Baking for Keeps

by Jessica Gilmore

  Lacey barely took in the events of the next hour. To nobody’s real surprise town vet Matthew West took first prize, Carolyn Hanson and the niece she had moved back to Marietta to raise both whooping loudly at the result. Carolyn was an accomplished chef and, rumor had it, she and Matthew were doing a great deal more than practicing baking together. Lacey barely knew Carolyn but she was fond of Matthew and it was lovely to see him so happy.

  Zac came a respectable joint third and she heard both her aunts give audible sighs of relief as the results were announced. As expected several large donations were pledged during the ceremony and the room erupted into cheers when Jane announced that they had met their target and that they would be able to go ahead with making the repairs necessary to turn the old house into a safe space for the town’s teens. Cheers which turned to whoops and congratulations when bachelor Tyler Carter, whose baking skills – or lack of – rivalled Lacey’s own – stepped up to make a heartfelt speech, culminating in a marriage proposal to his girlfriend, Stacey Allman. Lacey applauded wholeheartedly as Stacey accepted, the couple’s joy palpable as they embraced. Lacey’s gaze slid over to Zac’s and as her eyes met his her heart thumped so audibly she felt as if it must be heard throughout the room.

  The room began to empty but Lacey remained rooted to the spot, immobile, her entire being focused on Zac. He was surrounded, people wanting to thank the bachelors, the press wanting photo ops, but every time she looked over he had a small secret smile just for her. With shaking hands she began to put her camera away, murmuring appropriate responses to the farewells and congratulations as people passed her on their way out.

  She straightened just as Zac finally freed himself from the knot of people. His walk toward her was unhurried but full of intent. He didn’t speak but took her bag, shouldering it as he slipped an arm around her waist and ushered her from the room. He smelt so good, of cinnamon and sugar, of spice and coffee. He smelt like home.

  They stayed silent as they exited the hotel and headed into the parking lot but Zac’s arm was still around her waist. He stopped by a gleaming black station wagon and pressed the key to open it. With a quick nervous look Lacey slid into the passenger side. Zac got in beside her and started the engine.

  “It’s all been going on since you left.” She couldn’t take the silence anymore. “Mrs. Hoffmann has sold her house already. She doesn’t know who, cash buyer who wants a quick sale, but get this: she’s going to move in to Crooked Corner. I was amazed when the aunts told me but actually when I think about it, it makes perfect sense. It also made me realize that I probably need to move on. I can’t live with my aunts forever—much as I love them. And it’s bad enough when I’m in alone with the cat when my aunts are out gallivanting but if it turns out that nonagenarian has a better social life than me I will be utterly crushed. Besides, I spoke to this TV producer today who might have an opening for me. It will mean traveling around Montana and probably spending a couple of days a week in Billings…”

  She faltered to a stop aware that, as usual, her tongue was running away with her and that they were on Bramble Lane already, only Zac hadn’t pulled up at Crooked Corner; instead he had parked opposite Summer House. She shot him a quick glance but his face was shuttered, only his knuckles white on the steering wheel any sign of interior emotion.

  “Take a walk?” he said.

  She looked down at her pumps and thin panty hose. “I’m not really dressed…”

  “Just over there.” He nodded at Summer House and she stared in confusion. “It’s okay. I have a key and Mrs. Hoffmann is spending the rest of the afternoon at Crooked Corner.”

  Lacey nodded mutely and followed him out of the car and across Bramble Lane, up the steps she had walked up just over a week before. The house was as beautiful as she remembered, still in need of life and happiness and more TLC than one person could manage even with an entire team of handymen and yard servicers. “How on earth did you get a key? And why?”

  Zac turned and smiled. “I asked. Come on in, it’s cold.”

  It was odd stepping into somebody else’s home when they weren’t there. Like trespassing. Lacey half expected a security person to jump out and demand they freeze right there. She stood in the hallway and put her hands on her hips. “Zac, what’s going on?”

  “I bought it.”

  Her heart began to hammer. “Bought what?”

  He gestured around. “This, I bought this.”

  “You’re the cash buyer?” She blinked, trying to process the words. “But how? Why?”

  “Because you need to be close to Marietta so I needed a base here. It had to be big enough for me to run my company from here, for half the week at least although I will need to be in San Francisco for a couple of days every week—but if you’re flitting around Montana that works out fine. It also needed to be big enough for you to have an editing room and anything else you need. And this house needs a family. Needs love. Needs real-life people to keep the ghosts company, to set them free.”

  “But… but…” Words were going round and round in her head. Family. Love. “I don’t understand. You need a lodger? Is that what you mean?”

  Zac winced. “I’m going about this all wrong. I was supposed to do this when we got here.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. Lacey stared at it, her mouth dry. “Zac?”

  He stepped close and took her hand. “I know it’s only been a few weeks but when I turned up in Marietta I was a different man. I was afraid to stop long enough to put down any roots, afraid to let anyone in, afraid to love. I’m not afraid anymore. I love you, Lacey. I love that you care so much; I love that your family and your community mean so much to you; I love that you give everything, that you do your all. I love how you can talk to several thousand people and make each listener feel special; I love how you are willing to put yourself on the line and don’t mind how ridiculous it makes you look…”

  “You’re talking about the cookies…”

  A smile curved his mouth. “I love that when you hear someone is in trouble your first instinct is to help; I love that you’re competitive and never give up. I love the way you brighten a room just by being in it; I love listening to you play the piano. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met—inside and out. I know I don’t have a lot to offer. I know I’m stuffy and closed in and don’t always have a lot to say. I know I…”

  Lacey’s heart had swelled so big she thought it might break right out of her. She reached up and laid one hand on his mouth. “You stepped right in to help with a fundraiser that you had no connection with. You saw a boy on the street and knew something was wrong long before his own friends and neighbors did. You made me think about my future and what I need from life. You showed me something was missing, something I was too scared to look for. You make me want to do more, want to be more.”

  Zac took her hand in his, his gaze on hers. “Can you do more, be more with me, Lacey? Could you help me make this house a home? Fill it with love and laughter and happiness once again? I love you, Lacey Hathaway.” He flipped open the box and Lacey swallowed as she looked at the sapphire ring sparkling inside. “Sapphires for your eyes. If you don’t like it…”

  “I love it.”

  “Then will you wear it? Will you do me the greatest honor and agree to be my wife? I promise to always be a better man with you by my side. I promise to love you and cherish you always.”

  Lacey nodded, watching as he slid the ring onto her finger. “Do you promise to let me win at skiing competitions?”

  Zac cupped her face, his eyes full of a love Lacey had never imagined could exist, not for her. “No, I can’t promise you that, but I do promise to do all the baking in this house.”

  “In that case, Zac Malone, I will marry you.” She leaned into his caress, into his kiss, and as she did so it was as if the house and those who had once lived and loved here gave them their blessing and Lacey knew that after a lifetime of searching she had finally come home.


  The End

  You’ll love the next book in the…

  Bachelor Bake-Off series

  Book 1: A Teaspoon of Trouble by Shirley Jump

  Buy now!

  Book 2: A Spoonful of Sugar by Kate Hardy

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  Book 3: Sprinkled with Love by Jennifer Faye

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  Book 4: Baking for Keeps by Jessica Gilmore

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  Book 5: A Recipe for Romance by Lara Van Hulzen

  Buy now!

  View the entire Bachelor Bake-Off series here!

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  About the Author

  An ex au-pair, bookseller, marketing manager and seafront trader, Jessica now works for an environmental charity in York. Married with one daughter, one fluffy dog and two dog-loathing cats she spends her time avoiding housework and can usually be found with her nose in a book. Jessica writes emotional romance with a hint of humour, a splash of sunshine and a great deal of delicious food – and equally delicious heroes.

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