for what has happened then he doesn’t deserve you.” He disappears outside.
I lift my watery gaze to Marissa while I take her hand into mine and squeeze. “Thank you for offering, but I have to do this.”
“Isn’t there anything else in here we can use to make something presentable?” She asks, glancing around.
Sadly, I shake my head. “No. I’ve been concentrating on the wedding cake and haven’t had chance to make more sponge. Only had a few children’s birthday cakes this past week.” I sigh. “You know how I like to keep the schedule light on approach to a wedding.”
“You love him?” I sharply blink at Marissa, wondering where that came from. She smiles. “You’re worried about what he’ll think the most.”
“I’ve let them down when they believed in me.”
Marissa gives me a slight shake. “You listen to me. What happened to that cake was not your fault. I don’t know whom, why, or how, but I can assure you, I’ll find out. In the meantime I know where we can get a cake from, and I also know that we can get some flowers to decorate it with. It won’t be the cake, but Monica and Nate will still have a cake.” She smiles. “Shane is in love with you Sofia, he won’t blame you. Trust him.”
I’m left staring at Marissa’s back while I repeat what she said. My relationship with Shane has only just begun, and it’s been bumpy, which is why I’m nervous about his reaction today when he knows the expected cake won’t be arriving.
Trust him!
My belly flutters with nerves and I feel sick, but I have to do this. I have to make it right.
16
Shane
“If you glance at that watch once more, I’m removing it,” Monica says as she slides her arm through mine. “I’m about to marry for love and you’re making me think you can’t wait to be shut of me.”
“You’ll always be my sister, Monica. Marriage won’t change that.” I sigh and try to keep my worry for Sofia from showing. “I never thought I’d see the day when my bratty sister got married.” I brush a soft tendril of hair back from her face. “I’m honored to be walking you down the aisle, and I promise, I’m in no eager rush to be shut of you.”
Her eyes light up. “Ah, so it’s Sofia who you are watching for?” She grins. “Maybe I won’t be the only one getting married this year.” Wiggling her brows, she nudges into my side. “I like her, and right now she’ll be in the marquee seeing to the finishing touches of the cake.” She squeezes my arm. “Don’t worry.”
Not worrying is easier said than done, especially after the bumpy start to our relationship. Sofia McKenzie has always intrigued me, but it was the innocent blush that would coat her cheeks whenever we were in a room together that caught my attention first. Well, maybe after I’d noticed her shapely figure that she liked to hide beneath large aprons.
Ignoring the niggling doubt that something is wrong, I inhale deeply and turn to my sister. “Are you ready to become a wife?”
Monica’s smile lights up her whole face. “Oh, yes,” she whispers on a nervous sigh.
Although I shouldn’t delight in her nervousness, it’s hard not to considering she’s usually the most self-confident woman I know.
Chuckling, we slowly move down the stairs and outside to where the wedding guests have been seated. I can’t stop my eyes from glancing around; looking for the blonde head of the woman I’m in love with. Disappointment sits heavily in my chest when I don’t see any sign of her.
Monica has told me a million and one times what I’m supposed to do today, which is just as well, considering my mind is elsewhere during the wedding ceremony, and before I know it, the happy couple are pronounced, husband and wife. A lump in my chest catches me off guard as I watch my sister beaming up at her new husband, who looks just as in love with her as she is him. The doubts I had about him disappear in this moment when I realize he really does love her.
I follow them at a slower pace, my eyes wandering over the guests in hope that I’ll spot the one woman who should be here with me today, but isn’t.
Refusing to let my disappointment cloud my sister’s wedding, I smile at all the right moments, and let my sister pull me toward the marquee where the wedding meal is being held.
Monica gasps, turning to look at me, and then back toward the side of the room where a large wedding cake is situated. At least that is what I think it’s supposed to be.
“What happened to my cake?” Monica whispers, her voice filled with tears.
Her new husband whispers in her ear while I’m trying to reconcile Sofia with the confectionary mess in front of my eyes. It doesn’t seem like Sofia’s style. She’s too classy for a rumbled mess. The burgundy flowers covering the cake are large and immediately make me think of a funeral rather than a wedding—maybe a cake for a Halloween party, but certainly not a wedding cake. “You’ve seen the cake,” my mother says, joining us. “Isn’t it’s amazing?” She gushes. “When Sofia let you down a friend of mine stepped in. I think she’s done an amazing job.”
All I hear is Sofia as I turn and face the woman who gave birth to me but has never been a true mother. “What did you say about Sofia?”
“I let you down.”
I turn and relief rushes through me when Sofia is standing before me, until I notice her distress and without giving her a choice, I pull her into my arms. “Whatever it is, we’ll handle it together.” I kiss the top of her head and breathe in the subtle flowery scent of Sofia.
“The cake I made was destroyed,” she whispers against my chest. “Last night someone got into the bakery and smashed the cake into pieces.”
What is she talking about? Something isn’t right, and I have a feeling in my stomach that it all has something to do with my mother. She must have known about Sofia’s cake in order to have the one her friend has made here on time for the wedding.
Cupping Sofia’s tear stained face in my hands, I ask, “Who else apart from your boss, knew what happened to your cake?”
Sofia shakes her head. “No one. I only found out a few hours ago. I just didn’t want to ruin the ceremony by telling Monica beforehand.” Her eyes flicker to my right as she notices the ugly cake where hers should have been sitting. “You have a cake? How?”
“That’s what I want to know.” I keep Sofia in the shelter of my arms and turn to face my mother. Monica faces her also with her hands on her hips.
“What have you done?” Monica accuses our mother. “Did you ruin Sofia’s cake, my wedding cake, so you could display a cake made by your friend? Something you’ve wanted all along.”
Mother stays silent.
“Tell me!” Monica hisses.
Mother goes red
with anger. “Of course I arranged for the cake. Brian is a professional pastry chef to the stars.”
“It’s hideous mother.” Monica seethes. “I’ve seen the cake Sofia had made and it was an elegant four-tiered masterpiece. The fact that you could purposely set out to ruin not only Sofia’s work but our wedding is wrong and hateful.”
“You should be grateful!” Mother snaps. “I was thinking of you.”
“Like hell you were,” I say, my anger building. “If you had been thinking about Monica, then Sofia’s creation would be sitting where that,” I point, “is right now.”
“Get rid of it.” Monica glares defiance on her face, a look I know all too well. “I’d rather have no cake than that thing.”
“You can’t ask him to remove his cake.” Mother looks appalled.
It takes a few seconds of Monica’s eyes begging me to do something for me to snag a waiter. “Get some help and remove that cake to the main house. I’ll arrange for someone to transfer it to the retirement village in town.” I shrug and turn to Sofia. “Someone might as well enjoy it, even though I’m tempted to dump it in the trash.”
“I like that it will be donated,” Monica says. “Now, myself and my husband are going to enjoy the rest of our wedding.”
I smile and place a gentle teasing kiss to Sofia’s lips. “Please don’t cry. I love you, and I’m so damn sorry this has happened to you.”
“I thought you’d be angry at me for letting Monica down.”
“You haven’t. None of it was your fault.”
“I have brought another cake with me, just not exactly what was ordered.”
My body heats as Sofia chews on her bottom lip.
“You have?”
“Hmm, it’s in the van. I was going to set it up when I saw the replacement.”
“We’ll set it up together. Where is your van?” I tug her out of the marquee and over to where she indicates. I just want a private moment with her.
My arms wrap around her and my lips claim hers—so soft and pliant under my own. Sweet with a promise as Sofia clings to me. I press her up against the side of the van unable to get enough of her.
The erection behind my zipper is hard and pulsing with a life of it’s own the more we devour each other.
“I want you,” she whispers against my lips.
“I need you.” I kiss down along her neck and nearly come when her hand presses over my bulge. “Not here.”
“Yes. Here.” Sofia makes quick work of my zipper, leaving my belt fastened. She shoves her hand inside and wrapping her fingers around my erection, pulls me free.
I throb with arousal, unable to hide what she’s doing to me. I’ve never been so out of control before. My brain is no longer functioning as her fingers rub and massage the crown of my cock.
“I want you inside me,” Sofia whispers, nibbling my neck while her hand works me over. “Now Shane. Please.”
With trembling hands, I pull her skirt up and slip my fingers into her panties. My limbs quiver and my cock gives a hard jerk at the feel of Sofia’s arousal.
Grabbing her ass, I lift her up and let her guide me between the wet lips of her pussy. She’s swollen and soaked allowing me to glide inside smoothly. Her arms and legs tighten around me while I pray I make her come first.
The moment I move I realize I had nothing to worry about as the deep moan Sofia lets out while her body pulsates around mine finishes me off in a powerful release. The hard tugs on my dick slowly subside and my heart gradually stops pounding in my chest.
Sofia’s soft chuckle surprises me but it sounds good considering the tears covering her face earlier.
Holding her gaze, I slowly slip free of her body, the sated look on Sofia’s face making me wish we were some place private.
Straightening myself, my eyes fill with amusement when Sofia realizes what I’m doing on my knees.
My hands slip slowly up her thighs and I slide my fingers through the evidence of our enjoyment.
“Shane,” she moans, turning it into a groan of disappointment as I tug her little panties back into place.
Standing, I make sure she’s watching while I suck on my fingers.
Her eyes narrow. “That wasn’t very nice of you, not when I can’t return the favor.”
The thought of Sofia kneeling at my feet with my cock in her mouth causes me to pause in shock.
“Hmm, given you ideas, huh?”
Briefly closing my eyes, I inhale and taking Sofia’s hand, lead her to the back of the van. “Let’s get the cake inside before I’m sneaking you up to my room.”
The teasing light from Sofia’s face disappears as she reaches up and caresses my face. “My day started out wonderful, and went downhill fast.” She smiles softly. “Then you made it all better again.” She lifts herself closer and places a whisper of a kiss across my lips.
“I’m not talking about the hot sex, outside, behind the van.” She smirks. “However, that was a treat.” She pauses. “What I’m referring to is you being here for me. I was so worried about what you’d think when I arrived without the cake, that I felt sick inside. You made it all go away the moment you took me into your arms.” She wraps herself around me, which I love.
I love the way she’s accepting of me, and I’m especially grateful to have her forgiveness for the mess I’d made in the beginning.
“I love you, Sofia McKenzie, and I promise that you’ll always have my arms around you.”
“I love you, too.”
THE END
Of A Baker’s Delight
17
Olivia
The sight of my office has started to annoy me. In truth nothing has been right since I left my cousin’s home in Montana and came back to Lexington. It’s not Madison that niggles, but more like the deliciously hot cowboy who I gave my heart to. Geary. He’d managed to talk me out of my panties within hours of us meeting, and he had the ability to keep them off of me.
We had agreed from the start that what we shared was temporary, except, I don’t want it to be temporary anymore. As the snow falls outside of the McKenzie building, I wish I was curled up in front of the warm hearth in Geary’s small cabin. The stone cabin was close to Derek and Madison’s home, but felt completely separate. That’s how I feel right now. Completely separate from my own life. I’m going through the motions except nothing feels the same.
I’m lonely.
My brother, Alexander, is happily married and my cousins are all falling in love and starting families of their own. It feels like an epidemic and I’ve never been so out of place before. I know why, I just don’t know what I’m going to do about it. Or even if the man in question wants me to do anything.
Geary had readily agreed to our brief encounter, and he’s had plenty of time to get in touch with me, but he hasn’t. I can’t blame him completely because I haven’t tried to get in touch with him either. I guess it works both ways.
Biting down on the pencil I’ve been twirling around between my fingers, I wince and toss the remains into the trash under my desk. Sighing heavily, I stretch from my chair and moving over to the ceiling to floor window, I rest my forehead against the cool glass.
“Olivia?” Michael, my cousin says with a frown in his voice. “Are you okay?”
“I don’t know.” I sense him moving closer, and add, “I think I need a break.” As the words leave my mouth I know it’s what I really want. A break from the same schedule I keep on a daily basis. Some time to let my brain relax. The thought of having no responsibility for a short time starts filling me with excitement. I don’t rest. Ever. But this Christmas, I’m going to.
“I’m going to take Christmas off and I’ll be back in the office mid-January.” I turn and grin at my astonished cousin. “I’ve just finished a project and haven’t picked anything up next.”
“There are a few things waiting attention,” Michael comments.
My smile starts to slip. “Really?”
Michael pauses. “We’ll man
age. January is always busy though.”
“I just need a break. Something for me instead of everyone else.” I offer him a wry smile. “You know how much I love my family, but I don’t think I’ve ever taken time for just me.”
“You haven’t, which is why I’m not giving you grief now.” Michael sits opposite my desk and watches me warily. “A friend of yours is in town and I thought you’d like to join us for dinner?”
“Who? Business?”
“Not business, although Geary has been in town a few days on business for Derek.”
My heart starts to beat wildly thinking about Geary, until I realize Michael said Geary has been in town for a few days. Plenty of time for him to get in touch with me.
“So dinner?” Michael urges.
I desperately want to jump on his offer, but I don’t. “I have plans.”
“Olivia, I know you. You do not have plans. You’re avoiding.”
Dropping into my chair, I stare at my desk. “If he’s been in town a few days then he’s had chance to get in touch with me. He hasn’t. I’m not going to dinner.” I meet Michael’s gaze. “I’m going to leave early.”
Michael opens his mouth and snaps it closed again.
I’m well aware I’m being childish, I just can’t seem to stop myself.
Moving out from behind my desk, I wrap my arms around him. “Thank you for your concern, but I’m fine.”
“He’s expecting you there tonight.” Michael won’t give up.
“Please leave it.”
Michael stays silent and leaves my office.
So Geary is in town and has been for a few days, huh? I guess that tells me where I stand with him.
Clearing my desk, I straighten the chairs and close the blinds before grabbing my purse. My office is silent as I close and lock the door.
As I pass Michael’s office, I notice Brooke has arrived and she is currently wrapped around my cousin. I move toward the elevator, wondering if I’ll ever have what they do. What most of my other cousins have—someone to share a life with.
McKenzie Cousins Box Set Three: Books Seven, Eight, Nine Page 8