Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
J ami crossed her arms, eyes blazing as she glared at Jed across the counter. They were alone, the cameras gone. It was a good thing because the tension between them crackled like bacon burning in a too hot pan. The remnants of their last practice dish were scattered around them—ingredients half-used, utensils strewn about in their heated debate.
“I’m telling you,” Jed insisted, his voice tight, “we need to go traditional. Midwest comfort food, the stuff these judges know and love. It’s safe, and it’s what they expect from us.”
Jami scoffed, shaking her head. “Safe? That’s the last thing I want to be in the kitchen. We can’t just give them what they expect. We need to surprise them, show them something different. That’s why we should go with the fusion dish. It’s unique, it’s bold, it's?—”
“It’s risky. It’s too different. They won’t get it.”
“Or maybe they’ll love it,” she shot back. “Not everyone wants to eat the same things they’ve eaten a thousand times before. Food should be an adventure.”
“This isn’t about adventure. This is about winning. It’s about getting our names out there.”
Jami felt her heart twist at his words. “Your name, you mean. This is about you expanding your business, getting more recognition.”
Jed paused, the tension dropping from his face. “Yes, it is about expanding. Winning this could do wonders for your career. It could get you the recognition you deserve.”
She stared at him, her rapid pulse slowing down. “I don’t care about recognition. I don’t care if my name is out there. I want to travel. I want to learn from the nameless cooks who create the best flavors in the world without caring about fame.”
Something dark passed over Jed's face, a shadow that made her stomach flip. He took a step back, his expression hardening. “You’re still planning to leave?”
Jami's gaze pingponged from Jed, to the pan, to the spices. “Yes. Of course. That was the plan.”
Jed turned away, running a hand through his hair, his body coiled with tension. She felt a pang of regret but pushed it down, reminding herself that this was the deal. He would get his notoriety from the show, and she would get her inheritance so she'd have money to travel. To leave, to explore, to live the life she’d always dreamed of.
That's what she wanted.
Right?
Right.
“I’m not going anywhere until the competition’s over,” she added, trying to sound conciliatory. It was a new emotion she was having toward him. She'd spent so long thinking they were enemies. She was still getting used to working together. “I gave you my word. You kept your end of the bargain. I have my inheritance now. I can travel for years.”
Jed spun back to face her, his eyes blazing with something she couldn’t quite place—anger, hurt, something else entirely. When he spoke, his voice was raw. “What about our marriage? What about us?”
Jami opened her mouth, but no words came out. What was there to say? This had all been an act... right? “We can get it annulled. As soon as you want.”
Jed took a step toward her, his gaze intense, unyielding. “What if I don’t want it annulled?”
He closed the distance between them, backing her into the corner of the kitchen. She felt trapped. Not by the loss of space, but by the feelings he stirred inside her. Feelings she’d been trying to ignore since the beginning. Since that very first kiss back in high school.
“Jed...” she began, but her voice faltered. His eyes bore into hers, dark and demanding.
“Is this all just a game to you?” he asked, his voice low, rough around the edges. “Because it’s not to me.”
His breath was hot on her skin. His jaw tightened. There was raw emotion in his eyes.
“You hate me,” she whispered, her voice shaky, betraying her confusion and fear. “You’ve always hated me.”
Jed let out a bitter laugh, his eyes never leaving hers. “There’s a thin line between love and hate, Jami. And I’ve always been on one side of that line.”
What did that even mean?
He closed the remaining distance between them, capturing her mouth in a fierce, desperate kiss. It was like the world shattered around her. All her defenses crumbled in the heat of his touch. His lips were demanding, his hands cupping her face as he kissed her with an intensity that left her breathless.
Jami clutched at his shoulders, the taste of him flooding her senses. She couldn't think about leaving. She couldn’t even remember where she was. All she knew was that she didn’t want this kiss to end. She didn’t want to stop kissing Jed Winchester—not ever.
Maybe he could travel with her. Maybe they could have adventures together. Maybe…
When he finally pulled back, they were both breathing hard. Jed was trembling, his hands still holding her as if she might vanish if he let go.
“I fell for you,” he rasped, his voice hoarse with emotion, “the first time your soufflé didn’t rise. And when you kissed me that day in high school, I knew there would never be anyone else for me.”
"You kissed me." She had no idea why she chose to focus on that. She should've been focused on what he said about her soufflé. It had, too, risen.
"I did kiss you. And you kissed me back."
She had to admit that that was true. She searched his face, looking for any sign that this was still part of their act, but there was nothing but raw, naked truth in his eyes.
“I’m never taking this ring off.” He looked at the ring on his finger. “And I will never accept yours back. You’re my wife, Jami. And I’m not letting you go.”
She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think past the rush of emotions crashing over her. He meant every word. This wasn’t for the cameras, wasn’t for the competition. It was real. And she... she didn’t know what to do with that.
Jed leaned in again, his lips brushing hers in a gentler, sweeter kiss, one that stole the last of her resolve. “Let's not talk about you leaving,” he pleaded, his voice breaking. “Not now.”
Jami’s throat tightened, the words lodged there, unspoken. She didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to make a promise she wasn’t sure she could keep. But right now, in this moment, she knew one thing.
She kissed him again, pouring everything she felt into it, hoping he could feel the answer she couldn’t yet voice.
And for now, that was enough.