Fake It Till You Bake It(56)

“I’d use stronger language, but I recognize this isn’t a late-night show on premium cable or streaming service,” he added.

Kayla made an “aww” face at the camera. “Jada, you’re a lucky woman to have someone defending you like that.” Her expression hardened. “Of course, there is some speculation that all that glitters isn’t gold.”

Donovan froze. Did she know they weren’t actually dating?

“There’s been some speculation that Donovan is dating you to get a better contract with the Knights,” she continued.

Fury rose in Donovan so fast it damn near obscured his vision. A loud guffaw stopped him from setting Kayla so straight she’d never look askance again.

Jada slapped her hand on the table. “Are you serious right now? He’s dating me to get a better contract? That would be a big fat hell no. He’s the most upstanding man I’ve ever met and the last person to ever do something so underhanded. He didn’t even know who I was when we first met. Please apologize to him right now or I will walk off this show.”

Jada was deadly serious. She looked for all the world like a warrior ready to defend her family. He was touched beyond belief. Despite everything that had gone down between them, despite the way he’d hurt her feelings in that supply closet, she still had his back.

Kayla’s eyes had widened. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend. I just wanted to get your thoughts on some of the rumors that are out there.”

“That rumor is false, I assure you,” Donovan said, his voice quiet and steady with resolve. Jada reached for his hand, silently offering comfort.

Kayla considered them both. “Yes, I can tell it is. My sincere apologies.” She turned to the camera with a smile. “And before I get fired for running off our guests, why don’t we get to the baking? Jada, since you’re not baking today, do you mind directing traffic by reading off the ingredients?” She jerked her chin toward a guy in his early twenties, one of the production assistants, who was holding cue cards.

Jada hesitated, then cleared her throat. “Sure, no problem. Well, actually, there might be a problem. I’m dyslexic, so if I hesitate or mispronounce something, that’s why.”

“Oh, if you want, I can do it,” Kayla said.

Jada held up a hand. “No, I want to do it. Dyslexia isn’t the end of the world. I’ve learned to compensate and muddle through when the situation calls for it. It can be hard, but I don’t want to give the impression that I can’t do something because of it.”

She didn’t look at him the whole time she spoke. Why? Did she think he would make fun of her? Did she think he was that much of an asshole? Is that what all their interactions had led her to believe?

“You’re absolutely right,” Kayla said. “Whenever you’re ready.”

Jada held out her hand toward him, signaling her okay with him going forward.

“We add the butter and sugar, then add two eggs, our secret ingredient, and the flour,” Jada said while Donovan and Kayla demonstrated in their respective bowls.

Just like on the football field, he soon forgot about the cameras and became engrossed in the task at hand. He and Nicholas had premade portions of the cupcakes so they would have time to get through the whole process in the five-minute segment. He whipped the sugar and butter into a frothy mixture in the glass bowl while Jada watched.

“Good job, Donovan. You might be able to make a living at this someday.” Jada winked. “Now it’s time for the special ingredient.” She looked left, then right, then leaned forward and mock whispered, “Yogurt.”

Donovan laughed. She was a natural. He could see why viewers had been drawn to her on that show. At her direction, he poured the mixture into the cupcake baking dish. It was a six-hole dish, unlike the two-dozen pan they used in the shop. He smiled. It brought back memories of baking with his mother during the less tumultuous times of his childhood, or the times when they’d both needed a distraction from said tumultuous times.

Kayla looked into the camera. “Through the miracle of television, our cupcakes are ready.” She pulled the pan out of the oven and gasped. “These look amazing, Donovan.”

“They are,” Jada said. “And let me tell you, the icing really is the icing on the cake.”

“Then let’s get to it.” He and Kayla grabbed their icing utensils. “You too, Jada. The hard part’s over now.”

She stuck her tongue out at him, while Kayla laughed. Jada picked up the icing bag. “What flavors are inside, Donovan?”

He winked. “It’s a surprise. Squeeze gently.” He waited while the two women squeezed softly, letting out a small spurt of frosting. He would not think about how cute Jada looked, her brow furrowed in deep concentration, her tongue peeking out between her slightly parted red lips. That was the lipstick she’d worn when they kissed. He’d bet everything he owned on that fact.

He still remembered the taste of her lips. He’d watched the clip of their first kiss too many times to count. If Nicholas and August knew how high the number went—hell, if Jada knew—he’d never hear the end of it. He told himself that and then he pressed play again anyway. And those photos? Donovan shook his head. No, he needed to stop.

They’d agreed to be friends less than an hour ago, so that’s what they’d be, no matter what his libido or his heart wanted.