“Let them.” Colt’s hand finds the small of my back, his touch warm through the fabric. “It means they care. Come on, let’s go mingle before Delaney starts herding us toward the stage to explain the voting process.”
We circulate separately, as planned.
Colt works the room with his natural charm, shaking hands, laughing with fans, posing for pictures with kids in Snow Leopards jerseys. I float between groups, accepting compliments on the pastries, chatting with regulars from the bakery, and introducing myself to people I’ve only ever seen from behind my counter.
But no matter where I go, I feel him.
Our eyes keep finding each other across the room, and watching him like this, I’m slammed with the memory of something I wrote in that notebook. The pages where I’d scribbled ‘needs a partner’ next to every sketch for a second location, some of them stained by a tear that fell when Daniel left me.
I always knew I couldn’t build an empire alone.
And with Colt showing up tonight, championing my brand… He’s not just fulfilling a PR obligation for the Leopards.
He’s handing me a piece of the dream I packed away a long time ago.
“Mom! This is the best partyever!" Morgan finds me near the cardamom twists, her face smeared with chocolate. "Isla says her dad might get me backstage passes to a game!”
“That’s great, honey.” I wipe her cheek with my thumb. “Having fun?”
“So much fun! And Samuel Voss is, like,everywhere. He just beat Gabe at arm wrestling!”
I follow her pointing finger to a cleared space near the bar where a crowd has gathered. Gabe Devereaux and Theo are now locked in an epic arm-wrestling match, their faces red with strain, the table groaning under their combined weight.
The crowd cheers as Quinn appears beside me, holding two champagne flutes. She passes me one when Delaney glides onto the small stage at the front of the room, tapping the microphone and cutting the arm-wrestling championship short.
“Testing, testing. Okay, everyone! If I could have your attention!”
The room gradually quiets and Colt appears at my side again. His hand finds mine, and he laces our fingers together and gives my hand a squeeze.
“Welcome, everyone, to the official launch of the Snow Leopards and Butter Batch Bakery partnership!” Delaney begins, her voice extra polished and warm. “Tonight is about community. About celebrating the small businesses that make Chilmore special, and the team that’s proud to call this town home.”
She talks about the partnership’s goals, the exclusive treat that will be sold at The Den on Gameday's, and announces the voting system that will take place over the next week.
"…and the winner will be announced on all our social media channels, so get following, and go Snow Leopards!"
Delaney pumps a fist in the air, and Big Mike takes the stage next, his booming voice quickly filling the room. He talks aboutlegacy, about building something that lasts, about the team being part of the town’s fabric.
Then he nods to Colt.
“And now, I’ll hand it over to the man who’s been the driving force behind making this partnership a reality… our very ownColt Lane!”
Colt releases me, but before I can process the loss of contact, he leans down and his lips brush my cheek. It's so fast, just a quick press of warmth that sends a jolt straight to my toes, but the spotlight tracking him for his walk to the stage illuminates us like we’re the main act.
What the actual hell?! Did he really just kiss me in front of the entire town?
He just straightens up, winks like he’s done nothing more than tie his shoes, and turns to walk onto the stage like it’s completely normal. Like he hasn’t just announced us to the entire room without saying a word.
And then it hits me… thesecrethe's been taunting me with all week. Every batch test in the kitchen, that smug grin as he'd steal a taste, his casual mentions of my old notebook.
My stomach bottoms out.
Oh, hell. What is he about to do???
Colt takes the microphone, his gaze sweeping the crowd, cool as anything.
“Thanks, Mike.” He smiles, that easy, charming smile. “When I first got assigned to Butter Batch, I’ll be honest… I thought it was a punishment.”
A ripple of laughter goes through the crowd.
