“On it.” He pushed the cart back toward his Cadillac and I raced after him, sparing a single glance back at the tiered cake. I just needed to bring this home.
I glanced at my watch—in under thirty minutes.
Chapter 6
Ripley
The sheet cakeand groom’s cake were far less precarious, but now there was a tension between us that hadn’t been there before.
We were quiet as we slowly made our way back down the walkway. Her massive bag was tucked under the cake on the bottom shelf of the cart and I could hear the tools of her trade clinking together. I couldn’t even imagine what was in there.
But I did know one thing.
Mercy Hart tasted like cherries.
And that was my favorite damn fruit.
Not just any cherries, either. Bourbon soaked and rich as dark bamboo sheets on a summer night.
I didn’t need that in my head or lingering on my lips.
“Ripley!”
My head jerked around to the sound of Cam’s voice.
“Where the hell have you been?”
“Cake emergency, remember?”
“That was ages ago.” He was in his full tux. His hair swept back from his face making him look ten years younger. “Hey, Mercy.”
“If you need to go, I got this.” She wouldn’t look at me.
“No, I’ll get you over the finish line.”
“It’s fine, really. You probably need to get dressed.”
I huffed out a breath.
“I got this.” Cam nodded. He grinned at Mercy. “We got this.”
I curled my fingers into my palms, the fingertips itching to stroke down Mercy’s back again. “Okay.” I backed away. Immediately, it felt wrong to leave her there, but she wasn’t paying attention to me.
Hell, she didn’t even look up.
Her entire focus was on the cake, because it should be. Making sure Sully’s wedding was perfect was the point.
I glanced down into the mouth of the pavilion one more time. The folding chairs were filling up in front of the half moon created by the dais. Winter roses in deep red and icy white spilled out of baskets. They were softened by cheerful daisies with their bright yellow centers. Long baskets marched down the red carpet that bisected the seats and bordered the aisle for Nora to walk down. Then larger baskets marched up the steps up to the dais which was decorated with more flowers of the same. A large arbor framed out where Sully and Nora would make their vows. Filmy white sheers danced in the light breeze. The fireworks would fill the sky right behind them as they said their vows a few minutes before midnight.
Tents were set up and theusual picnic tables had been replaced with long tables covered in the red and white cloths to match.
It could have looked Christmassy, but instead the deep red and white screamed class.
Not something the Murdock boys were usually associated with.
But it fit.
New Year’s Eve was made for new starts.
