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Verne makes the best pastries in town, everyone knows it. She runs the local bakery in Stoney Creek.
My eyes go wide as I try to hide my amusement. “What the heck?”
“So I backpedaled and said that your mom was making the cake, and she could still make the cupcakes with the pink frosting. I thought she was going to shoot lasers from her eyeballs.”
I chuckle. “So effectively our daughter’s having two cakes?”
She winces. “I know. I just didn’t want to make waves. Verne has always made those pretty pink butterfly cupcakes, but when your mom asked to do Blake’s birthday cake, I couldn’t really say no.”
That’s Eden, always trying to keep the peace. “So she’ll have two cakes. It’ll be fine.”
Eden chews on her lip. It’s a cute habit she never grew out of. “It’ll be sugar overload since Georgia is in charge of stuffing the party bags, but they’ll burn it off running around the farm.”
“God help us.” We stand outside for a few seconds as I palm the back of my neck.
“Okay, so we’re done here?” Eden says. “I’ve gotta go see what destruction Daisy and Noodle may have caused.”
I chuckle. The pair of them together is amusing. Noodle will be the ringleader for sure. “Oh, I’m sure they’ve torn the house up already. At least Noodle can’t be blamed for chewing furniture.” That part is true enough, but I know Daisy has a fetish for Gabe’s expensive shoes and heaven help if any socks are left lying around.
I want to ask her if Kirk will likely RSVP to the invitation, not that I can really say no to him coming. I mean, she made out he would be there and I don’t want to look like a douchebag. It isn’t like my daughter is gonna start calling him Dad anytime ever. But I meant what I said; I’m protective of my girls. I want to be sure Eden is making the right choices and not getting her hopes up if this guy lives in another state. All the same, Blake is still young and I don’t want her to be confused. I’ve never had a woman over when she’s been around; I save that for the week she’s not with me. It would be irresponsible. And though she’s almost eleven, I still think meeting Kirk is premature if they’re only recently dating.
I wonder if they’ve slept together.
My blood runs cold at the thought of him touching her.
“…in the next few days, then we can see how the plans are going…” Eden continues, but I’m not paying attention.
I’m imagining someone else in her bed. Her calling his name, instead of mine.
“… I’m sure with all the family together we can get it done in time…”
Eden laughing at one of his jokes… Him making her smile…
“… I can’t imagine the tables would weigh very much, but having Beau and Callan there would be helpful…”
My mood sours when I think about them in the barn. In our spot. The place where our love blossomed. It’s sacred. And I know it’s stupid of me to think that. There’s no way she’d take him there, it’s on our property anyway.
All of a sudden, she’s waving a hand in my face. “Yoo hoo, earth to Brooklyn?”
I snap out of it and my eyes flick to hers.
Amusement plays up her adorable smile. “You always were hard to pin down with your attention span.”
I grimace. “Sorry. I’ve got a lot going on. My meeting with the family is later today… the new concept I was telling you about a while ago.”
Her lips part. “Not the new bourbon range you were talking about?”
I smile proudly. “Yep. Moonshine, as I’ve been affectionately calling it. I have to get the go-ahead from everyone. Gray’s in, of course, but convincing Gabe and Dad… let’s just say they’re cut from the same cloth.”
She rests a hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “You have amazing ideas. Just remember they’re both set in their ways, so it’s nothing personal. Your dad’s old school and Gabe isn’t always open to trying things a new way.”
“Tell me about it,” I mutter. “Gabe has come around a little ever since Skye came along. She’s mellowed him, which he needed. He has a goddamn stick up his ass half the time.”
I love my brother, but he’s a hard man in business. A lot like Gray, but at least Gray knew when to give it away. He’s still involved but has taken a step back to build his house and work on our exports.
Eden laughs. “He’s very passionate about what he does, like you are.”
“Yes, but I don’t go around yelling at everyone like he does. You call it passion, I call it being a hotheaded bull.”
