“I’d never ask you to do that,” I agree. “My grandma is already insisting on doing gingerbread men for wedding favors, even though she hates that we’re getting married.”
Dane sighs again and presses his palms into his eye sockets.
I rub his back. “I’ll go charm your uncle and ask about fruitcake favors too.”
“And my cake will outshine them all,” Pia says. “Here. Let’s start with this sample. White chocolate cake with a cherry ganache fillingand a pistachio frosting. It’s very popular with Christmas brides for its color, and also, it’s delicious.”
She’s not kidding.
I’ve never been a huge pistachio fan, but she did something magic with the frosting, and the flavors meld together like there’s a party of happiness happening in my mouth.
Dane’s eyes slide shut as he chews, and he sighs the sigh of a man in utter heaven, the slightest smile curving his lips upward again and peace settling over his expression.
It makes my nipples tight and my heart happy.
He’s sexyandin a better mood.
“Damn good cake,” he says.
Pia grins widely. “And we’re just getting started.”
The door bells jingle. “We’re not open yet—oh. Hello, Mr. Silver. Mrs. Anderson.”
Dane and I both spin in our seats to stare at the door.
Our parents are walking in together.
Our parents are walking in together.
We look at each other.
Then at our parents.
Mom showing up or Dane’s dad showing up was somewhat expected.
Buttogether?
Is this coincidence, or is our plan working even better than we thought on certain members of our family?
“Cake’s important,” Mom says. “You don’t want to pick a flavor that your guests won’t like, even if it’s your favorite.”
“I never turn down cake samples,” Mr. Silver says.
They look at each other, then they both hesitantly smile.
“I can’t argue with that,” Mom says.
“Very good point about the guests,” Mr. Silver says.
Dane squeezes my knee, and I gulp hard and blink harder against the heat in my eyeballs.
Pia spins into motion. “Give me five minutes to grab a few more samples. Never hurts to have more opinions, but you two will be in time-out if you make the bride and groom upset, understand?”
The bride and groom.
She’s talking about us.
Dane squeezes my knee again.The lies will be worth it in the end. We’re doing community service here.
