The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap

by Kauffman, Donna; Angell, Kate; Kincaid, Kimberly

  “Wait, Lily, I—”

  “No, I think you got it exactly right.” While her words carried more honesty than heat, they punched through the quiet all the same. “We really can’t. I can’t get distracted. There’s too much at stake.”

  For a split second, Pete wanted to argue with her, to tell her no win, no prestige, no money was worth how good she’d just felt coming undone in his arms.

  But she was right. They were competitors, both with their eye on the same prize and neither one willing to give an inch. Any time they spent together other than for the cameras was just going to destroy their concentration, no matter how compatible their work habits were.

  Or how hot their chemistry.

  Pete blanked his expression and his voice to match. “I suppose you’re right.”

  This was the smart play, no matter how bitter the rest tasted. “I guess we’re done here, then,” he said, taking one last glance at her before letting her walk away.

  Pete stood by the curved staircase in the resort lobby, taking in the tastefully decorated fifteen-foot Douglas fir and blazing stone fireplaces with tired eyes. The last thirty hours, complete with intensive kitchen sessions, personal interview spots, and last-minute recipe prep for tomorrow’s elimination round, had demanded every ounce of energy he could muster. The remaining fumes went toward necessities, like brewing enough coffee to jump-start a town full of zombies and making sure he had pants on when he left his suite.

  And thinking about Lily, which—much to his chagrin—outranked both of the above.

  Although they had one more scheduled camera session at tonight’s charity event, Pete was certain Lily would politely bow out, not that he could really blame her. He hadn’t caught even a glimpse of her since she’d left their joint session yesterday morning, which should be a good thing. After all, the crown jewel of pastry chef positions was within his reach. All he had to do was stay focused on winning, and he could kiss his rigid boss and her even more rigid rules good-bye.

  Now if he could just convince his body to stop double-crossing his brain with an endless supply of reminders from the hottest kiss of his life, he’d be all freaking set.

  “Ready for tonight’s fundraiser, Chef?” Chase Bishop’s voice knocked Pete firmly from la-la land as the host approached him with a genuine smile, and he reset his focus for the umpteenth time today.

  “Sure.” Pete returned Chase’s gesture with his standard half-grin. “And you can call me Pete. You know, since there are no cameras rolling yet.”

  Chase held up his palms with a chuckle. “Hard habit to break, I guess. Hey, speaking of cameras, I meant to thank you and Ms. Callahan for agreeing to do another spotlight together. The first one is still pulling in steady numbers.” He pitched his voice lower, shifting casually to close off their conversation. “Just between me and you, Delectable magazine has expressed interest in doing online coverage leading up to the final round.”

  Surprise ricocheted through Pete’s veins. “Are you serious?”

  Delectable was a hip, up-and-coming publication popular with both foodies and culinary professionals alike. Getting a mention was a big deal, but an entire spread on their website? It was a pastry chef’s wildest dream.

  “We’re still finalizing the details, so it’s pretty hush-hush. But since the first spot with you and Ms. Callahan was so popular, you two might want to brush up on your smiles.”

  Pete froze, despite the warmth and merry bustle in the lobby. “You think they’d keep us together even after tonight?”

  “I think they’ll give everyone equal consideration,” Chase said, honesty blanketing his words. “But I also think they’ve seen the same numbers I have. I know what I’d do.”

  Unease trickled through him like cold dishwater in a sponge. Okay, yes, an online magazine spread like this was a crazy-good opportunity, one Pete would be insane to pass up. But . . . “To be honest, I’m not sure that would be the best idea.”

  “No?” The surprise covering Chase’s face was complete, and Pete plowed on before he lost his nerve and recanted.

  “It’s not that I wouldn’t want to.” So far, so good there. Christ, he couldn’t believe he was about to opt out of this. At least he’d make up for it when he won. “I’m just not sure Lily would feel the same way, and I wouldn’t want her to feel uncomfortable about it.”

  “Wouldn’t want me to feel uncomfortable about what?”

  Pete swung his gaze toward the grand curve of the staircase at his back just in time to see Lily descend the last two steps, brows upturned. Her blond hair shone gold against the firelight in the soft glow of the lobby, dusting the shoulders of her red sweater as she fixed him with a wide-open expression that hit him right in the solar plexus.

  God, she was beautiful.

  Thankfully, Chase saved Pete’s bacon by actually forming intelligible words. “We were just talking about the spotlight,” he said, shuffling the subject ever so slightly. “The event committee is really grateful you both agreed to be filmed together at tonight’s coffee and dessert to benefit School Days.”

  Lily gave Chase a polite smile. “Well, it’s a great program. Having lived here my whole life, I know there are lots of working parents who need a safe place for their kids to go after school. And asking the remaining contestants to serve the cookies from today’s baking session is brilliant.”

  Apparently, Pete hadn’t filled his surprise quota for the day. “Tonight’s fundraiser is for School Days?”

  “Yes.” Chase’s brow dipped in concern even though his smile didn’t budge. “Didn’t one of the event planners review it with you? It should’ve been in your packet.”

  Damn it, he knew he’d forgotten something. Who knew there’d be something of actual importance in there? “Oh, right. It must’ve slipped my mind. But Lily’s right. It’s a great idea.”

  Chase nodded, his expression back in happy-host territory. “We’re glad we could help raise money by sponsoring the event. Speaking of which, I’d better get out to the community center for some last-minute preparations. See you two there.”

  Chase made his way through the throng of guests sipping hot toddies and enjoying the Christmas carols being played by the pianist. The ski trails, visible through the huge expanse of windows across the back of the room, popped bright white against the velvety darkness of the mountains beyond. The scene was cozy despite all the people milling about, and it chipped away at the tension knotted in Pete’s shoulders.

  As soon as Chase was well out of earshot, Lily said, “I owe you an apology for storming off yesterday. It wasn’t very professional of me.”

  The taut pull that had just left Pete’s body threatened a comeback at the look on her face, but he refused to give it its due.

  She’d been straight up about her past, and while he knew he couldn’t return the favor, he owed it to her to at least tell the truth about the here and now.

  “You don’t owe me an apology, Lily. I was there, too. If anything, I should apologize to you for being out of line. I know you have a lot riding on the competition, and I’m sorry if I distracted you.”

  She blinked, and the soft firelight reflecting against her deep blue eyes made them sparkle. “What do you think? Truce? Until tomorrow, anyway.”

  “Truce,” he agreed, tipping his head toward the main entrance. “Come on, I’ll even give you a ride to the community center. You’ve never really lived until you’ve hit slushy side roads in a Jeep.”

  “Wow. You sure know how to impress a girl.” Her tone might’ve carried all the by-the-book seriousness as usual, but there was no denying the hint of a sexy smile on her bow-shaped mouth.

  Oh, this was going to be a long night.

  “That’s nothing,” he said, opting for humor over heat. They’d just called a truce, for God’s sake. “If you’re really lucky, we might find a slippery parking lot on the way. I don’t mean to brag, but I was the donut king at Parkview High School.”

  “No thank you. The only
donuts I do are in the kitchen.” She slid into a navy-blue coat that nearly matched the color of her stare, buttoning the thing all the way up to her chin, and he pulled back, surprised at her overly stern demeanor. But then that tiny whisper of a smile blossomed fully over her lips, bubbling up into a hot-as-hell laugh as she turned toward the door.

  “Oh, relax Mancuso, I’m only kidding. Stop by the parking lot behind the hardware store on your way to the community center, and I’ll show you the best stretch of unplowed asphalt in Pine Mountain.”

  Chapter 7

  It was a good thing Pine Mountain Community Center had a public bathroom, because by the time Lily and Pete rushed through the main entrance, she was fairly certain she’d reached her holding-it limit from all the laughter.

  “I told you it would work just as well in four-wheel drive once you turned off the stability control,” she said, feeling the resulting ache in her side as she nudged him. It had been ages since she’d done donuts in a snowy parking lot, even though they racked up tons of powder every winter.

  Come to think of it, it had been ages since she’d laughed like that, too.

  “Okay, okay. You were right.” Pete helped her out of her coat, hanging it carefully in the entryway closet before following suit with his own. “Do I even want to know where you learned to drive like that?”

  “I went to high school too, you know. Only we have a lot more snow and open space out here in the hinterlands.” The smell of brewing coffee mingled with the muted chatter from down the corridor, warming Lily’s spirit even further. While she loved all the holiday celebrations in Pine Mountain, there was something extra comforting about Christmastime in the small community. Her mood was so pleasantly joyful that when Pete extended his elbow in offering, she twined her arm around his without a second thought as they headed to the main hall.

  “Yeah, I have to be honest, being at the resort for the last couple of days has opened my eyes a little. I don’t think I ever noticed how nice it is up here this time of year,” Pete admitted.

  Lily drew back to look at him, confused. “But you’ve lived here for five years now, haven’t you?”

  He paused, but then ironed out the hitch with a shrug. “Sure, but I’m not really around much. Between the commute and the hours, the only thing I really have time for when I’m here is sleep.”

  “So why live all the way out in the Blue Ridge? I mean, you grew up in Philly, right? And the back and forth has to be hellish.” Of course, Lily was biased when it came to her hometown. She loved everything about Pine Mountain, from the quaint row of shops on Main Street to the larger-scale grandeur of the ski resort. She’d heard whisperings when Pete first moved here that he had a sister who lived in Riverside. But even so, Lily couldn’t make sense of Pete living here if he had a great job in the city.

  “It’s a long story, and not nearly as good as the cookies we’re about to serve up. After you.”

  Lily blinked, startled to already be at the entrance to the community center’s main meeting room. “Oh, thanks.”

  “Lily! Pete! I’m so glad you’re both here.” The director of the community center made her way over with a grin.

  “Hi Marianna.” Lily greeted the woman with a smile and a hug. “It looks like some of the roads are finally clearing from last week’s storm. This place is packed.” She gestured to the busy room, dotted with tables draped in red and green and jam-packed with townspeople and resort staff.

  “It doesn’t hurt that Shane Griffin and Jackson Carter offered to personally clear anyone’s driveway in exchange for a donation,” Marianna said, tipping her head at Pine Mountain’s local mechanic and his super-sized contractor buddy.

  “Nice,” Lily agreed. “What do you need us to do?”

  “Chase and I thought it would be fun to have the contestants team up with some of the local kids to serve our guests. As you can see, we’ve sold every seat in the house, so you guys will be on your toes.”

  “We’re kind of used to that,” Pete said, and heck if his provocative little half-smile didn’t have a perfectly charming counterpart.

  Was he trying to kill her? It was bad enough she’d lost control and initiated that kiss the other day. And now, despite the fact that Pete had been the one to put an end to their steamy lip-lock, all Lily could think about was doing it again. And again. And . . .

  Marianna’s grin snapped Lily’s focus back to the matter at hand. “It’s good news for us, since all the proceeds from tickets go directly to getting School Days up and running. Still, feel free to talk up additional donations. We need all the help we can get.”

  Concern pinched at Lily. “Are you still having trouble raising enough money to kick off in the New Year?” she asked, taking the red-and-white striped apron their hostess offered and passing the more masculine dark green one to Pete.

  “We’re doing our best,” she said, but the tight lines beneath her smile were evident. “Anyway, tonight is about fun. And fame, apparently.” Marianna pointed to the camera crew making their way across the room, her expression becoming more relaxed. “I’ve got to get back to the guests, but thanks again for helping out.”

  The camera crew descended upon Lily and Pete in a flurry of quick moves and expensive equipment, testing the lighting and reminding them to act natural just like they had the other day. Lily tamped down a snort at the possibility, surveying the room as a tech fiddled with a camera that probably cost as much as Lily’s car.

  “Is that . . . mistletoe?” she asked, adjusting her glasses to make sure she was seeing properly. No less than fifty bunches of dark green leaves hung around the spacious room, suspended by fat, red ribbons

  “Oh, yeah. The stuff is everywhere. Apparently some of the locals thought it would be fun.” The tech shrugged.

  “I’ll just bet they did,” Lily muttered. God, this was the only thing she hated about living in a small town. But what could she expect? Pine Mountain thrived on juicy news, and everyone there had to have seen that video clip of her and Pete winning. And kissing.

  Wait a second . . .

  Ducking the attention of the crew as they finalized their setup, Lily turned toward Pete, whose brow lifted in direct proportion with her growing smile.

  “That’s a hell of a look you’ve got on your face, Blondie. I’m not sure if I should be intrigued or run for cover.” He shifted toward her, green eyes warm and sparkling with mischief, and yeah, this would be perfect.

  “Tell me something, Chef. Exactly how far are you willing to go in the name of charity?”

  Pete had never been a fan of traditional kitchen wear, but he was suddenly grateful as hell for the swath of thick green fabric knotted around his hips. Who knew something as simple as a Christmas apron would save him from announcing to a roomful of people that the woman next to him was driving him mad?

  “You sure about this?” he asked, although he had to admit, her plan was nothing short of brilliant. The fact that it would put them right back in the spotlight didn’t seem to bother her.

  Nor did the prospect of how they’d get there.

  “I wouldn’t have suggested it otherwise.” Lily squared her slim shoulders. “If Shane and Jackson can clear driveways all in the name of charity, a couple of very public run-ins beneath the mistletoe is the least we can do.”

  Unsure whether he should be offended by her clinical approach or aroused at the prospect of kissing her again, Pete decided to split the difference with some cool nonchalance. “Nice to see there are some rules you’re willing to bend for a good cause.”

  “It’s perfectly within the boundaries of the rules.” Lily scooped up a tray full of iced sugar cookies, but not before he caught the pink tinge climbing up her cheeks. “We’re simply doing the assigned video segment. This just gives School Days some good press on top of it. And if even half the people scoping out our Internet clips make a small donation as a result, it’ll be worth it.” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “We should probably come up with a schedule. Y
ou know, so we meet up often enough under the mistletoe.”

  Pete laughed. Even her spontaneity had a plan. “Lily, the stuff is everywhere. Why don’t we just wing it?” He cut off the protest brewing on her lips. “Just for the sake of keeping it natural?”

  Her brow curved in thought. “Oh. I guess that makes sense.”

  Pete subtly checked his apron, half-certain that all the fabric on the planet wasn’t going to hide how badly he wanted to do a test run on one of those kisses, sans audience. “See you under the mistletoe, Blondie.”

  They separated, weaving their way through the crowd. The setting was festive and comfortable, just like at the resort, and it smoothed out the unspoken tension of tomorrow’s impending elimination round.

  The sight of Lily putting her arm around a young blond girl with a snowman-print apron as they passed out cookies together didn’t hurt. She looked so in her element, handing out sweets and laughing with the recipients, that it made joining in easy and inviting.

  Pete moved from table to table, talking up the locals he knew and introducing himself to those he didn’t. He knew he should play it cool and hang back a few more minutes so their little publicity stunt didn’t seem contrived, but the prospect of kissing Lily again had him gravitating toward her before he could stop himself.

  Then, out of the corner of his eye, Pete caught a glimpse of someone leaning against the wall, sticking to the shadows. The kid looked smack in the middle of puberty, definitely no longer a boy, but not quite a full-on teen. His brown hair was just a shade too long, his threadbare sweatshirt just a bit too small, and everything about him hollered at Pete like a drill sergeant, forcing his feet temporarily off course.

  “Hi,” Pete said, blending into the background next to the kid like a pro. The boy sent a look of both disdain and curiosity in Pete’s direction before he finally shrugged.

  “Hey.”