No Matter What (The Billionaires of Sawgrass #4) - Delaney Cameron Page 0,1
if she was right.
* * * * *
Robin placed the hammered gold cake server set next to the wedding cake she’d spent the last hour setting up. Then she reached for her phone to record the result. This job had been her most ambitious yet: six hexagon-shaped layers (each one a different flavor and filling), intricate scrollwork and piping, gold-foil accents, and two dozen cascading sugar orchids.
Behind her, she heard the door of the banquet room open and close. She hoped it was the person who’d be cutting the cake at the reception. When she looked over her shoulder, she sighed inwardly. The person walking in her direction didn’t fit that definition. Sunglasses rested in the man’s spiked hair. A dark suit hugged his broad shoulders and called attention to his muscular physique. His bold stare appraised her with the air of a connoisseur. A Hollywood-worthy smile sat on his lips.
His sex appeal wasn’t in doubt to himself or anyone else. Robin was less than impressed.
Mr. Wonderful came to a stop in front of her. “My cousin is taking care of a problem with my sister’s dress. She sent me in her place. If I’d known cake decorators looked like you, I wouldn’t have taken my time getting over here.”
His last remark only confirmed her initial impression. Guys like this were all glitter with no substance underneath. She removed the folded piece of paper from the pocket of her blue monogrammed smock. “I just need someone to sign the release form.”
He made no move to take it from her. “You need a release form for a wedding cake? I didn’t realize cakes were so dangerous.”
Cakes weren’t, but he thought he was. “The release form protects me in the event something happens to the cake after I leave.”
“I’m not sure I can handle so much responsibility.”
She held on to her fast-evaporating patience. “This isn’t a stack of gold bars we’re talking about.”
Mr. Wonderful flicked a nonexistent piece of lint from his coat sleeve. “What happens if I don’t sign the form?”
“Then I’ll have to wait for your cousin.”
His practiced smile widened. “I’ve got no problem with that. It’ll give us more time to get acquainted.”
She already knew more about him than she wanted. “Are you always this uncooperative?”
He stepped closer, invading her personal space as if by right. “Yes, but there’s more incentive today. I get to talk to a beautiful girl while I’m doing it.”
He wasn’t the first guy to flirt with her, but it had never happened on a job before. That meant she had to be diplomatic. She couldn’t afford to offend the relative of a client no matter how badly she was tempted to take him down a few notches. Word of mouth went a long way in the wedding industry. She was preparing a polite, but damping reply when someone beat her to it.
“That’s not what I asked you to do, Hollis.”
He chuckled, not at all embarrassed by the situation. “I was making a new friend.”
“Do it on your own time,” the woman said, dismissing him with a wave of her hand and turning to smile at Robin. “Sorry about that. I thought he’d behave for once. I should have known better. Anyway, I’m Judith Davies, and you must be Robin.” Her glance shifted to the cake. “It looks fabulous! Now I know why you come so highly recommended.”
Praise like that never went unappreciated. “Thank you. Have you disassembled a wedding cake before?”
Judith laughed. “Many times.”
“Then I won’t bore you with my ten minute tutorial. Just a reminder: the top layer is foam. The real one is in the freezer at my shop. I was told someone would come by to pick it up.”
“I’ll be doing that on Monday.”
“Great.” She held out the piece of paper. “If you’ll sign the release form, I’ll be on my way.”
Five minutes later Robin was on the sidewalk leading to the parking lot. Her glance rose to the sky. The gray clouds from earlier had scattered, leaving behind a wide expanse of blue. This was more fitting for the first day of spring and the unofficial start of the busy bridal season.
As she approached the pastel blue and white delivery van, she noticed Hollis a.k.a. Mr. Wonderful leaning against the hood of a low-slung sports car. In the short time since his departure from the banquet room, he’d collected an audience of three females who appeared to be hanging on his every word. When he looked up suddenly and met