Page 54 of The Sweetest Ingredient

“Have a nice day.” Maxwell spun on his heel and strode away.

Bishop let out a shaky breath, cheeks flushing. “Kenzi, is this true? Did you lie to me?”

The world tilted as I swayed unsteadily. My mouth went dry and my hands clenched into white-knuckled fists, nails biting into my palms. “I-I was going to tell you, and I never meant to deceive you—I swear!”

Every line on his face hardened, the betrayal etching itself into his features as if carved by an invisible hand. Around us, the festive noises of the bake-off—the cheerful chatter, the clinking of utensils, the gentle sound of the leaves rustling—faded away.

“We’ve been working together for months and you never said a damn word.” Bishop’s eyes squeezed shut, and when they opened, they were a sheltered, dark hue. “I knew you weren’t a particularly adept baker—but not that you had zero experience.”

“Every day I wanted to reveal my secret, and every day I chickened out,” I said, my voice brittle as I twisted my fingers anxiously. “But it wasn’t all a lie, Bishop. I really do enjoy baking, and I’ve learned so much from you. I’m just not a professional baker—but an unemployed graphic designer who really needed a job.”

His expression shifted from shock to profound hurt, each change like a slow twist of a knife in my heart. And in that moment, the space between us grew as wide as the town square itself, an emotional chasm that I had carved with my own half-truths.

“You...you lied to me.” His voice was low, rough.

Over his shoulder, I caught sight of Jordan beside the booth, staring at us. Then he started packing up the supplies. Mochi trotted over to me and sat on the grass.

“I’m so sorry, Bishop. I didn’t intend to mislead you.” My vision blurred, distorting the image of the man I had grown to care for deeply. “I didn’t want to lose my job, and I hoped that if I could learn fast enough and help rebrand the bakery, it wouldn’t matter anymore.”

“But it does matter,” he whispered, his eyes flinty. “You can’t build anything real on dishonesty. My cousin’s right, you made a fool out of me. How can I ever trust you again?”

It was as if a wall had been erected between us, and I couldn’t find a way to scale it.

Mochi barked, and I leaned down to swoop her up. “Please believe me, Bishop, my feelings for you are real.” My voice trembled, the words barely escaping my lips. “When we first met, I just wanted to pay off my debts, but as I got to know you, everything changed…” I held my dog against my chest, swallowing hard. “You showed me what it means to be passionate about my work, and I had the chance to combine my two favorite interests, baking with graphic design?—”

“Are you saying, you used me to peddle your pet treats?” His face remained cold and distant, like an ice sculpture.

“No. You misunderstand?—”

“I can’t believe this. You lied…to me.” Bishop raked his fingers through his hair. “I don’t even know who you are now.”

Tears spilled down my cheeks, dripping off my chin. “Bishop, I’m still the same person—the one who loves Jane Austen, who likes to tease you, and tries to make you smile. I may not be a certified baker, but I care about you.”

Bishop let out a shaky breath. The dense silence that descended was suffocating, causing my nerves to spark. Mochi licked my cheek.

“Care? Ha!” He scoffed, his shoulders rigid. “You. Lied. To. Me,” he said quietly, his words clipped. “You’re fired. I’ll mail you your final paycheck.”

Bishop headed to his parked car, leaving me rooted to the spot. He drove off, and I sank to the ground, clutching Mochi tightly against me.

My heart shattered like dropped china, the shards slicing through my insides. Mochi whimpered in my arms as I cried for the love I had found and lost within the span of a heartbeat. It was as if the friendship we had shared was suddenly sucked out of the air, replaced by an icy void that seemed impossible to fill.

“Kenzi,” Jordan said in a soft voice from behind me. “Are you okay?”

“No,” I whispered, a sob catching in my throat. Mochi nuzzled her head against my shoulder. “I lost so much more than a job today…it was stupid to think he could care for someone so dishonest.” I blinked back hot tears. “How could I expect him to trust me again after this?” My voice broke, and I shook my head, unwilling to utter the painful truth that I had screwed up any chance at a real relationship with Bishop. My secret had cost me the man who had come to mean everything to me.

“Maybe he’ll come around,” Jordan said.

I didn’t reply. He handed me a tissue from his pocket, then wandered back to the booth and started dismantling the stall.

I stared at the historic clock tower in the center of the plaza, not really seeing it. Losing Bishop forever was unbearable, like being forced to read a novel without any romance.

With a heavy heart, I stood up. “Come on, Mochi.”

As I staggered away from the bake-off, it felt as though I was standing on the edge of a cliff, teetering at the ledge, with nothing but the empty chasm of loss below me.

Chapter Twenty-One

Two weeks had slipped by since that fateful day when Bishop had learned the truth. I’d been left to wrestle with the harsh reality, feeling like my heart was a crumpled tissue within my chest. It seemed impossible to escape the longing for the man who’d become so much more than just my boss.

---