Cupcakes and Christmas - R.J. Scott Page 0,5

the answers in my head, sound bites about challenging myself and how happy I was to be raising money for charity, but he smiled at me when I paused, and that smile sent shockwaves through my body, all of which appeared to collect in my groin.

Thank the baking gods for my long winter coat.

“Yeah.” Very clever answer. Not.

I think it was his gorgeous blue eyes with long lashes that were messing with my libido, add in pouty lips that I’ve wanted to taste ever since episode one of WBBS, plus his tousled blond hair and I was gone. The moment I set eyes on him, a nineteen-year-old kid from the system and clawing his way through to the final, I was in lust.

My celebrity crush was standing next to me. I froze and was acting as if I’d never met anyone famous before. I’ve baked cakes for politicians and movie stars, so I was used to meeting people who were successful. But with Justin, I was torn between treating him with respect and deference to knowing he was in the same boat as I was at the start of the competition.

“Me too. Excited I mean. I just hope I can stay in the competition past week one.” That was exactly the same fear I had. With divorce papers in my pocket and my business bleeding revenue into my soon-to-be-ex-husband’s pocket, I needed this show right now. Although it was for charity and there was no cash prize to get Bakes by Brody back on its feet financially, getting past episode one would certainly help with my self-esteem and give Bakes by Brody, 3B for short, some well needed publicity. He didn’t immediately say he was worried about not getting past the first show, but he looked thoughtful.

“No matter how far I get, after I’m done, I’ll probably hang around and do various behind the scenes videos, maybe highlight all the work that goes on behind the scenes for the perfect bake. A kind of reveal show or something.”

“I’d love people to see that it isn’t easy, Marc always says that baking is easy.” I needed to stop there before the entire sorry story spilled out to this incredibly gorgeous man. “You’ll get to the final for sure.” I was convinced of it. Following him on social media showed me some of the stunning bakes he could do and the innovative ideas were thought provoking in so many ways.

He sent me such a stare of incredulous disbelief that I ran out of words. I remember him back in season one, concentrating hard, smiling, so happy to get through each week. Back then he’d always talked about having all the luck, but it was skill that went beyond cakes and artistry with pastry that I couldn’t hope to have.

“The bakes you guys did in later shows were miles ahead of what we did in season one,” he said finally. “But I’ll give it a try.”

“You were breaking new ground,” I said, fiercely loyal. Without the show, I’d never have considered baking as a career. Stuck in college studying for a degree in marketing, I was all ready to follow my dad into the family’s auto sales business, same as my older brother. But seeing Justin on that show with the same hopes and dreams as me, along with a not-so-secret crush on him, had made me try hard to find another path. “You inspired me,” I added firmly, but his incredulous disbelief didn’t slip.

“I don’t know why you’d say that, but thank you.” He was going to say something about not being inspiring, and I had a whole list of statements I could make about why he did. From the story of his past to the focused determination, to the way he held up his chin, to the stupid rainbow jokes he’d had to endure, he was my hero. Some people saw success in sports or business and put their heroes on pedestals. I saw beyond the superficial with Justin and damn right he was my hero. Winning season one, making a name for himself despite everything, had been something I thought of constantly as I made 3B a force to be reckoned with in the luxury bake market.

“I can’t wait to get back in the kitchen.”

“Yeah.” He didn’t sound convinced.

I wasn’t surprised by his lack of enthusiasm. He’d made it, and he didn’t need the show. Hell, he could probably donate a hundred thousand to his chosen charity and not even