Fake It Till You Bake It(64)

Jada hadn’t received the same consideration, but that was to be expected. The only thing she got were emails and calls asking, then demanding she do interviews. “That’s great. And you’re not angry with me?” She searched his eyes for the truth.

“I’ve found that anger is usually a manifestation of hurt. For me, anyway.”

Ouch. She felt that deep in her soul. She winced before she could stop herself.

He touched her arm. “Hey, don’t do that. I’m just being honest. I wasn’t trying to shame or embarrass you. When you turned me down, I cycled through the stages of grief. I can’t say I’ve gotten to acceptance, but I’m trying. I was so angry and confused. I racked my brain trying to figure out what went wrong.”

He looked away for a moment. “Then the show started airing and I was doing press. It was a lot. I thought I was doing okay, and then I saw you on social media with that guy, and I couldn’t believe it.” His eyes narrowed. “But really, that guy? Jock meets the Grinch.”

A surprised laugh spilled from her chest. He’d always been able to make her laugh. “Interesting description, but he’s a good guy.”

“But is he the right guy? I know you said you couldn’t stop thinking about him while you were on the show, but I’m hoping you couldn’t stop thinking about me once the cameras stopped rolling. We had some good times, Jada. You have to admit that.”

The hand he’d rested on top of hers squeezed, then turned her palm over and lightly ran his thumb up her palm in a sensual gesture. Danger, danger started flashing in bright red letters in front of her face. She casually withdrew her hand. “John—”

“Jada. Can you at least admit we had some good times?” His dark eyes pleaded with her.

She sighed. Current predicament aside, lying really wasn’t her style. “We did.”

“Have you thought about me at all since taping ended?”

She had. After all, she’d had no real reason to turn him down, just something in her gut telling her something wasn’t right. So many questions had crowded her mind in the aftermath. Had she made a mistake? Had she really devastated him? He’d claimed to be in love with her. Though, after watching the show, she now knew he’d said the same thing to the other two finalists as well. But she was the one he’d chosen. And hadn’t love been missing from her life for what seemed like forever?

She gave a momentary thought to lying, but that wasn’t fair to either of them. She’d done enough lying. She nodded.

He pumped his fist. “I knew it!”

“But that doesn’t mean I want to hop back into something with you. I’m … seeing someone.” Even though it wasn’t real. Her stomach cramped in protest at that truth.

He nodded like he’d expected her answer. “I get that. If I had my way, you would dump him right here, right now, but that’s my version of the fairy tale. I don’t want to put you in a bad spot, but I do want you to know that there’s another option out there for you.” He chuckled. “How the tables have turned. I was the guy with multiple women after me and now you have your choice.”

Jada offered up a weak smile. Talking was a little beyond her capabilities at the moment. He’d shocked the crap out of her. He wanted to get back together? Like for real?

He squeezed her hand again. “Don’t forget about us, that’s all I’m saying. I’ve surprised you. Just think about it. Think about how good we were together.” He gestured with his free hand. “I can take you away from all of this. You don’t want to work at a cupcake shop for the rest of your life.”

Right. The store. Her job. The current iteration of her life.

“Uh … yeah. Wow.” Jada stood on trembling legs.

John rose and gathered both her hands. “We can be the total media darlings we were meant to be. The new Bonnie and Clyde.”

“They killed people, so … no, we can’t, but I get your point.”

He laughed, an action beyond at her right now.

Her mind was whirling in a spin cycle. Her heart was sprinting faster than a toddler who’d spotted Mickey Mouse at Disneyland. This was bananas. What a twisted web she’d woven. She’d dumped an almost-fiancé with the excuse she had someone at home, and the man who’d stepped in to rescue her from her lie was starting to mean more to her than she ever thought possible. But she had no idea if he felt the same way, and now the almost-fiancé was back, professing that he hadn’t ever stopped loving her.

John lowered his head to peer directly into her eyes. “So what do you say? What’s it gonna be?”





Chapter Eighteen


“Donovan. Donovan. Donovan!” Nicholas tapped him on the arm. “Donovan, what’s going on?”

Donovan barely registered the question or the divine smell of the freshly baked desserts Nicholas carried. He was too busy thinking about that fool who’d had the nerve to show up here at his business, smiling that fake, toothy grin with his too-big veneers. But he wasn’t Donovan’s biggest concern.

Was Jada okay? He didn’t know, and it was killing him.

Nicholas set the batch of cupcakes on the counter. “Why is everyone looking out the window, acting like they’ve spotted Beyoncé and Jay-Z? Now that I think about it, we should work on that, figuring out how to get them in the store. Or maybe the Mandalorian and Baby Yoda. The green one loves cupcakes.”