Page 107 of Baking and Angels

“You call himVassago?” Rafferty ran his hands over his counter, looking the equipment over.

“It’s what he said his name was, so yeah,” shecountered.

“Fair enough,” he shrugged, finding a small sheet of paper waiting for him on the end. Three rounds were typed up with lines underneath them, along with instructions and parameters for each round.

“Cookies, cupcakes, and full cakes,” Eleanor said, even as his eyes discerned that from the written words. “She’s practically handing me the victory.” She glanced at Rafferty with a smug smile, expecting him to respond to herchallenge.

“Yes, you will win,” he said, setting the list down and spying the ingredients on the counter at the back end of the room closest to the ballroom kitchens. He knew his answer disappointed her, but he didn’t really care. This wasn’t about winning for him. It was only doing this last thing for Helena.

I’ve interfered in her life enough,he realized.And after what I said, she may not want me back, but I said I would do this for her,so I will.

Maybe what he was thinking was written on his face because Eleanor’s wry, challenger smile shifted immediately. Her eyes widened as if he had slapped her, then narrowed into piercing, dark anger.

“How dare you?” she spat with righteous anger.

It was so abrupt that it jarred Rafferty out of his innerthoughts.

Confused, he met her furious gaze.

“No, don’t look at me with those puppy dog eyes. You don’t get to call me a cheater and then pretend you didn’t just do that,” Eleanor snapped.

Rafferty recognized her reaction for what it was. He had only seen it from those who knew they had used him to cheat and had deluded themselves they hadn’t been.

Hehadn’t changed the game so they could win:Theyhad won it by their skill.

Hehadn’t outwitted their rivals:Theyhad beaten them using their cleverness and superiorintellect.

Hehadn’t changed things so that they could reach their desired goals, shutting doors on other dreams that would have won:Theyhad been more talented and worthy.

And on and on and on it went.

It was the guilt one felt when they had made a deal with a demon.

If he had needed confirmation that Eleanor was making a deal with a demon, this would have been it.

Rafferty suddenly felt exhausted. “What you decide to do is none of my business. I’m not here to win.”

Eleanor crossed the space, getting too close to him. Despite the urge to, he didn’t back down but instead leaned on the counter as he looked down into her fierce eyes, claiminghis space.

“That is really rich coming from you,” she hissed, pitching her voice down as her eyes skimmed quickly around them to see if anyone was listening ornoticing.

Which, of course, they were. How could they not be? But no one came close to interfering.

It didn’t deter Eleanor. “What else am I supposed to do whenyouare just like the restof them.”

That was a very loaded “you.”

“What did Vassago tell you?” he asked, knowing better than to guess and accidentally tell her more than she already knew.

“Vassago didn’t have to tell me anything,” she said proudly, knowingly. “Neither did Helena, when she tried to make this dealwith me.”

Rafferty’s heart skipped a beat. “Helena is not a demon,” he said as if making a joke.

But Eleanor’s gaze didn’t waver.

She knew. He had no idea what that meant, butsheknew about Helena already.

“Helena is not a demon,” he repeated, this time very softly, not with any warning. He didn’t feel the need to do that. He had a conviction that he hadn’t had before. It was simply true. Helena was not a demon, and he wondered now how he could have ever doubted it.

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