Page 4 of Peaches & Cream
Ben
“Congratulations, big brother!” Stacey says, giving me the best hug her pregnant body can manage when I emerge from the competition area.
“You did it, mate,” Chris says, slapping me on the shoulder. “Well done, son.”
I can’t wipe the grin off my face as I hold up the envelope containing the check for my prize money. “This here is the down payment for our own bricks and mortar bakehouse. This is happening, guys.” The excitement of possibility fills my chest as Stacey pulls the envelope from between my fingers and squeals, hugging it to her.
“You are the most talented man I know, Ben Watson,” she says, grinning ear to ear.
“What about me?” Chris says, half-joking.
“Your talents lie elsewhere, my love,” she says, pinching her fingers on either side of his cheeks before she gives him a kiss.
I smile to myself, looking up and spotting my gorgeous cooking partner for the next round walking right by us. For someone who just won a chunk of money, she has a pretty sour look on her face.
“Hey, Shelby. Leaving without saying goodbye?” I ask, catching up to her and blocking her path with my body. I’m a fair bit bigger than her—six-two and built like a brick shithouse, as my mother would say—and even though she’s decently tall, with a sexy hourglass figure any guy with a dick between his legs would drool over, she’s not going to get past me.
“Goodbye, Ben,” she says in her sexy Southern drawl, her expression terse as she takes her friend’s arm and pushes her to the side, trying to go around me. “Congratulations again for today.”
She’s avoiding eye contact, and she’s gone from blushing every time I look at her to clenching her jaw like I’ve just kicked her dog. “Wait. Are you pissed at me?”
She sighs and releases her friend who steps quickly away and rubs her arm. “Why would I be pissed? You won fair and square.Thisround.”
I take a step back and laugh. “Oh, I see how it is.”
“Do you?” she asks, her eyes locked on mine as her brows ride high up on her forehead.Is it weird that I’m finding this fire in her super hot right now?“Is that how it is in Australia too?”
A grin curves one side of my mouth, and I scoff. “I get it. I’m the foreigner who stole your win.” She purses her lips, but I know I’m right, so I lean in real close. “Tell you what, peaches. If you win the next round, I’ll drop out of the competition and admit that I, a lowly Aussie pastry chef, was never any match for the great Southern baker, Shelby Dougherty.”
“Good,” she says, folding her arms across her chest, which only manages to push her breasts up closer to my face.Yum.
“And if I win—”
“You won’t,” she says, the cute jut of her chin turning me the fuck on.I love a good fight.
“IfIwin,” I try again. “Then you have to do the same. Step down and call me king of the fucking world.”
“You are no Leonardo DiCaprio, I assure you,” she bites. “But fine. If you win, my reputation will be ruined anyway, so why not?”
“Then we have a deal,” I say, holding out my hand.
“Fine.” She slips hers inside and rolls her eyes. “We have a deal.”
“Excellent,” I say, lifting her hand and pressing my lips against her knuckles. It causes her to gasp and snatch her hand away while I just chuckle. “See you next week, Miss. Dougherty.”
She storms off with her friend, who gives me a little finger wave, and I watch them until they turn the corner and I can’t see them anymore.
“What was that about?” Stacey asks, moving to stand next to me.
“That,” I say with certainty. “Is the woman I’m going to marry.”
