As she stepped in closer, the toe of her shoe grazing his, she saw smears of filling high up on his cheek, along his jaw, and one he’d missed just below his lip. Burke locked his eyes on her, ducking to help her as she stretched out to place the crown on his head. He looked good with it, like he was born to become royalty one day.
Justine let her fingers slide down the sides through his thick, dark hair before he straightened up to his full and impressive height. Her hands rested at his shoulders as Burke flashed her that triumphant grin.
She grinned back. “You did it,” she said. “Congratulations.” And then, as if she’d done it a million times, Justine pressed up on her toes and moved in to kiss his mouth.
Burke put that heavenly strength behind his lips, even in the short kiss, then pulled back to lick his lips. “Mmm.”
She grinned, probably enjoying his moment of triumph more than he was. This meant they’d have another evening together.
“Let’s give one more big hand for our prince and the other awesome contenders,” Tom cheered. “Burke, you stay up here and Sheila will bring you the women’s crown. The rest of you fine men can step down and take your place in the crowd as we read the results for the best pie contest.”
Burke gave Justine’s hip a squeeze. “Good luck.”
She made her way back to the front where the other two finalists were lined up.
“Who’s ready to hear the results?” Tom asked the group while whooping his arms. The crowd gave out another cheer.
“That’s what I like to hear.” He narrowed a look at the slip in his hand. “With the third highest score we have the Boozy Banana Cream Pie, contestant number one, Ms. Penny Hill.”
The crowd gave her a round of applause as Tom piped up again. “Now we’re down to the final two. I won’t be announcing the second place, rather the first place winner. It’s between Brittany Clementine and Justine Purcell—who is going to go home with the crown this year?”
DJ started a drumroll. Anticipation pushed through Justine fast and hard. She glanced over to look at Burke, whose eyes were narrowed in concentration as he waited to hear.
“And the winner is…contestant number fourteen with her apple pie. Let’s give out a cheer, folks! Burke, come and crown your princess.”
Justine had never pictured herself the pageant type, but at the sound of her name, a deep and gratifying wave swept over her. She pictured how proud Gretchen would be of her in this moment. How proud she must be from the heavens right now, watching down on them.
She scanned the crowd in time to see Gramps shoot to his feet, Millie at his side as he raised his arms to clap over his head. “Woo, hoo!” He paused to wave and smile at her, his eyes gleaming with pride of his own, and then clapped and cheered again. “Woo, hoo!”
Burke came up behind her until they were face to face. “Congratulations, princess,” he said, gently placing the crown on her head.
Justine lifted her hand to steady it in place. It likely wouldn’t stay on without bobby pins. Something she hadn’t thought to bring.
“Here,” Penny said, hurrying over to her. “Here are some hair pins.”
“Thank you,” Justine said as Penny handed a couple to Burke. She proceeded to show him how to secure the crown at the base. Then, with the few she had left in her grip, she secured Burke’s in place too.
“There,” Penny said with a grin. “You two look like royalty. Congratulations on your engagement, by the way.” She shot a soft smile at Justine. “I’m so happy for you.”
Emotion stirred within her. “Thank you,” Justine said with a nod. And as Tom had her and Burke step toward the front of the stage as Piney Falls’ newly crowned Prince and Princess, she tried very hard to enjoy the moment. But inwardly, there was something pulling her in another direction. Something sad. Something empty.
Penny hadn’t congratulated them on winning the contest. She’d focused on the greatest prize of all—love. Of finding the person to spend the rest of your life with. In reality, she’d begun to wonder if Burke could be that person. But that was foolish, wasn’t it? He was here for today and he’d be gone tomorrow.
Amidst the strain of this thought, the ache of her worry, she caught eyes with Brittany, who’d already made her way to the crowd. She leaned into Trevor with a hand over her mouth, face pinched in disgust.
The complete lack of satisfaction Justine found in that moment was a disappointment in itself. It was just that Burke was so warm and wonderful and…and temporary. She hadn’t won therealprize after all, had she? Because as much as Trevor had to console Brittany over her loss—and that’s exactly what she was witnessing, no doubt—Justine knew she would have no one there to console her after Burke left.
Gramps, she reminded herself. He’d comfort her. But she hadn’t planned to tell him they’d broken up anytime soon. Who knew when Gramps would start playing matchmaker again?
Similar thoughts plagued her as the crowd made their way to the bonfire. Justine wanted nothing more than to curl up to Burke on the blanket again, take advantage of the chance to have his lips on hers, but would she pay an even greater price when he moved on and left her behind?
The feel of Burke’s hand along her lower back pulled Justine from her musings. He swept her hair back with his nose and spoke closer to her ear. She imagined he’d say something about cuddling up on the grass again, or maybe suggest they get cozy by the bonfire first, since that’s where Brittany and Trevor had run off to.
But as she tilted her ear toward him, waiting for Burke to say what he wanted to say, an odd stroke of dread skittered through her.
“Can I talk to you alone for a minute?”
Chapter 19
