Read Online Always the Designer, Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker - Free Book Online

think."
    "But now we do," Russell cracked, shooting J. R. a boys' club kind of grin.
    "No, you don't," J. R. snapped. "Let's go. These ladies need to get some sleep."
    Russell leaned down and pecked Kat's lips. "Had a real bonzer bash getting to know you, Kit-Kat," he told her. "See you tomorrow?"
    "Absolutely."
    Russell looked at Audrey and winked. "Glad you're safe. Relatively."
    Before she could answer, J. R. snagged Russell's arm and dragged him down the hall.
    The door had barely latched before Kat moved in on Audrey. "Spill!"
    "You first," she said as she returned to the table and began pulling the sketches together into a neat pile. "You and Russell Walker. That's an interesting and unexpected pairing."
    She melted down into a string of giggles. "Isn't it?"
    "So tell me what happened. You two looked like dates at the senior prom."
    "It felt a little like that," she said, crawling into one of the dining chairs and tucking her feet under her. "We couldn't stop talking, Audrey. After we left you at the bowling alley, we went for a walk, and he told me all about Australia and losing his family."
    "He lost his family?"
    "His parents and two brothers," she said, wide-eyed. "In a car crash."
    Audrey sat down in the adjacent chair, reaching over and touching Kat's knee. "That's awful!"
    "I know. He was only sixteen. That's when he came to America. Some photographer discovered him, and he did some modeling. But he lived in a one-bedroom apartment in New York City for two years with five roommates, and then he was homeless for almost a year."
    "Homeless?"
    "I know, but after that is when he got his first movie role and his career took off." Kat sighed and looked at the sketches in front of Audrey.
    "Speaking of careers taking off, do you want to see what I have ready for Kim?"
    "No."
    Audrey blinked at her. "No?"
    "No. Not until you tell me what led up to that lip-lock we walked up on."
    "Oh. That."
    "Yes, that. Audrey, for as long as I've known you, I've never seen that side of you."
    "Well, I hope you got a good look," she said. "It was a momentary lapse of focus. It won't happen again."
    I hope. That boy just . . . brings out . . . something . . . HEAT.
    "That's a shame," Kat remarked.
    "I don't know what came over me tonight. Maybe it's just the pressure that's been building. Maybe I just needed to let off a little steam."
    "Or create some."
    Audrey dropped her head into both hands. The groan that rose in her throat turned into a sort of growl, and she peered at Kat through her fingers. "It was kinda steamy," she admitted. "He is so hot, Kat."
    "He really is."
    "Oh, and he's got this unbelievable tattoo."
    "Tattoo!"
    "Yeah, it's all down his right arm."
    "No. I mean . . . You like tattoos, Audrey?"
    She hesitated. "I do on that arm."
    The two of them snapped with laughter, then Kat's face turned instantly serious and she gasped. "I wonder if Russell has any tattoos. I'll bet I could Google him and find out."
    "Or you could just wait and find out for yourself."
    Kat chuckled. "It's not like I'll probably ever see him after we go back to New York though, is it?"
    "You never know, Kit-Kat."
    The way Kat grinned, Audrey almost expected her to meow. Instead, her assistant just quietly purred.

 
    Carly's Marble Engagement Cake
     
    Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
     
    3 cups all-purpose flour
    1 Tablespoon baking powder
    ¾ teaspoon salt
    1 cup whole milk (not too cold)
    2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    1 ½ sticks softened, unsalted butter
    2 cups granulated sugar
    4 large eggs
    4 ounces bittersweet chocolate
     
    Mix flour, baking powder, and salt.
    In a separate bowl, mix milk and vanilla.
    Beat softened butter until creamy.
    Add sugar and beat until fluffy.
    Fold in eggs and continue to beat.
    Add dry ingredients slowly, alternating with the milk mixture.
     
    Transfer 2 cups of the batter to a small bowl and set aside.
    Scrape the remaining batter into prepared cake pans.
    Stir melted chocolate into the batter that was set