Sugar and Spice Read Online Free PDF Page B

head. “It was a brilliant idea—until you forgot to top the mini cupcakes with edible pearls like we discussed. You ruined my display.”
    â€œI had errands to run,” Chloe insisted. “I thought you would handle it.”
    â€œLadies! Ladies!” Hershey held up her hand. “I’m sure it’s fine. Laura and Fitzy will be out in a sec if you’ll just take a seat.”
    Cece and Chloe ignored her and kept right on fighting.
    â€œErrands? What errands? Honestly, all you think about is shopping,” Cece said, criticizing her younger sister. “You forget we’re running a business.”
    â€œI’m leaving you in charge while I go get the directors,” Hershey told Lexi. “Be careful!”
    Lexi just stood there. She had no idea what to do or say to make the pair stop arguing. They reminded her of two little girls squabbling over a toy in the sandbox.
    She glanced over at her fellow cupcake clubbers and mouthed the words “Help me.”
    â€œHey! Escuchen ! ” Jenna came to her rescue. The sisters stopped and stared. “Listen up! You two need to cool it!”
    â€œYeah,” Lexi said, trying to calm them down. “Your cupcake gown rocks. You both did an amazing job, so just stop fighting about it.”
    Cece looked shocked. “How do you know we made a cupcake gown? It’s all boxed up. You better not have touched it…”
    â€œUm, she means she can imagine how gorgeous it is.” Kylie tried to cover for her friend. “Lexi has a very vivid imagination.”
    â€œBut how did you know we made a gown?” Chloe asked. “We never told you that.”
    â€œShe’s psychic,” Delaney piped up. “She reads palms and crystal balls and stuff.”
    Chloe’s mouth fell open. “Seriously? You see the future?”
    â€œI guess,” Lexi said, blushing. “I mean, sure.”
    Chloe stuck her palm under Lexi’s nose. “Can you tell my future? Is my boyfriend finally going to pop the question over dinner tonight?”
    Lexi hemmed and hawed. “Well, it might possibly happen definitely.”
    â€œI told you! I told you!” Chloe started jumping up and down. Then she hugged Lexi. “This is the best news! I have to go out and buy a new outfit for the proposal.”
    Cece looked even madder. “You are not going shopping. We have a dozen orders due tomorrow.”
    Chloe picked up her purse and waved. “Toodles! Misters before sisters!” And just like that, she swept out the door.
    â€œOne down, one to go,” Sadie whispered to Lexi. “Good job!”
    â€œWell, who needs her?” Cece sniffed. “I can make the presentation by myself.”
    When Laura and Fitzy reappeared, she introduced herself and unveiled her cupcake display. “Impressive, don’t you think?” she asked the directors. “It’s a gown made entirely out of cupcakes!”
    Fitzy circled around and around the display, admiring it from every angle. “It’s certainly large. And it really looks like something you’d see on a pageant runway.”
    â€œI knew you’d love it. So I’ll send you my invoice in the a.m. and we can get working on the real display for your pageant.”
    â€œJust a second!” Kylie protested. “We get a turn to show our cupcakes too. We baked a whole second batch.”
    Cece looked down at the small, white box Lexi was holding and snickered. “That’s your presentation? Pullease!”
    Lexi opened it and took out a single cupcake. She handed it to Laura. “It represents everything you asked for. It’s beautiful inside and out,” she explained.
    Laura took a bite…and beamed. “Is that a star I see? Right inside the cupcake?”
    â€œIt is,” Kylie said proudly. Then she shot Cece a look. “Impressive. Don’t you think?”
    â€œI think the cupcake gown will