Baking Love (6 page)

“Where are you headed?”

Kate looked over at Jess and saw Mark now sitting with her on the sofa. They held hands and appeared to be having an intimate conversation.

I’ve had enough of being reminded how single I am for one day.
“I’m headed back to the inn.”

“I’ll walk with you.”

Kate blinked. “Really?”

“Yeah. I’m tired of this scene—plus, I need to check on Cecilia. I’ll grab my coat and meet you outside, okay?”

“Okay, yeah. Thanks.”
This is unexpected.
With excitement in her step, Kate hurried to the sofa and started putting on her coat.

“You leaving?” Jess asked.

“Yeah. Eric’s walking back with me.”

“Alright. Y’all have fun.”

“You, too.” Kate picked up her purse, then made her way around several groups of people to the tavern door. She pushed it open, and the cold night air rushed in to meet her. She stepped outside and buttoned her coat.
Wow, it is quiet out here.
She couldn’t hear sounds from inside the tavern or road noise or even an animal scurrying by—just perfect silence. She shivered.
Come on, Eric.

She heard the tavern door open, and her apprehension subsided. “Did you get what you needed?” she asked with a smile.

“Not yet.”

Her smile faded.
I know that voice…and it’s not Eric’s.
The unidentified figure stepped out of the darkness cast by the tavern’s awning and into the light cast by the full moon.

Kate’s blood ran cold.
Matt.

“Good to see you again.” His eyes scanned the parking lot. “What are you doing out here all by yourself?”

Eric, where are you?
Kate forced her voice to stay steady. “I’m waiting for Eric. He’ll be here any second.”

Matt sauntered toward her. “Well, he’s not here now—which is great.”

Get away from this guy.
“I’m going back inside.” Kate tried to walk past Matt, but he reached out and grabbed her arm.

“Actually, why don’t you stay here with me?”

She struggled to free her arm from his grasp. “Let me go, you jerk!”

“Soon enough.”

“No,
now
!”

“Matt!” another voice pierced the night.

Kate exhaled sharply in relief.
Eric!
She felt Matt release her arm.

“Hey, man,” Matt said nonchalantly. “My new friend and I were talking.”

Eric came to Kate’s side. By the light of the moon, she could see anger burning in his eyes. “Was Matt harassing you?”

“Eric.”
I don’t want to make a scene.

“He was, wasn’t he?”

She didn’t answer.
I’m shaking.

Eric turned to Matt. “What the hell, man?” he shouted.

“What?”

“You know damn well
what!
”

Matt smiled smugly. “Like I said before, I was just being friendly.”

Eric lunged at him. “Get the hell out of here before I knock that stupid smile off your face.”

Matt snickered. “You wish you could.” He stumbled back toward the tavern, uttering words Kate couldn’t make out.

Eric turned to her. “Are you okay?”

Stop shaking before he notices.
“I’m fine.”

Eric kicked a rock across the parking lot. “I can’t believe that guy! It took everything I had to keep from punching his lights out.”

“It’s not your fault.”

Eric met Kate’s gaze, and his expression softened. “You’re shaking.”

“I’m cold.”

“You know better than to lie to me. Come here.” He took her hand and gently pulled her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around him and rested her face against his chest.
His heart is racing.
She took several slow, deep breaths to try and calm them both.

“You think you know someone,” Eric mused.

“Yeah.”
Why do I feel like I could stand here all night?
“You’re a good friend.”

“No, I’m not.”

Kate frowned. “Why would you say that?”

“I wasn’t there for you when your grandma passed away.”

Tears instantly filled Kate’s eyes. “It’s okay,” she said in a dismissive manner, hoping to steer Eric away from this topic of conversation.
I’m emotionally-drained enough as it is without adding my feelings about my grandma’s death to the mix.

“It’s
not
okay. If I hadn’t ended our friendship, I would’ve still been in your life when it happened. I could’ve helped you through it.”

Kate pulled away from Eric and met his gaze with a forced smile. “You helped me tonight, so let’s call it even, okay?”

“I should’ve called you after I broke up with my girlfriend.”

“The past is over, so there’s no need to beat yourself up about it now.” Before Eric could say anything else, Kate started down the paved trail toward the inn.

He quickly fell in step beside her. They walked in silence for a few minutes before he finally spoke again. “I have to admit, there’s another reason I didn’t start calling you again.”

“Oh?”

“I thought you might’ve had a boyfriend.” He paused. “Did you?”

“No.”

He was quiet for a moment. “Do you now?”

First the stand-in bride, now this. Talk about rubbing salt in the wound.
“No.”

He didn’t respond.

“The bakery takes up most of my time,” Kate quickly added.

“Do you like owning Sullivan’s?”

Finally, a reason to smile.
“I love it more than anything.”

“Funny, that’s how I feel about Cecilia.”

Right, Cecilia.
For the second time in two days, Kate found herself inexplicably jealous of Eric’s fiancée. “How did you and Cecilia meet?”

“We had a class together last semester.”

“Wait, that’s when you
met
?”

Eric laughed. “Yeah.”

“Are you saying you’ve only known her for, like, six months?”

“Yeah. It’s not a lot of time, but it was all the time I needed to realize I’d landed a great woman.”

Enough time? Yes. Cecilia, a great woman? Debatable.

“She and I had a class together, and I noticed she always sat in the same seat. One day, I decided to sit beside her. We got to talking and really hit it off. We dated all semester, and I proposed in December.”

For some reason, I don’t want to hear about the proposal.
“Congratulations.”

“Thanks.”

“Incidentally, her ring is beautiful.”

“You like it?”

“I do.” Kate nudged his arm. “What’d you have to sell to buy her that thing?”

“Actually, I didn’t have to sell anything. Walter and Loraine gave me the money for Cecilia’s ring.”

What?
“Are you serious?”

“Yeah.”

“Were you insulted?”

Eric laughed. “You’re the only person who’s asked me that question.” He paused. “Yes, I
was
insulted, not only because they were adamant about paying for their daughter’s engagement ring, but also because they insisted I take her shopping so she could pick out the ring she wanted. In my opinion, a man is entitled to select and finance the ring he wants his fiancée—his future wife—to wear.” Eric stepped over a stick on the trail. “I guess I’m old-fashioned.”

“Not at all.”

“You don’t think so?”

“Absolutely not. There are lots of women who want their engagement ring to be a surprise, who can’t wait to see what their fiancé picks out for them.”

“Like who?”

I can’t believe I’m saying this.
“Well, like me.”

“Is that right?”

“Yeah.”

“Hmm.”

They continued down the trail, and Kate knew this would be the only chance she’d ever get to ask Eric one lingering, mind-boggling question. “If you don’t mind my asking, since we’re being so honest with each other: what do you find attractive about Cecilia?”

“Cecilia has it all. She’s smart, funny, beautiful, kind, level-headed—the total package. I’m a lucky guy.”

“Great. I’m glad to hear she’s kind.”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“No, what’d you say? Did you say you’re glad to hear she’s kind?”

“It sure is a lovely night.”

“You did! What’d you mean? You don’t think she’s nice?”

“I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“Too late, you already did.”

Clearly, I’m not getting out of this one without an explanation.
“Let’s just say, after working with Cecilia, ‘kind’ is not a word I would use to describe her.” Kate quickly continued. “I’m a professional and I can handle it, so I’m not even sure why I brought it up.”

“Cecilia isn’t nice to you?” Eric sounded perplexed. “She’s nice to everyone.”

This conversation isn’t going in a good direction. Time to change my tune for argument’s sake.
“I’m glad you found each other, and I’m glad she makes you happy.”

“I know you better than that, Kate Sullivan. You’re backpedaling now.”

“Oh, look. There’s the inn.”

“Uh-huh. You got lucky.”

Once they’d reached the front terrace of the Wynnfield Inn, Eric stopped and turned to Kate. “In the spirit of honesty, I have to say: I can’t believe you had your phone on during the pre-rehearsal.”

Kate felt her face flush. “I’m sorry. I forgot to turn it off before things got started.”

“It was loud, too.”

She cringed. “I know. That made it worse.”

“Just out of curiosity, who called you?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t recognize the number. I didn’t even recognize the area code.”

“What was the area code?”

“I don’t remember.” Kate pulled her phone from her purse and pressed a button, causing the screen to light up brightly in the night. She squinted as she scrolled through the Missed Calls menu. “The area code was two-one-two.”

“Two-one-two,” Eric repeated. “I wonder where that is. Wonder who it was.”

There’s only one way to find out.
“I’ll call the number and see who answers.”

“You sure that’s a good idea?”

“Why not?” Kate asked, already highlighting the number in her phone. She put it to her ear and heard it ring once. A split-second later, she heard it ring somewhere else—somewhere surprisingly close.
What?
The phone rang a second time, and it happened again.
What’s going on?
She scanned the immediate vicinity in search of another phone. On the third ring, her eyes led her to the source of the sound: the man standing in front of her.

She nearly dropped her phone. “
You
called me?” she shouted.

Eric burst out laughing.

“You
did
!”

He doubled over in laughter. “Kate, I—”

“I can’t believe this!” She thrust her phone back into her purse and shoved Eric’s shoulder. “You punk! No wonder you had that stupid smile on your face up there today!”

Eric straightened and wiped tears from his eyes. “You should’ve seen
your
face when Loraine asked you to stand in for Cecilia.”

Oh, hell.
Kate dropped her purse to the ground. “Where’s your phone?” She reached for the lapels of Eric’s sports coat, but he backed away and started to run. She took off after him. “Why won’t you let me see your phone, huh? What are you hiding?”

Eric laughed as he ran. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“Oh, yes, you do! I’m going to prove it as soon as I get a hold of you!” Kate chased him around the terrace and through the front yard. She was still trying to catch him when she noticed a couple approaching the inn from the parking lot. Not wanting to alarm them, she slowed to a halt. “Eric!” she hissed.

He stopped to face her.

She motioned toward the couple. “Knock it off!”

The man and woman stepped onto the terrace, and Kate used the opportunity to her advantage.
Eric isn’t going to run from me in front of them.
She walked over to Eric, then smiled warmly at the people as they passed. “Good evening.”

“Good evening,” the gentleman nodded.

Once the front door of the inn had closed behind the couple, Kate turned to Eric and grabbed the lapels of his coat. “Give me your phone,” she demanded.

He met her gaze, his eyes dancing with amusement. “Like hell.”

Kate shook her head slowly. “Wrong answer, Mr. Wagner.” She yanked his coat open and plunged her hand into one of his pockets. Finding it empty, she started toward another—and brushed against something in his shirt pocket. She reached inside and pulled the object out. “Ah, ha! Your phone!” She pressed a button, and the screen lit up. “What do you know? ‘Missed Call’, with
my
name and number.” She turned the phone around so Eric could see it. “Looks like I’m vindicated.”

He laughed. “Looks like
I’m
busted!”

Kate lowered the phone. “Why did you call me
during the pre-rehearsal? What were you thinking?”

Eric straightened his coat. “I wanted to practice with someone I knew, and since I didn’t know most of the women there, I decided to give Loraine some guidance in her selection.” He grinned. “I’m just glad you had your phone on.”

“How did you call me without anyone noticing?”

“When Loraine said she needed someone to stand in for Cecilia, you should’ve seen the women. They were looking down, around, everywhere but toward the front of the room—which meant they weren’t looking at me, either. Your number’s in my phone, so all I had to do was highlight your name and press send.”

“I see.”
His line of reasoning is valid, but I can’t let him off that easy.
Still holding Eric’s phone, Kate started walking toward the fountain on the terrace.

“Where are you going?” she heard Eric ask. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing.”

“Hey, give me my phone!”

She glanced over her shoulder. “I’ll take care of your phone.” With no intention of throwing it in the water, she stepped up to the fountain.

Suddenly, she felt Eric’s arms wrap tightly around her from behind. “You’re not throwing my phone in the fountain!”

Good, you sound nervous.
“Watch me!” She tried to raise her arm so she could pretend to toss it in, but she couldn’t wriggle out of his grasp. “Let go, chump! This phone’s going to get it!”