Sprinkled with Love

“You still have time. There’s what—a couple of weeks until the big event starts?”

“I’m not going to do it.”

A worried look came over her face. “Oh no. Everyone will be so disappointed, especially Harry’s family.”

“That’s why I don’t intend to tell them until I’ve found a suitable replacement.”

“Oh.” She stirred her hot chocolate. “You know I’m still available to help you.”

“But you’re so busy with your business. And I don’t want to impose.”

“You aren’t imposing as I’m the one who’s offering.”

He hesitated. Should he go there? Sure, why not? It’d save them both some grief. “Won’t your boyfriend get upset?”

“My boyfriend? I don’t have one.”

That surprised Avery. How would she define that man she was having a cozy moment with on the sidewalk? He was about to ask her, but he decided to refrain. While he composed himself and formulated an appropriate response, he preoccupied himself with taking a long drink of hot chocolate.

So if that guy he saw her with wasn’t her boyfriend, then who was he? Because it sure looked to Avery that if this guy wasn’t her boyfriend now, he certainly wanted to be in the very near future.

Still, she was single and offering him help. Not to mention Beth and the Monroes were counting on him. “You’re sure you don’t mind?”

“Avery, what’s up with you? I’ve never had to repeat myself this much in the past. You know me. I don’t offer unless I want to do something.”

That much was true enough. She’d wanted to help when his parents died. At first, he thought she’d just taken the nanny position out of pity. But when he thought about her offer, he realized that she’d worked as a babysitter for his brother and sister since she was sixteen. If his parents had trusted her, why shouldn’t he? In the end, it had been one of his best decisions.

He swallowed down the last of the hot chocolate. “You really think I should do this Bachelor Bake-Off?”

She nodded. “I do. Besides, it’ll keep you from missing the rodeo, or at least help keep your mind off it for a little bit.”

It was the problem of the ranch that was foremost in his mind. But that was a subject he didn’t want to discuss. So far no one in town knew about the terms of the will and for now, he wanted it to stay that way.

He did not relish the idea of answering everyone’s questions—especially when they’d want to know why he wasn’t jumping on the offer to buy it. He didn’t want to admit that he’d depleted his savings. He didn’t want anyone pitying him.

“Then I accept the offer,” he said, wondering if he was making a big mistake. “I’ll pay you for your time.”

“Pay me?” She shook her head. “I’m not doing it for the money.”

“I have to repay you somehow.” He watched as a myriad of expressions passed over her face. She had something on her mind and he wanted to know what it was because he didn’t like being indebted to anyone. “What is it?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I saw that look on your face. You thought of some way for me to repay you. Tell me what it is and I’ll do it.”

She hesitated. “First, are you dating anyone?”

What in the world was she about to propose? His gut tightened, but he was already committed. “No, I’m not. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have bothered you for baking lessons.”

“Good point. Are you sure—”

“Jillian, out with it.”

Her fine brows rose. “Be careful about agreeing to things without getting the details first.” When he motioned for her to spit it out, she said, “I need an escort for a wedding.”

This was not what he’d been expecting. He got to his feet and moved to the fireplace. A wedding? He didn’t go to those things. In his limited experience, it always felt like if you weren’t already part of a couple that people were trying to set you up.

And yet, he’d already told Jillian he’d do it. She did, after all, offer to help him even though she was busy starting up her own shop.