“Still working on it. My day was good. I’m going in now.”
“See you in a few,” she said before hanging up.
Autumn spotted Bret’s yellow Mustang convertible in front of the bakery and parked behind it. Three- and four-tiered wedding cakes with columns, cascading flowers—real and sugar—and dozens of miniature pastries filled the two display windows of the brick storefront. Interspersed between the goodies were pumpkins, acorns, berries, greens, and sateen leaves in fall colors.
“Sorry, I’m late,” Autumn said when she walked through the glass doors.
A woman around Autumn’s age nodded while pulling out a wooden chair beside her. “No worries. I’m Jenny. Catherine had something come up with one of her children, so she had to leave. I’ve been working in cake design for the last twelve years. I studied and worked in Paris for four years.” Jenny smiled widely. “I just wanted you to know that I have a lot of experience in everything sweet, and my specialty is in designing unique wedding cakes.”
“I’m not worried. Catherine sings your accolades all the time to me.” Autumn sat down then leaned over and kissed Bret on the cheek. “Hey,” she whispered.
“You’re looking good, sweetheart.” He squeezed her hand, then looked down at his phone.
As she and Jenny discussed various designs, Bret focused his attention on the phone, making no effort to be part of the decision process. The incessant beeps drove Autumn crazy, and she seriously thought about flinging the damn phone against the wall, then laughing maniacally as the broken pieces flew around the room.
“Do you want the sugar flowers or something a bit more modern?” There was an edge in her voice.
Bret shrugged. “Whatever you want. You’re the one paying, right?”
Jenny shifted in her chair while clearing her throat.
“I thought you wanted to help out with the design,” Autumn said.
He looked up. “I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Not really,” she mumbled.
An hour later, Autumn walked out into the cool air and headed to her car. She’d just plunked down another five hundred bucks for the cake, making the entire price a little over a grand. At the end, she decided on the sugar flowers tumbling down the side of the four-tiered cake with simulated lace and pearl accents around the borders.
“Do you want to go out for a beer?” Bret asked as he slipped his arm around her waist.
“I was hoping we could go to the Spice Room.”
He scrunched his face. “I’m not feelingthattonight. Anyway, I told Liam, Colin, and Oliver that I’d hang out with them tonight. We’re going to the Beer Shack. You love their burgers.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you already had plans?” Autumn pressed the remote and the Audi’s headlights turned on.
Bret pulled his arm away from her waist. “I want you to be there with me tonight. I thought you’d want to spend some time together.”
“I would, but I don’t feel like competing with your friends. Anyway, I’m on call tonight. I’m going back to the clinic to check on two of my patients and one of Mark’s.”
“Okay. I’m not going to jump down your throat because you have to work late. I understand, which is more than I can say about you and my work. Last night, you really pissed me off.”
“I already told you I was sorry about that.” She leaned against the car. “Are you sure you want to get married?”
Bret jerked his head back and a frown burrowed between his brows. “What the fuck kind of question is that?”
“It’s a fair one. It just seems like instead of this wedding bringing us closer together, it’s pushing us farther apart.”
“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
“Like this whole cake designing thing. I bet you don’t even know what I decided on forourcake. I’m just wondering why you even bothered to come. You were glued to your damn phone the whole time.”
“I came because I knew you wanted me there for you. You’re just never satisfied, are you?”
“Forget it.” She pushed away from the car and opened the door.
Bret slammed it close. “Don’t be this way, Autumn. The last few months you’ve become a real pain in the ass. I try and do all this stuff for you, and you don’t even care.”