Edible Espionage (12 page)

If only Fi knew the whole story. Sarah would have to tell her when she got back—prize or no prize. She stood and straightened her shimmery gown. Mingling would take her mind off her fate of explaining the past couple weeks. She made small talk with the other contestants milling around when her gaze locked on Gavin and the uptight man he spoke with.
Mr. Lexington, I presume
.

“Sarah…sorry, I, eh…here’s your cocktail.” Gavin handed her the crystal glass.

At the same moment, she entwined her arm with his. “Thank you.” She smiled brightly at Gavin, enjoying the abbreviated distressed look on his face. She turned her attention back to the man in question. “Pardon me…where are my manners?” She gave a polite nod and smiled. “I’m Sarah Zion with Crazy for Cake.” She held out her hand.

“Howard Lexington.” Mr. Lexington held out a chubby hand.

She raised her bandaged hand and shrugged.

“Charmed, I’m sure,” Mr. Lexington let his hand drop to his side

Gavin cleared his throat, and his gaze skittered around the room.

Forcing a nonchalance she didn’t feel, she took a drink. She felt him stiffen.

“I’m with Pies, Oh My!
My wife is the head pastry chef.” Mr. Lexington drank amber liquid from his stubbed glass and eyed her.

“That’s a wonderful bakery.” She swallowed the nausea building in her belly from the platitude. “I heard you had a bit of trouble with the first cookie, though. I hope you were able to recover.”

“No trouble. No trouble at all.” He set his empty glass on the bar and raised his finger at the bartender for more. “I have it on good authority we did quite well.”

Oh, great. So, not only did they screw with me but they rigged the whole competition? What nerve.

She glanced at Gavin and saw that he studied the caramel-colored liquid in his glass.
No help he is. Oh, that’s right. He’s no help because this man is his boss.

“It’s good to know you can recover when things don’t go as planned.” Sarah said. “Recipes go wrong. Ingredients fail. Good chefs
always
find a way.”

She wanted to scream at the fat, hoity-toity man in front of her. She wanted to throw her drink in his face to sooth the anger rising from her belly. Instead, she sipped it and plastered on a wide smile.

****

“We better get back to our table. Dinner is about to be served.” Gavin used the leverage with the arm she’d entangled with his and led her away.

“I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything.” Sarah hissed when they reclaimed their seats.

Three other couples sat with them, two of which had competed and the third was a judge and her husband.

“No, just some friendly conversation.”
About me not getting paid if he loses. Good thing I have a special skill set to ensure payment.
He wiped his increasingly sweaty palms on his black pants.
If he knows what’s good for him, Lexington won’t go down that road with me.

“Friendly. Ha. Yeah, because you go
way
back.” She finished her Cosmo, then stole his short glass of Scotch and almost drained it.

Gavin took back his glass, grazing his fingertips over hers. Prickles crawled up his arm, but he squashed them as quickly as they started. He finished the small amount left in the glass. He needed more. A lot more.
Are servers coming around?
“I actually haven’t known him long.”

That’s the truth.
Gavin’s company had been hired to do Mr. Lexington’s bidding and he’d decided to do the work himself under the pretense of an easy mission being akin to a much-needed vacation. Boy, oh boy, he’d never been more wrong. While his vacations did usually involve a beautiful woman, they didn’t involve getting yelled at or being conflicted about staying.

“Just how long have you known the
great Mr. Lexington
anyway?” Sarah whispered and sat straight in her chair.

He studied her gorgeous face as her cheeks reddened and she clenched her teeth. “Can we talk about this later?” He pulled at the collar of his shirt…it wasn’t fully buttoned but his throat strained all the same.
Please, let’s talk about this later.

As she continued their conversation, Sarah kept her stare fixed on the podium. “Did you fix this, too?”

“Fix? Fix what?” He motioned with his hand for emphasis.

He saw it coming and his insides tightened. He knew this conversation did not have a good ending. Diffusing her anger and hoping it all played out privately was his only play.

“You know what. Stop playing dumb.” She turned her head and narrowed her stare. “Just…stop it,” she said through gritted teeth.

Gavin put up his palms. “Okay.” Finally, he caught the eye of a server and ordered them drinks.
Alcohol. More alcohol.
Adding liquor to Sarah’s rage probably wasn’t the best idea, but he needed the liquid courage for what, he knew, simmered on the horizon.

****

“Why bother with me if you were rigging the whole contest anyway?” Sarah questioned him, not as quietly as she intended, during dessert.

The conversation at the table stopped and all gazes focused on her. Cold heat spread through her body. She blankly stared back and shook her head in an effort to take back her loud words.

“I, ah…um…”

“Honey, these people don’t want to hear about our side wager,” Gavin said.

He tried to play off her outburst and even laughed to sell it. Her brows furrowed.
Honey? Seriously?

“We made a bet on which cookie would get the highest rating.” He turned back to her now, keeping steady eye contact. “There’s no way I could’ve rigged
that
, honey.” He reached for her hands planted in her lap. “Nor did I.”

She searched his eyes, looking for the truth. Looking for the smallest glimmer of hope she could cling to. He had become harder to read, she was not sure she was reading him correctly anymore. Her heart knew what she wanted to see—that he couldn’t possibly have rigged the competition against her.

At the moment, the host of the evening appeared at the microphone.

The perfect excuse to avert her gaze. There was nothing more to argue about.

The emcee started rambling about the contest, history, and judges.

All of the noise washed over Sarah as she replayed events in her mind. She pictured Gavin for the first time at the bakery counter, she saw him reach out his hand to dance, and she remembered the raw passion on his face from the hotel room. Her skin warmed and she sucked in a breath. His reactions to her, words he’d said, and his espionage actions didn’t add up. She knew what she felt and she knew he felt the pull too…on some level. What she didn’t know was why he carried out the deceit. Why hadn’t he stood up for her?

Tears welled in her eyes. The roar of applause brought her back to the awards ceremony. She focused on the stage.
What’d I miss?

“Sarah.” Gavin nudged her. “That’s you…you won…we won.” He stood and pulled out her chair.

I won? I won! Sweet sugar cane!
Her smile reached each ear, and she threw her arms around Gavin, holding him tight. Tingles of joy washed over her as she took a deep breath of his spiced scent. He slid his arms around her, and she closed her eyes to enjoy the moment. Seconds later, she pulled back from him, and her lips met his. She held the kiss, probably longer than a true classy lady would’ve, but she wanted to have a second with him…a second of bliss both professionally and personally. Before he left for good.

They made their way up the side stairs of the podium. She couldn’t wait to get her hands on the trophy.

Chapter Eleven: I’m Not the Only One

“Crazy for Cake, comprised of Ms. Sarah Zion and Mr. Gavin Arnold, are the first place winners in this year’s Trio Trifecta. This is the bakery’s second win in a row!” The host waited as the crowd cheered.

Sarah stood with a permanent smile, trying to savor the experience. The blood pumping through her veins raced, and she took a deep breath to settle her body.

“As part of their prize package, Crazy for Cake will receive a check for twenty-five thousand dollars, equipment from Baking Etc., and an exclusive interview published in Confectionary Digest.” The host motioned the pair to the microphone for them to say something.

Without hesitation, Sarah stepped up. “This is an honor, and I am overjoyed to be accepting this title for the second year in a row. Thank you to all of the judges for their time and to the many friends I’ve made here.” After an acknowledging dip of her chin, she shook the host’s hand and walked off stage with Gavin on her heels.

She’d done it. Officially, they had the money she and Fi needed to keep the bakery running. Hell, maybe now they could even open a second location closer to Seattle. Adrenaline coursed through her veins.
I can’t sit.

“Where are you going?” Gavin paused at their table then caught up when she didn’t stop.

Silence hung between them. Fresh air was a priority, and she needed to clear her head to think. The door to the hotel conference area swung open as another couple entered, and she ducked into the grand hallway.

“Sarah.” Gavin grabbed her arm. “Wait.”

“No. Leave me alone. Your job here is done.”
So, just go. I don’t need you.
She was sick and tired of all these mixed emotions…highs and lows…she wanted peace. Or her head may explode.

“Will you let me explain?” His gaze met hers, but the life behind them didn’t shine.

“No.” She clenched her teeth, swung out of his grasp, and got in his face. “There is
nothing
to explain. I know who you are and what you did, you lying jerk!”

****

“I’m the liar now, huh? I’m not the only one, am I, Sarah?”
Everything has been a lie. The whole time you’ve been lying, too.
Nausea rose in Gavin’s body as the conversation he’d been dreading began. Once the intent of his past few weeks were out in the open, there would be no pretending anymore…about any of it.

“I played along with
your
game.” She shoved her finger at his chest. “And I
beat
you.
You. Lose.”

“Yep, you’re right.” He released her arm, but she didn’t back away. “Who would ever expect that sweet innocent Sarah could be so underhanded and two-faced?”

“Takes one to know one.” She crossed her arms, and her eyebrows rose.

“Oh, that’s
real
mature.” He glanced toward the ornate ceiling.

“I’m actually surprised you didn’t figure me out sooner, Gavin. O great spy.”

His pulse and temper rose. “Maybe if you hadn’t come on to me every chance you got, then I would’ve.” Why have this conversation? Why did he feel the need to explain his actions? He should’ve just walked away. He had nothing to keep him in Haven anymore.

“Me?” Sarah’s voice turned high pitched. “You’re the one who seduced
me
!”

“Not even close.” He rested his hands on his hips.

She turned to walk away, her dress swishing in the process.

“And I have some questions for you,” he called.

She stopped and turned back. “No.” Her word was abrupt. “You’re not the one who gets to ask the questions. I do.”

“Fine.” He ran his hand down his face. His mouth was one step ahead of his mind and apparently wanted to explain. Or at least try. “You start.” He motioned her way, settling his arms across his chest.

They stared each other down until Sarah broke eye contact, looking past him. “Why?” Her arms fell to her side, and her voice was breathy. “Why did you come to Haven? What all did you take from me? Was it worth it?”

Gavin studied her sad face. U
nder her tough exterior, she’s beautiful and fragile.
He could see the hurt. Hell, he felt it. The air deflated from his lungs and he looked down.
What can I say to that? You were only part of the job?
That would’ve been true when he started, but not now. Would it be worth telling her the truth or would the knowledge of his current state of mind make all of this worse? Who exactly was he protecting?

He lowered his voice. “Mr. Lexington hired me to steal your recipes and whatever else would be of value in the competition.”

A gasp sounded. “My secret ingredient.” She bobbed her head up and down.

He could see the tears welling in her eyes. His stomach turned—he felt as sick as he did helpless. What was done was done, and no way could either of them take anything back. Aware she could see the pain on his face, he looked at her. “Yep.”

“Those recipes you took were horrible.” Blinking hard, she sniffled.

“I noticed.” He nodded.

“And the ingredients you took were bad, too. There’s no way their cookies turned out if they used it.” She brushed her hand under her nose.

“I figured.” He shrugged and resisted the urge to pull her tight into an embrace. “Too late, but, ya know.” Thoughts filled with self-loathing infiltrated his mind. He had no right to be the one to console her. He was the reason she suffered.

“And this was all just one big twisted, pathetic…” Sarah’s tears traced her cheek with every word. “Deplorable, idiotic, insane,
foolish game
.”