I take out my phone and text Danil that I’m taking the day off. I know he’s going to be pissed, but Penny is right, I’m the boss. I don’t have to go in if I don’t want to.
“Where is the tasting?” I ask curiously.
“Downtown. Leon has gone ahead to have the staff taste-test the cakes to ensure they’re not poisoned.” She smiles. “That was my idea.”
“It’s a good idea. Paranoia looks good on you.” I stand and offer her my hand.
“Am I driving?” I ask.
“No, Currie will take us,” she says. Just before we reach the door, before we’re in view of the guards, she drops my hand, and instead, I place it on the small of her back. It’s our symbol. Our sign of affection without letting on that we’re being affectionate. If I could be honest, I would declare my love for Penny a hundred times over, but I can’t show weakness, not even to her.
I know I love her. I love her more than anything, and perhaps Danil is right. Maybe that is making me choose foolish things. Play stupid games and claim silly prizes. Isn’t that what they said?
I dress down for the day, not wanting to draw attention to myself in my work suit. I opt for slacks, a golf shirt, and a jumper.
I meet Penny at the car, and it’s a short drive to the bakery that Penny has picked to make our wedding cake.
There’s a table laid out with all these little cakes. Each has a perfect spoon-sized portion missing from the taste test. Penny sits down and looks around. “What’s your favorite cake?” she asks.
“I don’t actually know,” I say honestly. “I like a lot of different types of cakes.”
“This is Blue Velvet with vanilla cream cheese icing,” she says, using a spoon to scoop up a little and pass it to me. I eat it, and I moan a little.
“Okay, that’s pretty good,” I say. “Blue Velvet. Does our wedding have a theme?”
“I’m going for a blue, gray, and lilac motif,” she says. “Here, this is a rich chocolate mousse cake.”
We both eat it, and I smile. “I could smoosh your face in the cake.”
“Don’t you dare,” she says with a smile. “My makeup is going to be flawless, and that almost never happens.”
I smile and point to another cake, “What’s that one?”
“Er…” She picks up the card. “Carrot cake made with brandy and covered in cream cheese icing.”
I try that one. “None for you because it’s alcohol.”
“Actually, I can have a little. Alcohol bakes out of the food.” She tries it but spits it into a napkin. “Nope. Not that one.”
I chuckle and point to the blue velvet. “I really think that’s our winner.”
She smiles. “I’m glad we agree on something already.”
She pulls out a picture to show me a five-tier cake. “It’s going to be five tiers big, obviously, with each tier slightly smaller. Decorated with blue and Lilac flowers and accentuated with silver for the stems and leaves.”
I take the picture and look at it. “It’s beautiful. What about the topper?”
“Well, I wanted something from Russian, so I wanted a man and woman in the form of those Russian dolls.” She grins. “Cheesy, I know.”
“Very cheesy, but my mother will love it,” I say.
“What’s she like?” she asks.
“My mother? She’s a bitch to anyone who isn’t blood-related, so you have to hold your own with her. But that’s still a while away from happening,” I say.
“Why haven’t I met her?” She asks.
“I didn’t think she minded at first, but Danil tells me she’s a little upset that I got you pregnant before the wedding. While it might not bother me, my very catholic mother finds this… sinful.” I shrug. “I’m just giving her time to cool off and get used to the idea before I take you over there.”
We get up, and I watch Penny go to the baker to give her the picture and discuss the cake.
I wait for her to finish before we make our way across town to the tailor who does all my suits. I appreciate that she used the same guy because that means a lot less measuring.
Wait until she sees the surprise I have planned for her as a reward for all this work.
I put on my tux. It’s a very nice black tux with a gray cummerbund and a blue tie. I won’t lie, I look good in it and know Penny thinks so, too, from how she looks at me.
I let them measure it up again just in case, and then while Penny is talking to the tailor, I send Luka a text.
We decide to have a late lunch and pick up a few things for the nursery before we call it a day and head back. Honestly, I’m just stalling for time for Luka.
When we get home, I note his car isn’t there, so he’s already left, and Leon is waiting.
“Are the teams in position?” I ask Leon as we walk in.
“Teams?” Penny asks curiously.
Leon smiles. “Perimeter is clear, sir. You’re good.”
