Kara Lennox - Under Deepest Cover

The ceremony itself was short and sweet. Then there was the feasting, the way only restaurant people and Elliotts could feast. Chef Chin took over Maeve’s kitchen like a general conquering a town. Maeve was more than happy to just get out of the way and enjoy the day.

The crowning glory of the reception feast was a four-layer cake, Bryan’s little surprise for Lucy. She hadn’t realized exactly what kind of cake it was until he fed her a piece of it for the photos.

Orange cake, garnished with chocolate and mint glaze. Not exactly traditional.

But at the first taste, Lucy could feel her face heating-and other parts of her as well.

“Lucy, something wrong?” Bryan asked solicitously.

“I’m just having a Pavlovian response,” she said, never imagining that orange cake could make her feel…amorous.

“I’m putting this cake on the menu, you know. Bryan and Lucy’s Orange Wedding Cake.”

She stood on her toes and whispered in his ear. “It would have been more appropriate as Bryan and Lucy’s Honeymoon Cake.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll take some with us.”

Amanda, Bryan’s mother, had arrived seconds before the ceremony, breathless and tense. Now he hugged her. “I was afraid you might not come, Mom.”

“I wasn’t about to miss my son’s wedding-even if I do have to be under the same roof with him.” She nodded toward Patrick, Bryan’s grandfather.

This family had more drama and intrigue than a soap opera. But all families had their little issues, and Lucy vowed to accept them all as they came along. She reveled in the laughter, the smells and tastes of the day. She even enjoyed the family bickering, which they simply were not able to refrain from. She loved that she was now part of this crazy clan.

“You happy?” Bryan asked Lucy quietly as they posed for yet more pictures.

“Deliriously.”

“You should be afraid. Very afraid.”

“Because…?”

“You fit in perfectly. You’ve become an Elliott.”

Lucy could think of nothing more wonderful.