The Wedding Setup, page 10
“Forget I brought it up!” Maddie said, holding up her hands.
She laughed. “Okay. Fine. Keep your secrets. Anyway, I was wondering why Stuart has so many bakeries lined up for us to try. You would think Joan’s would be a given.”
Maddie leaned onto her elbows. “You would think that, wouldn’t you? Actually, Jai insisted we try more. He didn’t want there to be any favoritism or nepotism.”
“Does he think there will be an audit later?”
Maddie barked a laugh. “Right? That’s what I said. But anyway, you know how Stuart is with sweets, so he didn’t really argue with him. I think Stuart just wanted to go to a bunch of bakeries to try all the samples, but now it looks like that will be our job, not his.”
She couldn’t help a slight stab of something like jealousy. Clearly Maddie knew her friend well, which meant he’d spent a lot of time with her. She made herself shake it off.
“That sounds about right. And yet—here we are, and he’s missing out.”
“True. Hopefully he’ll get to at least try some of the others with us.”
Joan reappeared then, carrying two plates. She set one down in front of each of them before sitting next to Maddie. Each plate had a ring of tiny slices of cake, about a quarter inch a piece, eight total.
“You said this was the first round?” Ryann was a little apprehensive now.
Joan laughed. “I have another plate with just as many.”
“Wow,” Maddie said.
“I’ll walk you through each slice. If you like a frosting or a cake or a filling, it can be combined with another cake or filling if you like one better.”
“Gosh,” Ryann said.
“The first,” Joan said, pointing at a tiny slice on each of their plates, “is lemon cake with raspberry filling and lemon-cream-cheese frosting.”
Ryann took the smallest bite possible, but the lemon flavor burst across her tongue, making her mouth water and pucker. Then the sweet raspberry filling caught up, mellowing it slightly. Maddie had taken a bigger bite and was still chewing, her eyes closed.
“What do you think?” Joan asked when she was done.
“Too sour,” Ryann said. “But I like the raspberry.”
“Same,” Maddie said. “But it’s really good, too.”
“Okay. The next is a vanilla cake with strawberry filling and champagne frosting.”
Once again, Ryann took the smallest bite she could that included all three parts of the cake. In this case, the strawberry was mellow, the frosting light and sweet on her palate.
“Mmmm,” she said. “I like this one a lot. But it’s a little plain for Stuart’s tastes.”
Maddie finished her bite and nodded. “Totally agree. I love it, but it’s not for him.”
This went on for each of the eight pieces. The next was chocolate cake with hazelnut filling and vanilla frosting; then yellow vanilla with chocolate filling and frosting; then a dark chocolate with cherry filling and whipped frosting, Black Forest style; and on and on. By the end of the first plate, Ryann’s mouth was grainy with sugar, and she was having a hard time tasting any differences—it all seemed much too sweet.
“Wow,” Maddie said. “This is really hard. I had no idea I could get tired of cake.”
“Ideally, you’d try two or three kinds at a time and come back another day,” Joan said. “But I understand you two are under a bit of pressure with that silly brother of mine. Why he couldn’t wait for next year, like a normal person, is anyone’s guess.”
“He’s just excited,” Maddie said, waving a hand dismissively. “You know how he is.”
Joan grabbed Maddie’s hand, squeezing it. “Of course. They’re so damn cute together I can’t even be mad at them.” She looked at Ryann. “We’re all so crazy about Stuart. You must be really happy, too.”
Ryann smiled. “I am. And Jai seems like a real sweetheart.”
“He’s the best,” Joan said, and stood up. “How about I make us some coffee? That way the two of you can have a little break between the sweet stuff.”
“That’d be a lifesaver,” Maddie said.
Joan squeezed her shoulder and disappeared in the back somewhere again.
“So?” Maddie said. “Did you like any of them besides the plain one?”
Ryann stared at the leftover bits of cake. “I mean, they’re all really good. I’m sure Stuart would like almost all of them except my favorite. But he’s a chocoholic, so I think we should go with a chocolate cake, at the very least. Maybe this dark-chocolate hazelnut, or the Black Forest?”
“Agreed. Should we try them again?”
Ryann nodded, but before she could get a new bite, Maddie had already speared a little sliver of one and was offering it to her. She hesitated and then leaned forward, taking the morsel in her mouth, Maddie all the while watching her eat. Maddie’s eyes darkened slightly, her lids somewhat hooded. Ryann looked away first, and Maddie seemed to shake herself awake, stirring next to her before taking her own bite. Ryann was drawn her way again a few seconds later, and she liked the way Maddie’s forehead wrinkled slightly, obviously deep in thought as she revisited the cake.
Finished, she looked satisfied. “I’m in complete agreement. It comes down to that one or the Black Forest.”
“Should we try the Black Forest again?” she asked.
One corner of Maddie’s mouth lifted, wryly, and before she could chicken out, Ryann cut a little piece for her from her own plate, offering it to her somewhat boldly.
Joan appeared then, and Ryann dropped the forkful in her lap, startled.
“Whoops!” Joan said. “I’m sorry. Was I interrupting…you know what? Never mind. Let me get you a wet rag, Ryann.”
“Actually,” she said, standing up, “do you have a restroom I could use?”
Joan waved, indicating for her to follow, and she was led through the warehouse, past several of the hot ovens, the scent of bread heady. In the very back corner of the building were a small office and a tiny restroom, and Joan left her there to rejoin Maddie.
She closed and locked the flimsy door behind her, letting out a breath of relief. She turned to the sink, glad to see a pile of cloth hand towels, and wet one before patting off the frosting and cake from her thigh. Clean enough for now, she checked her face in the mirror.
“What the hell are you doing?” she whispered. In the space of—she checked her watch—less than six hours, she’d gone from annoyed with Maddie, to flirting with her, to almost kissing, and then flirting again with the cake. What was this? Was she really this starved for affection? True, Maddie was attractive. She didn’t normally go for the whole woodsy, outdoorsy type—couldn’t actually remember meeting a woodsy, outdoorsy type in New York—but she’d certainly always had a thing for confident butch women. And Maddie’s confidence didn’t come with some dark, self-centered arrogance, either, like so many of her exes. No, Maddie was simply a nice person. People were drawn to that. She was a good person who did good deeds and volunteered and helped friends plan weddings with no ulterior motive but to help people.
And she was really hot.
She gripped the edges of the sink harder, still staring at her reflection. After all, what difference did it make how hot Maddie was? Ryann had been acting like an idiot. She might see this woman a few more times between now and the wedding, and then what? It wasn’t as if it would go farther than this week. Maddie would never come to New York, and she wasn’t likely to see Stuart more than once or twice a year. So, yes, they would probably run into each other when she visited sometime in the future, but thinking of that made all the flirting potentially more embarrassing. Imagine if they slept together and then had to pretend, over the next however long, that it didn’t happen every time they saw each other? Mortifying.
No, she needed to stop now. No more flirting, no more leaning in to meet her lips, no more casual touches. They were simply acquaintances helping their friends get married. Nothing else. She could be cordial, but at the slightest hint of a flirtation, she needed to change the topic. And she had to put her foot down about the whole pretending thing, too. All of it had to stop and stop now.
She took a deep breath and studied her reflection, collecting herself. She reapplied some of her makeup and swished her mouth out with cold water, proud of herself for making the right choice.
Outside of the bathroom, the bakery seemed even hotter than before, and it took her a couple of minutes to wind her way back to the front of the building. She could hear merriment, and when she rounded the final corner, Maddie’s head was thrown back, laughing, and Joan was wiping at her eyes, face red. They spotted her at the same time, still chuckling, and she blushed. Had they been talking about her?
“Have a seat, and I’ll pour you some coffee,” Joan said. “Didn’t want it to get cold.”
She hesitated. Which chair should she sit in? But she decided, as she moved forward, that sitting down next to Joan would be stranger than taking her previous seat next to Maddie. Maddie watched her the whole way, still smiling. Joan pointed at the cream and sugar on the table, and she shook her head, taking a long sip of the hot, bitter brew, smiling at Joan in thanks.
Maddie’s humor had died a little, and, seeing her notice, she looked away, her cheeks slightly red.
What the hell was that? Ryann wondered.
“Okay—round two,” Joan said, pushing another plate of cake in front of them.
She and Maddie groaned at the same time and shared a quick laugh before starting in. Again, Joan explained each of the cakes, but even with the coffee to sip between bites, it was hard going. She saw Maddie grimace before a bite and couldn’t help but giggle. Maddie grinned more broadly at her before shoving it into her mouth, appearing determined, chewing quickly and swallowing before chugging her coffee again. Ryann laughed out loud.
“You would think you guys were being force-fed,” Joan said.
“I’m sorry, Joan,” Maddie said, touching her arm. “Like I said earlier, I never knew I could get tired of cake.”
“Which is exactly why this is such a terrible way to do this,” Joan explained. “Still, you’ve only got a couple more to try.”
Ryann and Maddie made eye contact, and Ryann nodded reassuringly. They could get through this.
She set her fork down after the last bite, trying to catch something in this one beyond the overwhelming sweetness. She couldn’t. She grabbed her mug, drinking the rest of the contents, fighting the urge to swish the bitter flavor around in her mouth. She shuddered slightly and then realized the others were watching her.
“I’m so sorry, Joan,” she said. “It was just too much.”
“I understand. Well, hopefully this doesn’t turn you completely off whatever cake the two of you decide on.”
“Oh, no! Not at all,” she said. “I’m just not much of a sweets person. I’m not even sure…” They stared at her, seeming expectant. “Never mind.”
“What?” Maddie asked.
She laughed nervously, fidgeting. “I was going to say, if I were getting married, I’m not even sure I’d have a cake.”
“Oh?” Maddie asked, leaning forward. “What would you have instead?”
She gazed at Maddie’s eyes, struck at once by the sensation of sinking into those blue depths. Her breath caught, and she made herself swallow against a strange tightness in her throat.
“Sushi,” she managed to say.
Maddie’s lips curled slightly. “Really? I’ll have to keep that in mind.”
Joan was looking back and forth between them, her eyebrows up in her hairline. She cleared her throat. “Uh, so, despite the overabundance, did either of you try something you liked, or think the guys would like? Well, Stuart, really. Jai likes anything.”
“Black Forest,” they both said and shared an amused smile.
“Okay!” Joan stood up. “Sounds like a consensus. I’ll need to know whether you choose my bakery no later than this Wednesday. Does that work for you two?”
“Yes,” Maddie said, also standing. “We’re trying the last bakery Tuesday, so we should be able choose fairly by then.” She paused. “When are you getting there tonight?”
“Mom said no later than seven, so probably about six thirty. You?”
“About then. I have to take care of some stuff first, but I should be done by then.”
Joan turned to her. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you, Ryann, and I assume I’ll see you tonight?”
She stood and took her offered hand. “I’ll be there.”
“Great. But be forewarned. My family is a little crazy, and it’s always a madhouse over at my parents’ when we’re all there.”
She saluted with two fingers. “Noted.”
“Don’t worry,” Maddie said. “People will be there to watch out for you. Me and Stuart, I mean.”
“Thanks,” she said, a little confused. Joan was surely exaggerating, but Maddie sounded serious. What on earth could they be so worried about?
Chapter Nine
Maddie dropped her off at the hotel, and she spent the next two hours on the phone and her computer, calling and videoconferencing with various people to discuss her meetings with Sydney and Tokyo later tonight. Ted had set them back-to-back: one at midnight and the other at one in the morning Colorado time. Ted and some of the other numbers people went over and over the details with her to get her up to date and ready to twist some arms to make sure the two companies stayed in this deal. They still had no clear word on London, either, which didn’t help. Her board simply shared that things were still under negotiation. She’d wanted firm dates from London, but she would have to go into tonight’s meetings without those specifics.
At 6:20, she finally closed her laptop, now running behind. Stuart was swinging by at 6:45 to pick her up, which didn’t leave her a lot of time to do much of anything with herself. Her second suitcase was still MIA, which limited her clothing choices, but she had a couple of nice pieces in the bag that had been delivered. She debated for as long as she dared, finally settling on a casual outfit of a silky-soft gray sweater and navy slacks. She took a quick shower, and when she got out, she wasn’t surprised that her eyes appeared even more sunken and tired than this morning. She didn’t even want to consider how she’d ever get through a big family get-together and two tense meetings before being allowed to sleep.
She was finishing her makeup when Stuart knocked on the outside door, letting himself in, as usual.
“You really should lock this door,” he called from the bedroom.
“I left it open for you,” she yelled back. “Just let yourself in! You always do.”
“Are you decent?” he asked, coming into the bathroom before she answered.
She grinned at him in the mirror, capping her mascara. “Would you care?”
He paused, tilted his head back and forth as he thought, and then shrugged. “No. I’ve seen you naked.”
“Lucky you,” she said, staring at her reflection again. Her pallor was less apparent with some makeup, but she still wasn’t sure what to do with her hair like this besides tying it back as she had before. No time for a braid. She turned around to face him.
“How do I look?”
He surveyed her up and down and then stepped forward and held out his arms. They embraced and he kissed her cheek. She’d missed the scent of his cologne, and she pulled him closer for a deep nose full and another quick squeeze before letting him go.
He swept his gaze over her again. “You look like a million bucks, as always. Jai’s family won’t know what hit ’em.”
“Are they nice?” Her nerves were rising again.
“They’re super nice. They’re like a damn Hallmark Channel family. But honey, they’re a lot.”
“So Maddie said.”
Stuart’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh? And what else did the two of you talk about?”
She rolled her eyes at him, walking out into the bedroom to get her coat and scarf. “I’m not doing this, Stuart.”
“What?”
She laughed. “You know what. I’m not talking about her when I know your motives. She and I are not interested in each other like that.”
“Oh, really? Cause that’s not what Jai said.”
Her temper flared, and she squared her shoulders, hands on her hips. “What’s that supposed to mean? How would he know? Did Maddie say something?”
Stuart was clearly trying not to laugh, his lips twisting. “Nope. Jai said Joan told him the two of you were very lovey-dovey at the bakery today—feeding each other, staring longingly in each other’s eyes—the whole nine yards.”
“Well, Jai—no, Joan is absolutely—” She held up her hands. “Damn it! I’m not getting into this with you. You’re goading me, and I won’t fall for it.”
Stuart sighed dramatically. “Okay. Have it your way. I won’t say another word.”
“That’s what you said last time,” Ryann said, amused despite herself.
“I’ll try harder. It’s just that the two of you—” He shook his head. “Sorry. Never mind.”
She wanted him to finish his sentence, but he was trying to pull her in again, so she fought the urge to ask him.
“Shall we?” she asked, indicating the door.
He seemed a little put off by her lack of follow-up, but he led her outside and down the stairs to his car. His car and driving together was also a new thing for them.
“I didn’t even know you could drive,” she said, getting in.
“I couldn’t! Maddie taught me, actually, in that big-ass truck of hers. Before that, I was using Uber and the bus. But Uber was getting expensive, and the busses don’t run very often.”
“A car is cheaper?”
“It’s actually one of Jai’s cars—well, one of his sisters’ husband’s, to be exact. He wasn’t using it, so he gave it to me. I just have to pay insurance, which is next to nothing on this old heap.”
She laughed. “Okay. Fine. Keep your secrets. Anyway, I was wondering why Stuart has so many bakeries lined up for us to try. You would think Joan’s would be a given.”
Maddie leaned onto her elbows. “You would think that, wouldn’t you? Actually, Jai insisted we try more. He didn’t want there to be any favoritism or nepotism.”
“Does he think there will be an audit later?”
Maddie barked a laugh. “Right? That’s what I said. But anyway, you know how Stuart is with sweets, so he didn’t really argue with him. I think Stuart just wanted to go to a bunch of bakeries to try all the samples, but now it looks like that will be our job, not his.”
She couldn’t help a slight stab of something like jealousy. Clearly Maddie knew her friend well, which meant he’d spent a lot of time with her. She made herself shake it off.
“That sounds about right. And yet—here we are, and he’s missing out.”
“True. Hopefully he’ll get to at least try some of the others with us.”
Joan reappeared then, carrying two plates. She set one down in front of each of them before sitting next to Maddie. Each plate had a ring of tiny slices of cake, about a quarter inch a piece, eight total.
“You said this was the first round?” Ryann was a little apprehensive now.
Joan laughed. “I have another plate with just as many.”
“Wow,” Maddie said.
“I’ll walk you through each slice. If you like a frosting or a cake or a filling, it can be combined with another cake or filling if you like one better.”
“Gosh,” Ryann said.
“The first,” Joan said, pointing at a tiny slice on each of their plates, “is lemon cake with raspberry filling and lemon-cream-cheese frosting.”
Ryann took the smallest bite possible, but the lemon flavor burst across her tongue, making her mouth water and pucker. Then the sweet raspberry filling caught up, mellowing it slightly. Maddie had taken a bigger bite and was still chewing, her eyes closed.
“What do you think?” Joan asked when she was done.
“Too sour,” Ryann said. “But I like the raspberry.”
“Same,” Maddie said. “But it’s really good, too.”
“Okay. The next is a vanilla cake with strawberry filling and champagne frosting.”
Once again, Ryann took the smallest bite she could that included all three parts of the cake. In this case, the strawberry was mellow, the frosting light and sweet on her palate.
“Mmmm,” she said. “I like this one a lot. But it’s a little plain for Stuart’s tastes.”
Maddie finished her bite and nodded. “Totally agree. I love it, but it’s not for him.”
This went on for each of the eight pieces. The next was chocolate cake with hazelnut filling and vanilla frosting; then yellow vanilla with chocolate filling and frosting; then a dark chocolate with cherry filling and whipped frosting, Black Forest style; and on and on. By the end of the first plate, Ryann’s mouth was grainy with sugar, and she was having a hard time tasting any differences—it all seemed much too sweet.
“Wow,” Maddie said. “This is really hard. I had no idea I could get tired of cake.”
“Ideally, you’d try two or three kinds at a time and come back another day,” Joan said. “But I understand you two are under a bit of pressure with that silly brother of mine. Why he couldn’t wait for next year, like a normal person, is anyone’s guess.”
“He’s just excited,” Maddie said, waving a hand dismissively. “You know how he is.”
Joan grabbed Maddie’s hand, squeezing it. “Of course. They’re so damn cute together I can’t even be mad at them.” She looked at Ryann. “We’re all so crazy about Stuart. You must be really happy, too.”
Ryann smiled. “I am. And Jai seems like a real sweetheart.”
“He’s the best,” Joan said, and stood up. “How about I make us some coffee? That way the two of you can have a little break between the sweet stuff.”
“That’d be a lifesaver,” Maddie said.
Joan squeezed her shoulder and disappeared in the back somewhere again.
“So?” Maddie said. “Did you like any of them besides the plain one?”
Ryann stared at the leftover bits of cake. “I mean, they’re all really good. I’m sure Stuart would like almost all of them except my favorite. But he’s a chocoholic, so I think we should go with a chocolate cake, at the very least. Maybe this dark-chocolate hazelnut, or the Black Forest?”
“Agreed. Should we try them again?”
Ryann nodded, but before she could get a new bite, Maddie had already speared a little sliver of one and was offering it to her. She hesitated and then leaned forward, taking the morsel in her mouth, Maddie all the while watching her eat. Maddie’s eyes darkened slightly, her lids somewhat hooded. Ryann looked away first, and Maddie seemed to shake herself awake, stirring next to her before taking her own bite. Ryann was drawn her way again a few seconds later, and she liked the way Maddie’s forehead wrinkled slightly, obviously deep in thought as she revisited the cake.
Finished, she looked satisfied. “I’m in complete agreement. It comes down to that one or the Black Forest.”
“Should we try the Black Forest again?” she asked.
One corner of Maddie’s mouth lifted, wryly, and before she could chicken out, Ryann cut a little piece for her from her own plate, offering it to her somewhat boldly.
Joan appeared then, and Ryann dropped the forkful in her lap, startled.
“Whoops!” Joan said. “I’m sorry. Was I interrupting…you know what? Never mind. Let me get you a wet rag, Ryann.”
“Actually,” she said, standing up, “do you have a restroom I could use?”
Joan waved, indicating for her to follow, and she was led through the warehouse, past several of the hot ovens, the scent of bread heady. In the very back corner of the building were a small office and a tiny restroom, and Joan left her there to rejoin Maddie.
She closed and locked the flimsy door behind her, letting out a breath of relief. She turned to the sink, glad to see a pile of cloth hand towels, and wet one before patting off the frosting and cake from her thigh. Clean enough for now, she checked her face in the mirror.
“What the hell are you doing?” she whispered. In the space of—she checked her watch—less than six hours, she’d gone from annoyed with Maddie, to flirting with her, to almost kissing, and then flirting again with the cake. What was this? Was she really this starved for affection? True, Maddie was attractive. She didn’t normally go for the whole woodsy, outdoorsy type—couldn’t actually remember meeting a woodsy, outdoorsy type in New York—but she’d certainly always had a thing for confident butch women. And Maddie’s confidence didn’t come with some dark, self-centered arrogance, either, like so many of her exes. No, Maddie was simply a nice person. People were drawn to that. She was a good person who did good deeds and volunteered and helped friends plan weddings with no ulterior motive but to help people.
And she was really hot.
She gripped the edges of the sink harder, still staring at her reflection. After all, what difference did it make how hot Maddie was? Ryann had been acting like an idiot. She might see this woman a few more times between now and the wedding, and then what? It wasn’t as if it would go farther than this week. Maddie would never come to New York, and she wasn’t likely to see Stuart more than once or twice a year. So, yes, they would probably run into each other when she visited sometime in the future, but thinking of that made all the flirting potentially more embarrassing. Imagine if they slept together and then had to pretend, over the next however long, that it didn’t happen every time they saw each other? Mortifying.
No, she needed to stop now. No more flirting, no more leaning in to meet her lips, no more casual touches. They were simply acquaintances helping their friends get married. Nothing else. She could be cordial, but at the slightest hint of a flirtation, she needed to change the topic. And she had to put her foot down about the whole pretending thing, too. All of it had to stop and stop now.
She took a deep breath and studied her reflection, collecting herself. She reapplied some of her makeup and swished her mouth out with cold water, proud of herself for making the right choice.
Outside of the bathroom, the bakery seemed even hotter than before, and it took her a couple of minutes to wind her way back to the front of the building. She could hear merriment, and when she rounded the final corner, Maddie’s head was thrown back, laughing, and Joan was wiping at her eyes, face red. They spotted her at the same time, still chuckling, and she blushed. Had they been talking about her?
“Have a seat, and I’ll pour you some coffee,” Joan said. “Didn’t want it to get cold.”
She hesitated. Which chair should she sit in? But she decided, as she moved forward, that sitting down next to Joan would be stranger than taking her previous seat next to Maddie. Maddie watched her the whole way, still smiling. Joan pointed at the cream and sugar on the table, and she shook her head, taking a long sip of the hot, bitter brew, smiling at Joan in thanks.
Maddie’s humor had died a little, and, seeing her notice, she looked away, her cheeks slightly red.
What the hell was that? Ryann wondered.
“Okay—round two,” Joan said, pushing another plate of cake in front of them.
She and Maddie groaned at the same time and shared a quick laugh before starting in. Again, Joan explained each of the cakes, but even with the coffee to sip between bites, it was hard going. She saw Maddie grimace before a bite and couldn’t help but giggle. Maddie grinned more broadly at her before shoving it into her mouth, appearing determined, chewing quickly and swallowing before chugging her coffee again. Ryann laughed out loud.
“You would think you guys were being force-fed,” Joan said.
“I’m sorry, Joan,” Maddie said, touching her arm. “Like I said earlier, I never knew I could get tired of cake.”
“Which is exactly why this is such a terrible way to do this,” Joan explained. “Still, you’ve only got a couple more to try.”
Ryann and Maddie made eye contact, and Ryann nodded reassuringly. They could get through this.
She set her fork down after the last bite, trying to catch something in this one beyond the overwhelming sweetness. She couldn’t. She grabbed her mug, drinking the rest of the contents, fighting the urge to swish the bitter flavor around in her mouth. She shuddered slightly and then realized the others were watching her.
“I’m so sorry, Joan,” she said. “It was just too much.”
“I understand. Well, hopefully this doesn’t turn you completely off whatever cake the two of you decide on.”
“Oh, no! Not at all,” she said. “I’m just not much of a sweets person. I’m not even sure…” They stared at her, seeming expectant. “Never mind.”
“What?” Maddie asked.
She laughed nervously, fidgeting. “I was going to say, if I were getting married, I’m not even sure I’d have a cake.”
“Oh?” Maddie asked, leaning forward. “What would you have instead?”
She gazed at Maddie’s eyes, struck at once by the sensation of sinking into those blue depths. Her breath caught, and she made herself swallow against a strange tightness in her throat.
“Sushi,” she managed to say.
Maddie’s lips curled slightly. “Really? I’ll have to keep that in mind.”
Joan was looking back and forth between them, her eyebrows up in her hairline. She cleared her throat. “Uh, so, despite the overabundance, did either of you try something you liked, or think the guys would like? Well, Stuart, really. Jai likes anything.”
“Black Forest,” they both said and shared an amused smile.
“Okay!” Joan stood up. “Sounds like a consensus. I’ll need to know whether you choose my bakery no later than this Wednesday. Does that work for you two?”
“Yes,” Maddie said, also standing. “We’re trying the last bakery Tuesday, so we should be able choose fairly by then.” She paused. “When are you getting there tonight?”
“Mom said no later than seven, so probably about six thirty. You?”
“About then. I have to take care of some stuff first, but I should be done by then.”
Joan turned to her. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you, Ryann, and I assume I’ll see you tonight?”
She stood and took her offered hand. “I’ll be there.”
“Great. But be forewarned. My family is a little crazy, and it’s always a madhouse over at my parents’ when we’re all there.”
She saluted with two fingers. “Noted.”
“Don’t worry,” Maddie said. “People will be there to watch out for you. Me and Stuart, I mean.”
“Thanks,” she said, a little confused. Joan was surely exaggerating, but Maddie sounded serious. What on earth could they be so worried about?
Chapter Nine
Maddie dropped her off at the hotel, and she spent the next two hours on the phone and her computer, calling and videoconferencing with various people to discuss her meetings with Sydney and Tokyo later tonight. Ted had set them back-to-back: one at midnight and the other at one in the morning Colorado time. Ted and some of the other numbers people went over and over the details with her to get her up to date and ready to twist some arms to make sure the two companies stayed in this deal. They still had no clear word on London, either, which didn’t help. Her board simply shared that things were still under negotiation. She’d wanted firm dates from London, but she would have to go into tonight’s meetings without those specifics.
At 6:20, she finally closed her laptop, now running behind. Stuart was swinging by at 6:45 to pick her up, which didn’t leave her a lot of time to do much of anything with herself. Her second suitcase was still MIA, which limited her clothing choices, but she had a couple of nice pieces in the bag that had been delivered. She debated for as long as she dared, finally settling on a casual outfit of a silky-soft gray sweater and navy slacks. She took a quick shower, and when she got out, she wasn’t surprised that her eyes appeared even more sunken and tired than this morning. She didn’t even want to consider how she’d ever get through a big family get-together and two tense meetings before being allowed to sleep.
She was finishing her makeup when Stuart knocked on the outside door, letting himself in, as usual.
“You really should lock this door,” he called from the bedroom.
“I left it open for you,” she yelled back. “Just let yourself in! You always do.”
“Are you decent?” he asked, coming into the bathroom before she answered.
She grinned at him in the mirror, capping her mascara. “Would you care?”
He paused, tilted his head back and forth as he thought, and then shrugged. “No. I’ve seen you naked.”
“Lucky you,” she said, staring at her reflection again. Her pallor was less apparent with some makeup, but she still wasn’t sure what to do with her hair like this besides tying it back as she had before. No time for a braid. She turned around to face him.
“How do I look?”
He surveyed her up and down and then stepped forward and held out his arms. They embraced and he kissed her cheek. She’d missed the scent of his cologne, and she pulled him closer for a deep nose full and another quick squeeze before letting him go.
He swept his gaze over her again. “You look like a million bucks, as always. Jai’s family won’t know what hit ’em.”
“Are they nice?” Her nerves were rising again.
“They’re super nice. They’re like a damn Hallmark Channel family. But honey, they’re a lot.”
“So Maddie said.”
Stuart’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh? And what else did the two of you talk about?”
She rolled her eyes at him, walking out into the bedroom to get her coat and scarf. “I’m not doing this, Stuart.”
“What?”
She laughed. “You know what. I’m not talking about her when I know your motives. She and I are not interested in each other like that.”
“Oh, really? Cause that’s not what Jai said.”
Her temper flared, and she squared her shoulders, hands on her hips. “What’s that supposed to mean? How would he know? Did Maddie say something?”
Stuart was clearly trying not to laugh, his lips twisting. “Nope. Jai said Joan told him the two of you were very lovey-dovey at the bakery today—feeding each other, staring longingly in each other’s eyes—the whole nine yards.”
“Well, Jai—no, Joan is absolutely—” She held up her hands. “Damn it! I’m not getting into this with you. You’re goading me, and I won’t fall for it.”
Stuart sighed dramatically. “Okay. Have it your way. I won’t say another word.”
“That’s what you said last time,” Ryann said, amused despite herself.
“I’ll try harder. It’s just that the two of you—” He shook his head. “Sorry. Never mind.”
She wanted him to finish his sentence, but he was trying to pull her in again, so she fought the urge to ask him.
“Shall we?” she asked, indicating the door.
He seemed a little put off by her lack of follow-up, but he led her outside and down the stairs to his car. His car and driving together was also a new thing for them.
“I didn’t even know you could drive,” she said, getting in.
“I couldn’t! Maddie taught me, actually, in that big-ass truck of hers. Before that, I was using Uber and the bus. But Uber was getting expensive, and the busses don’t run very often.”
“A car is cheaper?”
“It’s actually one of Jai’s cars—well, one of his sisters’ husband’s, to be exact. He wasn’t using it, so he gave it to me. I just have to pay insurance, which is next to nothing on this old heap.”
