Rue shrugs off Clover’s last comment and turns to Austin. “I want one. What do you think? Do you want to be my baby daddy?”
“Rue, we’re married. I’m your husband, not your baby daddy," Austin teases, planting a kiss on Rue’s lips.
“Whatever.” She rolls her eyes at him. “Congratulations, Clover!” Rue hugs her sister before turning back to Austin, “Let’s go make that baby a cousin.”
Austin turns to Warren, saying goodbye before saying, “Remember what I said.” He nods and then turns back to Rue. “In your office or at home?”
“In my office first, then again at home,” Rue says as they cross the room.
“Make sure to take off that dress first,” Clover yells after them. “I don’t want anything extra on it.” Clover turns back to me. “Sorry about those two. As you can see, it’s hard to get much work done with them around.” I want to remind her that it’s probably the same with her and Bale, but since he’s on the fire department and works twenty-four-hour shifts, Clover has more time to herself to get her work done. “Well, I guess our work here is done. I think Junie is waiting for you at the bakery to talk about cake flavors.”
We say our goodbyes as Clover leads us through the joint vestibule that connects her bridal shop, the bakery, the mail-order bride office, and Esme’s flower shop. It’s such a cool design, making it truly a one-stop shopping experience for the bride.
four
Warren
Ican’t stop thinkingabout Marigold in that wedding dress and how stunning she looked. I mean, she’s beautiful in anything she wears, but that dress made her look like a goddess.
“Mmm, this one is delicious.” Marigold moans around the fifth bite of cake Junie has us try. It’s hard to focus on the taste with Marigold moaning like that. “Do you want a bite?” Marigold holds up the second small piece of cake on her plate, expecting me to take it from her with my hand. Instead, I lean down and use my mouth, my tongue flicking at the frosting on her fingers.
“You’re right. It is delicious.” Her eyes dilate at my words, giving me a small sliver of hope that she has feelings for me. Austin’s words come to mind from the bridal shop when he first sat beside me while waiting for Rue and Marigold to arrive. “I was once like you—thinking the woman I wanted didn’t want me back.”I shake my head, clearing those thoughts, and go back to the cake tasting. “I think this one is my favorite.” I continue looking at Marigold.
“Me too.” She whispers.
“Good choice,” Junie says, her voice cutting through the sexual tension in the air. “For a spring wedding, strawberry and lemon are the most common, but this lavender flavor is the new up-and-coming spring flavor.” Junie rambles on about how many layers the main cake should have and how many sheet cakes we want. I nod at all the right times, my mind still thinking about Marigold in the wedding dress and the wedding night with me slowly removing that dress. “Okay, I’ll send the final details to Aspen and have her sign off on the order.”
Marigold and I exit the bakery through the main front door. “There’s something I want to ask you.” I take Marigold’s hand and shift us away from the door. But before I can ask Marigold out on a real date, some guy I’ve seen hanging around the library steps in between us.
“Hey, Marigold, I stopped by the library, but they said it was your day off. I’m glad I ran into you. I wanted to ask you to the spring dance next weekend.”
You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. I’m standing right here, and this asshole is asking my woman out. A low growl starts deep in my throat, and I take a step closer to this jerk, getting ready to either give him a piece of my mind about asking a taken woman out or punch him in the face.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Granger walking toward the bakery. “Is there a problem here?” He shifts his gaze between the three of us.
“No problem,” Marigold speaks first. “He was just asking me out.” She nods to the guy I’m about ready to punch. “And I was getting ready to tell him that I’m too busy planning a wedding to go out with anyone.”
“Alright, if everything looks good here, I need to check on my wife’s bakery. I hope she’s not breaking any health codes.” The smirk on Granger’s face suggests otherwise. Wilder told me all about how Granger filled in for his sister as the food inspector while she was on maternity leave, and how he and Icelyn initially hated each other when he inspected her family’s bakery. Hersisters, Junie and Autumn, thought the whole situation was hilarious.
The guy who asked Marigold out rushes down the sidewalk away from us.
“I’ll stop and grab a pizza before I drive us to my cabin.” The thought of having Marigold ride with me in my truck to my cabin calms me.
“I think it’s best if we drive separately.” I’m not sure what changed Marigold’s mind about riding with me to my cabin, but all I do is nod, respecting her wishes.
five
Warren
“Okay, so Dawson willhelp Esme deliver the flowers, then both Dawson and Dash will be the ushers.” Marigold crosses the last two items off her list for Wilder and Aspen’s wedding.
“That should do it.” I pick up the empty pizza box and carry it to my kitchen, just a few steps away, to throw it out. “We just need to make sure the bride and groom show up for the wedding.” I grab the half-empty bottle of wine off the counter, planning to fill Marigold’s glass again.
“Easier said than done.” She places a hand on top of her glass when she sees the bottle of wine in my hand. “I probably shouldn’t have any more. I still have to drive back to town tonight.” I hate that she insisted on driving to my cabin separately. If it were up to me, I’d chauffeur her anywhere she needed to go. “Unless I spend the night.” Her innocent eyes blink up at me. If she only knew how much I want her to stay.
“I was once like you—thinking the woman I wanted didn’t want me back.”Austin’s voice rings in my head.
Maybe it’s time to finally take the leap and shoot my shot with Marigold. I’d rather have her turn me down now than after she’s met the guy she wants to spend the rest of her life with. Don’t get me wrong, it will still hurt like hell when she falls in love with someone else, but the sooner I rip off this band-aid and tell her how I feel, the sooner I can come to terms with her rejection.
