Good To Be Bad (Good Love #3) - Lili Valente Page 0,55

cheery elf looks fretful.

“I’m so sorry, but we don’t have a spare machine,” he says softly. “I would have sworn we had extras in the truck, but I just looked, and the bin is empty.”

I exhale and bite my lip, propping my hands on my hips as I try to sort out a solution.

“He can have mine,” Gigi calls out. I turn to see her swiftly mixing something in a silver bowl as she nods toward her machine. “Mine is coming out in ten minutes. I’ll pop it in the freezer and give the bowl a quick rinse. That should give West time to get his ice cream through, too.”

“Brilliant.” Mr. Skips’s apple cheeks pop as his familiar grin returns. “I’ll stay close and facilitate the cleaning and transition of the equipment. Thank you, Miss James.”

“Of course!” Gigi beams a smile at both of us, then adds a quick wink for me, and turns back to her work, having seamlessly offered a helping hand while fiercely pursuing her own goals.

I fucking love that about her.

As if reading my mind, Mr. Skips adds beneath his breath, “She’s lovely. I’ve known her since she was a little girl. Sweetest soul you’ll ever meet.”

“Agreed,” I murmur, my ribs giving my heart a squeeze.

And then, even though winning this contest isn’t high on my list at the moment, I turn back to my work and give it my all too.

Because that’s what my Gigi wants, and damn it, I intend to give her what she wants.

Everything she wants.

I can’t wait to figure out what that is. Some things I already know, of course—good food, great kinky sex, lots of laughter, and integrity and tenacity in all games of skill and chance—but there’s still so much to learn.

I want to discover every facet of Gigi. I want to read her like a good book—quickly the first time through because it’s too exciting to take my time and then slower the second and third times, savoring every beautiful sentence and perfectly executed plot twist.

There are only a handful of books I’ve read more than once. And I have a feeling she’s the only woman I’ll ever want to know this way.

25

Gigi

This time, I’m only sweating from the heat.

Not from being judged.

I certainly don’t love being judged, but I’m handling it better. A few days of putting myself out there with West is working wonders to soothe my anxiety prickles.

Turns out sharing My Feelings has some welcome side effects.

A smidge more courage.

A touch more gumption.

I stand tall, waiting as Mr. Skips clears his throat, cups his hand around his mouth as a megaphone for the cooking competition crowd. “What a delicious day for ice cream lovers! With those fantastic concoctions, we’re a few cups and cones closer to learning who’ll take home the prize. Before I announce the winners of this round, a brief reminder—the contestant with the most points at the conclusion of the final event wins. And now, in third place with eight points is Willow Thompson.”

I turn to the sweet and clever woman who’s becoming my friend and give her a silent yay. She smiles back, big and genuine, her cheeks flushed behind her red-framed-glasses.

“In second place, West Byron and Frederick James Ebenezer Hawley with eight and a half points each,” Mr. Skips says.

My heart slams to the ground.

Crushed like a cigarette butt beneath a boot on the Coney Island beach.

That means I didn’t even make the top three. I’m not going to stand a chance at being Mrs. Sweets.

I wince but lift my chin, saying strong.

Mr. Skips chuckles, a cheery sound, as he reads the final name. “And the winner of the round, with nine points, is Gigi James and her peach cobbler and goat cheese ice cream masterpiece. Congratulations, Gigi! Innovative and incredible work,” he says with a go-get-em-girl pump of his fist.

Wow. I did not expect that.

At all.

Glee rushes through me, along with a tingly sense that victory is in my grasp.

I’ve always loved games and challenges, competitions of any kind really, but I’d really love to lock this title down. For my family’s business. For what it can do for Sweetie Pies. And for what it says about me–that I can carry on the family legacy just fine.

The trouble is, victory is sweetest when it comes fair and square. And today’s triumph most decidedly did not.

Hawley doesn’t deserve second place. His stunt was total poppycock. No, I can’t prove he’s the one who sabotaged West’s machine, but I overheard some