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This was as good as any time to tell her friend the latest development. “I’ve agreed to give Avery baking lessons.”
“Oh.” Suzanna turned back to her project.
“Is that all you’re going to say?”
“What do you want me to say?”
“I don’t know.” Jillian sighed. “I keep wondering if this is a big mistake.”
“Because you’re not as immune to Avery’s charms as you want to believe?”
“I’m over him,” she said too quickly.
“Uh-huh.” Suzanna’s tone was one of disbelief.
“Why do you have to say it like that?”
“Like what?” Suzanna said all innocently.
“Like there’s more going on than baking lessons?”
“Well, isn’t there?”
“No. It’s not like that.”
Suzanna nodded her head, but her eyes said that she wasn’t buying anything Jillian said.
“I’m so over him,” Jillian insisted. It was time to turn the tables. “And what about you? Isn’t it time you had another date?”
Suzanna shook her head. “I’ve tried and I’m done.”
Jillian knew how hard it was for Suzanna to put herself out there. She’d been hurt badly when she’d been jilted at the altar. But Jillian also knew that deep inside Suzanna was a romantic. And Jillian didn’t want Suzanna’s creep of an ex to steal her friend’s chance at happily ever after.
“Not everyone is like—”
“This isn’t about me,” Suzanna said, taking time to rearrange a few items in the jewelry display case. “You’re just trying to avoid the subject of your date with Avery.”
They weren’t going on a date. Not even close. The bake lessons were for a good cause. It had nothing to do with how cute Avery looked or how he was starting to acknowledge his appreciation of her.
Suzanna set aside her paintbrush. “So when are these lessons to start?”
“Tonight. We don’t have much time. The competition is in less than two weeks.”
“Really? Why is there such a rush?”
“From what I’ve learned from my mother, there’s a problem with the sale of the house they plan to use for the kids’ center. And the committee has less than ninety days in which to come up with money for the repairs or else the Chamber of Commerce is going to let an outside business take over the place.”
“I don’t like the sounds of an outsider coming in.”
“Me either. That’s why just about everyone in town is planning to support the Bake-Off in one manner or another. Speaking of which, those wristbands I ordered should arrive soon.”
“Actually, there was a delivery for you this morning.”
“Good. Where are they?”
“I don’t think it’s the wristbands.”
“I didn’t order anything else that I can think of, but then again I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
