“I can show you around,” Braxton offered. “He is probably at the inn somewhere.”
My shoulders tightened.
“That would be perfect,” Carly stated with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
Braxton glanced at me. “Is that okay?”
“Of course,” I said. “I’m busy in the kitchen all day anyway.”
It became irrelevant as James suddenly entered the kitchen. He was wearing his chef jacket and his hair had been expertly styled. I squinted for a moment, wondering if he was wearing makeup.
“We can begin,” he broadly announced to the room at large, mostly for the benefit of the cameramen following him.
“Kitty did give you girls direct orders to follow only my directions, correct?” I softly asked Erin.
“Absolutely. She was very explicit about that,” Erin replied.
“Bless you, Kitty,” I murmured under my breath.
The cameramen followed James to the prep area where James was already grabbing flour and other ingredients that did not belong to him.
“What are you making?” one of the cameramen asked.
“Why, the cake of course. The bride and groom need the best,” James responded.
“I thought you said the cake was finished?” Carly raised an eyebrow as she looked at me.
“It is,” I said shortly.
Braxton touched my shoulder as though to comfort me before approaching James with a smile. “James, this is my sister, Carly.”
James straightened as Carly approached.
Her smile widened as she walked across the kitchen. “I have been looking forward to meeting you.”
James lit up. “Ah. A fan.”
Carly laughed. “I own all of your cookbooks. My chef swears by your techniques.”
James preened visibly. “Your chef has excellent taste.”
He launched into a monologue about vision, branding, audiences and image. About what people wanted.
He did not talk about food for at least ten minutes
I saw Carly notice. Just a flicker of confusion passed her face before she smoothed it over, nodding, encouraging him.
“Do you know Jane?” Carly said suddenly, gesturing toward me. “She is the one handling the food for the wedding.”
James turned toward me, smile already in place.
“She is very talented,” he said. “Trained under me.”
Carly’s eyebrows lifted. “Really?”
“Yes,” James continued. “She has real potential. I have been telling her she should come back to the city. Collaborate with me.”
Carly looked at me with interest. “Why wouldn’t you?”
