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“I wouldn’t dream of missing it.” I scroll through the official reminders, as my stomach tightens at the timeline. “We get the community center kitchen for five hours tomorrow. No audience or helpers. Just us, eight ovens, with a 3pm deadline. They open the doors at ten.”

“Easy, right?” He glances over. “Just one more day of practice you don’t even need. You got this.”

“Thanks Coach.” I send him a soft smile he misses because he’s staring at the road. I doubt I’d still be here if it wasn’t for him and Clara. Still, I’m nervous as hell. It feels like everything I’ve worked toward has narrowed down to this one pie. It has to be the best possible, most awesome winning pie I’ve ever made. No pressure. It’s time to put up or shut up. There’s no way around it. I swipe to Maya’s messages.

She hasn’t heard from me in a while. Knowing Maya, she probably thinks I’m either dead in a ditch or getting busy in a hayloft.

Maya:

Are you okay? Where TF are you? Just give me a one-word answer before I call your parents and send a posse.

I type as fast as I can before she blows a gasket:

Sorry, cell service is sketchy up here. I’m alive. In the truck. I’m staying at his house. Contest is tomorrow. I haven’t combusted. Yet.

She sends a lightning-fast reply:

Details pls. Have you kissed him? Sharing a bed? I want to know if he snores or just lies there being a six-four mountain man for you to climb.

I glance at Gideon who’s still watching the road with an amused smirk.

Then I proceed to text her the whole story. The dance, Derick watching, the way Gideon’s kiss on the dance floor was supposed to be fake but turned into a five-alarm fire that made me whimper. But I delete it all. It’s too much to explain, especially when I can still feel the ghost of his lips, it’s like they were made for mine.

How do I explain I’m getting turned on just remembering the way his big hand felt curved around my neck when he was kissing me senseless?

Maya:

THE MOUNTAIN MAN FOR THE GOLD!

Me:

No. The pie contest. Getting my career back on track is the prize. Stay with me. Focus. This is serious.

Maya:

I’m on the floor. You’re a woman who’s been through hell. You deserve to have a little fun. Nothing wrong with kissing and dancing. Did he spoon you while you were sleeping?

As heat skips up my neck to my cheeks, I type with my thumbs, and sneak another peek at Gideon’s profile.

No spooning last night. He stayed on his side like a gentleman.

Maya:

Up your game. Wear something that isn’t stained with butter. Stop playing nice and go take the title and the man. Text me again soon and get the deets on the judges. Mrs. Helmsley looks like a piece of work.

I freeze.

How do you know about Mrs. Helmsley?

Maya:

Clara’s bakery Insta story. She tagged you and some of the judges. Good luck with practice today. I’m late for work. Text later.

I close the app.

“Everything okay?” Gideon asks.

“Maya is running a full investigation from Lincoln Park. She’s worried about Mrs. Helmsley.”