Lily dismissed her with a wave of her hand. “If you had any idea how many airline miles I have, you wouldn’t worry about it for another second. I’m just glad to help, and I hope I’m part of your big love story when it’s all said and done. Be sure to tell your future children how I made it possible for you two to get together.”
Carly packed a couple of extra t-shirts and zipped up her overnight bag. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. But seriously, thank you, Lil. I am scared to death, but I couldn’t do this without you.”
Zipping off on a moment’s notice with no plan was completely out of character, but so was falling for Michael Welch. What could she do, ask him to come back home with her? She couldn’t ask him to drop out of his own show to come back and work at a bakery. The only real way they could be together would be if she found work in Los Angeles and moved there to be with him. Maybe it was time to branch out and open another bakery or start teaching classes. She’d be leaving a lot behind, but her skills allowed her to work anywhere that people ate cake. Things were getting deep, but she’d figure everything out as she went.
• • •
Carly had no idea how to find Michael’s apartment or wherever he was living when she reached L.A., but she knew where he worked. Cursing herself for not sucking it up and asking someone from his shop for his number, she pushed through the heavy revolving door at Cuisine Network. When she’d gratefully accepted Lily’s offer of airline miles and taken off without a second thought, it seemed like a romantic idea, like something they could tell their grandchildren about one day. Now, here in the cold reality of what she’d done, showing up unannounced just felt stupid. What if he wasn’t working today? Worse, what if he didn’t want to see her? The lobby buzzed with activity, as uniformed crewmen and suit-clad executives crossed the marble floor at breakneck speeds. She seemed to be the only person here who didn’t know exactly where to go. The reception desk sat at the end of the lobby, a beacon of calm in the sea of scrambling people.
Knowing she couldn’t turn back without at least trying to find him, she approached the reception desk. An older man with kind, watery blue eyes looked up from his bank of screens and raised his eyebrows in greeting.
“Good afternoon, I’m looking for someone who works on a show here. Well, it’s not actually a show yet; it’s a pilot. And I don’t know what it’s called.” Crap. Now what? “And I don’t know if they’re shooting here or out on location, or done already,” she rambled until the man put his hand up to stop her.
“Do you know this mystery man’s name, at least, young lady?” he teased her, his voice was tinged with amusement.
“Yes. Michael Welch.” Glad she had one piece of information, she stood up a little straighter, glancing around the beautifully decorated lobby as the man scanned the information on his computer screen.
“You’re in luck, my dear. Mr. Welch is indeed here today, and they are shooting in Studio Seven.” He pointed across the lobby toward a walkway. “It’s a closed set, but perhaps you can speak with the receptionist over there and leave a message.”
“Great, thank you so much.” She was jittery, practically vibrating with excitement and nerves.
After he entered her in the visitor’s log, she followed his directions, heart racing, toward the studio. As she darted between the people crowding the lobby, she mentally rehearsed what she’d say when she found Michael. Now that the moment was close, reality hovered over her, threatening to crash. He had managed to go from being a thorn in her side to the man she couldn’t stop thinking of. Telling him that she’d fallen for him would require major guts—something she didn’t count among her strengths. With any luck, emotion would carry her through the moment, and she’d be able to share her feelings without humiliating herself. How he would react was a whole other mystery, one she hadn’t given much thought to when she was throwing her overnight bag together and heading out of town on the first flight she could book. No time to worry now. Studio Seven was right in front of her.
Chapter Fourteen
“I’ve got good news and bad news, Michael.” Craig Greenfield, an Around the World staffer, leaned against the studio set counter and sipped from a cup of steaming coffee.
“Give it to me.” Michael drank his own coffee, wincing as his too-big gulp scorched his throat. He dropped onto one of the prop barstools and tried to project an air of confidence. Bad news at this stage couldn’t be anything he wanted to hear, but knowing that appearance was everything, he hid his apprehension.
“We looked over the footage you shot the other day, and the good news is that the camera loves you. We’re still confident that we made the right choice in picking you for this show. You’ve got that special something that we look for in our hosts.”
“That sounds great so far.” Afraid he sounded too hearty, too bright, he sipped his coffee and let the executive continue.
“So, here’s the bad news.” Craig blew out a long breath. “The show is boring as hell. I’m sorry to have to say that, but there’s no way around it.” He held up his hands in surrender.
Boredom was the kiss of death. If Michael were honest, he’d say the same thing. Even as he was filming, he knew the content was tepid regardless of how charming he managed to be.
“People aren’t going to tune in to watch you bake and decorate a cake. They can get recipes anywhere, and not even your good looks are enough to get people to give up their reality show fixes.” The executive laughed at his little joke. “But it’s not all bad news. We believe in this project, so we’ve brainstormed some ways to fix it.”
Okay, so it wasn’t all over. At least they were willing to put a little more time into it before trashing the pilot and sending him on his way. “Cool, what do you have in mind?”
“First, and probably most important, we think you need a co-host. The most appealing parts of your Sugar Shock footage are the scenes with you and Carly Piper. We’ve got someone we like for the spot coming in today, and we hope that will help a lot. You’ve just got to pray that there’s an ounce of the same chemistry between you and the new girl as there was between you and Ms. Piper.”
A co-host was probably a good idea. He’d heard it before, and he’d learned his lesson last time after stubbornly insisting that he be the sole star of his own show. Once the sting of shooting his doomed pilot had worn off, he’d recognized that he’d work better as half of a duo. But he and Carly were magic together, and no random girl they brought in to work with him would match with him as perfectly. Maybe they could fake it, make it look good for the cameras. It wouldn’t be like the Sugar Shock episodes, but he hoped it would come off as good enough.
“That sounds fine. Anything else?”
“Assuming that the co-host works out, we think a lot of the excitement necessary to carry the show will come out when we pump up the content to jive more with the original concept. We cut corners to save money on the pilot, but we can’t sell the show with Sugar Shock footage and a generic Valentine’s Day cake like we’d hoped. We’d love to showcase your favorite recipes on the show’s website, but the episode cakes have to be more like your trademark Michael Welch designs and less like a cake-baking clinic.”
In a nutshell, the only thing that was right about the show was that he was handsome enough to be on television. His cake was generic, the footage was boring, and the recipe was too commonplace to sell advertising. If they were going to turn it around, the co-host had to be one hell of a looker. Confidence was everything, so he went with it.
“Sounds great. When can I meet her?”
“She’s in hair and makeup now, so it should be any minute. Whenever she’s done, we’ll get some test shots. She seems like a natural, and I think you’re really going to like her.”
That was fast. He couldn’t expect to audition actresses alongside the producers, but if the whole idea was to find someone he’d have amazing Carly-level chemistry with, he’d think they’d want a little input from him. It was just another reminder that he was
n’t in charge. His name was on the show, but only because they put it there. Time to play ball.
A stunning blonde approached, high heels clicking on the studio floor’s smooth surface with each confident step of her mile-long legs. A scarlet dress hugged every inch of her body, highlighting the undeniable fact that she was virtually flawless. As she got closer, the perfection in her features didn’t fade, but became more pronounced. She threw a dazzling smile at the executive and stretched a perfectly manicured hand toward Michael.
They shook hands, and he was struck by how soft her skin was. Her practiced smile revealed perfectly straight, television-white teeth, probably veneers. “You must be Michael Welch. I’m a huge fan. I remember you from your season of Sugar Shock and seriously love your cake designs. I’m Kaitlin Myers, and it’s so nice to meet you.”
“You too, Kaitlin. Nice to have you on board.” Her eyes were an unusual turquoise, fringed by lashes too long and lush to be natural. She must be wearing colored contacts.
“Kaitlin’s background is in modeling, and she’s getting started in television. She’s clearly not a chef, but she’s definitely talented. It’ll be interesting to see how you two interact on set.” The executive swept a meaningful look at her miniscule waistline. “We’re thinking that she’ll really shine on the show’s travel segments more than anything, and maybe it’ll help to have someone to talk to besides the camera when you’re filming the decorating portions.”
“Hey, I’m willing to do whatever it takes.” Michael injected his voice with enthusiasm, but he worried that adding Kaitlin to the show just for eye candy wasn’t going to enhance the content. Women formed the majority of this kind of show’s audience, and he couldn’t imagine many wanted to watch some random blonde stand around while he made cakes she wouldn’t eat. With any luck, she’d at least be interesting or charming.
“Great, so let’s get some test promo shots today. It’s a little backwards, I know, since we don’t have any film footage with the two of you, but we’re hammering out details to get you out on location. We’re going to redo pretty much everything, but we’ll use the cake-baking and decorating footage for the website, so it’s not a waste.”
He led Michael and Kaitlin to a photo shoot set in the studio, where they posed against a generic background, the network logo, and a mock-up of Around the World in Thirteen Cakes’s logo. Kaitlin was clearly skilled in her profession, requiring minimal direction. She laughed, smiled adoringly, and playfully wrung Michael’s neck for the camera. Every shot was designed to make them look like old friends and perfect partners. He went along with it, but felt nothing for the gorgeous blonde putting her hands all over him. When they finished and headed toward the studio set kitchen to shoot sample tape, it was a relief to be back in his wheelhouse.
Behind the counter, Michael loosened up and turned on the charm. He ran through the generic cooking-show dialogue they’d prepared, tossing questions and comments at Kaitlin as she tittered and stood by looking like she’d never been in a kitchen before. She flashed a mega-watt smile at the camera when appropriate, and looked what she probably thought was adorably confused as he talked about baking.
It was clear why the network chose her. Kaitlin would be goofy and self-deprecating enough so that the women who watched their show would like her. Any men who stumbled onto the channel would be easy enough to snare. Her legs went on for miles, her face was the kind most guys would like to wake up next to, and she had doe-eyed adoration down to a science. It could be a slam dunk but for one small problem. There was nothing happening between them. Not even the hint of a spark. Nothing. He touched her arm and delivered precooked dialogue, knowing that he’d feel nothing but trying for that familiar coziness the network was looking for.
They wanted Carly-and-Michael chemistry, that special something that happens once in a lifetime. They weren’t going to find it between Michael and Kaitlin, but maybe it would translate differently on television. His heart wasn’t in it, though, and the longer he stood on set with her laughing at his jokes and batting her eyelashes, the more he wished she were Carly.
He didn’t want a tall blonde with perfect hair and teeth. He wanted peachy skin, wild gorgeous hair, and wicked sense of humor. Kaitlin likely made him look good on camera, but Carly made him a better man. He wanted the perfect fit and the crackling chemistry, not the manufactured beauty and impeccable timing of some model-slash-actress.
• • •
Carly took a deep, steadying breath outside Studio Seven. The receptionist had recognized her name from Sugar Shock and gave her a pass to visit the set, so the only thing stopping her was nerves. Heart-pounding, sweat-inducing nerves. She ran her fingers through her hair, wishing that she’d found a ladies’ room and freshened up before bolting down to the studio. Not that fresh makeup and perfect hair would win his heart if he wasn’t interested. He’d seen her made up for television, first thing waking up in the morning, and everything in between. And after that one crazy night, he’d pretty much seen everything there was to see.
She peeked through the tiny window on the door leading into the studio, ready to push the handle and walk in, ready to get out of her own way for once and take charge of her happiness. What she saw stopped her internal pep talk in its tracks. A beautiful blonde woman was draped over Michael, smiling at a man in a suit as she laughed at his jokes. She clearly adored him, and Carly knew she’d waited too long. He didn’t belong to her anymore. He belonged with a beautiful, perfect woman like the one playfully slapping his shoulder on the other side of the door. Her trip to L.A. was nothing more than a fantasy that had gotten out of hand. She ripped the paper “visitor” sticker off her shirt and tossed it in the garbage as she rushed down the hall and far away from Studio Seven.
• • •
Kaitlin sashayed out of the studio, leaving Michael alone with Craig, who watched until she was out of sight. “Pretty great, huh?” The executive sat at the bar, like they were old friends talking in Michael’s kitchen.
“She’s beautiful, and she’s clearly up for the job. She should be great on camera if today was any indication. I didn’t feel a spark, though. That’s what you were hoping for, right? That certain zing?”
“Out of the candidates we looked at, she’s our best bet. I didn’t see anyone else who came close, and I don’t think we have time to run through the other ladies to see if you click with any of them.”
“But if there’s no chemistry, there’s no chemistry, right?”
“Michael, I’ll be straight with you. The show isn’t going to fly with you on your own. That’s a foregone conclusion, and we need to accept that. We didn’t see it at first, but your appeal this time around comes from how charming you were with Carly. If we don’t recreate that with another woman, I don’t see the show getting picked up.”
“Wouldn’t the best candidate at least know something about cake? It didn’t seem like Kaitlin had ever seen the inside of a kitchen before.”
To his relief, the other man laughed. “You got me there. I’d love to have someone like Carly for your co-host, but to be honest, most actresses and models aren’t also accomplished cake designers, and vice versa.”
“So the best person for the job is Carly Piper, but we don’t have her.” He raked a hand across his face and mimed a thoughtful expression. “What if I could get her?”
The executive leaned back, a disbelieving smile spreading across his face. “Well, then that would clearly solve all our problems.”
“All right. Don’t make any moves until you hear from me then. I’ll see what I can do.”
“I’d be happy to call and make her an offer, get her to come out and test.”
“Carly’s special. She deserves a personal touch. I’m going to go get her.”
• • •
Michael drummed his fingertips against the scratchy tweed of the couch in his temporary apartment as he waited for Rusty Grainger to answer the phone. “Hey, Rusty, it’s Michael.”
“Hey man, what’s happening?” Rusty’s hearty greeting reassured him that his disappearance from the wedding hadn’t hampered their budding friendship.
“I have a huge favor to ask, so you’ll have to trust me, but I think you’re going to like what happens if my plan works out.” He took a swig from a cold bottle of Amber Wolf lager and continued. “If I could promise you that something great will happen, even though it hasn’t yet, could you convince Sequoia to take Carly off the groom’s cake?”
“I don’t know, man, she’s pretty set on keeping her intentions pure, you know, staying honest. She’s helped Carly a lot to get through the breakup, so she knows how sad she is. I doubt she’d be very eager to do anything that could hurt her more.”
Carly needed help to get through the breakup? More reason to think that his plan would work. “I’m going to win Carly back, whatever it takes, so you can tell her that. I want to do the cake myself and surprise her when I show up in town.”
“That might work. If you’re sure that showing up would be a welcome surprise, I guess Sequoia might be okay with it. I know she’d be glad to see you two back together.”
“I’m telling you, man, I’ll do everything in my power to make sure it’s a welcome surprise. So, just assure her that Carly will be okay once she sees the reason for being taken off the groom’s cake. Have Sequoia give her a healing crystal or something. I’ll be in town before you know it, and everything will be in motion.”
“How can you be so sure she’ll take you back, man? I haven’t spent as much time with her as Sequoia has, but even I can tell that she is one sad little lady. You really did a number on her heart.”
“Because when it’s right, it’s right, and I’m not ready to admit defeat. If she turns me down, it won’t be because I’m not completely devoted to her. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make her happy.”
“I’ll see what I can do, bro, but Sequoia’s usually pretty set in her beliefs. I’ll try my best, but I’d suggest you get your ass back to Dallas as quick as you can. Make it happen.” He could hear the smile in Rusty’s voice.
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