Looks like you need help, said a rumbling baritone from behind her.
Could the morning get any worse?
Oh no, Im fine, Ava said.
Fine, huh? Arent those your car keys inside the car?
I believe so.
Brice studied her for a moment. Hey, its no big deal. This kind of thing happens, right? Tender feelings came to life and he couldnt seem to stop them. Maybe Avas keys getting locked inside the car was providential. Just like the fact that he was here to help at just the right moment.
Let me help. Itll just take a minute, and then you can be on your way, he added.
Why was her every sense attuned to this man? Ava felt his presence like the bright radiant sun on her back, almost as if she was interested in him. But of course, she couldnt be. And she especially couldnt be falling in love with Brice Donovan.
JILLIAN HART
makes her home in Washington State, where she has lived most of her life. When Jillian is not hard at work on her next story, she loves to read, go to lunch with her friends and spend quiet evenings with her family.
Every Kind of Heaven
Jillian Hart
www.millsandboon.co.uk
I consider that our present sufferings
are not worth comparing with the glory
that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Epilogue
Letter to Reader
Questions for Discussion
Chapter One
Baker Ava McKaslin stopped humming as she stepped back from the worktable to inspect the wedding cake. Her footsteps echoed in the industrial kitchen, nearly empty except for a few basicsthe sink, countertops and the few pieces of equipment shed managed to buy off the previous tenant. Theyd considered it too cumbersome and expensive to move the industrial oven and fridge, which was just her luck.
She might not have the bakery of her dreams yet, God willing, but it was a start. Besides, her cake was spectacular, if she did say so herself.
But what was with all the silence? She cut a look to the long stretch of metal counter behind her. The CD had come to an end. Shed probably forgotten to hit Repeat again. Okay, she forgot most things most of the time. Since her hands were all frosting coated, she hit the Play button with her elbow. The first beats of percussion got her right back into the creative mode. Although some people found it hard to think with bass blasting from her portable boom box, she thought it helped her brain cells to fireor synapseor do whatever brain cells did.
As the Christian music pulsed with an upbeat rhythm, she went back to work on the top tier. The delicate scrollwork took patience, not to mention stamina. Her wrist and arms were killing her, since shed been at this for six hours straight. Ah, the price of being a baker. She ignored the burn in her exhausted muscles. Pain, that didnt matter. What mattered was not failing.
Before shed bought this place, shed been unofficially in business by using her oldest sister Katherines snazzy kitchen off and on for a few months. This was her very first wedding cake in her own bakery. How great was that? And it was actually going wella total shocker. So far there were no disasters. No kitchen fires. No last-minute cancellation of the wedding. It was almost as if this business venture of hers was meant to be.
Maybe she hadnt made a disastrous mistake by jumping into this entrepreneurial thing with both feet. And, best of all, the remodeling contractor would start work soon transforming this drab commercial space into a cheerful bakery shop in less than a couple of weeks. That was another reason why she was in such a great mood.
Hello? a mans voicea strangers voiceyelled over the booming music.
She screamed. The spatula slipped from her grip. What was a man doing in her kitchen? A man shed never seen before. Her brain scrambled and her body refused to move. She could only gape at him in wide-eyed horror.
Oh, no. What if he was the backdoor burglar? The thief that had been breaking into the back doors of restaurants and assaulting and stealing? What if this dude was him?
It would be smart to call 9-1-1, but she had no idea where her cell was. There was no business phone installed yet. Even if she did have her cell or a working landline, it wouldnt matter since she was paralyzed in place.
Uhuh That was the best speech she could manage? Get it together, Ava. Youre about to be robbed. Ive seen your face, so I can identify you in a lineup.
The burglar stared at her. Wow, he was really handsome. And he looked startled. His strong, chiseled jaw was clenched tight in, perhaps, fury and his striking dark eyes glittered with viciousnessor maybe that was humor. The left corner of his mouth quirked up as if he were holding back a grin.
Great, she had to get an easily amused thief.
Ive got two bucks in my purse. Thats it, buddy. Theres not another cent on the premises. Youve picked the wrong place to rob. So t-t-turn around r-right now and go away. Go on. Shoo.
There, that ought to scare him off or confuse him. She really didnt care which. Adrenalineor maybe it was terrorstarted to spill like ice into her veins.
Go ahead, call the cops. He called her bluff, crossing his arms over his wide chest. He had the audacity to lean one big shoulder against the doorframe, as if he had all the time in the world. He looked more like a movie star than a criminal. Explain to the police how you left the front door unlocked.
No, I Wait, she did forget to lock stuff. And if hed come in the front door, then he wasnt the backdoor thief. Maybe. Unless hed changed his M.O. and was that very likely? She didnt think so. I did leave the door unlocked, didnt I?
Anyone could walk right in. Even the backdoor burglar. Thats who you thought I was, right?
Okay, her mind was starting to unscramble. He didnt look like any criminal shed seen on TV. To make matters worse, he looked better than any man shed seen on TV. He was handsome to a fault. His thick black hair fell with disregard for convention over his collar. He wore a short-sleeve polo shirtblackwith the little expensive insignia. His clothesincluding his baggy khaki shorts and exclusive manly leather sandalswere top of the line. Expensive.
It was likely that the backdoor thief didnt dress like that or have such a perfect smile. She hit Pause on the boom box. Okay, I feel dumb now. What were you doing surprising me like that? You just cant go walking into any place you want.
Im looking for you, Ava McKaslin. His grin broadened enough to show off a double set of dimples.
Oops. This must be about business, and mistaking a potential customer for a burglar was so not professional. Youve come with a cake order, havent you, and after meeting me, youve changed your mind.
No, but its tempting. The sets of dimples dug deeper as his grin widened. Ive been sent to check on the cake.
Chloes cake? Oh, no. That cant be good. Suddenly her great mood tumbled. Has she called off her wedding?
Nope.
Changed her mind and eloped?
Not to my knowledge.
Has she gone with another baker and forgot to tell me? Has she postponed the wedding?
Let me guess. Youre more of a glass-is-half-empty kind of girl, arent you?
Hey, disasters happen. Im a realist.
Ava knelt to retrieve the spatula. She tossed it into the sink and washed her hands, turning her back to the guy. He wasnt a burglar. Shed leapt to a wrong conclusion, but his being a thief might be better because hed come with bad news. She knew, although he had yet to admit it, that hed come to cancel the first cake shed made in her bakery.
Total doom.
She grabbed a paper towel to dry her hands. Tell Chloe I appreciate that she went with me, even if it didnt work out. Is she all right?
I hope so, since shes getting married tomorrow.
The weddings still on?
Sure it is.
She was as cute as he remembered. Brice Donovan took a step closer, trying to act like he wasnt stunned. Hed never met any woman who looked so funny and gorgeous all in the same moment. It was the eyes. Those big violet-blue eyes filled with one hundred percent vibrant emotion. They radiated such heart and spirit that he was sucked right in, like being caught in the vortex of a black hole.
It ought to be terrifying, but he didnt mind it so much. He was glad to see her again. She didnt seem to remember seeing him at Chloes wedding shower, considering shed mistaken him for a burglar. But he sure remembered her. How could he not? She was unforgettable.
And absolutely adorable. Not that he could see much of her; she was standing behind the most unusual cake hed ever seen. One large heart-shaped layer was stacked off-center on another, and another over that. Satin-textured, smooth ivory frosting adorned with amazing gold lace and ribbons of some kind of frosting, and colorful sugar flowers everywhere.
Unlike her cake, the designer wasnt as perfectly arranged. She had globs of icing all over her. A streak on her cheek, a dried crown of it in her light blond hair, which was neatly tied back, and a blob just above the tip of her cute little nose.
When hed agreed to check on the cakes progress for his sister, hed thought the address was familiar. He knew why the instant hed pulled into the lot. His construction company had won the bid for renovationstarting next week. The moment hed spotted the shops proprietor hard at work, hed known why Chloe had sent him. She was meddlesome, but then a guy had to tolerate that from his baby sister. Not that he wasnt grateful.
Over the past year, hed noticed Ava McKaslin around town a couple of times. They didnt belong to the same social circle or church, and didnt live in the same parts of town, so hed never had an opportunity to talk to her before. There was something about her that always made him smile. Just like he was doing now.
Ive been sent to make sure the cake is on schedule. He stalked forward, wanting to get closer to that smile of hers. It looks on schedule to me.
Ill need thirty minutes tops, and then its done. Chloe doesnt have to worry about a thing. Ill deliver it bright and early at the country club, just as I promised, no sweat.
Shell be thrilled. He splayed both hands on the table and leaned toward her, drawn by those eyes, by everything.
Up close, there was nothing artificial about her. She was radiant. She had a fresh-faced complexion and dazzling beauty, sure, but she was unique. She was like the light refracting off a flawless diamond. Hers was a brilliance that was impossible to touch or to capture.
Hed really like to get to know her. You said youve got thirty minutes until youre done?
I promise. You and Chloe have nothing to worry about. Your wedding cake will be perfect. Ava crossed her heart like a girl scout, as cute as a button.
Captivated, Brice felt blinded in a way hed never been before. He definitely would like to see what this violet-eyed, flawless Ava was really like. He took in the little gold cross at her throat and the sweet way she looked. What was such a good, amazing woman doing single?
She scooped a short spatula into a stainless steel bowl, fluffy with snow-white frosting. Did you want to come back when Im done?
Id rather stay, if you dont mind.
Stay? You dont want to do that. Youd be bored.
I doubt that. I could watch you work. Ive never seen anything like this. Its beautiful, the work you do. He took a breath. Gathered his courage. If you dont mind, when youre done, we could talk, just you and me.
Ava stared over the top frills of the cake. She blinked hard, as if she were trying to bring him into focus. Or make sense of what he was saying. Talk?
Sure. Weve met before, dont you remember? Maybe we can go down the street for a cup of coffee. Get to know each other better.
What? The spatula dropped from her supple artists fingers and clattered on the metal tabletop. You want to get to know me better?
Uh-oh. She didnt look happy about that. Hed never had that reaction from a woman before. Okay, maybe hed jumped the gun. Do you have a boyfriend? I should have asked first. I noticed you werent wearing a wedding ring and I assumed
She cut him off, circling around the table like a five-star army general. You assumed? Whats wrong with you?
He couldnt believe how mad she looked. Hey, what did I do? I just wanted to talk.
Talk? Oh, is that what men like you call it? You need to get some morals.
Well, at least she was a lady with serious principles. He liked that. He respected Avas inner fiber. It was a little passionate, but he liked that, too. He held up both hands, a show of surrender. Hey, I didnt know you were attached. Why wouldnt you be? Look at you. Of course you have a boyfriend. He probably worships at your feet.
No I dont have a boyfriend, but what about you and Chloe? Youre getting married! You should leave. Go.
Normally, he might take offense at her dismissal, but he didnt seem to mind.
No boyfriend, huh? Okay, call him interested. No, call him dazzled, thats what he was. She fascinated him, all pure inner fire and feeling. But this wasnt going well. Usually he got a better response than this.
What am I going to have to tell your bride? Her sweetheart-shaped face turned pink with fury. The poor woman thinks shes getting married to Mr. Right. Little does she know youre Mr. Yuck, wanting to get to know me the evening before your wedding. I dont think you want to chat, either!
So, that was it. Whew. For a minute there, he was afraid she really didnt like him. You misunderstood.
Misunderstood? Oh, I dont think so.
Men, Ava fumed. What was wrong with the species? This was why she wasnt married. Too many of the gender were just like this guy, and nothing made her madder. Spitting mad. Im a good Christian girl. Get a clue, buddy. Are you misunderstanding me now?