Page 85 of I'll Carry You

“Wow,” Jason murmured beside her. She met his gaze, and he winked at her. “Well done.”

Peter gave her a pleased look. “So can we say this is burning just as brightly as your love?”

More like our relationship is up in flames.Jen’s voice caught in her throat.

Jason gave a smooth grin and grasped her hand. “Something like that.”

Jen barely heard the judges’ comments about the dessert. She couldn’t stop thinking about Jason standing there, hand in hand with her, putting on a show. He’d come through on this whole thing for her sake?

Maybe because he felt guilty, maybe because he hoped she’d be satisfied with $25,000 instead of his inheritance.

Peter told the audience that the winners would be decided and announced on his Christmas special a few days after Christmas, and thenit was over.

As the audience rose from their seats, Jason released her hand. “Listen, I know we didn’t have the chance to talk much, but do you mind sticking around and talking for a few minutes? I hear you’re considering not taking Colby’s inheritance.”

She sighed. And they were right back to this. “I’m not.”

“You should, Jen.” He gave her a hard look. “It’s what’s best for both of you.”

Jen stared at the shiny, lacquered wooden floor of the Depot. She turned her head to answer Jason, but before she could, Lindsay and Travis were around her, hugging her. Considering how awkward they were with each other, she couldn’t help but give them her full attention. “That was brilliant,” Lindsay said.

“My grandmother wants to know why you haven’t been making those at the shop,” Travis said with a laugh, then pointed back at the audience, where Bunny was talking to Millie.

Jen shifted. “Because I need to save some things for my own place someday.” She grimaced. “Speaking of which, do you think you could spare some time to meet with your grandmother with me? I have something to tell you both, and I’d rather do it in person.”

Travis eyed her. “If I think it is what you’re implying, that wasn’t even slightly subtle.” He winked. “I’ll text you.”

As they let her go, Jen turned to find Jason once again. But he was gone from her side.

She frowned and looked around the Depot. Where was he?

The crowd was still too thick for her to see over, so she went back onto the stage area to see if she could see him.Please don’t let him have left without talking to her.

That was silly. He’d asked her to talk to him.

Then she saw him. He was standing just outside one of the front windows, talking to a tall woman with dark brown hair. She was slender, with striking features, and Jen didn’t recognize her.

Removing her apron, she pushed through the crowded store and went out onto the sidewalk. “Hey,” she said, coming up toward Jason.

Jason stiffened, and a worried expression crossed his face.

The woman turned toward Jen. Her eyes narrowed. “Oh, just who I was hoping to talk to. The woman who’s been fucking my husband.” She arched a perfectly shaped brow and held out her hand. “Didn’t Jason tell you? Amanda Cavanaugh, nice to meet you.”

ChapterTwenty-Eight

Jason resistedthe urge to strangle Amanda and stepped between the two women. “Ex-wife.”

The look on Jen’s face made the panic rising in his torso feel completely justified. She looked from Amanda to Jason, a mixture of confusion and anger on her face. She didn’t accept Amanda’s proffered hand and stepped back. “What’s going on?”

Jason’s words were venomous. “You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

Amanda shrugged and dropped her hand to her side. “Fine, but Ned Vickers has plenty of footage of you two together to prove otherwise.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m his soon-to-be ex-wife. We’re on the verge of divorce but still technically married. But Jason is the father of my soon-to-be-born child. Is that better?”

Jason gave her the iciest glare he could muster. “Don’t even start with that.” He held out a hand to Jen. “She’s lying. Listen, I can prove this one. I don’t know what the hell she’s doing here, but we’re getting divorced. We signed a prenuptial, and it’s uncontested so it’s just a matter of weeks, really.”

Jen placed her fingertips to her temples as though her head hurt from the information. “And you didn’t think to tell me this?”

Amanda just set her hands on her hips, arms akimbo. She tilted her head to the side, watching them with interest. The people leaving the Depot stared at them and Jason spotted a skulking Dan Klein by the door. He didn’t look happy that Jen was outside with him.

---