Page 59 of I'll Carry You

She’d just made his job easier in so many ways. He could kiss her.

By the time the crew reached them, she was piping macarons onto the parchment paper. Peter stepped between them and put his hand on Jen’s shoulder. “Last but not least, we have this special lady, who is my favorite baker in town, Jen.” The audience clapped.

Had the audience been clapping and interacting before? They must have been. Jason had paid little attention because he’d been so distracted by what Jen was doing. But now that all eyes were on them, he noticed everything about the audience. Noticed Jen’s family. Noticed Ned leaning forward from his spot over by a display of cookbooks.

Peter looked over Jen’s shoulder. “I don’t have to ask what you’re making.”

“No, you don’t.” Jen smiled, giving him a brief glance, then continued her piping.

“I’ll ask you about them in a second. First, I think the question everyone here in Brandywood has been wondering is who this handsome fellow to your left is.”

Jason shook Peter’s hand. “I’m Jason.”

“Jason, you’re not from around here, correct?”

“No, sir.” The lights seemed brighter, hotter. Jason had been on live television before. He’d partied with celebrities and been invited to soirees and done press conferences.

His heart felt as though it would pound out of his throat.

“And how long have you and Jen been together?”

He shot her a smile. “A long time. But long-distance, which has been tough.” His grandfather had taught him that.“When they ask a question you don’t want to answer, give them something vague, then distract and redirect.”

“Oh, sure, sure. That’s always a hard thing for relationships. Where’re you from?”

Peter was a natural, and his calm demeanor was all Jason needed to find his footing. No one had ever accused a Cavanaugh of lacking social grace or confidence.

Now he really sounded like his grandfather.

“Chicago. But it’s getting harder to stay away from Brandywood.” He stepped closer to Jen and rubbed the small of her back.

“I have it on good authority that you two were recently an accidental part of one of our best Christmas traditions here in Brandywood—theA Christmas Carolstreet play. Care to replicate the scene you were in for all of us?” Peter reached from behind his back and lifted a sprig of mistletoe.

A red blush was spreading to Jen’s cheeks, but the audience was loving it. Peter was doing them a favor—giving them a chance to be rooted for—and Jason could see it in Peter’s eyes.

“All right. If I can wrestle that pastry bag out of Jen’s hands.” Jason winked at her, then held out a hand toward her.

She put the bag down and took his hand. As he pulled her closer, he wrapped one arm securely behind her back, then dipped her for a kiss. Their lips connected, and the audience cheered, which electrified the energy of the entire room.

Any nerves Jason had melted away as he kissed her. He was having fun...in the most unexpected of ways.

He brought her upright. Jen’s eyes were glued to his, bright with laughter.

If someone had told Jason a week earlier that this was where he would be, he wouldn’t have believed it for a second. In Brandywood, doing a baking competition, pretending to be dating the gorgeous single mother of his nephew? With Mildred in the audience, no less.

He felt like he was living someone else’s life.

And even more strange, it felt like a life he’d actually enjoy. One he didn’t deserve.

His throat tightened as he glanced at Colby in the audience, watching him and Jen with rapt attention.

. . . the life Kevin should have had.And once again, Jason felt like he was the wrong person to be living.

ChapterTwenty

Jen bracedherself for Lindsay’s tight hug. As her friend wrapped her arms around her, Jen saw Jason chatting comfortably with her parents and Colby. Jason was getting a lot more trouble than he’d signed up for, that’s for sure.

“I’m so proud of you,” Lindsay said without letting go. Then she pulled back and grabbed her hands. “You’re going on to the semi-final. I knew you would. You’re totally going to win this thing.”

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