Emilia turned up the collar on her leather jacket before answering. “Abby’s canceled. Said they’d overbooked.”
“What!” Kinsley nearly spilled the drink the waiter set down in front of her as she reached for her cell phone. “I’m going to call Abby right now. How dare she think she can cancel a month before my wedding?”
Emilia put her hand over Kinsley’s, stopping her from dialing. “Lizzy already spoke to her. She claims there was a mix-up, and the date belonged to her brother-in-law.”
Kinsley’s full lips thinned in displeasure. “You’ve got to be kidding. Can’t they do both?”
“No, but it doesn’t matter. There’s no way they can do your wedding three hours away in Camille and do one in the city. But no worries. Naturally Delicious will be catering.”
Kinsley frowned. “I’ve never heard of them.”
“They’re new, only use organic foods, and come highly recommended.” Emilia pasted on a huge smile, hoping that would convince her friend that she was confident this caterer was more than competent. Truth be told, she had no idea if she was making a huge mistake hiring a company whose only review came from a musician she’d never met. Lizzy dated a lot of guys, and the ones she chose weren’t always the best. Hopefully, that wouldn’t be the case this time. Besides, what choice did she have? It was either cross her fingers and pray or cater the wedding herself. Emilia might be a good cook, but feeding five hundred guests was not in her wheelhouse.
Kinsley took a long sip of her drink and studied Emilia over the rim of the glass. “If you’re okay with them, then I am too. And I promise to keep the jitters to a minimum. Just because I’ve never heard of Naturally Delicious, doesn’t mean they won’t do a great job.”
Emilia checked her watch for the time. It was nearly six-thirty. By the time she finished her wine and had a quick bite, she’d have to hightail it out of there. “Actually, I have to meet the owner back at my office tonight. Would you care to come with me? You could take a look at the menu.”
“I wish I could, but Dylan got us tickets to a show that I’ve been dying to see. Unfortunately, I don’t have time for dinner either. But I did want to stop by tonight to introduce Molly and get a quick update from you on the wedding.”
“No problem. I’ll give you a call tomorrow with all the details.”
While they finished their drinks, the conversation shifted to Forever Wild, the wildlife sanctuary Kinsley had inherited from her Aunt Cora. That’s where she’d met Dylan Reese, the love of her life, and where they’d decided to have their wedding. Located in the tiny town of Camille, about thirty miles north of Woodstock, it was surrounded by lush green hills that would serve as a gorgeous backdrop. The only drawback was travel time. And the one affected most would be the caterer. Emilia wondered if Lizzy had mentioned that to Naturally Delicious. Her instincts told her probably not, which meant she’d have to bring it up at the meeting tonight. Her stomach clenched tight. What if that turned out to be a deal-breaker? Remembering her sister’s earlier words about staying positive, she pushed her negativity aside and concentrated on enjoying her quick get-together with the No Brides Club.
When they went back down to the table, Kinsley said her goodbyes, gave Emilia a hug and whispered in her ear how thankful she was that Happily Ever After was planning her wedding.
Emilia’s mood became suddenly buoyant, so she ordered another glass of wine and splurged on a less than calorie-conscious meal. Today’s crisis had been averted, giving her reason to celebrate.
2
Chase double-checked his portfolio to be sure everything he needed for tonight’s meeting was in there—plenty of business cards, brochures, menus, and references. No doubt, he was paranoid. He’d already checked it three times. Besides, he had the job. Lizzy had sounded desperate, nearly piercing his eardrum with her screech when he’d told her he had open the date she needed. Still, he liked to be prepared. He just wished he’d thought to ask her sister’s name when they’d been on the phone since that’s whom he was meeting with. It didn’t really matter, though. He’d find out soon enough.
After a quick rake through his near shoulder-length hair, he slipped on a worn leather jacket and then headed out the door. He hadn’t changed his hairstyle since high school and saw no reason to. Most of his clients were hip, artsy types, and his laid-back look fit in just fine. This was his first wedding, though, so he hoped the owners of Happily Ever After didn’t object. Most women found his long hair sexy, so he was confident all would go well. His cooking skills were what mattered, and he had no concerns at all in that area.
It didn’t take long to catch a cab. The ride from the repurposed warehouse in Chelsea that housed his business, as well as his apartment, should take around five minutes. Of course, that all depended on the traffic. If he hadn’t been in a hurry, he would’ve walked, but he didn’t have forty minutes. He hated being late for anything. Most of all, a meeting with a new client.
Happily Ever After was located on a street teeming with art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and bars. After handing the taxi driver a twenty, he realized he had a few minutes to spare—one thing he hated as much as being late was being early—so he took a quick stroll down the street.
He’d never realized how much he loved the city until he’d left it. Ten years in Minnesota was more than enough, so when his marriage to Vera was over, he headed home. It had been eight months since he’d been back, and things were going well. The stress of not being able to love his wife the way he should was gone, and he’d achieved the contentment he’d craved. Now he just needed to get his catering business off the ground.
Chase looked down at the shiny gold band on his left hand and debated whether he should take it off. The last thing he needed or wanted was another relationship. Having women think he was married made life so much easier, so he stuffed his hand in the pocket of his jeans with the ring still on.
After looking in the windows of a couple of stores, he’d wasted enough time that he now felt comfortable going into Happily Ever After. The waiting area reminded him of a very upscale living room. The walls were white, as were the couch and two large upholstered chairs. In the center was a huge glass table and above it an elegant crystal chandelier. He imagined any number of engaged couples would be impressed with the chic décor, leaving them with a great first impression.
He looked around for a bell or something that would let Lizzy’s sister know that he was there, but when he came up empty-handed, he simply called out, “Hello,” and then took a seat in one of the chairs. A moment later, he heard the clicking of heels against the marble floor.
A woman’s silvery voice rang out from down the hall. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you come in.” Although almost identical to Lizzy’s, it had a huskiness that her sister’s didn’t have, and there was something oddly familiar about it.
When a petite figure with long auburn hair appeared before him, Chase jumped to his feet, but as his gaze scanned the woman’s face—delicately carved with a full, rosy mouth—a muscle quivered at his jaw, and a gamut of conflicting emotions raced through him. Emmy?
Two deep lines of worry appeared between her gorgeous slate-blue eyes.
He studied her face for an extra beat as a tense silence enveloped the room. His tongue felt thick like he’d swallowed a spoon full of molasses, but as each second passed, the awkwardness grew, and he had to say something. “Emilia, I—”
She cut him off quickly. “I never thought I’d see you again.” Her voice was cold and exact, and it sliced through him as if it were a sword.
“And I, you. Lizzy didn’t mention her last name or your first name, for that matter.”
“What if she had? Would you still have taken the job?”
That was a good question. Kinsley King could make his business flourish. A good word from her would travel through the high society grapevine like lightening. On the other hand, working with Emmy would be torture. His feelings for her were still raw.
&nbs
p; As he studied her gorgeous face, memories of the past resurfaced. He’d first met Emilia at summer camp. They were just kids—he was twelve and she only ten, but the cutest thing he’d ever seen, and he knew even then that she was the girl he would someday marry. However, his prediction didn’t amount to anything until his senior year of high school when he saw her in the school production of West Side Story, triggering his memory that she was the girl from summer camp. Her voice was exquisite, and her portrayal of Maria made her a star at Avery Heights. Usually, the lead went to a senior, but when Tiffany Snider came down with the flu, Emmy, as her understudy, had to take over. The night was magical in many ways, but it was later when he crashed the cast party and actually got to meet her, that his childhood crush resurfaced. He took her to senior prom, and they dated the entire summer. Before he left for culinary school, he bought her a sweetheart ring with three little diamonds and told her he wanted to marry her someday…
“Well, are you going to answer me or not?” Her chilly tone jolted him out of the past and back to the present.
“I’m sorry. What was the question?”
She sighed. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter. I need a caterer, and unfortunately, you’re it.”
Chase followed her down the long hall, noting her petite, slim figure and her sleek auburn hair that hung down her back like a sheet of gleaming copper. Emmy hadn’t changed a bit. She looked exactly like the beautiful young girl he’d left behind. The only difference, she no longer loved him. A terrible sense of bitterness assailed him. Why hadn’t she answered his letters? He’d asked himself that question so many times over the past ten years that he’d lost count. Why not ask her now? “Em…”
“What?”
The sour look she cast him from over her shoulder chilled his heart. Why bother? They were no longer those innocent teenagers who’d shared a vow. Too much time had gone by. Too much of life had happened. The past was the past, and it needed to remain there. “Nothing,” he replied softly.
When they entered her office, he was taken aback by its size. They walked past a huge dining table that seated twenty. It was covered by a white woven tablecloth and was set with gold-rimmed china and long-stemmed crystal goblets. In the center was a magnificent flower arrangement that filled the room with the scents of gardenias, lilies, and roses. There was no doubt, Emmy had a talent for this. However, a pang of sadness tightened his chest. He’d always thought she’d perform on Broadway one day.
“Do you still sing?” he asked, taking a seat across from her at a large glass table.
“Aside from in the shower, no. Owning a business is very time consuming, as I’m sure you know.”
He frowned, wondering what had caused her to give up her passion. This wasn’t the time to ask, though. That was obvious by her clipped response. “So tell me about Kinsley King’s wedding.” Chase took a yellow lined pad and a pen out of his briefcase and prepared to take notes.
Emmy’s face lit up as she spoke. “It’s going to be a fabulous affair. No expense spared. Her property is gorgeous and will make the perfect backdrop for an outside wedding. I’m having enormous tents put up for the reception, not far from the house, so getting the guests their dinner shouldn’t be a problem. And the kitchen is a chef’s dream, which should make you happy as I’m sure you’ll be doing some cooking there.”
He set his pen down. “That depends on the menu and where her home is located.”
Emilia’s expression clouded, and silence loomed between them like a heavy mist. When she finally spoke, her voice was tense. “I was afraid my sister might have forgotten to mention the property is in Camille.”
He scowled as he recalled driving through the tiny town years ago while on his way to a campsite in upstate New York. “Camille is about three hours away if I remember correctly.”
“Yes.” Her reply was little more than a squeak.
“That could be an issue.”
Her naturally rosy cheeks paled, and there was no missing the slight tremble of her bottom lip. “As I said, no expense is spared. It’s quite understandable if you’ll need to charge more because of the distance.”
“It’s not only the cost that is a concern. Time is a factor too. I have a large dinner party that I’m catering the night before. When I said yes to Lizzy, I had assumed most of the prep work could be done in advance. That may not be the case now. Some things don’t transport well. Also, I like to do the majority of the cooking in my own kitchen. That won’t happen with a wedding three hours away.”
“Please, I don’t know what I’ll do if you back out.”
The desperation in her voice stirred feelings in him he’d tried hard to suppress. Saying no to her about anything had always been tough, but this concerned his business, and he needed to be careful not to mess it up. He’d sunk his entire savings into Naturally Delicious. “I don’t know, Em.”
“Don’t give me an answer right now. I’m going to Camille this weekend. Why don’t you come with me? Take a look at the place; meet Kinsley. You can discuss the menu with her and see what will work.”
Chase tapped his pen on the table as he pondered her suggestion. He had a birthday party scheduled for Saturday, and that was it. His staff could easily handle it. Why not take Emmy up on her offer? If he could figure out a way to do Kinsley’s wedding and not sacrifice his reputation by doing a subpar job, it would be worth it. And equally important, it would give him a chance to spend time with Em and maybe find out why she disappeared from his life.
Her gaze had dropped down to the gold band on the ring finger of his left hand. “Do you need to call your wife before giving me an answer?”
Emmy’s hands were folded together on the desk, and he noticed they were ringless. Satisfaction pursed his mouth, while a heavy feeling settled in his stomach as he wondered if she still had the little diamond ring he’d given her. Most likely not. Why in the world would she have kept it? “Vera’s in Minnesota,” he said, keeping his tone even, despite the shame that bubbled up inside him every time he uttered her name. He never should’ve married her, but he’d put his own needs first. His need for companionship had outweighed true love. Now certainly wasn’t the time to explain his personal life, though.
“Well then, seeing as your time is your own this weekend, hopefully, you’ll come to Camille with me?”
“I will, but don’t take that as a yes for the wedding.”
“Of course. I’ll pick you up at nine a.m. on Saturday.”
Chase scribbled his address on the pad and then handed her the paper.
After scanning it, she said, “I love Chelsea, almost as much as Tribeca.” Her gaze held his a second longer than necessary, causing him to look away.
To help steady his erratic heartbeat, Chase handed her some literature on his business. “Even if we don’t wind up working together on Kinsley’s wedding, perhaps we can work on something else.”
“Right now, I’m only concerned with making sure I have a caterer for this event. I can’t even begin to think about what may or may not happen in the future.” Her tone had grown chilly again. “I’ll walk you out.”
As she came around the desk, her shoulder brushed his, and he caught a whiff of her cologne—vanilla mixed with sandalwood. It was the same scent she’d worn when they dated, and he found it as intoxicating as ever.
As he walked beside her, he had an overwhelming urge to ask why she’d stopped responding to him, but his nerve evaporated as his instincts told him the time wasn’t yet right. Perhaps at some point this weekend, it would be. When she opened the front door, her slate-colored eyes met his, and for a moment, her gaze softened, giving him a flicker of hope that maybe something could be rekindled between them, but then as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone.
“Goodnight. I’ll see you Saturday,” he said, before heading northeast on West Broadway. It was a lovely evening. Warmer than usual for early May, so he decided to walk home. Besides, he needed to clear his head. Never had he expected to run into
Emmy—the odds were against it—let alone wind up possibly working with her. Could it be fate? Maybe they were destined to meet again. Whatever the reason, he was thankful for it. Despite years ago, having come to terms with the fact that she wouldn’t ever be a part of his life, she was never far from his thoughts. Even during his marriage to Vera, he’d often wondered how different things would’ve been if it was Emmy he’d married instead. Happiness and love might’ve replaced resentment and jealousy. Even though he’d given Vera everything she asked for, he couldn’t give her the one thing she craved most: his whole heart. Emmy would always have a piece of it. That’s just the way it was. She was his first love, after all.
The memory of another night. A night that forever altered his life sprang to mind. He’d been in Minnesota for two years. Emmy had just graduated from high school. The time had come for them to be together, so they devised a carefully laid out plan. He’d come back to NYC to visit his dad, but he wouldn’t go home alone. He’d bring Emmy with him, and they’d get married in Minnesota. Everything was set. The plane tickets purchased. A rendezvous in Brooklyn Bridge Park scheduled. How was he to know his dad would be rushed to the hospital with chest pains, causing Chase to be hours late?
That familiar pang of regret returned. What if he’d been on time? Would she have been there? He’d messaged her to wait, but he never got a response. He even went to her house, but she wasn’t home. Had she gotten cold feet? Maybe she didn’t know how to tell him. Maybe she never loved him as much as he’d thought. Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter now. But he would like to know, if for no other reason than to have closure. Maybe then he’d be able to fully move on with his life and put Emilia Sullivan behind him. Something deep inside told him that would never happen, though.
3
Emilia’s thoughts were jagging in a million directions as she locked up Happily Ever After. She never imagined, nor wanted to see Chase Christianson again. Yet he walked into her life out of the blue, and she needed him now as much as she had ten years ago. Granted this time, it was business-related, but it still caused her pulse to race, as it had when she was a teenager. He looked nearly the same, too; only hotter. Hard as that was to believe. Some men got thick around the waist, but not Chase. She had no doubt beneath his freshly starched shirt, he still had six-pack abs. And his chiseled features were as defined as ever. Even his long hair still suited him, adding to his sexiness.
No Time for Romance Page 2