“It’s still a bit tender. It’s fine, though. What do you think?”
“It’s beautiful. I can’t believe you went through with it.”
“Cash took me to get it done. It didn’t even take long, and…” She coughed. “It hardly hurt at all.”
“I love it.” Kristy met her eyes and smiled. “Good for you. So is that what you meant when you said you were about to do something crazy? But no, you’ve already done it.”
The waitress set a full glass of the dark lager on the table. Kristy picked it up and held it out, and Callie clinked her half-empty glass against it.
“So what other crazy thing are you about to do?” Then Kristy frowned. “Please don’t tell me you’re getting back with Beau.”
“God no!” Callie burst out laughing. “Although…he was at Mama’s birthday party last weekend. And he said he wanted to talk.”
“What the fuck? Talk about what?”
Callie shrugged. “I didn’t want to find out. I blew him off and avoided him the rest of the evening.”
“Okay, well that’s a relief.”
“Okay, here it is—I’m thinking of starting my own business.”
Kristy sipped her beer. “That’s not crazy. Like what? A clothing boutique like Manon?”
“No. A bakery.”
Kristy choked. “Seriously?”
Callie resisted the impulse to pout at her friend’s reaction. “You think it’s a bad idea?”
Kristy coughed once more, then tipped her head. “You do like to bake.”
“I love it. It makes me happy. Here’s what I’m thinking.” She described her vision of the little boutique bakery she had in mind, the kinds of things she’d make.
Kristy nodded, eyes wide. “You know, that’s totally cool.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Hell yeah.”
“So before I get myself into buying or leasing space, I thought I’d try starting my business online and see how it goes. I’ve been doing a bunch of research, and I’m getting things together. It’ll be a sole proprietorship. I need to file the business name with the state and get a business license, and I need to get an Employer Identification Number from the IRS.”
“Wow. You have been busy. What can I do to help?”
“Well, there is something you can help with.” She turned her cold beer in her fingertips. “I need a website. And you’re a graphic designer.”
Kristy grinned and lifted a hand. They high-fived across the table. “Done!”
“Thank you. It’ll just be me at first. I’ll see if I need to hire help if I get busy enough.” She scrunched up her face. “I hope I get busy enough. You can also help spread the word. Once I’m up and running.” She paused. “I want to do as much as I can by myself. As in, without Beau or my parents helping me.”
“You have your own money.”
“Yes. But starting a business is risky. I don’t want to throw it all away. So I’m going to be very frugal.”
Kristy looked doubtful. “You?”
“Yes! You think I can’t stick to a budget?”
“No idea, ’cause you’ve never done it.”
“Well, I can.” Callie lifted her chin.
Kristy leaned forward. “Honey, you have more money than you know what to do with. I don’t think there are any worries about throwing it all away.”
“I know, but still. I’m trying not to become my parents.”
“I hear you.” Kristy nodded. “I mean, I love your parents, but they’re not my parents, and I didn’t grow up with them ignoring me while they made money and did philanthropic good deeds for everyone but their children.”
“Exactly.”
“How are your brothers, by the way?”
“They’re good.” Kristy had always maintained that Griff and Josh Junior were hot, which she supposed was true even though they were her brothers. “Griff was just home for Mama’s birthday party. It was so good to see him, but we barely got a chance to talk because he was only here for one night.” She pushed her bottom lip out.
“You miss him, don’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“Tell me more about your bakery.”
Callie needed no more invitation to share all the ideas that had been bouncing around in her brain, and Kristy was quickly on board, even throwing out some suggestions for ways to get customers. Callie showed her the Instagram picture of her mother’s birthday cake. “Look how many likes it has.”
“It’s gorgeous, Callie! I mean, I know you make pretty cakes, but wow! That’s amazing!” She sat back. “I think you can do this.”
“Aw. Thank you. I love you.”
Kristy grinned. “Love you, too.”
One of the men seated near them spoke up. “Aw, damn, you two are carpet munchers.” He shook his head in disappointment.
Kristy turned, wide-eyed, and looked back at Callie, who pressed her lips together. The term was offensive, but the man’s disappointment was hilarious. “I told you I was waiting for my girlfriend.”
“A man can hope.”
They both giggled.
Callie focused back on her friend. “So, I even have my first client already.”
“No way.”
She nodded eagerly. “Way! Guess who? Melanie Walden.” She told Kristy what had happened. “And she’s willing to pay a fortune for it!”
“Lord knows there are enough wealthy people in Houston who can afford to pay big bucks for wedding cakes. Or birthday cakes. Or macarons better than ones you can buy in France.”
Callie grinned.
The waitress approached them, and they both ordered burgers and another beer, then resumed their talk.
“What about a name for the business?” Kristy asked. “Have you come up with one yet?”
“Um, no. I had a few ideas, but I’m not sure.”
“You want something cute and clever? Or simple and classy?”
“I don’t know. I thought of Sweet Sensations.”
“I think there’s already a place with that name. How about Piece of Cake?”
“Cute.”
“Cake ’n’ Bake. Cake My Day.” Kristy paused, tapping her chin. “I know! Tiers of Joy!”
Callie laughed. “Okay, simple and classy it is.”
“Well, it could be Callie’s Cakes. Cakes by Callie.”
“Eh. Not sure about using my name.”
“How about just Caked?”
Callie considered that. “I like it.”
“There you go. You’re welcome.”
They toasted with their beers.
“Okay, I have a name! Caked.”
“Tell me what your vision is. Like, how you want it to look.”
“Well…like the name…simple and classy. Lots of white. Let me show you some of my pictures.” She pulled out her phone, and Kristy leaned over to look as she scrolled through images.
“Love the ones taken on the white marble,” Kristy said. “That could be sort of a signature look.”
“Yes.”
They talked all through their dinner, and Kristy promised to get to work on the website right away.
“Thank you so much. You’re the best.” They hugged in the now-dark parking lot.
“I guess you haven’t told your parents about this?”
“No. Not yet.” Callie grimaced. “Not sure what they’ll think about me being a baker. But what the hey, they’re already disappointed in me for not being a Junior-League-volunteering trophy wife.”
“Bah. Eff them.”
Callie laughed. “Love you, hon.”
“Backatcha. See you soon!”
…
Cash was determined to stay away from Callie, and he was successful in that goal until the next Saturday. He’d just finished having lunch with a client at the Houston Club and was waiting for an elevator so he could leave when the doors opened and Callie was standing there with a cart holding an enormous cake.
His heart fibrillated as if he’d been hit with
high-voltage electricity. “Callie.”
Her eyes shot wide, and her smile was instant, then dimmed as she no doubt recalled the last time they’d been together, fucking on her kitchen island. “Cash. Hi.”
Time slowed as they gazed at each other, every nerve ending in his body electrified at the sight of her.
She stepped forward, and he reached for the cart to help her wrestle it out of the elevator. “What are you doing here?”
“Careful.” She nibbled her lip as he moved the cart. “I made a cake for Melanie Walden’s wedding tonight.”
He peered into the open box. “It’s amazing.”
She gave him an anxious smile. “Thanks. I worked all week on it.”
“Where are we going?”
“The ballroom.”
She led the way into the ballroom, where club staff was just finishing the room setup. Sunlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking downtown Houston. White fabric draped all the chairs and tables, and the florist had already been there to deliver flowers. Centerpieces adorned the tables and huge arrangements stood on tall stands near the head table.
A woman looked up as they walked in and hurried over, her phone clutched in her hand. “Are you Callie?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Hi, so nice to meet you. I’m Heather White, Melanie’s wedding planner.” She held out a hand, and they shook.
“Nice to meet you, too, Heather.”
“Let’s see the cake. Oh my God! It is gorgeous!”
“This is my, um, friend, Cash Hale.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Cash.” Heather cast him a look that was as appreciative as the one she’d given the cake. “Let’s put the cake on this table over here.”
Cash pushed the cart over the carpet and stopped next to the small table. He looked back and forth between the cake and one of the floral arrangements. “Wow. Your flowers look just about as real as those.”
The multilayered cake was iced with smooth, pale-blue frosting, with big dark-purple flowers, smaller blue ones, and a few white blossoms cascading down around it. Some kind of gold sprinkles were scattered among the flowers. It was a fucking work of art.
“They do!” Heather beamed and clapped her hands together. “I’ve been in this business a while, and this is one of the most beautiful cakes I’ve ever seen.”
Callie smiled and twisted her hands together. “Thank you.” She sucked in a big breath and let it out, glancing at Cash. “Um, maybe you could help me get it onto the table? It weighs a ton.”
“Sure.”
Between them, they opened the sides of the box, and Cash lifted the cake on its white stand while Callie slid the flattened cardboard out from under it, then centered the cake on the table. “There.” She met his eyes and gave another tight smile. “I guess my job is done.”
“Thank you so much, Callie.” Heather adjusted the position of an ornate knife with a big sheer bow tied to it. “Do you have a business card?”
“No.” Callie’s dismay showed on her face. “I’m afraid I don’t.”
“Well, I’m sure I can contact you through Melanie, right?”
“Yes. Yes, of course.” She twisted her fingers together again. “Can I get one more picture of the cake here?”
“Of course.”
She dug in her purse for her phone. “I took some at home, but I’d like one of it here in the ballroom.”
Cash watched her take a couple of steps back and hold up her phone. She was so damn adorable, dressed in a bright-pink sundress that hugged her slender torso and flared out around her knees, eyes focused intently on her phone screen. Her flash flared a couple of times, and she swiped the screen to peer at the image. “There.” She hesitated. “I almost hate to leave it here. But I guess it’ll be okay.”
“You sound like you’re abandoning a baby,” he teased.
She laughed, and some of the tension in her face eased. “It feels kind of like that.” She dropped her phone into her purse.
“The cake will be fine,” Heather assured her. “It’s my job to make sure everything is looked after and perfect for the happy couple. I’ll get someone to take this cart back down.”
“Thank you.” Callie smiled at the wedding planner, and she and Cash turned toward the door.
He set his hand lightly on the small of her back. “How did you end up making a wedding cake?”
“Melanie saw pictures of Mama’s birthday cake on Facebook and contacted me. The person who was supposed to make their cake couldn’t do it, and they needed someone at the last minute.”
“I think she’ll be happy. It’s a shame to cut into it and wreck it, though.”
“Well, it would be a shame not to, because it tastes amazing.”
He laughed.
“So what are you doing here?”
“Just had lunch with a client.”
“On a Saturday?”
“Sure.”
She sighed. “You and Beau work such long hours.”
He shrugged. “We wouldn’t be as successful as we have been if we didn’t.”
“I suppose.”
They paused in front of the elevators, and he poked a button. “Anyway, I love my job. So it doesn’t feel like work sometimes.”
She nodded, looking thoughtful. “Yeah. I get that.” She paused. “I need to get business cards.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Business cards?”
“She asked for a business card. If I want to get more jobs, I need to have them to hand out.”
“You want more jobs?”
“Of course.”
The elevator arrived, and they stepped inside.
Callie eyed him and nibbled her bottom lip briefly as if she had something to say but wasn’t sure if she should. “I want to start my own cake business.”
“Seriously?” He’d thrown out the idea casually that afternoon at her place. He hadn’t realized she was really thinking of doing it.
“Yes. I’ve been doing a bunch of research,” she continued as they descended. “I’d love to have my own little bakery, like the one I worked in, in Paris, but I can get started baking out of my kitchen while I find a place and get it ready.” Her eyes darted toward him. “That woman is a wedding planner, and if she likes my cake…that could lead to more business.”
“Yeah, I guess it could.” His forehead tightened a little, contemplating Callie slaving away in her kitchen for hours on end. “You really love doing it that much?”
She met his eyes. “I really do. And I think I’m good at it.”
“You are good at it. You think you can make a living?” Then he rolled his eyes. “Forget I said that. I’m talking to a Sutherland. You don’t need to earn a living.”
One corner of her mouth lifted. “I don’t need to, but I want to. I have the luxury of having the funds to start my own business—and believe me, I know most people don’t have that, and I know how lucky I am—but I want it to be a success. I’m just kicking myself for not thinking about getting business cards made. I’ve started working on a website, though.”
He shook his head. “Really? You’re doing it yourself?”
“No!” She laughed. “I thought of trying to do it myself, but I want something really nice and professional. And I need to be able to take orders online. So Kristy is going to help me.”
“Oh right, she’s a graphic designer.”
“Yes. She helped me come up with a name for the business, too.” She peeked at him through her eyelashes. “It’s going to be called Caked.”
He grinned. “I like it.”
“Thank you.”
They stepped out of the elevator and exited the building into the afternoon heat. Cash stopped on the sidewalk to face her, to say goodbye. At least that was his intent. But he was curious about her ideas and wanted to know more about what she was planning. Was she being unrealistic and naive? She’d been an art major in college, not a business major. What did she know about starting a business? She liked to bake
cookies, for fuck’s sake. So he found himself saying, “What are you doing now?”
She shrugged. “Nothing. Now that the cake is done, I don’t really have anything else to work on.” Then she smiled. “Other than sending Melanie a big old invoice.”
“I hope you’re charging her a fortune.”
“I am.” Her smile was luminous.
“I want to know more about your bakery.”
“Really?” She hesitated. “Do you think I’m crazy?”
“Of course not.” Well, he hoped not.
She blew out a breath. “Thank you.”
He didn’t move for a moment, studying her beautiful face, her long dark hair shining in the bright sun. Spending time with her was a bad idea. A very bad idea. But he said, “Let’s go get a drink, and you can tell me more.”
She didn’t answer right away, and he knew she was having the same doubts he was. They were friends and they had fun together, and he didn’t want to lose that, but he also knew it was risky spending time with her. “We’re friends. Right?”
She nodded, her eyes big. “Yes.” She caught her bottom lip in her teeth briefly. “I’m sorry about what happened…last weekend.” She peered up at him through her eyelashes. “I just want to say that…I…” She swallowed. “It won’t happen again.”
He gazed at her, his chest tight. That should make him happy. It didn’t.
Curse his depraved soul.
He pulled in a long, slow breath through his nose, then nodded. She was right. It couldn’t happen again. “Okay. Let’s go to the Wild Turkey.”
She gave a relieved little laugh. “I was just there the other day with Kristy.”
“Want to go somewhere else?”
“No, that’s good.”
Beau hated that place and refused to go there, so they weren’t likely to run into him or any of his friends.
Jesus, it was as if they were sneaking around behind his back. As if they were the ones who were cheating, when it was fucking Beau who’d done that. He didn’t need to feel guilty about having a drink and maybe playing a little pool with a friend, even if that friend was his best friend’s ex.
Yeah, he could keep telling himself that. And he could keep telling himself Callie was just a friend.
Chapter Nine
Four years ago
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