Page 40 of Witchful Thinking
“I’ve photographed a lot of food. I bet your croquembouche tastes wonderful, but if it doesn’t look professional, you’re going to get dismissed. People eat with their eyes before their mouths.” Alex shrugged.
“I have to try,” Lucy said. “Last year I heard an argument broke out over Mr. Clarke’s lemon bars recipe. A few hexes were placed on one unfortunate chiffon cake. People were undermining bids and knocking over tables. I heard pixie dust got involved.”
“What? This is a literal cakewalk. Shouldn’t this be easy?” Alex raised a brow.
“Not with this crowd. You are volunteered to bake,” Lucy said. “It’s an honor. I’ve always wished to be asked, and I was.”
“I’ll forward you some recipes,” Alex said. “If you’re going to go big, have a good cream-puff recipe.”
“You’re not trying to change my mind?” Lucy asked.
“I know better than to do that,” Alex said. “Once a Caraway decides, all conversation is done.”
“Am I really that hardheaded?”
“No, you’re just that determined. If you need a taste tester, I’m available,” Alex said. “My mouth is at your service.”
Lucy forced herself not to leap at his offer. She’d love to put his mouth to work if he was willing. “Good to know.”
“Also, I’m still your date for the wedding.”
“It’s not too late to back out.”
“Are you kidding me? I can’t pass up the chance to do the Cupid Shuffle and the Electric Slide.” Alex did a few dance moves on the boardwalk, throwing in a few hip thrusts for good measure. Lucy laughed.
“I’ll make sure to RSVP for both of us. Are you going to the alumni reunion?”
Alex slowed his steps. “I probably won’t. I don’t have a good reason to go. I follow half our classmates online, so I don’t see the point in seeing them in person.”
“Rethink the old you and introduce the new,” Lucy said.
“Is that a special Caraway incantation?” Alex asked playfully.
“No, it’s a helpful mantra from my monthly therapy group. I’m pretty much the same person, but I’m still going,” Lucy said. Alex gave her a questioning glance. “I don’t know. Maybe I need to be reminded of who I used to be.” She wanted to go back to a time when she was braver and took more chances.
“Nostalgia is one hell of a drug,” Alex said.
“True. I think this whole email thing got me thinking about the last ten years,” Lucy said wistfully. “I should’ve done more. I should be better.”
Alex stopped. He peered at her. “What’s better than who you are now?”
Lucy studied him. Drops of moisture clung to his forehead and his hair curled. His outfit clung to his sturdy frame. She absentmindedly stroked her arm. The mere sight of him made her long for Sunday-morning breakfasts and cozy conversations over tea. He was a man who, with a single lifted brow, caused waves to jump, and with a smile, sent women trembling with want. Desire zipped down her spine and lodged in her core, where it throbbed. How she throbbed. She dug her nails into her palms. She wanted to reach up, bury her nose in the crook of his neck, and nip the salt from him. How was she going to survive the wedding without wanting to climb him like a tree? If she was able to hold out for that long. She might end up dragging him into her bed by the Fourth of July. There would be more than just fireworks going off if she had her way.
Alex looked her over. “What’s on your mind?”
Lucy mentally shoved those freaky thoughts away for another day. “Nothing much. I was thinking about the wedding.”
“I didn’t even ask who’s getting married.”
“My cousin Ursula’s getting hitched.”
Alex stopped. He turned to Lucy. “Wait. The same Ursula who threatened to hex me with chunky glitter is getting married.”
“Hold up. When and why did she threaten you?” Lucy asked. Nana had a strict rule about hexing people. You didn’t hex or harm anyone because that negative energy just might come back on you.
“She wanted to make sure that I didn’t get too friendly with you at prom,” Alex said. “I guess my reputation worried her.”
“I didn’t know. I’m sorry, she shouldn’t have done that.”