Icing on the Cake

CHAPTER 2

***

Eisley

My hands shake as I gather tiny snippets of greenery from the linen tablecloth, knowing Beau is mere yards from where I stand. I resist the urge to turn around and seek him out in the crowd. What if the kiss we shared meant nothing to him, and he’s forgotten about me? What if he felt nothing at all?

The wedding planner corrals the giddy women and directs the groomsmen to stay put for the garter toss. They’re outdated traditions that some find squirmy for the attention they draw to those who are single by choice or circumstance. Even so, I wouldn’t mind a little romance and good fortune thrown my way. Goodness knows I could use the help.

I glance at the group of women, getting caught in their excitement as they count down from ten to the moment of bouquet liftoff. I catch sight of the groom in my periphery, standing close to his bride as she practices her swing before the toss. Goosebumps shimmy up my spine, tickling and prickling my senses. Beau is so close I can feel him in my bones. I inhale a deep breath and hold it to calm my nerves.

Three, the women chorus, and I dare to turn around. I’m momentarily stunned to find Beau walking toward me, eyes fixed on mine. He remembers. My body reacts the same as it did months ago when I saw him for the first time. My core temperature rises with each step he takes. I smile nervously, feeling heat climb from my chest to my cheeks.

Two.My pulse quickens, and I break out into a mini sweat. My insides turn to mush.

One.Beau’s close enough to...

The same as the night we met, outside forces keep us from connecting. Well, we connect. Collide, in fact. Everything happens so quickly, it’s surreal, straight out of a made-for-TV rom-com.

The bride throws the bouquet overhead. A bridesmaid struggles forward with her arms outstretched as she launches herself into the air on one foot. The best man appears panicked. He leaps forward, reaching high into the air, and tips the flowers as they hurl through the air on a collision course for the cake table. I lunge forward, grasping into the air for the floral missile. The groomsman hits Beau in the back on his downward descent. Beau and I collide with a breathtaking thud. Beau wraps his arm around me and tucks me into his chest as his knees buckle. I wince and clamp my eyes closed, bracing for the moment we hit the floor.

We roll a few feet and stop in a tangled mess when Beau’s back hits the cake table. He groans and I lift my chin for a peek at the damage. Beau drops his shoulder, pulling the tablecloth with it. Something snaps, and someone yells. Beau covers my head with his hand and tucks me under his chin, protecting me from the wedding cake disaster of a lifetime.

“Hold still,” Beau commands.

“Grab the cake,” someone yells as people crowd around us.

Dishes and flatware clatter as the tablecloth slips another inch. A pile of paper napkins falls from the table, fluttering to the floor. In another minute, it’ll be the cake.

“Roll on top of me, away from the table.” I struggle to free my face from Beau’s chest. It’s a lovely, muscular chest that I wouldn’t mind burying myself in, but there”s a bride’s day to save. “You’re pulling the tablecloth with your weight.”

“Kent, get off your ass and steady the table,” A man barks orders above us. “Grab that end.”

“I’m twice your size.” Beau’s arm tightens around my waist, and my obsession with the man deepens. “I’ll crush you.”

“You’ve never been on top of a woman before?” I muse, goading him a little. His nostrils flare as he inhales. His darkened eyes heat, igniting a ridiculous flame in my belly and courage in my heart. “Be gentle with me.”

I’m not sure if my flirty stage whisper did the trick or if Beau followed my instructions out of common sense, but he does as instructed. He rolls away from the table, carrying me with him. I stare into his eyes and catch a glint of playfulness hiding in the shadows. Though it’s awkward, I’m beyond happy to be exactly where I am with Beau’s protective arms around me.

Feet shuffle around us, and it strikes me as odd how different people appear from an alternative vantage point. I can only imagine what Beau and I must look like with me flat on my back on the reception floor and Beau’s massive body hovering over mine. His hips sink seductively close to mine, sending my body into a tizzy. My internal furnace cranks the heat from lava hot to a sun-scorching inferno. Definitely not something one experiences every day at a wedding, or me ever. But I’ll take it.

“I like this better than mistletoe.” Beau’s eyes glitter when he chuckles. “I can’t wait to see what happens the next time we run into each other.”

Next time.I like the sound of that.

***

Beau

I shield Eisley from the wide-eyed stares while she straightens her short skirt. She wriggles beneath me, stirring the giant between my legs. My jaw tightens as my body stiffens. It’s an awkward situation, to say the least. The last thing I need is a raging hard-on in plain view of a hundred or more wedding guests.

Eisley finishes fidgeting with her skirt, giving it one final tug. Her fingertips brush along my hips as her hazel eyes focus on me. Flecks of green and gold sparkle in her curious eyes.

“We should get up now.” Her rosy lips part as she whispers. “Before we make a scene and people start noticing.”

Her flirtatious tease increases my interest and adds to my current state of arousal. The latter is completely unwarranted in this situation, but there’s little I can do but suck it up and hope for the best.

“Right,” I say, pushing off the ground to my knees. Eisley snickers as I take her hand and help her to her cute, red high-heeled feet. “People might think we’re enjoying ourselves.”

“You’re not?” Eisley quips as she brushes her hands over her backside. Her eyes dart around the group gathered around us. “I should see about the cake.”

She smooths her hair, checking that it’s still in place, then squeezes my forearm before slipping away. I cross my hands over my jacket, ensuring the bulge beneath it stays hidden. The way her hips sway as she adjusts the bow behind her back doesn’t do me any favors, but I don’t want to look away. Eisley’s captured my attention in more ways than one. I’ve got to hand it to her for keeping a sense of humor in the midst of a near catastrophe. That’s the sign of a good-natured individual and a true professional.

“Well played, Beau. Well played.” Tom grabs my shoulder with a firm hand. “When Kent batted the flowers away, Grace thought the cake was a goner. Remind me again why Kent”s my best man instead of you?”

Tom glances over his shoulder toward a small gathering of two. I follow his gaze to a secluded corner where Kylie gives a sheepish Kent a piece of her mind. I can’t hear what she’s saying, but it’s obvious she isn’t happy.

“Because he’s your brother,” I chuckle, turning my attention to Eisley and Grace as they inspect the cake. “Any damage done?”

“Only to Kent’s ego. Cake’s fine, and you put on a great floor show. Everyone goes home with a story to tell.” Tom pats my shoulder. “So, what’s the story with the cake lady? The Bakehouse looking for a new baker, or are you in the market for one?”

He’s as subtle as a meat cleaver. Eisley”s an exceptional kisser, quick on her feet, and has some serious cake-decorating skills. Even so, Sapphire Bakehouse doesn’t need another set of hands in the kitchen, and I can’t afford the kind of distraction Eisley would bring.

What is the story with her, and why am I so damn attracted to her?

When our eyes locked in silent recognition, time stood still. In that fleeting moment of chaos, instinct took over. I wasn’t trying to save the day or be chivalrous. A deep need to protect Eisley overtook me. The world blurred around us when she fell into my arms. My heart pounded as I anchored her to my body. Adrenaline coursed through my veins lightning quick, and a spark of hope ignited deep within my chest.

Beyond that, I know very little about Eisley. She’s a mystery walking into my world from seemingly out of nowhere. Did fate bring us together for a reason?

“Her name’s Eisley.” I glance at Tom, on the verge of quizzing him about how he knew Grace was the one for him but think better of it. This is his day, not mine to nose in his personal business. I’d also like to keep the spark between Eisley and me private. “Not sure, but it wouldn’t hurt to stick around and find out.”

Is this what it feels like when someone realizes they’ve met the one?