Sprinkled with Love

She didn’t say anything at first, as though she were processing his words. “I would like that.”

“Good.” With the cocoa all gone and the chill in the air starting to seep in, it was time to turn back. “We should get going.”

“Oh. Do we have to? It’s so beautiful out here.”

“Blake will be waiting for us so he can secure everything for the night.” Avery found himself disappointed they had to call an end to the evening. He’d enjoyed it much more than he’d ever imagined, even if the kiss hadn’t ended as he’d planned. “We can do it another time.”

Her eyes lit up. “Really?”

“Sure. You name the time and I’ll make it happen.”

With a big smile on her face, she said, “I’ll hold you to it.”

And so he got the sleigh turned around and they headed back toward the barn in a peaceful, friendly existence. There was something about her that drew him in. He didn’t know if it was her undeniable beauty or something much deeper, like the quiet strength she exuded. But Avery couldn’t help but feel he’d missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime—not just indulging in a passionate kiss beneath the moonlight but also having a chance to build a real relationship with Jillian—a chance to kiss her every day for the rest of her life.

As soon as he realized the direction of his thoughts, he halted them. Theirs was a case of bad timing. First, he was tied up learning to be the guardian of his siblings. And now that he was free, she was involved in an on and off relationship with Glenn. Frustration balled up in Avery’s gut, dimming his good mood.

Chapter Fifteen

Here went nothing.

Or here went everything.

It all depended on how he looked at it.

Avery’s muscles were tense and his gut was wrenched into a nervous knot. He told himself not to let the event get to him. It wasn’t like this was his first time performing in front of people. Every time he stepped in the arena at the rodeo, thousands of people were in attendance. He’d learned how to block them out. So why wasn’t it working now?

Perhaps it was because he didn’t feel confident about his baking skills. And now he had to do it from beginning to end in front of people he’d known all of his life. Talk about pressure.

Most of all, he missed Jillian being next to him. She’d claimed it was because she had to man her stall at the event. He glanced down at the black band on his wrist with Harry’s House printed in white. He had been one of her first customers.

The wristbands were a good idea. He just wished he could trade places with Jillian. He could sell the bands while she did the baking. It would have been for the best, but there was no backing out now.

He wondered if Jillian had arrived already. So many people had arrived early that it surprised him. It appeared it was going to be a sold-out crowd.

After circling the cafeteria for the second time, he neared the doorway to the kitchen. When he heard his name called out, he paused. His heart picked up its pace. Was it possible Jillian had changed her mind and would be close at hand to cheer him on?

He turned, searching for Jillian in the crowd of people. And then he spotted Joanie, Harry’s younger sister, waving at him. He made his way over to her.

“I wanted to wish you good luck.” She smiled. “What are you going to bake for this round?”

“Cowboy cookies with a few personalized modifications.”

“Sounds intriguing. I’m sure you’ll do great.”

“Thanks.” He glanced around, hoping to find Jillian in the crowd, but he didn’t see her anywhere. “I better get inside.”

“Before you run off, do you want to buy some raffle tickets?” She held up the red tickets.

“Sure. Why not?”

“How many would you like?”

He shrugged. He really didn’t care about winning, he just wanted to make a donation. He pulled out his wallet and yanked out a wad of small bills, wishing he had more money on him. He’d make sure he brought more with him for the next round.

After Joanie counted out the money, she tore off the appropriate number of tickets. The tickets were paired, one for the entrant and one for the drawing later that evening. He folded his tickets and tucked them in his back pocket while Joanie placed the matching set of tickets in a box for the drawing.

He scanned the room once more, trying to find Jillian. And then he spotted her. She had set up a small stall with a banner that read: Tangled Charms supports Harry’s House. On one side of the banner was the silhouette of a house and the other side had a saw and hammer crossed. It was just like the design on his wristband.