“Thanks. But it has now gotten me into this mess. Beth thinks I can do this Bake-Off and I don’t want to let her down.”
“What do you plan to do?”
He shrugged. “I have to learn how to bake.”
“Really?”
Did she have to sound so shocked that he’d attempt to bake? He swallowed his indignation. He hoped when he spoke that his voice didn’t betray him.
“Can you help me? You know…teach me?”
*
Whoa!!!
Jillian had promised herself that she was done helping Avery Wainwright. He was a stubborn man who wanted to do things on his own. A man whose mere presence had devastating consequences to her common sense.
She needed to give him a polite no and walk away. But instead, she found herself standing there giving his request serious consideration. After all, it was for a good cause—
No. No. No.
She couldn’t fall into old patterns, not even for Harry’s House. “I’m sorry, but I can’t. I’ve got this new business. I can’t just skip out and leave Suzanna to manage everything on her own.”
Over Avery’s shoulder she saw Suzanna frowning at her and then signaling for her to go for it. What was up with Suzanna? Her friend knew that if she got involved with Avery again, it would just lead her to disappointment. He was only interested in one thing—the rodeo.
Avery’s eyes pleaded with her. “Please, Jillian. I wouldn’t ask you if it wasn’t important.”
Avery was begging her? She didn’t know what to do about this. It felt kind of good having Avery plead with her. And with every second that he stared at her like that, her resistance was melting.
But would he think of her as anything other than some sort of tutor? She doubted it. If he hadn’t noticed her before, he certainly wasn’t going to notice her now.
Avery pressed his hands to his trim waist. “I know I’m putting you in a tough spot, but I don’t want to let everyone down. Beth says that Harry’s family have already done the paperwork and put up the money to sponsor me.”
“But how did they know you would be home for the Bake-Off?”
“This all happened while I was out of town. As soon as Beth found out about my accident, she phoned Joanie or something like that. I’m a little fuzzy on the details. You know Beth. She talks quickly and skims over details. Anyway, I’m not sure how it all worked out, but I’m officially signed up now.”
“Jillian, you don’t have to worry about the shop,” Suzanna chimed in with a big smile. “I’ve got it.”
Both Suzanna and Avery looked at Jillian with expectant gazes.
“I…I don’t know.” Warring emotions raged within her—common sense versus compassion. “I’ll need to think about it.”
“Oh.” There was definitely a dejected tone in his voice. “I understand.”
Guilt ensued. She stifled it. Why should she always be waiting in the wings when he needed something? Any other time, he didn’t have time for her.
“I’ll let you know,” she said.
“She’ll have an answer for you tomorrow,” Suzanna said and then grinned like a Cheshire cat.
When Avery turned to thank Suzanna for being so understanding, Jillian glared at her best friend. How could she side against her? Suzanna knew about their history and how the whole town was certain after playing house all of those years that she and Avery would eventually marry. But when the kids no longer needed her, she realized that neither did Avery.
He turned back to Jillian. “Thanks. I appreciate you considering it. I know you’ve already done so much for me and my family.”
When he was gone, Jillian turned on Suzanna. “What were you doing?”
“Helping you out.”
“No, you weren’t. You were just making things worse.”
Suzanna sent her a look of disbelief. “And how do you get that?”
“Because you know I swore off that man.”
“What I know is that no other man can live up to the image of Avery that you have stuck in your mind.”
“That’s not true.” Was it? No, of course not. “I’ve been out there dating.”
“Exactly. None of them have stuck around. You broke up with them for one reason or another.”
“That’s not true.” And then she realized that in part it was true. “Glenn was the one who dumped me.”
“And he was a fool.”
“Now that’s something I can agree with you on.”
“So what are you going to do about Avery?”
“If I was smart, I’d give him a polite but firm no.”
“But it’s for a good cause and the whole town is counting on him making a respectable showing.”
Jillian groaned. “Stop. I don’t need you pressuring me.”
“That’s because you already know you want to help him. It’s in your nature. You always help everyone. Look at me.”
“What about you?”
Suzanna rolled her eyes. “Don’t go acting all innocent. You knew I really wanted to go into business with you, but I couldn’t come up with half of the investment so you sold your house to make our dream come true. And I will never be able to repay you—”
“Stop.” Heat rushed to Jillian’s face. She hadn’t done anything that Suzanna wouldn’t have done if the roles had been reversed. “You did me the favor, because I never would have been able to pull this shop off on my own.”
Suzanna busied herself wiping the fingerprints from one of the glass cases. “So as I was saying, you know you will help him. The only question is how long will you hold out until you admit it to yourself?”
Jillian didn’t know. But it wasn’t going to be today. She at least had enough self-respect not to cave as soon as Avery asked.
Chapter Six
The following morning, Jillian placed a coffee cup in the dishwasher. It was her usual Tuesday breakfast at her mother’s house. She wasn’t sure how the tradition had started, but they’d been doing it for years now. They were both so busy that this weekly breakfast was the one time they could catch up over coffee, eggs, and bagels. Jillian’s diet always took a hit, but she knew how much her mother looked forward to the time together.
“Did you get it yet?”
Jillian straightened and turned to her mother. She had absolutely no idea what her mother was talking about. She could only assume she’d forgotten something for the shop’s grand opening week. She just hoped whatever it was that it wasn’t too late to rectify. “Did I get what?”
“Your dress.”
“Dress?” She wasn’t wearing a dress to work, not even for the grand opening of Tangled Charms.
Her mother nodded. “You know, for the wedding.” When Jillian continued to send her mother a puzzled look, her mother added, “Surely you didn’t forget your cousin’s wedding? It’s this weekend.”
“Oh.” Truthfully, she had forgotten about it. She told herself it was all of the last-minute details for the grand opening that had her distracted, but if she was honest with herself, she didn’t want to think about the wedding.
Everyone she knew seemed to be getting married or having babies. And then there was her. The one big disappointment to her mother. She had no man in her life. And no chance of giving her mother a grandbaby. She didn’t even have so much as a dog, cat, or goldfish. There was just her. And her mother routinely fussed over her bare ring finger.
Her mother ran the dishcloth over the table. “I take it by your response that you forgot about the wedding.”
“Something like that.”
“I figured that would happen so I RSVP’d for you. And I included a plus one for you.”
“But I don’t have anyone to go with me.”
“You could always ask Glenn.”
“We broke up.”
Her mother frowned. “I know you did. But why? He seemed so nice.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” It didn’t matter what she said, it wouldn’t erase her mother’s disappointmen
t. “I can just go by myself—”
“No. That won’t work. We don’t want you going all by yourself when all of your friends will be with their significant others. I’ll check and see if one of my friends’ single sons will escort you—”
“No. Don’t.”
Her mother arched a perfectly plucked brow. “Does that mean you have someone special in mind?”
Panic jumbled her thoughts. She just couldn’t have her mother planning out her love life. Once her mother started, she wouldn’t stop. So far, Jillian had managed on her own. “Yes, I do.”
The worry lines etching her mother’s face smoothed. “That’s wonderful. Who is it?”
“I’m not telling you because I haven’t asked him yet.” She didn’t even know who the ‘him’ would be.
Her mother’s whole demeanor became more amenable. “You check with your friend and see if he’s available. I’ll need to know as soon as possible. If your idea doesn’t work, I’ll call my friends.” Her mother glanced at the clock. “Well, I better get moving. I don’t want to be late for work.”
Jillian hustled out the door. She was in serious trouble. If she didn’t come up with her own date, her mother would take it upon herself to make sure she had an escort. It was her mother’s mission to make sure Jillian had a happy, fulfilled life like she’d had with Jillian’s father until a massive heart attack stole him away.
Jillian didn’t have a clue where she’d find a date for the wedding, but there had to be some guy around Marietta who wouldn’t mind some free food and dancing. Right?
It had warmed up since yesterday, melting the snow. Jillian decided it was a good day to walk to work. She was surprised to find how many Marietta residents were out and about. She smiled and waved hello to everyone she passed. She inquired about the health of some and thanked others for their kind words about Tangled Charms.
She also passed some of Marietta’s good-looking men. There was Cormac Sheehan. Definitely a fine-looking man, but taken. And then she passed by Jasper Flint, another Marietta man who was off the market. Where were all of the single guys this morning?
Probably hiding because they’d heard that her mother was out to set her up on a date. Jillian couldn’t blame them. In her experience, being set up on a date was the worst. There had to be one man who was gallant enough to ride to her rescue. But who?
By the time Jillian entered the shop, she was frowning. She hadn’t thought of any candidates. All she’d succeeded in doing was giving herself a headache.
“Good morning.” Suzanna’s face lit up with a smile.
“Morning.” Jillian rubbed her forehead.
“Whoa. What’s wrong with you?”
“My mother.”
“What has she done now?”
Jillian held up a finger to get Suzanna to wait. She headed straight for the coffee pot and poured herself a cup. Then she rummaged around in her purse until she found a bottle of painkillers. She popped a couple aspirin in her mouth and swallowed them down with coffee. She choked, realizing that she’d forgotten the milk and sweetener.
Her mind was scattered. As the years passed by, her mother was getting more assertive about finding Jillian a husband. She didn’t actually say husband, but Jillian knew it was her mother’s ultimate goal.
“Are you okay?” Suzanna sent her a concerned look.
“Just forgot the sweetener.” Jillian checked to make sure they were alone. “My mother is trying to set me up, again.”
Suzanna got a big grin on her face.
“This isn’t funny,” Jillian ground out.
Suzanna struggled to maintain a straight face, but the amusement reflected in her green eyes. “And who’s the lucky guy?”
“I don’t think she cares as long as I have a date in time for my cousin’s wedding.”
“Oh. I see.” Suzanna turned the closed sign in the window to open.
“Why are you so amused by all of this? If your mother were to do this to you, I don’t think you’d be amused at all.”
“True. But thankfully my mother is remarried and living in Seattle. I think I’m pretty safe from her meddling.” Suzanna moved behind the jewelry counter and started to switch on all of the display lights. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. Would you believe my mother has me so worried over what she might do that I evaluated every man I passed on the way to work for their dating qualifications.”
“And did you find any potential dates?”
“No. They were either too old or too young or too married.”
“What about Avery—”
“No!” Jillian glowered at her best friend.
“But—”
“Suzanna, you of all people know that he’s completely off limits to me.”
“Listen, I know he hurt you, but I thought you said you were past it.”
“I am. That’s why I don’t want to ask him on a date.”
“Who said it has to be a real date? Couldn’t it just be two friends hanging out together?”
“Really?” Jillian sent her a disbelieving look. “At a wedding, with my mother and the rest of my family? How’s that going to work?”
Suzanna shrugged. “Well, I’m out of ideas. Let me know who you come up with.”
This was just great. Not even her best friend could think of a respectable date for her. Because she was never ever going to walk up to Avery and ask him to be her plus one to this wedding. There had to be a better solution. She just had to give it some more thought.
*
He was bored.
How was that possible?
Not so long ago, there weren’t enough hours in the day for everything he needed to accomplish. Now the house was empty, but his knee refused to cooperate so that he could work at the Crooked S. Other than physical therapy a few mornings a week, he had absolutely no pressing matters. For the first time in forever, he could do as he pleased.
Avery stared at the kitchen wall where he’d just finished removing the ivory tile backsplash that had been there all of his life. It was in desperate need of updating. In fact, the whole kitchen needed updating, including the floor.
He wasn’t supposed to be standing on his leg for long stretches, but he at least wanted to get the backsplash installed. When he’d been home previously, he’d painted the walls from a sunny yellow to a muted mossy green with white trim. The new stainless steel appliances were ordered. It’d taken him nearly a year now, but soon the whole house would be remodeled.
The thought of selling the house had crossed his mind, but just as quickly, he dismissed it. The house was the last tangible connection to his parents. And as he’d already played a part in his parents’ death, he wouldn’t take anything else from his siblings. After fixing the house up, he could wash his hands of it and hand it over to his sister.
“Murr…” Marshmallow strolled into the kitchen. She sat down next to the kitchen table and let out a big yawn.
Avery smiled and shook his head. “It looks like you had a rough day.”
She walked over to him and rubbed against his legs. He bent over and scratched behind her ear. “Is this your way of letting me know it’s dinnertime?”
She glanced up at him and murred.
Avery checked the clock to find out that it was well past dinnertime. He grabbed a tin of cat food from under the counter. In no time, Marshmallow was devouring her meal.
Just then his phone rang. His first thought was that it was Jillian. At last, she’d decided to give him an answer. He knew he’d just asked her the day before, but if she wouldn’t help him, he had to find someone who would mentor him. So far, he hadn’t come up with any possibilities.
He pressed a button on his phone. Before he could get a word out, he heard Beth say, “Did you ask her?”
No hello or any other sort of greeting from his sister. It was typical for him to feel as though he’d just stepped into the middle of a conversation when Beth got excited about something.
Ev
er since his younger sister went off to college, she made it a point to keep tabs on him. It was as though their roles had been reversed. And then there was his brother who took off for the military and rarely phoned home.
Avery knew what his sister was asking—if he’d talked to Jillian about the Bake-Off. He hesitated, not liking being pushed.
“Avery?” Beth’s tone held a note of impatience. “You did ask Jillian to help you, didn’t you?”
He inhaled a deep breath and counted to five before he answered. “I did.”
“And?”
Marshmallow finished eating and jumped up on the table. She wasn’t allowed up there, but just like Beth, the cat didn’t listen to him all that often. The cat head-butted his hand until he started to pet her. And then a loud purr emanated from her.
He turned his attention back to the other insistent female in his life. “Did anyone ever accuse you of being pushy?”
“Yes. You. Now spill. What did she say?”
“Nothing.” He hadn’t heard a word from Jillian since he’d asked her to help him. He took the silence as her answer. She’d done enough for his family and she didn’t want to do any more.
“What do you mean nothing? She had to say something.”
He raked his fingers through his hair. “Beth, would you quit pushing this? Besides, I’m the big brother; I’m the one who is supposed to be asking the questions. So how are classes going?”
“Don’t change the subject. What did Jillian say?”
He might as well answer her, because he knew Beth wouldn’t let up until he did. “She said she needed to think about it.”
“And when was this?”
“Really? You’re going to keep grilling me?”
“Yes,” Beth said matter-of-factly. “When did you speak to her?”
“Yesterday. Now I’m done answering your questions,” he grouched. At that point, Marshmallow decided to make a quick exit. Perhaps his voice had been a bit harsh. He made a point of speaking in a less hostile tone. “Don’t you have a test to study for or some such thing?”
“Actually, I just finished. I’m walking back to my dorm room from the library.” She paused as though she’d just thought of something.
Sprinkled with Love Page 5