Edible Espionage (9 page)

Realizing she’d been holding her breath, Sarah exhaled. “I’m glad your family can help out. Tell them thanks.”

“You all ready to go? How are the recipes coming?”

“I’m all packed up at home. I have the list made for the bakery equipment and the ingredients are already boxed up.” She fingered the papers on the desk.

“I really like the ones you decided on. You’ll be great, Sar.”

“I hope so. I’ve got a couple alternative recipes ready depending on how the judging starts out.” Putting down her feet, she adjusted in the chair.

“Always prepared.” Fiona giggled.

“Something like that. I know we need to win.”

“Yes, we do. I came in late last night and caught up the books. We’re…well…we need the prize money.”

“Yeah.” Sarah closed her eyes and gently rested her head on the back of the chair, her bump still tender. She breathed deep and felt the burden of winning weighing on her chest.

“So…how’s Gavin these days?”

“He’s still here.” She sighed, her temper burning below the surface from all of his lies.

“And…we aren’t happy? I thought you two were hitting it off.”

She opened her eyes. “We were and now I’m over it.” Telling Fi the whole truth and nothing but the truth would be mounds easier when she had a win under her belt, and Gavin was long gone.
I can’t even picture her reaction if we don’t win and I am forced to explain. Yikes. Scary.

“Sar, you know I love you…don’t get upset, but…you need to let in someone.”

Sarah sucked in a breath and sat straight up. “Fi, I―”

“No, I don’t want to hear the crazy thing you don’t like about him. If you think his neck hair is too long or if you don’t like his jeans or
whatever
the reason this time, you need to get over it. He’d be good for you. Time to give someone an actual chance, Sarah.”

Sarah resigned the fight.
You wouldn’t be saying this if you knew what Gavin was actually doing here.
Fiona made good points…but this time Sarah’s reasons were far from frivolous.

Chapter Six: Stand There and Look Pretty

“Here is your copy of the schedule.” Sarah shoved papers across the counter.

They were both sitting on stools at the main island in The Lab. The last week proved to be awkward, and Gavin couldn’t put his finger on why.
She couldn’t possibly know why I’m here.
The coy playfulness in her beautiful gaze he’d come to expect had turned cold and distant.
Does she have a problem with me?

“For?” He matched her tone.

“The Trio Trifecta. And this is the layout of our station.” She pointed to the top page. “The events are there, as well.”

“All right.” He set down the packet on the counter. “Let’s get started.”

“On what?”

“A dry run for this bad boy.” Gavin rubbed his hands together.

“
We
aren’t doing a dry run.” Her gaze didn’t leave the information packet.

“Why not? We need to be a well-oiled machine out there.” He flipped through the pages, landing on the competition rules. “We won’t have much time to make the cookies.”

“I know.” Her mouth pressed into a firm line. “I’ve practiced.”

“When?” He stood.

“Why the twenty questions? I know what I’m making and I’ve practiced already. I just need to mix more Zagic this afternoon and I’ll be set.”

“Can I help you? I feel like I’ll just stand there and look pretty.” He flashed his mega-watt smile.

“Exactly.” The edges of her lips started to lift.

“Seriously? I’m there to help. So let me help.” He stepped toward her.

“You will. I’ll tell you what I need when I need it.” She tapped her hand on the broadness of his firm chest as she stood.

“Hmm. There is a better way to go about this. What did you and Fiona do last year?”

“Doesn’t matter. This is how I want to do things this year. Make sure to look over this entire packet so you know the rules,” she said over her shoulder as she walked across the lab.
You know, the things most people play by and win fair and square.

“Don’t you want to win again? Let me help.” He followed.

“Help me win?” Her voice sharp, she spun. “
You
will help me win? That’s rich.” She shook her head and looked to the ground. When she searched his surprised stare, she felt her jaw muscles relax. “That was uncalled for,” she spoke in a rush, her tone harsher than her expression. “I’m stressed, sorry. Please just be here to meet me in the morning and we can talk about a plan on the drive. The baking will be okay. Really.”

****

Gavin picked the back lock to Crazy for Cake with a Leatherman under the cover of darkness. He had closed the bakery for the night with Sarah present, not giving him a chance to nab the so-called Zagic.
What is so secret about baking cookies? These people act like it’s life and death. How in the world did I let myself get reduced to stealing baking secrets? This is a new low.

He’d made sure to be in and out of The Lab while Sarah mixed the ingredients and noted she put the newly made concoction back in the red ceramic jar. With only the light from his flashlight, he fumbled through the counter contents.
Where did she put it?
He spotted the boxes Sarah packed for the competition. He opened the one labeled ingredients and saw the red jar sat right on top. He retrieved the sandwich bag from his jacket pocket and dumped in half the contents.
She’ll be so busy she won’t notice.
By his calculations, half would be enough for three batches of cookies for Lexington and still leave Sarah enough. He planned to slip the bag to Mr. Lexington when they arrived for the competition.

Recipe cards lying among the spices, dried fruit, and chocolate caught his attention as he put back the jar.
I thought she didn’t write them down.
He picked up the white cards, shining his flashlight over them and read: mango pepper, rhubarb pecan, and pineapple basil. His stomach flipped with excitement, and possibly a little out of guilt.
This is what she plans to make.

Gavin stood in the kitchen, recipes in hand. He should take them, after all, these recipes were what Mr. Lexington was paying him for. Securing Sarah’s competitive edge was the entire point of him arriving before the competition. Being a skilled operator, he could have easily sabotaged her station from afar. The point of him infiltrating Crazy for Cake ahead of time was for this type of information. Secret ingredients, recipes…exactly what Mr. Lexington wanted. So, why the hesitation?
She’s not even into you. Take the damn recipes.

****

The next morning, Gavin arrived right on time.

Sarah had beaten him by twenty minutes to check her suspicions. Sure enough…the red jar and recipes had been tampered with. He’d taken half of the Zagic. Her blood boiled as she stared into the box. Somehow, she’d managed to convince a small part of herself Gavin actually liked her and would give up on his task. Sadly, she’d been wrong.

He is getting what he deserves.

With quick moves, she retrieved the correct mixture of Zagic from her purse and dumped the contents of the red jar in the trash. She refilled the jar with the real Zagic and returned it to the box. The recipe cards she left alone.
I want to see your face when I tell you those aren’t the real ones.

“All packed?” Gavin stood by her and the boxes.

“Yep.” Sarah smiled. Her plan worked. She could be cordial. His fate and that of Pies, Oh My! was already sealed. Relieved she didn’t have to worry about him messing up the competition, she took a deep breath. Now success or failure was in her hands…her very capable hands. Her short respite was interrupted by overwhelming disappointment. A part of her really hoped he might not go through with his deception.

“Let’s get loaded up and hit the road.” He lifted the box marked kitchen equipment and headed for the door.

They loaded everything and Sarah counted all of the boxes.
Six. Perfect.
She wanted to make sure Gavin didn’t leave anything behind as part of his plan.

“This is a lot of boxes for three cookies.” He stood beside her.

She shrugged. “I need my things.”
And, I may have packed double ingredients in case you made boxes disappear.

“Want me to drive?” He headed for the driver’s side.

“No!” She shouted. Her night had been sleepless, pondering all the ways Gavin could sabotage her—him driving and taking a long detour had made the list. “I mean…it’s okay, I’ll drive.”

Sarah slid behind the wheel and resigned herself to the ongoing game, reminding herself none of it was real.

Chapter Seven: There Should Be Two

“Crazy for Cake.” Sarah spoke to the petite redhead behind the table labeled “check-in.” Gavin stood behind her. They spent the two-hour trip to Seattle in silence broken only by the radio.

“Sarah!” The girl’s round face beamed. “I’m Marley.” She stuck out her hand. “How nice to see you again.”

“Hi, Marley.” Sarah smiled and shook Marley’s hand.
Finally, a friendly face.

“I hope the list helped you.”

Sarah froze.
Please don’t say any more.
Her eyes widened, and she tilted her head, willing Marley to stop talking. “What station are we at this year?” She prayed Marley would get the hint.

“You’re at station five.” Marley looked Gavin up and down. “Same one as last year.”

“Wonderful.”

“You can unload your supplies today.” She handed Sarah a packet. “This is your itinerary, tickets for the events, and contest rules. Tonight is the meet and greet. Tomorrow, the competition starts at nine a.m. sharp. You need to be here by eight.”

“Thanks.”

“Oh, and here is your room key. The hotel is letting us check in people.”

Sarah glanced back at Gavin. He stood with his hands in his pockets. “There should be two rooms.” Her heart pounded and she swallowed hard.

Marley looked at her clipboard, her red hair surrounded her face. “Nope. One room was checked on your registration form.”

Fiona Leslie Blue.
Sarah could only roll her eyes at what Fi had been imagining when she checked the box for one room.
Think you’re pretty sly, do ya? Well, you certainly made your point, Fi.

“The hotel also said they are booked due to the conference. I’ve had some other people come through and try to get rooms elsewhere and everything is taken.” Marley’s eye lashes nearly touched her bangs. “Apparently, it’s a big weekend for events.”

“We’ll be fine.” Gavin reached for the tiny packet containing the room key cards with the room number. He smiled wryly at Sarah. “Just fine.”

Heat rose through her body.
Oh, what a tangled web we weave.
She did a mental check of the pajamas she’d packed—midnight blue Victoria Secret silky tank top and shorty shorts. On a whim, she’d also included her white cabana robe. Let’s face it, part of her knew being in close confines, if only for the contest, with Gavin may lead to something…and she didn’t want to be caught unprepared. Talking or not, friendly or not, she couldn’t deny their chemistry.

Gavin brought in the boxes, and Sarah worked on setting up the station just as she liked. The sturdy mixer went on her right along with the cooling racks and parchment paper. On her left, she preferred to deal with the ingredients. She lined up the measuring cups and spoons, smallest to biggest. Then she set out plastic pink bowls to line the counter, again small to large. Her special metal spoons used to fold cream and sugar into her confections sat to the right of the measuring spoons. Wooden spoons were positioned by the stove and her spatulas were set next to the mixer. Gavin stocked the fridge with the cream and flavors she’d specifically need for her sweet treats. When she was satisfied she could find items in their area blindfolded, she left the competition area. They brought their suitcases, or in Gavin’s case a military issued duffle bag, to their hotel room.

One bed?
Sarah walked past and rolled her eyes.
Just perfect. I will get you for this, Fiona.
The round table between the rectangle windows barely held her suitcase. It would do, though, the other option was the floor and that wasn’t happening. The multi-colored satchel holding her make-up, toiletries, and hair products fit neatly on the chair.

Gavin dropped his bag on a matching chair on the other side of the bed. The room was nothing special but big enough to not be cramped with the king-sized bed.

“I’m freshening up for the meet and greet.” She unzipped the suitcase and grabbed the black pants and bright pink blouse she’d packed for the night of exchanging small talk. She needed a shower. She’d been tense the entire drive and wanted to feel someone else’s hot steam on her.

****

Gavin waited for Sarah to close the bathroom door. He retrieved his cell phone and dialed. “Are you here?”

Mr. Lexington didn’t bother with pleasantries. “Just checked in.”

“Excellent.”

“I have the Zagic…I mean, secret ingredient.” Gavin spoke in hushed tones, even though he could hear the water whirring in the bathroom. He stared at the door and pictured Sarah naked behind it. His body responded to the image.
Down, boy. Nothing is happening now…or ever again.