by Addison Cole
Blue shifted his eyes to her mother. “And did you know that the things she bakes for her show go to the homeless shelter? That’s right, at six thirty in the morning, with a full day ahead of her, she takes it upon herself to deliver the freshly baked goods to those who need them.”
“I didn’t know that,” her mother said wistfully.
When her father still didn’t respond, Blue said, “And the show she’s created? She works on that late at night most days, after she’s gone to the homeless shelter, worked a long day at her flower shop, and delivered flowers to whomever she thinks needs them the most.” In an instant, Blue decided not to try to explain to Lizzie’s parents how successful her webcast had become or that she was in talks with a major network to sell the rights. He didn’t get the sense that her success made a difference one way or another, and who Lizzie was had nothing to do with her success. If her father couldn’t see how caring, how selfless, and how incredibly generous his daughter was, it was his loss.
To his surprise, Vernon’s shoulders dropped a hair. If Blue hadn’t been watching for clues of the man softening, he might have missed it.
“Lizzie is a savvy businesswoman, but more importantly, she’s the most generous person I know.” Blue slid his hands casually into his pockets and shrugged.
“I just thought you should know, and I’m sure you already know that the money she earns from the webcast goes directly to Maddy’s school expenses. She doesn’t keep a penny for herself, even though that means she pays a higher tax rate on her earnings from the flower shop.”
He held a hand out to shake Vernon’s, and Vernon’s mouth opened, as if he was going to say something, but as Blue shook his hand, the man remained silent.
This conversation is nowhere near over.
Blue kept his thoughts to himself as he took Margaret’s hand between his and thanked her for taking the time to speak with him. He took a step toward the door, unsure if he’d made a difference or not, and before walking into the foyer he said, “Thank you for raising such an amazing daughter. She was so determined to put her own social life aside in order to fully concentrate on earning enough for Maddy’s education that she refused to go out with me for an entire year—what she didn’t know was that I would have waited ten, if that’s what she needed to feel safe.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
SKY WHOOSHED THROUGH the front doors of P-town Petals carrying bags from Wild Rice, a clothing shop at the west end of Commercial Street. It was a pricey shop, with dressier clothing than Sky typically wore, and as Lizzie came around the counter to greet her, she wondered where Sky was going to need to wear something so special.
“Dinner with Sawyer’s parents?” she guessed.
“Ha! Hardly. These are for you, girlfriend.” Sky plopped the bags on the counter and began rummaging through them. “I knew you wouldn’t have time to shop for an appropriate outfit before going to your big meeting in New York. And let’s face it”—Sky ran her eyes down Lizzie’s P-town Petals T-shirt and jeans—“Cape Cod attire is not exactly big-city appropriate.”
Sky pulled out the prettiest navy blue skirt and white blouse Lizzie had ever seen. It looked more professional than anything she had ever owned.
“You didn’t have to do that.” Lizzie couldn’t help running her fingers over the silk blouse.
Sky put it in her hands and then withdrew a pair of nude-colored heels and a cute pair of earrings to top it all off.
“I don’t know what to say.” Lizzie was completely befuddled. No one had bought her clothes in years. Sky had lived in New York before returning to the Cape a few years ago. If anyone could pick out the perfect outfit for a meeting this important, it was Sky. Her style was more relaxed, like Lizzie’s, but she’d struck the perfect balance between professional and casual. Lizzie knew she’d feel like a million bucks in the outfit.
“Don’t say anything. Just try it all on.” Sky ushered her toward the bathroom in the back of the shop and waited outside the door. “I’ll watch the store while you tell me how things are going with Blue. I talked to him this morning, and he had that fully sated sound to him.”
Lizzy laughed. “He’s definitely satiating,” she said through the door as she admired the outfit in the mirror. “This is so pretty, but, Sky?” She opened the door and turned so Sky could assess the outfit. “Do I look as much like a fish out of water as I feel?”
“Girl, you look like the only fish in the water. Gorgeous. You’ll knock ’em dead.”
“You really think so? I feel like I’m playing dress up. I’d much rather go wearing my jeans and Petals shirt—not that that’s an option, but still.”
Sky turned her by the shoulders so she was facing the mirror. “Repeat after me.”
Lizzie put on a serious face. “Okay. This is good. I need to practice, because I’m wicked nervous.”
Sky smiled at her in the mirror. “Okay, ready?” When Lizzie nodded, Sky said, “Hi. I’m Lizzie Barber, the queen of naked baking.”
Laughter burst from Lizzie’s lips. “Totally not helping. But the outfit? Sheer perfection. You can still hold on to your best friend nomination.”
Lizzie changed back into her jeans as Sky filled her in on what to expect in New York: how busy the subways were, how to flag down a taxi, the fast pace of the city. Lizzie hadn’t given much thought to those things. She was nervous enough about the idea of talking about her show to people she didn’t know.
“Blue said he’s going with you, so you’ll be fine.”
“He is, but not to the meeting, just to New York. I really want to do this alone. Even though he is totally supportive, I think I’d be more nervous with him in the room, and besides, it’ll give him a chance to catch up with his family. We’re actually staying with his parents Friday night, then coming back Saturday morning.”
“He’s so proud of you, Lizzie. He’s sure you’re going to sew this up and get an offer. How do you feel about it?” Lizzie hung the outfit on the coatrack, and Sky followed her through the store as Lizzie rearranged a few plants.
She smiled as she turned to face her friend. “I can hardly believe that I might actually be able to have a normal life again. It’s been so many years since I’ve had evenings free that I’m not sure what I’ll do with the time. But I’m already imagining walks along the beach with Blue, bonfires with you and everyone else.” She bit her lower lip to trap in her excitement.
“Blue said you work almost every night on the show. I had no idea it was so consuming, and I really have no idea how you bounce around here all day with endless energy when you’re doing so much.”
“My schedule is crazy, but I’m used to it. I do everything for the show at night. I film twice a week, then edit twice a week. When the shows air for the first time, I watch the beginning to make sure there aren’t any glitches, and then I take Sundays off.”
Sky followed her back to the refrigerated section, where Lizzie took out the wilting flowers that she’d give away this evening.
“No wonder you hardly ever go out with me when I ask. This will be life changing if it comes through.” Sky watched her putting the flowers in her tote.
“I know. I can hardly stand it, I’m so excited. And I’m also really nervous about meeting his parents, so it’s going to be a nerve-racking few days.”
“You’ll love his family. I’ve only met his brothers, but they’re all so down-to-earth. I’m sure his parents are wonderful, too.”
“I’m a little nervous about them finding out about the show. Look at how my dad reacted.” Lizzie leaned against the counter. She’d been trying not to think about how much it hurt that her father could push her aside so easily, but sometimes, like now, the ache was inescapable.
Sky embraced her. “Don’t worry. Your father loves you too much not to come around.” She pulled back and said, “That’s why he’s acting like this, you know. That’s why he’s always been so protective of you and Maddy. He loves you two so much he doesn’t know what else to do.
Sort of like the way my brothers have always been so overprotective of me.”
“I hope you’re right, because if this deal doesn’t come through, I have two more years as the Naked Baker, and I’m not going to leave Maddy hanging just to appease my father—no matter how much I love him.”
“Speaking of love…” Sky smiled and arched a brow.
Lizzie grinned.
Sky squealed. “I knew it! I’m so happy for you!” She threw her arms around Lizzie, and they both laughed.
“Blue’s already changed my life in so many ways, and even though he was jealous at first, I kind of like knowing that. I think it would have been weird if he didn’t feel funny about me doing the show. I definitely wouldn’t want him prancing around in nearly nothing for women—online or offline.” Lizzie sighed. “I can’t imagine my life without him, and to be honest, I can’t even imagine a night without him anymore.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
THERE WAS SO much adrenaline coursing through Lizzie Friday morning when she arrived in New York City that she was surprised she hadn’t bounced out of her seat on the airplane. She’d practiced what she was going to say in the meeting at least a hundred times, and by the time the cab pulled up in front of the Food Channel Network’s building in Manhattan, Lizzie’s stomach was doing somersaults.
How could she have thought she could handle this? The conversation with Duke last night had made her more anxious, even though he’d confirmed that she had all her ducks in a row and the proposal looked perfect. What he’d said about Carly Christianson, the woman heading up the acquisition department for FCN, wasn’t nearly as comforting. She’s a hard negotiator. Be ready to negotiate as if your life depends on it. She’ll try to lowball you, and if she does that, very politely thank her for her time, tell her the meeting is over, and get up and walk out without looking back.
How on earth was she supposed to do that? She had a feeling she’d be fighting to remember how to breathe.
Blue stood protectively between Lizzie and the passersby as she stepped from the cab onto the busy sidewalk. She’d never been to New York, and she was amazed at the sheer number of people on the sidewalks and the constant honking of car horns. When she looked up, the height of the buildings made her dizzy. She clung to Blue with one hand, clutching the strap of her messenger bag with the other.
“You look gorgeous, and your proposal is perfect. You’re going to do great,” Blue reassured her.
“You’re sure I won’t look too out of place? Like a beach girl trying to be a city girl?”
Blue’s eyes heated as he stepped in closer, and that made her stomach quiver in a better way. “You’ll always be my beach girl, but I think you’ve proven that it doesn’t matter what clothes you wear. You have a brain that’s sharper than anyone’s in that building. You’ve created two businesses by yourself. Don’t you forget that, babe. No matter what they say, this is all you. You make the decisions. If they play around, take Duke’s advice and get out with your chin held up high. They need you more than you need them.”
Lizzie wrapped her arms around Blue’s waist, loving the way her heels brought their mouths closer to the same height. Not that she was close enough, but she’d take every inch she could get. “I need you more than I need anything else in this world, Blue. I’m so glad you’re with me.”
“You don’t need me, sweetheart. But I’m glad you want me.” He pressed his lips to her cheek, and she knew he was being careful not to mess up the lipstick she wasn’t used to wearing. “Now get in there and be your amazing self. Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?”
Her nerves nearly silenced her voice, but she managed, “I’m sure.”
“Okay. Text me when you’re done and I’ll meet you right here. Good luck.”
She felt Blue’s eyes on her long after she walked through the glass doors of the intimidating building. His strength stayed with her as she rode the elevator up to the tenth floor, where she followed a prim-looking woman into an empty conference room that was bigger than her flower shop and overlooked the city. His supportive gaze and comforting words carried her through as her heart slammed so hard against her ribs she feared she might pop a button on her blouse.
The conference room door opened, and a dark-haired woman with almond-shaped eyes entered the room wearing a fitted white suit that did nothing to hide her curvaceous body. Her pin-straight posture and cool, professional gaze made Lizzie’s skin prickle. She had perfectly styled brown hair and a mole on her left cheek. The woman could win an Eva Mendes look-alike contest hands-down.
“Lizzie, such a pleasure to meet you.” She extended a lithe arm and—thank goodness—a genuine smile that softened her perfection just enough to take away the prickliness. “I’m Carly Christianson, and I’m so glad you could make it out to meet with us.”
Carly moved with the grace of a feline and an air of precision as she swept into her seat at the head of the table.
“Thank you. It’s a pleasure meeting you as well.” Thankful that her voice actually worked, Lizzie started to believe that she could do this. Carly didn’t seem as harsh as Duke had said. Maybe he’d been preparing her for the worst.
Lizzie spread her files out on the table and drew her shoulders back, preparing to embark on the spiel she’d practiced on the plane ride from the Cape, when the door behind Carly swung open and three men in suits filed in with serious faces and curious glances. Behind them, two well-put-together women entered the room, bringing with them a whirlwind of anxiety that landed dead center in Lizzie’s chest.
“Let me introduce our team,” Carly said. “Kerry Michaels, head of marketing, Bradley Manion, chief financial officer…”
She spoke fast, each word meticulously pronounced, and Lizzie tried to concentrate on the names and positions that went with each face. But the blood was rushing through her ears so loudly that she found it difficult to process. How would she make it through her sales pitch if she couldn’t even concentrate through the introductions?
“We’re very impressed with your program, and we’d like to hear about how it came to be. There is very little about it online, and you’ve done an excellent job of masking your identity. We scoured the Internet and have not been able to find a single connection between Lizzie Barber and the Naked Baker.”
“Yes, that’s done by design.” Lizzie was shocked that the answer came so easily. She went on to explain how she’d learned about proxy servers in college from a friend, and from there she took them on a tour of her journey from Cooking with Coeds to the Naked Baker. She was surprised at how confident she sounded and was even more pleased to realize she’d been able to make eye contact with each of the members of the FCN team without faltering in her explanation.
One of the intimidating bunch, a blond female with angular features and a sharp gaze, said, “We’d like to see your tax returns to verify the figures you’ve provided.”
“Yes, of course.” Holy cow, tax returns? They must be serious. “I can have them to you by Monday.”
One of the handsome men sitting across the table asked, “Have you at any time had a business partner?”
“No. From the inception of the program I have been the only person working on the show.”
They fired off questions from all sides for the next forty-five minutes, and Lizzie hoped she was handling her answers well. She was being honest, and she couldn’t do much more than that.
Carly cleared her throat and lifted her chin. All eyes shifted to her, and she looked even more regal than she had when she’d come in. With respect shining in the eyes of the others, the intimidation Lizzie had sought to avoid suddenly settled in.
“Lizzie, you’ve proposed a sale of the rights to the program, but you do realize that you are the program, don’t you?”
Lizzie’s mouth opened, and her brain scrambled to find an answer. She and Blue had talked about this. Duke had given her tips on what to say, but her brain had gone completely blank. Her pulse sped up, and she felt
her cheeks flush. She was in for a full-on panic attack if she didn’t get a grip on herself soon.
She dug deep, remembering what Duke and Blue had told her. She’s a hard negotiator. Be ready to negotiate as if your life depends on it. Blue’s words came next. You make the decisions. They need you more than you need them.
In their advice, she found her voice—and her answer. “Yes, up until this point the show has been all my doing, from planning to taping, editing, and analyzing. But I wear a blond wig and thick dark glasses, and as you pointed out, my identity has been kept secret. If you hire the right actress to play the part, so the sensual side of the program remains essentially the same, viewers will never connect the dots. Furthermore, I only have the ability to tape the shows twice a week, because I do have another business to run, but another person might be able to film seven days a week, generating even more income.”
“Seven days a week is the plan,” Carly said with a sophisticated tone and a wry smile.
“I’m also willing to consult on a limited basis, with meetings handled at such times that they will not negatively impact my other business.” She had no idea where that came from, but it sounded well thought out and that was a feather in her cap. They began ping-ponging questions at her again, and as she volleyed answers, surprising herself with her abilities, she realized that if she had the confidence to do the Naked Baker program, she could sit at this table with sophisticated city people and handle herself just fine.
NIGHTCAPS BAR WAS a favorite gathering spot among Blue’s brothers and their friends. It was owned by Dylan Bad, a guy who knew how to make anyone feel welcome, and because of that, the place was always jammed. This afternoon was no different. Blue had been sitting at a booth with his brothers Cash and Duke since he’d dropped off Lizzie, and there hadn’t been a quiet moment since they’d arrived.
