“You’re right,” he said, releasing her hand. He shot her a wink. “We’ll save it for tomorrow.” Burke pulled away from the counter, willing the heat to leave his face.
He was quick to walk around her and reach for his keys. They were resting in a small bowl beneath the kitchen light switch, with a handful of change and a tube of ChapStick. Her own keys rested there too. He liked seeing them there together. Imagining things like sitting at the kitchen table, hovered over a laptop and morning coffee as she stumbled in, squinting against the light, and poured herself a mug so she could join him.
“Wait, you’re leaving now?”
“I can’t keep you up the whole night. You’re about to be crowned princesstomorrow. You’ll want your rest.” That’s right, Burke. Spare her the awkwardness and get out. He reached for the knob, pried open the door, and shot her a grin over his shoulder. “Night, Justine.”
“Well…I just…” Her shoulders fell flat as she sighed, heavy and deep, as if she’d resigned somehow. “Goodnight.” Her voice sounded sad, he knew that much. What he didn’t know iswhyit sounded that way. Was she horrified that she’d led him on? Worried over the idea that he might actually haverealfeelings for her?
He started up the BMW with the press of his key fob before getting to the car. Once he had the car door open, Burke settled in behind the wheel. The humiliation, sadly, settled in with him too.
Why had he been so certain that Justine felt the same way? He’d thought their chemistry was undeniable. And the fact was, Burke admitted wryly while headed down the long driveway, he’d never been turned down before.
An irritated huff pushed through Burke’s lips as he pulled onto the main street. With one hand draped over the wheel, he lifted the other to rub at his temples.
Think of something else, Burke. Business.Yes, that was a good distraction. In fact, he’d planned to check in on a few deals before hitting the sack, but it’d be best to let that wait until tomorrow night or Sunday. No worries, that’s what business partners were for. Burke could trust Greg to run things as if he were an extension of himself.
He did hope, however, that no one had bitten on the Piney Falls property just yet. Burke had toyed with the idea of having Greg put the property on hold, but, as things were, the chances of it selling were so slim Burke couldn’t get himself to follow through.
And just how was he supposed to ask Justine to come to the Benton’s cabin now? After such a…a fail?
He thought back on the kisses they’d shared on the blanket. Those moments would hold him captive the entire night through. No, he decided, it was more likely he’d be tormented with replays of the way she’d rejected him in the kitchen.
Whichever it was, the fact remained, whether focused on the rise or the fall, the pleasure or the pain, Burke’s mind would stay fixed on the beautiful blonde with natural curl, a smile that mimicked a super power, and eyes that captured his without fail.
And though he might try to avoid it, Burke would think of what it might be like to, one day, turn their fake engagement into the real thing.
Chapter 18
There weren’t many moments among the festival madness that got as quiet as this one.
“You could hear an acorn drop out there, folks,” Tom Reynolds said into the mic. Also known as Sheriff Tom, the exuberant announcer with the baritone voice had been the events commentator for as far back as Justine could remember.
“We’ve got fourteen contestants in this year’s Pie Pageant—you heard me right, fourteen.”
Burke leaned into Justine. “Is that the usual amount of entries?”
She shrugged. “Pretty much.”
“Now for a little background on each of our seven judges,” Tom continued.
Justine nudged in closer to Burke and rested her head on his shoulder. He’d long ago abandoned his flannel shirt, different from yesterday’s, in favor of the white tee shirt he wore beneath it. The tee was soft, warm against her skin, and smelled like his aftershave. A scent that made her sigh.
She’d spent a large portion of the day trying to rein in her wandering thoughts. They’d start off with the tiny tease in the car before the event started yesterday. Then shift to the moment by the bonfire with the cotton candy. Their time spent on the blanket,that’swhere she wished her thoughts would dwell.
But inevitably, they’d dart straight to the encounter in her kitchen after she and Burke had finished the pies. They’d been acting like an engaged couple the entire afternoon. Which might explain the way Burke pulled her in for a little affection. But the conflicted look in Burke’s brooding eyes said it wasn’t without thought. Even the way he’d pulled her into him—so slowly, a conflicted, almost questioning furrow in his brow—said there was intent behind the action.
That look didn’t frighten her. What ithaddone was make Justine think, just for a moment, that his feelings for her went beyond their let’s-convince-everyone-we’re-in-love type of thing. No one was around, after all. Yet there he was, pulling her close and looking at her in a way that triggered the flutters in her tummy. In a way that had her wanting to show him thatherfeelings were real too.
Until his expression changed.
Somewhere between that second and third step, she saw the hesitation vanish and the look of triumph take its place. That’s the look that sparked fear in her. Because to Burke, this was likely just a game. A may-as-well-have-fun-while-I’m-here kind of thing. In truth, Justine wondered if she couldn’t perhaps achieve a similar approach. It wasn’t everyday a man like Burke came into town. What would it hurt to enjoy their time while he was there?
The trouble was, she didn’t know how to control her growing feelings for him. She’d learned to give herself to the moment and not hold back. To drink up the joy and peace from small pleasures.
But time with Burke went beyondsmallpleasures. He was all consuming. And for that reason, possibly even dangerous to her. Tomorrow he’d head to Big Bear Lake to spend most of the week with his family, which was wonderful and horrible all at once. Justine was very happy for Burke; he needed this time with his family. Deserved it. The horrible side was simple—it meant she wouldn’t get to see him in the days ahead.
Tom was introducing the last of the judges now. Just two more to go before they introduced the pies according to numbers, not the names of contestants.
