eyes an even deeper green. She’d pulled her long red hair back into a sleek ponytail that he would guess was easy and wedding-appropriate yet gave her a sexy-librarian air. Even her low-heeled shoes were oddly appealing and he had no idea why.
But while he was having all kinds of inappropriate thoughts, she barely acknowledged him, instead focusing on Silver.
“Catering is good to go. The cake is delayed. They’re claiming traffic, but I have my doubts. The baker is in Orange County. Once they clear Palm Desert, there’s nothing between them and Happily Inc but a few jackrabbits. I think they got a late start.”
Silver winced. “How late?”
“We’re hoping they arrive during the ceremony.” Renee pointed to the waiting table with small plates, a large carving knife and no cake. “The design is supposed to be simple so they say setup will be less than thirty minutes, but that still means they’re setting up during the reception.”
Renee drew in a breath. “The alternative is to have them work in a private room, then carry the completed cake out during the reception.”
“That could go very badly,” Jasper said, picturing a towering wedding cake falling to the ground.
“Tell me about it,” she said. “I explained to Stacey that a Friday delivery was preferable but she was afraid something would happen to it in the night. As if we haven’t kept hundreds of wedding cakes safe before.”
“If the cake people need help carrying anything, I’m available,” he told her.
She flashed him a quick smile. “Thanks.” She looked back at Silver. “Please tell me you’re in good shape.”
“I’m in great shape. I’m about to start mixing up the appletinis. The kegs are set up and ready to go. My staff will arrive in the next fifteen minutes and I have extra help from Jasper. Go back to your wedding.”
“Thanks. I can always count on you.” She looked at the empty cake table. “Stacey is going to have to decide what she wants to do about the tardy cake.”
With that, she turned and went into the building. Jasper watched her go.
“Does that happen a lot?” he asked. “Things being late?”
“There is always a disaster somewhere,” Silver said cheerfully. “The key is good planning so whatever it is, it’s mitigated. A few years back we were all robbed at gunpoint.” She chuckled. “Turned out it was only a flare gun, but still. Scary in the moment. Oh, and another time there were zebras that got loose.”
They reached her trailer.
“Want to learn how to make great appletinis?” she asked.
“Sure.”
“Good answer. Some people go straight for the apple-flavored vodka, but I think that’s cheating. Mine use regular vodka, lemon juice, apple liqueur, apple juice and simple syrup. More work for me but a better product for the client. And as you know, it’s all about the bride and groom.”
* * *
NEARLY THREE HOURS later Jasper stood holding a surprisingly heavy tray, waiting for guests to walk out of the ceremony. Across the reception area, the cake people were frantically setting up a three-tiered cake frosted in pale green and decorated with flowers and small crab apples. He only knew they were crab apples because Silver had told him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had a clue.
The doors to the main building opened and people flowed out—most of them heading for him. He held his tray steady and murmured, “Appletini?” as they grabbed glasses.
“Got anything else?” a tall older man asked, glaring at the green drink.
“Beer over by the bar.”
“Thank God.” The man looked at the woman next to him. “Can you believe it?”
“It was a little upsetting,” she said, taking an appletini and finishing nearly half of it in a single swallow.
Seconds later, Jasper’s tray was empty. He set it down but before he could pick up the second one he had ready, the guests swarmed around and emptied it, as well.
Sixty drinks in less than a minute, he thought, a little stunned by the realization that Silver hadn’t been kidding about the post-ceremony rush.
Fortunately she and her team already had two more trays ready. Jasper stepped in to help at the second keg and quickly filled glasses, all the while listening to murmurs of outrage. Obviously something had happened, but he had no idea what.
When the initial drink rush was over, Silver set him to work mixing more drinks. Renee hurried over to check on them.
“We’re good,” Silver told her. “No problems here. What happened during the ceremony? Everyone’s talking about something.”
Renee winced. “The officiant was a friend