Love Takes the Cake Read Online Free Page B

long enough to lock gazes with her daughter across the room. Used to the drill, Zoe stared back, wide-eyed, open, honest. Sincere.
    Eyes didn’t lie.
    â€œOkay, you may have just one.”
    â€œChocolate chip?”
    Charlotte smiled. “What else? It’s your favorite.”
    Zoe scrambled out of her seat and hurried to claim her prize. Charlotte snagged a chocolate-chip cookie from the top rack and handed it over the counter to her.
    â€œJulie! This cake’s ready for the van.” Charlotte tucked the corners of the lid inside the turquoise folds of the box, trying not to think about her to-do list. Normally, she loved lists. She was almost addicted to the rush that came with productivity and accomplishment, the thrill that came with checking off a completed item. She’d even taught Zoe the principle, and was constantly finding pink sticky notes that read Potty and Play with dolls stuck around their apartment.
    But next on her list was meeting with one Will Martin, and—well, that was going to complicate her afternoon, not streamline it.
    â€œMommy?” Zoe said, more persistent this time as her heels kicked against the chair legs. “I’m bored.”
    Of course she was. Charlotte wrestled the last corner fold into the box. “Your books are in the kitchen, sweetie.”
    â€œWhich ones?” Zoe twisted a blonde braid around one finger and narrowed her eyes.
    Charlotte wracked her brain to remember which ones she had grabbed on the way out the door, but she couldn’t concentrate. Could barely remember her own name, much less story titles. “Um. If You Give a Moose a Muffin , I think.”
    Zoe made a face. “I’ve read that one three times.”
    â€œThe two dozen cupcakes for the Lopez birthday party are out of the oven and cooling.” Julie came from the kitchen, cupcake batter smeared across the front of her apron, and tucked a stray strand of red hair behind her ear. “These cakes go to the Sinclair wedding, right?”
    â€œYes, and those too. It’s a three layer.” Charlotte pointed to the other two boxes awaiting delivery on the counter behind them. “Keys should be on the ring by the back door.”
    â€œMommy? What other books are there?”
    Charlotte closed her eyes. “Zoe. I don’t know, honey. Goodnight Moon ?”
    â€œThat’s a baby book.”
    â€œTwo steps ahead of you, Boss.” Julie jingled the keys in her hand. “Why aren’t you taking these, by the way? Normally you like to be the Cake Naz—I mean, you like to set up layered cakes yourself.”
    Charlotte wrinkled her nose at her friend. “I’ve told you not to call me Boss.” Julie was teasing, of course, about the Cake Nazi. She just liked things to be under control. Simple—no messes. And she couldn’t guarantee perfection if she wasn’t there to oversee it for herself.
    But today . . .
    â€œRemember? I have a three o’clock consultation.” She tried to keep her voice even, but despite the effort, her voice rose half an octave. Why was she so nervous? Will Martin didn’t have the potential to be anything more than a temporary client. She’d met his pretty-boy type before, plenty of times, and had no intention of going down that road again. What she needed was stability. Commitment. A man of honor and loyalty, who kept his promises.
    Unfortunately, most of those men didn’t come in Will-size packages—at least not in Charlotte’s experience. She needed a small, contained bonfire. Smoldering sparks in a fire pit. Will was more like a Colorado wildfire—and she’d been burned enough.
    This time, she refused to let Zoe get caught in the smoke.
    Julie frowned in confusion. “Wait. Is this the consultation for that Bridezilla who is making her best man choose the cake?”
    â€œYes.” Charlotte cleared her throat.
    Julie put her hands on her hips, keys