“I know how long sugar flowers take to make and dry.” He took a long hard look at the cake as he spoke, though he didn’t smile or show any kind of emotion, and that made worry bloom inside me.
Did he like it? Did I care if he didn’t? Yes, yes, I did. Someone of his caliber knew talent when he saw it. And if he wasn’t impressed, had I just destroyed any chance I had to prove myself?
Connor didn’t seem to notice my state of mind, speaking again as he slowly circled the cake. “There’s no way you were able to replace them all last night.” He cleared his throat as he finished his observations and finally met my eyes again. “It’s beautiful, Ivy. Absolutely beautiful.”
I couldn’t help but grin at his praise. “Thank you. It’s not quite what I expected, but I’m hoping the wedding couple won’t mind.”
“I don’t want to upset you even more,” he said, “or overstep, but I brought you these in case you’d like to use them.”
I set the smoother down on the table with shaking fingers, now very confused and in an internal turmoil that had my heart thudding in painful beats. I reached out to slip the lid from his box, then gasped aloud when I saw what was inside.
“Oh, Connor. They’re absolutely beautiful!” Pink heart-shaped chocolates etched in gold foil sat in twenty-four individual molds, perfectly formed and glistening. They reminded me of some type of exquisite jewels, fit for a princess.
“They have the same pink champagne inside that guests are getting,” he said, sounding hesitant. I looked up again, surprised at his tone, to find his expression soft but anxious.
Wait,hewas anxious? That was my department. “So, they’ll match the cake. That’s perfect, Connor.”
His worry faded as he nodded. “Yes, they should match. I edged these in gold because I know pink, gold, and cream are the bride’s colors.”
I reached out and touched his wrist. “Would you help me choose where to put them?”
Connor smiled… and the world lit up when he did. “Of course.”
We spent the next few minutes discussing placement and balance, and when we were finally finished with adding Connor’s creations, I had to admit, his additions added the ‘something’ I’d been missing. It was now the cake of the century! I couldn’t be prouder of how it turned out, even if it had won first place on one of those TV baking shows, and I’d gotten one of the judge’s coveted handshakes.
“Thank you,” I whispered, my heart full of happiness. “It’s exactly what the cake needed. You came through, and I really appreciate it.”
“I’m grateful you let me help,” he said. “I didn’t want you to think I was trying to steal your moment. Think of it as my way to make amends for Angus being a bit of a jerk.” I shook my head while he waved off my denial. “Let me finish, please, Ivy. It’s important I say this to you.” He smiled down at me. “It still doesn’t fix what Angus and I did, but it’s a start.” He stepped closer and touched my shoulder. “I was thinking—”
“Make way! Bride coming through!”
I turned just in time to see Junie Blair hurrying toward me, dressed in a robe and with two large pink rollers on top of her hair. “Imustsee the cake!” she cried as she hurried inside the chapel’s kitchen.
Her mouth dropped open in obvious delight, which went a long way in softening the irritation I felt at yet again losing the moment with Connor to someone else. I slid my gaze to Connor, and I could tell he, too, was disappointed at being interrupted.
“Oh, Ivy,” she breathed, eyes wide and bright. “It’s absolutelygorgeous! It’s exactly what I wanted. You’re just thebest!You really outdid yourself this time.”
I smiled at Junie as she exclaimed over the lace and sugar flowers, and admired the multiple tiers of perfection. “And the chocolates!” She spun on us both with a huge smile. “How in the world did you get them to match what the guests are getting?”
“That was Connor.” I turned to look at him, to share the compliment.
Only to realize that, at some point in her gushing examination of the cake, Connor had left the kitchen.
Without taking a hint of credit.
23
It was an hour before I needed to be at the chapel again, and nothing seemed right.
I turned sideways in the mirror on my closet door and frowned at my reflection. Normally, I didn’t fret over what dress I was serving cake in, because my job wasn’t to stand out. Tonight, though, I wasn’t crazy about the gray sweater dress and black flats I had pulled from my stockpile of rather boring clothes, none of which seemed to suit a classy winter wedding or how I was feeling.
And no matter how much I denied it, I knew part of what I was feeling was because I wanted to impress Connor tonight.
Correction. I didn’t want to just impress Connor. I wanted to knock his socks off.
Just the fact I’d admitted that to myself was a big step.
I sighed and picked at the collar of the dress, the scoop neckline doing nothing for me. No way was a gray sweater dress going to do the job. My doorbell rang, and I glanced at my bedside clock and frowned.
