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Not that he would ever admit that to anyone. Maybe not even Cammie. Although he had watched the movie twice with her.
The opening credits came up on the season finale of Britain’s Greatest Bakers.
Everyone in that room had sworn, even pinkie sworn, not to watch the episode. It was actually why he’d agreed to back-to-back showings of both the animated and live-action versions of Beauty and the Beast. It had been the only way to placate Cammie.
He’d been on saccharin overload ever since. But it had kept him from watching the last episode of Britain’s Greatest Bakers.
They’d chosen Pebble Beach for the viewing. It was Fernsby’s home territory and Fernsby’s show. And it was the first time Dane had hosted the weekly barbecue. Correction—it was the first time he and Cammie had hosted.
Fernsby sat in the place of honor, front and center. Even Noah and Jorge didn’t squirm in their seats the way two seven-year-olds normally would when faced with a baking show.
In the second row, Paige and Evan each held a baby. Miracle of miracles, both Keegan and Savannah slept soundly.
Dane had led Francine Ballard to a seat on Fernsby’s other side. The two appeared to get along famously.
He was happy to see Troy and Clay had made it, too, as well as his sisters. Dane felt surrounded by family, and the thought made him slip his arm around Cammie, holding her close.
As the show began, Bob and Susan put their heads together, whispering, and it struck him how utterly adorable they were. That a couple who’d been together as long as they had could still whisper and giggle together like new lovers amazed him.
His heart filled up completely, Dane took the opportunity to plant a kiss on Cammie’s hair. She smiled up at him, so sweetly that he felt his insides get all jumbled up just knowing she was his and he was hers.
The opening credits ended, the show began, and all the whispering stopped.
Fernsby actually looked pretty damn good up there on the big screen. It wasn’t quite movie-theater size, but it was still ginormous. Dressed in a chef’s apron and a chef’s hat cocked jauntily on his head, he looked twenty years younger. He actually seemed to smile.
Cammie tugged on Dane’s hand, pointing at the screen, and mouthed, Is that a mirage?
Flummoxed, Dane wasn’t sure he even recognized the smiling man. Fernsby had to be acting. Obviously, they couldn’t have a staid, taciturn butler-type on the show. No one would vote for him.
He hadn’t even smiled like that the day he’d returned from filming.
Yeah, it was totally an act. It had to be. But then Dane remembered that waltz in the library. Who knew?
But there was Fernsby, smiling, up on the big screen. Even though it was vegan day. Yes, Fernsby had to make a vegan dessert. It was crazy. Dane was suddenly terrified the man hadn’t won after all. Because he certainly hadn’t gone to Gabby, the vegan and gluten-free expert, to ask for advice.
As the show unfolded, Dane held Cammie’s hand the entire time, both of them crossing their fingers. Because, really, what would happen if Fernsby wasn’t the winner? The thought had never occurred to Dane. And the man himself had locked his lips on the secret.
Except for the voices and sounds up on the screen, the theater was entirely silent. He couldn’t even hear anyone breathe.
Then it happened. The judges tasted and reviewed, talked and gabbed, going on forever, making Dane want to jump up and shake his fist at how long it was taking. Couldn’t they just fast-forward?
Until the moment the head guy—Dane hadn’t even listened to his name, which was very unlike him—stopped in front of Fernsby. Then he held out his hand. Fernsby shook it. It was as if the entire show on screen and the entire theater went into meltdown, jumping, shouting, Susan pulling Fernsby out of his seat and actually hugging the man, who remained undeniably stiff.
And Cammie whispered in Dane’s ear, her sweet scent washing over him, reminding him of all the sweet nights in his big bed and all the definitely hot moments when he made her scream wildly, endlessly.
“The handshake means he won!” She practically bounced out of her seat.
You’d never be able to tell by Fernsby. Even as Susan gave him that resounding hug. But then Fernsby whispered something in her ear, and Susan Spencer laughed. It was crazy. It was Fernsby. Always full of surprises.
Francine Ballard patted him on the hip—all she could reach from her seat. And Fernsby turned, taking her hand in his and bowing low to brush a kiss across her knuckles.
Cammie whispered, “Will wonders never cease?” Then she looked at Dane. “Did he tell you about his lost love?”
Dane was reeling from all the shocks, but this one might have landed him on the floor if he hadn’t been holding her hand. “A lost love? Fernsby?”
