“Focus, Rip,” I muttered to myself and ate up the distance between us. “Parker’s got us closer.”
“Thank God.”
I squeezed behind the wheel, grunting when my knee jammed into the console. It took what felt like a million years to jockey around the catering vans and I was never so happy that we’d had a distinct lack of snow this season. I slowly navigated the grass, only crying internally when I bottomed out twice.
Hell. We better get this cake there in one piece for all of this trouble.
Chapter 5
Mercy
Please,oh please.
The chant in my head was eternal and had been going on since I got into Ripley’s convertible. I could not screw up this cake.
Yes, it was the keystone for my new arm of the business, but all eyes would also be on Sully’s wedding today.
I could not look like a colossal fuck up.
I yelped as we dipped on the incline.
Ripley looked over his shoulder. “Good?”
“Slower!”
He didn’t slam on the brakes thank goodness, but he did throttle back on the gas which stopped the sliding. I dipped the board back against my lap to fight gravity and it bit deep into my hips. There were so going to be bruises.
I could have cried when the pavilion came into view. When the grass gave way to a paved walkway Ripley didn’t stop. Even when three guys came running toward us with matching uniforms.
“You can’t be here!” Some guy yelled out.
“How were you going to get this down to the venue?” He asked.
“There’s an access road around the back.”
Ripley craned his neck, but he cursed under his breath. “Better to ask for forgiveness at this point.” He kept going until the nose of the car was under the pavilion. There were tables set up with chaffing dishes and gleaming stainless-steel trays. There were three appetizer tables set up with enough food to feed a few hundred people.
Good thing.
I was pretty sure half the town was actually going to be at this freaking wedding.
Ripley kicked open his door and climbed out, flipping his seat forward. “Okay, what’s the best way to do this?”
“I really have no idea. I haven’t traveled with a cake on my lap since senior year.”
He grinned. “I remember that cake. Cam threw up blue and gold for two days.”
“Well, that’s what he got for spiking the punch. Jungle juice and sugar never go together.”
Ripley snickered. “Speak for yourself. He just couldn’t hold his liquor.” He looked around and held up a finger. “One second.” Then he took off.
I sighed. As if I had a choice. I wasn’t about to get sixty pounds of cake off of me easily. I scanned the pavilion and my heart sank when uniformed people came toward the car.
“Miss, you can’t be over here.”
“I know. I’m really sorry. My catering van broke down and I’m seriously behind. We’re going to be out of your way in like ten minutes.” Before he could open his mouth, I plowed on. “I promise. Then we’ll get out of your way.”
“The guests are starting to arrive.”
