I haven’t felt this way about anyone—Asher included—in such a long time. It’s refreshing, especially since I’m pretty sure Ford wants me, too. It’s been ages since I’ve felt desired by a man.
“Harper Wallace!” Greta beams as she approaches. “How are you, my girl?”
“I’m good, Greta. I need to place the order for Gina’s wedding. It’s not too late, is it?”
She scrunches her nose and shakes her head. “For my Wallace girls? Never. What has she decided on?”
“She wants bold. Red velvet. A three-tier cake with cream cheese frosting and four dozen cupcakes for the guests. No frills. Simple and clean.”
“That is a perfect Gina cake.”
I frown. “It is?”
“It fits her personality.”
“I suppose it does.” I’d never considered how a cake could reflect someone’s character.
“You are a surprise. Like funfetti. The outside looks unassuming, but once you take a bite, it’s a party.”
Laughing, I nod. “I do love funfetti.”
“Do you want me to throw in a funfetti cupcake for you with her order? No charge. I want to make sure you have something to enjoy at her wedding, too.”
Am I that obvious about my dislike for red velvet? “That’s okay. It’s Gina’s day.”
“But you should have something to eat with everyone else, dear.”
“Okay, that would be great. Thank you, Greta.”
The elderly woman has always been one of my favorites. During a brief baking phase, she welcomed me into the back to show me the ropes, never getting angry when I messed up a large batch of batter. Photography is where I truly shine, not in the kitchen.
Suddenly, Asher appears as if from thin air, cornering me. “We need to talk. Now.”
We step outside, and I frown at him. “Is this a better location for you?”
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“You’ll need to give me a bit more context, Asher. I was just ordering Gina’s cake.”
“With Ford. I’ve seen you together.”
Has he seen us kiss? We’ve shared more kisses than I ever anticipated, but not nearly enough. “What are you talking about?”
“I know you’re just trying to get back at me. You want to screw my best friend out of retaliation.”
“Anything I do or don’t do has nothing to do with you. In fact, I go out of my way to avoid anything involving you at all.”
“Then why did you go to Kenzie’s bridal shower?”
Is he serious? Does he not realize who he’s marrying? “Because, like you’re doing now, I got cornered and basically blackmailed into making an appearance. I had no real excuse not to go.”
“Likely story.”
“If you want me out of the picture, you should talk to your bride-to-be. She keeps shoving invitations down my throat in public to make me look bad if I refuse.” He scoffs. “Like you aren’t dying to see what she has planned.”
“I don’t want to go and celebrate the loss of my best friend any more than I want to think about the man who cheated on me and then used my money to pay for his wedding venue after stealing all of my wedding plans.”
“You were never Kenzie’s friend. Don’t lie.”
