Page 40 of Screwed
Cash was determined to stay away from Callie, and he was successful in that goal until the next Saturday. He’d just finished having lunch with a client at the Houston Club and was waiting for an elevator so he could leave when the doors opened and Callie was standing there with a cart holding an enormous cake.
His heart fibrillated as if he’d been hit with high-voltage electricity. “Callie.”
Her eyes shot wide, and her smile was instant, then dimmed as she no doubt recalled the last time they’d been together, fucking on her kitchen island. “Cash. Hi.”
Time slowed as they gazed at each other, every nerve ending in his body electrified at the sight of her.
She stepped forward, and he reached for the cart to help her wrestle it out of the elevator. “What are you doing here?”
“Careful.” She nibbled her lip as he moved the cart. “I made a cake for Melanie Walden’s wedding tonight.”
He peered into the open box. “It’s amazing.”
She gave him an anxious smile. “Thanks. I worked all week on it.”
“Where are we going?”
“The ballroom.”
She led the way into the ballroom, where club staff was just finishing the room setup. Sunlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking downtown Houston. White fabric draped all the chairs and tables, and the florist had already been there to deliver flowers. Centerpieces adorned the tables and huge arrangements stood on tall stands near the head table.
A woman looked up as they walked in and hurried over, her phone clutched in her hand. “Are you Callie?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Hi, so nice to meet you. I’m Heather White, Melanie’s wedding planner.” She held out a hand, and they shook.
“Nice to meet you, too, Heather.”
“Let’s see the cake. Oh my God! It isgorgeous!”
“This is my, um, friend, Cash Hale.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Cash.” Heather cast him a look that was as appreciative as the one she’d given the cake. “Let’s put the cake on this table over here.”
Cash pushed the cart over the carpet and stopped next to the small table. He looked back and forth between the cake and one of the floral arrangements. “Wow. Your flowers look just about as real as those.”
The multilayered cake was iced with smooth, pale-blue frosting, with big dark-purple flowers, smaller blue ones, and a few white blossoms cascading down around it. Some kind of gold sprinkles were scattered among the flowers. It was a fucking work of art.
“They do!” Heather beamed and clapped her hands together. “I’ve been in this business a while, and this is one of the most beautiful cakes I’ve ever seen.”
Callie smiled and twisted her hands together. “Thank you.” She sucked in a big breath and let it out, glancing at Cash. “Um, maybe you could help me get it onto the table? It weighs a ton.”
“Sure.”
Between them, they opened the sides of the box, and Cash lifted the cake on its white stand while Callie slid the flattened cardboard out from under it, then centered the cake on the table. “There.” She met his eyes and gave another tight smile. “I guess my job is done.”
“Thank you so much, Callie.” Heather adjusted the position of an ornate knife with a big sheer bow tied to it. “Do you have a business card?”
“No.” Callie’s dismay showed on her face. “I’m afraid I don’t.”
“Well, I’m sure I can contact you through Melanie, right?”
“Yes. Yes, of course.” She twisted her fingers together again. “Can I get one more picture of the cake here?”
“Of course.”
She dug in her purse for her phone. “I took some at home, but I’d like one of it here in the ballroom.”
