Chapter 37
Alistair
“You look nervous.”
“I’m not.”
“You’re really pale,” Isla pointed out.
Shit. “I just—” I scrubbed a shaking hand over the back of my neck. “Is it me, or is that a lot of people?”
We were standing with the other Cairn I repeat, your five-minute warning,” Duncan, the competition host, called, and those nerves shot through me again.
Like this morning couldn’t get any worse, Annabelle appeared, clipboard in hand. Cameron, looking sullen, trailed behind her. When he caught sight of us, his scowl melted into a full-on glower.
“Do you think he even told her he was begging you to take him back only a week ago?” I said, glaring right back at the slimy fucker.
“I don’t care about them.” Isla grabbed my arm, turning me to face her. Before I could speak, she pressed up onto her toes to rest her hands on my cheeks. “I need you to focus. Are you good? Can you do this?”
Her eyes were so full of determination, my mouth dried. I managed a nod. “I can do this. I’ll give the judges a fucking lap dance if that’s what it takes for you to win.”
She laughed. God, I’d missed that sound. Missed her and Teddy like a limb had been severed. “Aiming for another Gazette article?” she asked. And she was still holding me, her thumbs dragging down to my jaw and meeting at the point of my chin.
What was happening?
Wild hope lit up my insides. A shot of adrenaline straight into my bloodstream. This wasn’t the time but – “Why are you looking at me like that, Lang?”
Her lips twitched. “We should talk about this after the contest—”
“Now,” I interrupted, and caught her waist. It’s funny how you could push feelings aside for weeks, yet the moment you knew exactly how you wanted your life to go, waiting another minute for it to begin suddenly felt unbearable.
“You’re looking at me like you want to kiss me, honey.
Right here in front of everyone. And I need to know if it’s for Cameron or—” For me.
I didn’t get to finish because her lips were on mine. Firm. All-consuming.
I pulled her into me, stumbling to press her against the back wall of the stage. The plywood was rough between my fingers, splinters biting as I caged her in. I didn’t care. Her hands curled into my shoulders, moaning needily into my mouth as I eased her feet from the floor.
Fuck. A pathetic part of me didn’t even care about the answer. Didn’t care if this was a pity kiss or a goodbye kiss. I couldn’t get enough.
Never would.
A throat cleared somewhere nearby, then Duncan spoke. “Bakers, please make your way to the stage.”
I pulled back, foreheads pressed together while we shared air for several heartbeats. The village green completely fell away.
“Probably a bad time to tell you this,” she said, panting. Holding me as tightly as I held her. Something so tender and hopeful in her expression, my heart thudded out of rhythm. “Jess is retiring. She offered me Brown’s. I can rent it from her, open a bakery of my own.”
I drew back in surprise. It wasn’t at all what I expected her to say, and yet – “Please tell me you said yes, Lang.” I released her hips to thread my fingers between hers.
“Of course I said yes.” Her smile turned luminous. “But now . . . I really, really need that prize money.” She nodded to the stage. “No pressure.”
No pressure.
I sucked in a steadying breath.
I’d get her that money, even if she didn’t want me at the end of it.
My legs were shakier than a baby deer’s when I stumbled onto the stage in front of the entire village. But we did it hand in hand. And this time, I never wanted to let go.