Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
It was still dark and well before anyone else woke when Kate fed her felines, bundled up, and hurried to the lodge, wanting to get in some exercise after overindulging on tiramisu last night at the rehearsal dinner.
With the wedding scheduled for two, she’d have plenty of time to assemble the cake, have breakfast with her cousin, and change for the wedding.
At this early morning hour, the lodge’s kitchen was dark. She flipped on the lights and stashed her belongings in the office. She had made the red frosting roses yesterday morning and needed to place them on Paige and Ethan’s three-tiered cake.
The round slabs were loosely wrapped on a shelf in the walk-in cooler.
She’d posted so many admonitions on the stainless steel door about not placing anything near the cakes, it looked like a bulletin board.
The warnings had paid off; the layers were undisturbed.
She gently removed each section and set them atop the cake stand.
With the frosting complete and the roses placed, the snow-like effect shimmered. Kate set the pastry bag down and glanced at the clock. She still had an hour before meeting Michael and Henry at the Blue Ox for breakfast.
Standing back, she admired her work. The red roses and the pine boughs added to the country elegance Paige had requested.
“Oh Kate, it’s beautiful.”
Kate’s hand flew to her heart. Focused on her work, she hadn’t heard Ruth walk into the kitchen.
“Oh dear. I’m so sorry I startled you.”
Kate smiled at Ruth. “It’s fine, and thank you. I hope Paige and Ethan think so too.”
“How could they not?” Ruth moved closer. “The random snowflake on each layer is exquisite. And these roses . . . I’d love to know how you mixed the full blooms and the buds together so tightly. And the look of fresh snow—wow! I’m speechless.”
Kate giggled. Ruth was anything but speechless. It had been a long time since she’d had someone gush over her cakes, especially another baker. “I would love to show you sometime. They’re fun to make.”
“The pine boughs are a nice touch.”
“Thank you.” Kate learned early on to accept compliments with a simple thank-you. Before working with Regina, she’d always try to explain or dismiss the flattery. Regina had set her straight. Always accept compliments gracefully, she’d say.
Kate removed her apron and tossed it into the laundry bag. “This is by far the hardest part of cake decorating.”
“What is?”
“Protecting the cake.”
“Oh yes. I agree. Let’s take care of that right now. I’ll be right back.”
Ruth returned with a stainless steel cart.
“We’ll place the cake in the ballroom,” she said.
“The staff has the room all set for the reception.” They carefully transferred the cake and made their way to the service elevator.
Ruth pushed the cart while Kate walked alongside. Thankfully, it was a short distance.
When the elevator doors opened, Ruth used her foot to keep them open.
They wheeled in the cart, carefully guiding it over the threshold.
Soft Christmas tunes played over the speakers.
The doors closed, and Ruth pushed the button for the floor above.
The elevator jolted. They both lunged for the cake in case it tumbled, their hands outstretched, but the cake hadn’t moved.
They looked at each other, their eyes wide with surprise.
Nervous energy made them titter. When the doors opened, Kate said, “Like I said before, the hardest part.”
“Definitely. I’ll have maintenance look at the elevator. We don’t need anyone getting stuck.”
With the cake secure in its place, Kate glanced around the ballroom.
“There sure is a lot of mistletoe hanging from the ceiling.”
Ruth chuckled. “That was all Paige.”
Kate hoped there wouldn’t be a special signature drink, because she would not make the same mistake twice: drink too much and kiss Nick senseless.
With the ballroom doors locked, she took a deep breath and released it slowly.
Ruth accompanied her to the kitchen to gather her things. “Will you be bringing a date to the wedding?”
“No. No date. I haven’t seen my cousin since June and want to spend time with him. Henry will be busy fussing over Paige, and it will give us time to catch up.”
Kate would have liked it if Nick had asked her, but she supposed that would be outside the boundaries of their agreement. She decided not to ask him if he was bringing a date, knowing she wouldn’t like the answer if he was.
“Nick should have asked you.”
“We’re not dating, we’re just—”
Ruth cut her off. “Even if you are only friends.” She smiled warmly.
If Nick wasn’t bringing a date, maybe he intended to meet someone at the wedding. Kate had just read that fifty percent of people experienced a romantic encounter while celebrating someone else’s nuptials. With the amount of mistletoe present, she’d bet that percentage would increase.
* * *
At home after a nice breakfast with Michael and Henry, Kate showered, then set her phone’s alarm and took a quick nap. She awoke minutes before her alarm went off.
Feeling refreshed, she dressed and applied a minimal amount of makeup. She had never been one to wear much, just enough to accentuate her features.
After slipping into the silky red dress, she looked out the window.
The sun had melted the snow on the pavement.
Paige and Ethan’s wedding day, this late in December, had turned out to be the warmest on record with no snow in the forecast. Six inches of snow still covered the lawn, but the temperature remained above freezing.
That was a good day in northern Minnesota, she had learned.
Kate avoided contact with her furry friends so as not to have hair clinging to her dress. She filled their bowls and drove to the church.
* * *
Nick and the groomsmen lined up off to the side, waiting for the last guests to take their seats.
Cole nudged him and discreetly pointed toward the doors.
Kate entered the church in a rush, removed her knee-length black leather jacket and furry white scarf, and handed them to the attendant gathering coats.
Nick’s pulse quickened at the sight of her.
Wow! The adjectives going through his head were on rapid fire.
Beautiful. Gorgeous. Sexy. Her dark hair fell over the swell of her cleavage, her lips a luscious red.
He swallowed hard, remembering their bodies close together, their tongues tangling.
His brother whispered in his ear, “You’ve got it bad.”
“I do,” he said in a muffled tone.
Cole chuckled and slapped him on the back. “Nice choice of words.” He shook his head. “Another one bites the dust.”
“What?”
“Nothing,” Cole said with a smirk.
Kate moved gracefully toward the ushers, where she locked arms with one of Ethan’s pro baseball friends. He bent his head and whispered into Kate’s ear, causing her to giggle like a schoolgirl on a first date.
Nick’s fist clenched at his side. She never glanced his way.
Granted, they were somewhat hidden, and Kate was focused on finding a seat.
Why hadn’t he asked her to the wedding? He knew why.
They were just friends. He needed to remedy that before the night was over.
But how? He didn’t know. If he professed his feelings, he’d break the pact.
Why hadn’t they set an end to the agreement?
The wedding planner, a petite woman with white hair, interrupted his musings. “All right, everyone, showtime!”
The ushers stepped aside as Nick and the other groomsmen lined up and the bridesmaids joined them.
Chloe held on to Luke Reynolds, Ethan’s older brother and the best man, who had flown in from Boston for the nuptials and planned on staying through Christmas.
The violins started Canon in D, their cue. Nikki and Nora, Roman’s twin girls, started the procession down the aisle, dropping rose petals as they went. Nick held out his arm for Lily and whispered, “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.” She held on tight. “Don’t let me fall.”
The wedding planner gave them the go-ahead, and they walked toward Ethan and the officiant. Nick locked eyes with Kate and winked. Her smile was worth the bold move.
Each pew had a draping of red poinsettias and glittering white tulle and ribbon. The front of the church held dozens of red poinsettia plants. Nick wouldn’t be surprised if the bride and groom gave the Christmas plants to the guests attending.
He waited at the front of the church, observing Kate.
When the rest of the bridal party was in place, the congregation stood.
Paige appeared at the back of the church with her grandfather, Abe.
Nick glanced at Ethan, whose smile never left Paige as she glided down the aisle in a simple but elegant white gown.
Nick pictured himself in Ethan’s place, awaiting Kate walking down the aisle with her dad. When he caught Kate glancing his way, he smiled. Instead of smiling back, Kate dabbed her eyes with a tissue and concentrated on the pastor.
Huh? Maybe Kate had been smiling at Lily earlier, not him. Nick didn’t hear the message or the vows as he pondered Kate’s reaction.
He was so lost in thought, he nearly missed everything, snapping back to attention only when Ethan and Paige were already kissing and the audience was standing and clapping.
* * *
Kate hated the way she’d reacted to Nick’s attention.
Pettiness was so unbecoming, but she couldn’t help herself.
He didn’t ask her to the wedding, and she hadn’t heard from him since he walked out of the Eagle’s Nest. She’d broken almost every one of the “Ten Ways to Keep a Guy in the Friend Zone” rules.
Dumb teen magazine. She was an adult; the article was clearly meant for teenagers.
Nick didn’t want a relationship. She’d been stupid and reckless to kiss him.
She needed to focus on herself and her business.
Hadn’t she made a pact with herself even before reading the ridiculous article?