“Well, good luck,” Vivienne said, wiping her hands on her apron and hugging Tessa.
“Break an egg!” Juliet said.
There were more hugs from everyone, then her grandmother tucked the bag of bread under Tessa’s arm like a weapon while Vivienne held the door. “Thanks, family.” Tessa was a little teary-eyed as she walked the few steps out the back of the bakery to Leo’s new little patio next door. Her family was rooting for her. She was proud that her cake passed muster. Now she could cheer Leo on.
The first thing Tessa noticed was that strings of little white lights were on, even though it was noon. The area had been transformed into an adorable space filled with tables covered with traditional red-and-white-checkered tablecloths. There were even little planter boxes hanging off the iron fencing around the perimeter planted with red geraniums. For today, several tables were pushed together and covered with a large white tablecloth.
Tessa had just set the cake on the table when Leo appeared at the restaurant doorway wearing a plain white apron. She sucked in a breath. She wasn’t sure exactly what got to her the most—his dark wavy hair against the white of the apron, his muscled arms, or the look in his eyes, which was hopeful, excited, and, she would also say, nervous. Judging by the way he walked out and began fussing with the glasses and silverware, making sure everything was perfectly aligned, nervous was correct. And noticeably different from his usual laid-back, easygoing self.
“Hey,” Leo said, stopping his table rearranging to face her, his gaze sliding quickly up and down her in an appreciative way. That’s all it took to bring thoughts of last week rushing back. Of being tangled up with him on that couch, his big arms surrounding her in a way that made her feel safe and yet very much in trouble at the same time.
“How—how are you doing?” she asked. Her stomach was in knots, the back of her neck was sweating, and her palms were clammy. She was a wreck but was making a big effort to be calm for his sake.
They had to get his father’s blessing. Both of them were counting on it. If they didn’t, this whole wild scheme would be in vain.
“You really want to know?” he asked.
“You look completely prepared.” She waved a hand over the table. “And everything looks beautiful.”
“To be honest, I’m a little anxious,” he said, a smile spreading slowly. Because of course he would smile even now.
“You’re going to do amazing.”
“We’re going to do amazing,” he corrected.
“Okay,” she said. “We. Us. However you want to say it.” They were partners. Business partners. Who were becoming friends with an inconvenient attraction. And that was all.
That was all it could be, because after they succeeded in helping their families, she was leaving. For good.
He squeezed her hand quickly, briefly, and she squeezed back. “I’m really glad you’re here.”
That hand squeeze had been so brief, and it had been over in a few seconds. Yet the heat from his touch shot right up her arms and spread everywhere, including into her already-flaming cheeks. She turned away and began fussing with her cake to hide her reaction to his touch. “Can I put this in your fridge?”
He noticed the cake for the first time, examining it closely—the strawberry halves marching in a perfect line all around the perimeter of the cake, a light pastry filling between the layers. And all the fancy icing flowers on top.
He rubbed his neck. Now it was her turn to be nervous. Was it not what he’d expected? Was it too much? Not enough? “Tessa, I—” His steady brown gaze turned from the cake to her. “This is incredible.”
She blew out a pent-up breath. “I even made sure all the strawberries were as close to the same size as possible.” She had fussed way too much over every single detail. But she didn’t regret it. She wanted this to be a success, she suddenly realized, more than she’d wanted anything.
“It’s perfect.” The intensity of his look made her lightheaded. Which could probably turn out to be a little scary on top of all her nerves.
She nodded toward the bread bag. “This is still warm.”
“You baked that special?”
She smiled. “No one can resist warm bread. Is there anything else I can do?”
“Pray,” he said with a little chuckle. His gaze settled on her in a way that made it hard to look away. A warm, fuzzy feeling spread through her abdomen and into her limbs, which hung heavy and awkward on her body.
“I have to tell you something,” he said, rubbing his neck. “I sort of didn’t—”
“What is it?”
Just then, Gia burst out the back door carrying some cut pink flowers in little vases. “Hey, Tessa,” she called as she put them on the table. “Wow. Look at that!” She admired the beautiful cake from several angles. “I’m so glad you’re here, because Leo’s been a real crank this morning.”
Tessa saw a warning look pass between brother and sister before Gia flew back into the restaurant, taking the bread and the cake with her. She was almost sure those flowers were peonies clipped from the bushes growing on the side of their house. Meaning: Leo had cut flowers?
Before Tessa could ask Leo what was going on, Aunt Loretta and Uncle Cosmo walked out onto the patio.
“This is quite a surprise, Leo,” Uncle Cosmo said. “A fancy lunch, and none of us even knew.”
As they oohed and ahhed over the new patio and the beautifully set table, Tessa turned to Leo. “A surprise?” she asked. “As in, your dad has no idea?”
He turned very red. He dropped his voice. “That’s what I wanted to let you know. I tried to tell him a couple of times, but I…I don’t know. I didn’t want to give him a chance to say no, so I told him this morning. Are you angry?”
“Leo, I’m so nervous, I’m not sure.”
“Don’t be nervous. It’s going to be great. I hope. And…I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
She saw how nervous he was. And stressed. So she shrugged. “It is going to be great. I believe in you.”
She did believe in him. No matter what happened.
Loretta pinched Leo’s cheek, then clutched her chest. “My heart is fluttering with excitement. What time did you get here this morning, anyway? Never mind; don’t answer that. I can’t wait to taste everything. Just remember, your father is a bear.”
Leo hugged his aunt. “Bears kill people, Aunt Loretta.”
“He’s a big, cuddly teddy bear, underneath the big bad bear. Don’t forget that, either.”