Page 104 of I'll Carry You

The camera panned over their stunned expressions for a few more seconds, then cut back to Peter’s show on the boat. “Why did you withdraw?” Jason asked in a low tone, his teeth chattering.

“One of us had to be on the boat to win,” Jen explained, still aware her voice was being picked up by the mic. “When I couldn’t get in touch with you to tell you not to worry about coming out here, I realized I’d rather risk the prize money than ever make you think I’d ask something like that of you.”

The screen showed Peter beaming at the camera. “And that’s among the many reasons Jen Klein deserves to win this show—because let’s be honest, folks, she carried that team with baking.”

The crowd laughed.

Peter lifted his hands to ask for silence and then said, “So I’ve decided to reject her forfeit. And I have it on good authority that if you want any of the delicious treats she made for the show, you’ll have to go no farther than Main Street in Brandywood because she’s opening her own bakery next year! Jen, when do you start taking orders?”

Jen stared at the screen, blinking with shock.

She’d won.

$25,000.

. . . and . . . what?

“We’ll keep you up to date, Peter,” Jason said smoothly, answering the question for her.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the winners of the baking competition . . . Jen and Jason!” Peter’s voice rang out.

Jen covered her mouth. As the crowd cheered and music played, Jen turned to Jason, who shivered beside her, his arms still tight around her waist. “I won?” Her voice shook. “Oh my God, I’m freezing. I can’t feel my legs.”

Jason kissed her once again, and the cheers grew louder.

This all felt so surreal. Like someone else’s life.

But she’d earned the prize, hadn’t she?

And Peter had just told everyone about her bakery.

Jen pulled away from Jason, setting her cheek on his chest, her excitement making her want to jump, but the cold she felt made her knees wobble. Despite the cold, Jason held her steadily.

Jason washere.He’d come down here anyway and jumped like a crazy man into that lake, even though he was afraid of water.

That spoke volumes. As the show on Peter’s boat continued, the camera guy came over and put his camera down. “Here, I can take the mic off you now.” He looked sheepish. “I’ll have to put it back on you later when we interview you. Just meet us back here at seven.”

He reached into the blanket, then lifted the back of her sweater and pulled the battery pack off, then unclipped the cord. He gave them a nod, then left them there.

Jason pulled her closer. “Thank God I didn’t say anything about what I’m going to do to you as soon as I get you alone,” he teased. “Though it might be a while. My balls have retreated into my stomach.”

She laughed, her face warming, and checked to make sure Dan had stepped far enough away that he couldn’t hear. “If you don’t mind driving me back home real fast, we can go get out of these wet clothes and then come back.”

They stooped to put their shoes on. Leaving Jason with the blanket, she went over to Dan. “I think we’re going to go back to the house and change.”

Dan shook his head. “You’re both nuts, you realize that?”

“You’re not going to kill him, right?” Jen gave him a laughing look, despite her worry. Dan and Warren had a way of holding on to grudges that sometimes got the worst of them.

Dan lifted his gaze over Jen toward Jason. He raised his chin. “No. We had a friendly talk once. I made it clear the way you deserve to be treated.”

Jason came up behind her. “And I completely agree with you. But if I don’t get into some new pants, there’s a good chance you’ll have to take me to the hospital for hypothermia instead.”

“We’ll get that city boy trained up real good soon.” Dan winked at her, hesitating as he started to turn away. He smiled. “Congrats on the win, little sis. We all knew you had it in you. I’m gonna go help Mom and Dad with Colby. Make sure they don’t let him have too much sugar.”

Releasing Jason, Jen took a few steps toward her brother and hugged him. “Love you, big brother. You really are the best uncle in the world. And Colby’s lucky to have you.”

Dan squeezed her wordlessly and ducked his chin. He didn’t have to say anything for her to know how much the words meant to him.

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