Page 27 of Sweet Rivals

“Sure,” he said. “You will have full autonomy on your menu. The ingredients, the vendors, the advertising.”

“There should be a budget,” I said. “I don’t have unlimited money to throw at this venture like you do.”

“We will use the budget I created for the bakery. We can split it down the middle once renovations are paid for.”

I thought about it for a moment. It wasn’t the perfect plan, but it wasn’t bad either. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to have the opportunity to get my feet wet a little bit. I could also, of course, bring Jared down—somehow. I’m sure some grand plan would come to me.

“Why?” I asked.

He remained quiet for so long, I thought he might not answer. Maybe he was trying to come up with a plausible lie. Finally he said, “I don’t want you to spend your life trying to bring me down.”

“You worried I’ll succeed?” I asked.

He laughed. “Maybe. So? You in? It’s the best compromise we are going to find right now.”

I felt his eyes on me like a physical presence running along my bare skin. When I turned to meet his gaze, I couldn’t tell if it was a trick of the shadows or if he genuinely was hanging on the edge, waiting for my answer.

“Deal,” I said, holding out my hand before pulling it back. “Wait. What do I get if I win?”

“Bragging rights?” he asked.

“Doesn’t really seem worth it. I could be single-handedly causing the success of your bakery. The one thing that I am trying to avoid.”

“Good point. How about this. You win, you get half partnership in this bakery.” He said it easily, as if he had already planned the response.

I didn’t think my eyebrows could climb further up my forehead. I struggled to regain composure around the frantic beating of my heart. “What about you?” I asked. “What do you get if you win.”

“I, of course, keep ownership of my bakery, but you stay on as my employee,” he said.

My excitement died a quick, cold death. If I lost AND had to be his lowly employee, it might be the death of my spirit. Still, could I give up the opportunity to be half-owner with the unlimited financial backing of Jared and his family? It may not have been my dream, but it was so damn close, I didn’t think it much mattered.

“For how long?” I asked, swallowing past the panic.

“A year.”

“Deal,” I said holding out my hand before I could change my mind.

His large, warm hand enveloped mine in a strong squeeze that sent shivers through my body, entirely against my will.

Chapter Twenty

Jared’s handshake still electrified my skin during the walk home. Cat had spent the time trying to brainstorm ways I could ruin him from the inside after I told her the insane plan I had agreed to, but for some reason, it didn’t hold the same allure now that it was turning real.

As soon as I got home and pulled out my notebook, the doubt deepened. I stared at the blank lined page that had been intended for all of my amazing pastry ideas. But it sat empty for a good thirty minutes as I doubted my ability to do anything at all, let alone win a competition against a seasoned chef.

My laptop binged, saving me from my own failure. I crawled across the end of my bed, disturbing Mouse, as I settled into my uncomfortable desk chair that I remembered to replace only when I used it. I found my heart racing in a much more pleasant way than it had when I made the deal as I pulled up the message app. I felt like an eternity since the last time I messaged with PotatoBake888. The last time we chatted, he had given me a much-needed pep talk. Maybe he’d have some sage words for me.

PotatoBake888: Has the world domination started?

I shook my head and rolled my eyes as I read.

TheBakingChick: You are such a nerd.

PotatoBake888: You have no idea.

TheBakingChick: You’re right. I don’t. Maybe you should finally tell me something about yourself.

PotatoBake888: What do you want to know?

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