Free Sugar Rush by Leigh Ellwood Page B

publicity. A reporter even stopped
in to inquire about an interview, and Neve held on to the woman’s business
card.
    After seeing Terri and Corky off for the day, Neve double-
then triple-checked the food inventory for Rachael’s party. She had everything
in its proper container. All she needed to do Sunday was load the catering van
and set up. Neve felt proud for managing the job on short notice with plenty of
time to spare. Turned out she hadn’t needed Terri to stay late at all.
    She checked her watch to see she had about an hour to kill
before her date with Judy. When they parted last night, they’d planned to meet
up at Little Dude’s and let the night happen from there. Neve cleaned her
workspace and washed pans, thinking of what she’d like to do with Judy instead
of drinking beer in a loud joint.
    A sharp rap on the front door jolted her from sensual images
of fondling Judy’s breasts and pussy. She looked up to see a shadowed figure
pressed against the glass, looking for signs of life. Normally Neve ignored
after-hours passersby, hoping they’d notice the sign and try again when they
were open, but the recent brouhaha with the Facebook and same-sex wedding cakes
made her think twice. For all she knew, this person wanted to ensure no
witnesses saw him or her hurl a brick through the window.
    Neve hurried to the front, ready to admonish whoever had
come to bother her, but relaxed on finding Helen, her elderly bride-to-be
friend. “I know you’re closed, but I thought I saw movement and I wanted to pay
the rest of the balance on the cake,” she said when Neve opened the door.
    “Of course, come on in. It could have waited, though.” Neve
offered Helen a seat and a free cookie with coffee. “I have some extras here.
We’re catering a party tomorrow. Let me know what you think,” she added. “I’m
not always my best critic.”
    “They certainly look delicious.” Helen took a bite and
followed that assessment with audible yummy noises. “So you cater? We should
have you do more than the cake.”
    Neve’s stomach fluttered at that. She hoped Helen and her
fiancée hadn’t encountered more problems planning their reception. “It’s not
too late to schedule if you need the food,” she said, “but let me know ASAP so
I can get it on the calendar.”
    Helen nodded. “I will. It was going to be a simple
affair—family and close friends. This whole Facebook thing has gotten us so
much attention, though. Newspapers and websites are calling us now.” She
chuckled. “I never thought I’d have to dodge the paparazzi at my age.”
    “The press is all good, I hope? Weddings are stressful
enough, you don’t need people raining on your parade—”
    “Oh we’re fine.” Helen waved away the concern. “I didn’t
mean to make the fuss sound bigger than it actually is. I wanted to apologize
too, if our cake order caused you any trouble.”
    “No trouble at all. I love baking wedding cakes, and I
promise you and Maggie will have a multi-layered masterpiece on your day.” Neve
gladly took the envelope with payment from Helen. “Give me a sec and I’ll get
you a receipt.”
    They passed the brief time with small talk—Helen chatted
about their planned honeymoon with a gay and lesbian cruise line, while Neve
let the conversation give her ideas. Terri and Corky had nagged her about
taking a vacation from Sugar Rush. In all the years she’d run the place, she’d
never taken time off, beyond the major holidays when she closed. A week away on
a cruise to a tropical locale appealed to her, though the idea of going alone
did not.
    She trusted Terri and Corky to hold down the fort, so why
not consider a trip now? She’d definitely earned it, and perhaps Judy could
take time off for a four-day weekend sail.
    Wow. One evening of hot sex with a gorgeous pixie of
a girl, and she wanted the romantic getaway already? Surely if she brought it
up, Judy might freak out and want to put a little distance between