Chapter 30

Trying to do damage control before I even broke the news about Fiona to the St. Clairs, I was desperately trying to find a baker to replace her. As I'd expected though, everyone I called was already booked for that weekend and I wasn't willing to take a gamble by using someone I'd never worked with before.

In a last-ditch effort to save face—and possibly the wedding—I finally called Molly. Another old friend of mine, Molly had become a professional baker but she lived in Seattle now. She'd been in my sorority at college and we hadn't spoken for a while, but I knew she'd try to help if she could.

Molly had been an incredible cook even as a junior in college when I'd been a freshman. She'd spent almost all of her free time in our kitchen and we'd never run out of fresh treats and incredible meals until she'd graduated.

Julie had kept in touch with her more than I had, especially after I'd gotten involved with Ethan, but I followed her pages on social media and I knew she'd given up a career in marketing to start a bakery a couple years ago. It was a long shot, but if it paid off, getting her really would be first prize.

Holding my breath as I made the call, I chatted to her, catching up for a few minutes before I finally came out with it. "Is there any chance that you're available for a wedding on Mother's Day weekend? Cost really isn't an issue with this client and we're willing to pay top dollar. Plus, I know this client will love you."

"So Fiona isn't doing Diana St. Clair's wedding cake anymore?" She giggled at my stunned silence. "We have papers and entertainment news here too, my friend."

I sighed, then groaned. "Of course. You know all about what's been going on here, then?"

"I sure do," she said happily. "It's like reading a soap opera to have Google alerts set up for you, Halverson. I swear, most days, I envy you but then I try to imagine what it must be like to be stuck in the middle of it all and I just want to hug you."

I chuckled. "Instead of hugging me, can you hook me up with a wedding cake instead?"

"As it happens, I can," she said. "It'll be great exposure for me and I don't have anything else going on that weekend just yet, but you should come out here and see the shop before you hire me. We can set up some samples for you to see what Diana would like and take it from there?"

Dizzying relief swept through me as I took what felt like my first real breath in days. "Absolutely. We'll get out there as soon as we can. I'll let you know the arrangements as soon as I make them, but I'll drag Julie with me. It'll double as a catch-up visit."

"I look forward to it," she said warmly. "Keep me up to date, superstar. I'll talk to you later."

I laughed as I set down the phone. Then I went to track down our other friend. Julie's face scrunched up when I told her the plan, though. "I can't go. I'm sorry, Serenity, but I've got that big meeting coming up with the Rickerds. They're the first couple I've brought in myself and I really want to impress them. I know they're not the St. Clairs, but they're a pretty important couple themselves, and besides, you should really be bringing Dash along."

"What? Why?" I asked. "He's not a girl. This could be a great girls' trip."

She smirked. "Stop pretending you want it to be a girls' trip. You know you'll have fun with Dash, and more importantly, he's handling all his mother's affairs with the wedding. He's who you want at your side and he's also who you should have there."

Not admitting it out loud, I knew she was right. Without needing to be told twice, I spun around and walked back to my office, then shut the door behind me and called him. The paparazzi wouldn't really be such an issue at all in Seattle, and even if we were pictured together, we had legitimate wedding business to attend to.

"Hey, you," he said softly when he picked up. "What's going on? We weren't supposed to meet today, were we?"

"Nope, but I was wondering if you'd like to come to Seattle with me," I said, a smile I couldn't help forming on my lips. "The baker I had lined up for the wedding broke her arms, but I have a friend in Seattle who's amazing and she's available, so…"

As I trailed off, he chuckled. "Cake tasting in Seattle? With you? Count me in."

"I'll book flights and?—"

"I'll take care of it. Don't worry." He paused for a beat. "I can have the jet ready to leave first thing tomorrow morning. Is that soon enough?"

"Yes," I whispered, too excited to speak properly for fear that I'd lose control of my volume. Clearing my throat, I took a deep breath and pressed my free hand to my racing heart. "I'll take care of our accommodations, then. I'll get us a couple rooms at a nice hotel and we can stay the night?"

"A couple rooms?" he asked uncharacteristically playfully. "Why? How will we sleep together if we're in separate rooms?"

I laughed, going with it and feeling happy for the first time in a long time. "Okay, then. One room it is."

"I can't wait," he murmured before he said goodbye, and as I hung up, I had to admit that I couldn't wait either.

It was only one night, but it was going to feel like an eternity. Bubbles of joy and excitement floated through my veins when it started sinking in that I was about to get away with him. Just Dash St. Clair and me, on a private jet and sharing a hotel room far away from the chaos and prying eyes in Los Angeles.

Now that was my idea of co-ed living with a man in a remote location. Marvin Cook could go suck an egg. This was the only dating adventure I was interested in having, and it was even better that there wouldn't be any cameras around to see it.