Chapter Five
Ribbons of fondant curled and melted, and entire layers of vanilla fondant collapsed under the tropical sun. The flesh-colored fondant babies swam in jiggly, Jell-O pools of electric blue, and pink balls of icing bounced and splatted like ping-pong balls over a lavender polka-dot hatbox.
Leanna bolted upright and rubbed her eyes, glancing at the alarm clock. Why was she dreaming about fondant, the sugary food-colored paste thickened to the consistency of Play-Doh used to sculpt cake decorations, at a time like this?
She had a million and one things to do, like pack a survival kit: compass, flashlight, gauze, birth control pills, freeze-dried meals, matches, aspirin, duct tape, and antibiotics. But what was the use when she didn’t have a male escort? No single woman in her right mind went poking around south of the border without a guide, preferably someone street smart and tough.
“Leanna, why are you up?” Her roommate, Nikki, knocked softly on her bedroom door. “Is everything all right? You seem distracted after the delivery run. Why didn’t you send Denton?”
Really? Nikki wanted to talk in the middle of the night about the bakery? Sure, she’d thought about driving off with the van, but in the end, she realized it would be stupid—easily trackable and noticeable, especially with the Bumblebee Bakery Buzzing Bee insignia on both sides.
Leanna turned off her bedside lamp and pulled the covers over her head. Her heartbeat thumped so loud, she was sure Nikki would hear it hammering and wonder what she was up to.
Sure enough, her nosy roommate tapped the door again. “I hate to disturb you, but Denton took a message for you at the bakery.”
“A message? Why didn’t they call my cell phone?” Leanna threw the covers off and opened her door.
“It was a handwritten message,” Nikki said, handing her a folded slip of paper she’d no doubt read. “What’s going on? You’re acting weird. Are you in some kind of trouble?”
“No trouble at all.” Leanna’s voice squeaked. She squeezed the message into her hand and moved to close the door.
Nikki wedged her shoulder through the door and plopped on Leanna’s bed. “Something’s bothering you. You’re jumpier than a cheerleader trying out for the Super Bowl pep squad.”
“I’ve got a lot on my mind,” Leanna deflected. “How did Terri’s cake end up? Pink or blue?”
“Jolie won because I got tied up with the blue dicks. Axe came by and collected the pink, purple, and brown pussy cupcakes. He agreed to sponsor a cupcake eating contest for the next batch.”
“Good. Be sure to take pictures,” Leanna said woodenly. Usually, when Axe’s name was brought up, her heart would flutter, and she’d think of ways to insert herself into the conversation. He was always good for idle speculation, but not tonight. Not when she was waiting for Jazzy Gimeno to get back to her about a traveling companion. At least she hadn’t denied her request for an escort to impersonate a bodyguard. She’d said it would cost a pretty bundle and that she had to interview candidates.
“What do you mean take pictures? I’m assuming you’ll be front and center, showing off our cupcake collection.” Nikki elbowed her gently. “Come on. It’s Axe! A chance to flirt with him. I’ll make sure you get as many scenes as possible. We can even make you the judge. Oh, oh, oh, the possibilities are endless.”
Leanna grimaced and forced a smile. “Yes, endless.”
Nikki’s narrow eyes narrowed further. “You’re not interested in him anymore? Or something happened. Which is it?”
“I’m done with crushing after a guy who acts like I don’t exist. Why don’t we get some sleep, and I’ll look at you and Jolie’s masterpieces in the morning?”
“Sure, except I want to know why you haven’t glanced at the note.” Nikki pointed to Leanna’s tightly closed fist. “You suspect it’s not a love note. I don’t get why you’re not at all curious whether someone tall, dark, and Axe dropped it off.”
“Axe dropped off the note?”
“Denton didn’t say. Just said a guy with dark glasses wearing black leather said it was a warning for you. I read it, of course.”
“Of course.”
“I’m your bestie, and I want to know who or what you’re to stay away from.” Nikki gestured to the note.
Leanna unfolded the crinkled piece of paper. Scrawled with a Sharpie marker were the words, “Stay away from her.”
Nikki raised an eyebrow and glanced at Leanna’s partially packed survival kit. “Who’s her, and why are you packing?”
How could she lie to her best friend? Even if Nikki was clueless, she was persistent, and Leanna couldn’t afford to have interference from her family.
“It’s some dude’s wife,” Leanna said. “Remember that baker’s convention I presented at? This guy got handsy with me, and his wife blames it all on me.”
“Why would you have to stay away from her?”
Leanna shrugged and twisted her lips to the side. “She’s unstable. Who knows? I think she’s trying to scare me off.”
