Page 147 of Never In My Wildest Dreams

He loved?—

He pulled in a sharp breath.

Say it. It’s okay.

He loved her.

I fucking love that woman.

It was such a simple thing, love. When you met the right person, it came effortlessly.

He couldn’t wait until the competition was over and the guests had gone to bed so he could have her to himself. But this night meant too much to her. She wanted Noa to have the best wedding possible, and she was loving every minute of hosting it.

He’d happily carry her train and let her shine for the rest of their lives.

She stood at the massive island. “You’ve got twenty minutes on the clock.”

“Why do they say that?” one of the hockey players near him asked. “Where else would time be counted but on a clock?”

“True,” someone said. “That always bugs me.”

Hellcat laughed. “Well, that’s what they say on the TV show, so that’s what we’re doing.” She turned back to the contestants. “Keep in mind, our chef put all the baskets together, so don’t go blaming us”—she gestured to herself and then the judges—“if you don’t know what to do with the ingredients.”

Lulu raised her hands with a comical expression. “I’m just here to eat good food.”

“All right, are you ready to go?” Hellcat asked.

“You know I can’t cook, right?” Noa pointed out.

Ginty gazed at her with affection. “I got you, babe.”

“Hey, no cheating,” Hellcat said.

“It’s our wedding,” Ginty said. “And my woman’s not going to lose.”

“Oh, I see how it is,” Jaime said.

“I’ll let it go with the appetizers,” Grace said to Noa. “But it’s gloves off in the dessert round.”

Everyone laughed, and Hellcat glowed with happiness. “All right, open your baskets.” She read from the sheet the chef had given her. “You’ve got the winning stout beer from the Wild West Days Festival, edible flowers from Delilah’s hydroponic farm, corn tortillas, and crickets.”

Noa jumped back. “Oh, hell, no.” She shot Hellcat a horrified look. “Are you kidding me?”

“Yes. I’m totally kidding. Would I do that to the bride?” Hellcat picked one up and waved it. “It’s actually adzuki beans.”

“Oh, my God. I was literally going to walk away and never come back.”

“Don’t worry, babe, I’d burn the place down before I made you touch a cricket.” Ginty rubbed his hands together. “All right. Let’s do this.”

“And the clock starts…now!” Hellcat said.

“I don’t even know what to do,” Noa said. “What do I do?”

“Grab some corn, some avocado, and make that salad you like.” Ginty didn’t miss a beat. He dashed from the pantry to the refrigerator, grabbing ingredients. He chopped an onion like a pro and dumped it into a pan sizzling with oil.

“Holy patootie,” Hellcat said. “Ginty, you’re on fire.”

Meanwhile, Grace—the owner of the Singing Baker patisserie in Owl Hoot—was quietly singing a Lorelei Calloway song and taking her time to put her dish together.

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