The old building was impeccably maintained on a quiet street that had a mix of old brick town houses with quaint storefronts at each corner. As he walked to the door, he stared through the wide plate-glass windows to a display filled with cakes of all shapes and sizes. Rafe paused. When Keely had told him she made cakes, he'd had something a little more ordinary in mind. But the samples in the windows were works of art, sculptures made of cake and frosting and a wild imagination. Keely's imagination.
He straightened his tie, then reached out to grab the front door. He hadn't bothered to call to let Keely know he was coming. Over the past week, they hadn't had a chance to see each other, though they had managed a nightly phone call and some pretty amazing phone sex. Rafe smiled to himself. Though having sex over the phone had been exciting at first, it really didn't compare to having Keely in his arms, to looking at her and kissing her and touching her at will. So he'd decided on a surprise.
He'd had Sylvie call for him under the guise of a bride wanting to discuss her wedding cake. Then he'd rented a suite at the Plaza as part of his plan to spirit Keely away from work for lunch, an afternoon of shopping and an evening of real passion, without a phone line between them.
A bell above the door rang as he stepped inside. The front part of the bakery served as a showroom, with narrow mouldings on each wall holding photo after photo of increasingly elaborate cakes. He studied a photo of a brightly colored cake that resembled a Hawaiian shirt. The next photo showed a cake decorated with tiny little fruits cascading over each tier.
'That's one of our marzipan designs.'
Rafe turned to find an older woman standing a few feet away. 'It's beautiful,' he said. 'But where do you find fruit that small?'
'It's not real fruit,' she said. 'It's marzipan, modeled and colored to look like real fruit.'
'Marzipan?'
'Almond paste. Everything on that cake is edible and very delicious.' She held out her hand. 'I'm Fiona McClain. How can I help you?'
Keely's mother, Rafe mused as he shook her hand. He'd known that Keely resembled her brothers, but there was a fair amount of Fiona McClain in her as well, in the delicate nose and the warm smile. He hadn't thought he'd get a chance to meet Fiona on this trip, but now that he had, he was going to take advantage of it. 'I want to order a cake.'
'And what kind of cake would you like to order?'
'A wedding cake?'
Fiona laughed. 'You speak as if you're not sure. Perhaps your bride should be here to help make choices?'
'I'm afraid that won't be possible. At least not on this trip. Maybe you can show me a few things?'
'Well, my daughter, Keely, designs all of our cakes and every cake is a one-of-a-kind creation. She likes to meet the customers and discuss their ideas.'
'Is she around?'
Fiona shook her head. 'She just stepped out for a few minutes, but she should be back soon. Maybe I could get some information from you first? It would help to know what you have in mind for the wedding.'
'How much does a cake like this cost?' Rafe asked, pointing to a multitiered confection that seemed to be draped in layers of lace.
'We do cakes for all budgets.' She pulled out a photo album and flipped through it. 'That cake was ten thousand dollars. And this one was eight thousand.'
Rafe gasped. 'For a cake?'
'It all depends on the size and complexity. You must think of the wedding cake much like the wedding gown,' she explained. 'The gown is the focal point of the ceremony and the cake is the centerpiece of the reception. There will only be one gown and one cake for that one special day. So it must be the best. We often suggest to the bride that she spend as much on her cake as she spends on her gown. Now, when is the wedding?'
'Well, we don't exactly have a date yet,' Rafe said.
Fiona frowned. 'We can't put you on the schedule unless we have a date. And we do get booked very quickly. Right now we're booking clients for at least a year from now.'
'Really?'
'Are you sure you're ready to choose a cake?'
'Actually, you're right. I didn't come here to pick out a cake. I just wanted to meet you.'
Fiona blinked in surprise. 'Me?'
'My name is Rafe Kendrick and I'm in love with your daughter and I plan to marry her. So I guess you'll have to ask her about the date.'
Keely's mother frowned. 'I-I don't understand. Do you even know my daughter?'
'Don't worry-I'm not a stalker,' Rafe assured her. 'We met in Boston. I'm Sam Kendrick's son. I think you may have known him, or perhaps my mother, Lila. Sam worked on Seamus Quinn's boat once.'
Fiona frowned. 'Seamus was just questioned by the authorities about your father's death and now you show up-'
'It's a very long and complicated story that Keely and I are just sorting out ourselves. We met before she knew who I was and I knew who she was. Needless to say, her father and brothers aren't too keen on me marrying her. I was hoping I might have your support. Keely and I haven't known each other for long, but I do love her. And I know she loves me.'
'And you want my permission to marry my daughter?' She shook her head, stunned by his revelations. 'I'm not sure I can give that to you, Mr. Kendrick. I don't know you. My daughter has never even mentioned you. And I don't think I can give you my blessing under those circumstances.'
'I'm a good catch,' Rafe said. 'I own my own company. I don't mean to brag, but I'm wealthy. I can give Keely anything she wants, a nice house, a good life. I can make her happy.'
'Mr. Kendrick-'
'Rafe,' he insisted.
'Rafe,' she repeated. 'I understand you caused a lot of trouble for Seamus. I know him. He doesn't forgive easily. I think you'd be better off convincing him of your suitability as a husband than me. Besides, Keely would never listen to me once she has her heart set on something.'
'Then maybe you should tell her you don't approve.'
'I don't,' Fiona said. 'You two have only known each other for…what? A month?'
'Actually, more like four,' Rafe admitted. 'But sometimes four months is enough.'
'And sometimes five years isn't. My daughter has a life here and a successful business. She can't go running off to Boston.'
'I know there are a lot of things standing between us, but I'm determined to marry her.'
The bell above the door rang again and they both turned to watch Keely walk in. When she saw Rafe, she smiled, then ran up to him and threw her arms around his neck. 'What are you doing here? Why didn't you tell me you were coming?'
'I came to take you to lunch. I had my secretary call and make an appointment, so there's no turning me down. I've got reservations at five different restaurants, so you get to choose.' He turned to Fiona. 'Would you care to join us for lunch?'
Just then, Keely noticed her mother standing there. She slipped from Rafe's embrace with an embarrassed smile. 'I-I suppose I should introduce you two.'
'We've already met,' Fiona said.
'Rafe and I have been seeing each other,' Keely explained. 'We met in Boston the first night I went there, last October.'
'Is that so?'
'Ma, I know I should have told you, but there was so much going on. Rafe has asked me to marry him and I've said yes.'
'You've only known each other a very short time, Keely.'
'I know. But it's not like we're getting married tomorrow. You and I have a wedding to plan and so many decisions to make. And we can't set a date until we've designed a cake. A very special cake.'
'Keely, I can't approve of this. And I don't think your father would either, even if he didn't happen to detest your fiance.'
