Page 83 of Fire and Icing

“I don’t have time to give her a second thought. We’ve got to get focused if we’re going to win. She’ll vote against us. That means we need to wow the other judges. Even one negative vote could send us home depending on how well the competition performs.”

“Right.” He nods a single, definitive bob of his head. “No thinking about …”

Thankfully, Dustin swallows his last word because Vanessa saunters over to our station.

Dustin instantly has his arm around my waist—possibly in a show of solidarity or a gesture of comfort. I jump just the slightest. I didn’t expect his touch. My emotions are all over the map with him.

Vanessa looks at Dustin, her eyes track down his arm, and then she stares into my eyes.

“You know, in team baking, I believe it’s the chemistry that truly makes the difference in how a couple performs together.”

She shifts her gaze to Dustin and bites her lower lip.

He tugs me toward him and I lean in.

I look up into his eyes and he stares down at me.

Is this real? Fake? Does it only appear to be more to onlookers?

Does Vanessa believe we’re in an actual relationship?

“Best of luck,” she says, walking away. “Layers of love … we’ll see.”

The countdown clocks start less than a minute later and Dustin and I spend the next four hours in a precision-level focus to create a mille-feuille with Earl Grey pastry cream and rose-raspberry jam.

We grab a sack lunch the chefs prepared as an alternative and retreat to our room mid-afternoon, exhausted and relieved.

Vanessa did judge against us, falsely claiming that the razor-thin pastry layers weren’t flaky enough and the Earl Grey was the wrong flavor palette for this dessert. Thankfully, the other judges disagreed. We’re down to six couples for the next round tomorrow.

We devour our chicken salad sandwiches and fruit medley. I grabbed an extra lunch for Dustin and he inhales it.

“I’m going to get soft here,” he pats his belly, leaning back in the chair.

“You’re what?”

“I usually work out two hours a day. I’ve barely been exercising.”

“You can. If you need time to work out, please, take it. There’s a gym on site.”

“You could come with me,” he suggests.

“Uh. No. That’s a one hundred million percent no. I like hiking. I’m not a gym girlie.”

“I didn’t ask you to switch religions,” he teases. “I’m just asking you to go workout with me … after we practice.”

“Practice what?” My eyes snap up to meet his.

“Practice you not flinching when I touch you. Practice looking like a couple. With Vanessa here, the stakes are higher. And she’s on the prowl to find a weakness. So, we need to practice.”

“How exactly do you suggest we practice?” I fold my arms over my chest.

“Not like that,” Dustin chuckles, pointing at my stance. “Here,” he stands, extending me his hand, and pulls me up until I’m standing right in front of him.

Less than a foot of space separates us.

“Are you going to kiss me?” I blurt.

“Did you want me to?” He smiles. “Just kidding. You already said no kissing. Though, I probably should kiss your cheek or your temple. Something easy like that.”

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