“Oh, Mercy.” Nora’s voice was thick. “It’s absolutely perfect.”
“Sorry for the drama.”
Nora laughed and dabbed at the corner of her eye. “There’s always drama when the Murdocks get together.”
“Let me get out of the way.”
“No, wait. Let’s get a photo.”
God, I could only imagine what I looked like. I managed to put my lipstick back on, but the rest of me was a hot mess.
Nora waved me over and I stood between them letting the wedding photographer do her thing. Maybe she could fix me up in Photoshop.
I slipped away as the photographer started barking orders. I bumped into something big and hard. When I felt the hand at my hip, my system knew exactly who it was.
“The cake is amazing, Mercy. You outdid yourself.” Ripley’s voice rumbled at my ear.
“Thanks for helping me get it here.” I glanced over my shoulder at him. He really was far too attractive for his own good. And the fact that I wanted to relax back against him scared the crap out of me.
I never leaned on anyone.
It was safer that way.Twice now he’d gone above and beyond for me.
The cheer broke the spell between us. I turned my head just in time to see Sully holding up a hunk of the strawberry and champagne cake for Nora.
My first cake was in the books and it looked damn good.
That was the important part of tonight, not the elder Murdock distracting me from that.
Chapter 10
Ripley
Mercy hurried forwardto do her duties with the big sheet cake. A few of the catering staff were there to help her pass out cake to those who wanted it. Plenty took a piece as well as one of the mouthwatering tart cups that were on display.
My mom was patiently waiting for her cheesecake.
She’d been teary eyed for the whole of the ceremony and speeches. I went over to her and gave her a hug. “Hanging in, Ma?”
She leaned into me. “Yes. That’s two down, four to go.”
“Don’t go there. Enjoy this one first, huh?”
She patted my chest. “I saw you talking to Mercy...”
“We’re just talking.”
“Doesn’t look like just talking.”
I laughed. “Ever the matchmaker. Can’t be happy that five of us are linked up?”
“I want all my boys happy.”
I glanced at Mercy who was hustling around the table with a smile as she held out plates to anyone in front of her. It didn’t feel like such a far off thought for the first time in my life.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
Was it just lust?
