“Good.” Lucas seemed to breathe out a sigh of relief, smoothing his hair straight as if just realizing he’d rumpled it. “So you agree?” Hope shone in his eyes, and confusion rocked Kat back a step. He was relieved she felt the same? How did that make sense?
Maybe he’d actually lost it.
She crossed her arms, guarding her heart. “I guess I do.”
He let out a whoop, grabbed her by the waist, and spun her around before setting her on top of the table with the cupcake box. She stared, her hands still gripping his shoulders in surprise, heart racing with adrenaline and confusion.
Now she knew he’d lost it.
“All this time, I thought I needed some grand gesture to win you over. That’s why I signed you up for Cupcake Combat in the first place.” Lucas shook his head with a short laugh. “I wanted you to know how much I believed in you.” He hesitated, reaching up and touching her cheek. “Loved you.”
Loved her?
She held on tighter, knowing she needed to let go, needed to protect her heart, but she just wanted to touch him, hold him, breathe him in one last time. “I—I love you too.” And she did, from the core of her soul, all the way up and out, over and under, forever and ever.
“I don’t know how this is going to work, but I’ll do whatever it takes, Kat.”
Wait. What? This wasn’t a good-bye speech.
What was this?
“If you want to move, start over somewhere in a big city with your prize money, then I support you.” Lucas brushed her hair out of her eyes, the look in his gaze so tender it made her stomach hurt. “I can’t move with you, at least not right now, but we can make long-distance work. I’ll do anything to make it work.”
“Lucas . . .”
He was rambling now and she still had no idea what link she’d missed in the conversation. “We can visit. Drive back and forth. Or even fly if you go somewhere far away.”
“Lucas!”
He kept going, oblivious. “There’s always holidays and the vacation time off from school, and of course, we have unlimited minutes on our cell phones—”
She shut him up the only way she knew how. Cupped his face in her hands and kissed him.
He kissed her back, silently, and then rested his forehead on hers, a little grin tilting the corner of his mouth. “Sorry. I’m assuming you want to talk too?”
She pushed him away just enough to see his face. “What are you talking about? I thought you came here to . . . tell me good-bye. End this drama. End . . . us.” She motioned between the two of them. “I’m a step behind here. What do you mean you signed me up for the show to tell me how much you loved me?”
“That was the plan all along, Kat. The show, the ten acres, everything.” He pulled out a chair from beside the table and sat down, clasping her hands in his and resting their joined fingers on her jean-clad knee. “It was all for you. For us.”
“The ten acres?” He was still talking in code.
“That’s the real reason I didn’t tell you about my offer on the land. I wanted it to be a surprise, because I wanted you to live there with me.” He squeezed her hands, and she squeezed back for dear life. “I was going to tell you about it when I proposed. But it didn’t seem right yet. You were so . . . so lost. It wasn’t the right time, and when the competition opportunity came up, I thought maybe then you’d start to believe me. Believe in yourself.”
He’d done all of it for her. The realization sank in deep, along with the recognition that he hadn’t been trying to send her away. He’d been trying to set her free. He had put her interests and desires above his own—twice—first with his offer to invest in her and then in convincing the Food Network to make her prize cash so she could go wherever she wanted.
“I get it now.” Her words came out a whisper, and tears welled once again. She’d been so off. So wrong. So selfish.
So foolish to think she’d ever find happiness anywhere long-distance from Lucas. As a friend or as more. They were part of the same recipe, for better or for worse.
’Til death did them part?
“I don’t want to move.” The truth slipped out, growing larger the moment it was set free from her lips. “I don’t want long-distance, Lucas. I just want you.”
He stood, leaning over her, the love in his eyes nearly tangible as he smoothed back her hair and cradled her face in his calloused hands. “You don’t have to sacrifice for me. We’ll figure this out. I promise.”
“No, I’m serious.” Kat pulled back, standing beside him as she gestured around the empty bakery. An idea sank in, planting roots that buried deep and began to immediately flourish. “I’ve been here packing all day, and wondering why on earth I have no desire to leave anymore. I want to use my prize money to buy Sweetie Pies.” She laughed at herself, at the shock and joy in Lucas’s eyes, at the desire budding—blooming—in her heart, at the feeling of right that had been absent for so long. She could feel the Lord agreeing with her in her spirit. Yes. Yes. This was the right decision. A new dream—straight from the Dream Giver.
She said it again, with more certainty. “I’m going to buy Sweetie Pies. This is home. You’re home, Lucas.” She hesitated, reaching once more for his hand. “All this time, I thought I had to leave to be free, to be happy, but I don’t anymore. I don’t know why, but it’s different.”
“You might have thought you lost in California, Kat, but you found yourself out there.” He wrapped her in his arms, pulling her against his chest. She snuggled against his heartbeat as he continued. “You’re stronger now. All those insecurities about your ability, all those fears that kept you from believing in yourself—they’re gone, Kat. That’s why everything is different now. Your vision is different.” He grinned down at her. “You’re not afraid anymore.”
He was right. She tightened her grip around him, breathing in his familiar scent, basking in the strength of his arms. She wasn’t afraid. Or maybe she’d just finally realized there were things she feared losing even more than what she had originally feared.
“I guess there’s only one thing left to do.” Lucas was grinning now.
Kat stepped back as Lucas reached for the little bakery box. “Celebrate with a cupcake?” She laughed. “Good thing, since all the ones here are gone for the time being.”
But not for long. Once she officially bought the shop from Aunt Maggie, she’d still sell vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry cupcakes. Oh yes. Right beside a giant display full of pumpkin scone cupcakes and raspberry lemonade torte cupcakes and Mexican hot chocolate cupcakes and . . .
Lucas opened the box and knelt in front of her, presenting her with a cupcake that looked homemade.
With a white-gold diamond band nestled atop the pink icing.
She brought her hands to her mouth and gasped.
“Kat Varland—I don’t want to ever make another cupcake again. At least not without you.” Lucas winked. “Will you marry me?”
She pulled him to his feet as he plucked the ring from the icing. “Yes. Yes!” Joy bubbled up and over in her heart.
He slipped the diamond on her finger, and she held it up to sparkle in the overhead lights. Perfect. But it could have come from a Cracker Jack box and been just as beautiful.
Her admiration of her new piece of jewelry was interrupted as Lucas kissed her so intensely her feet lifted off the floor.
He set her back down but didn’t let go, pressing his mouth against her ear. “Hey, fiancée?”
She shivered at the husky sound in his voice, burrowing closer into his chest. “Mmmhmm?”
“I’m thinking I don’t want a long engagement.”
A slow burn crept up her neck and into her cheeks. She was in complete agreement. She edged slowly away from him, reaching for the cupcake abandoned on the table. “Well, I guess now there really is only one thing left to do.”
“What’s that? Celebrate with cupcakes?” He mimicked her earlier response.
“Something like that.” Then she reached up and sm
ashed the cupcake straight in his face.
He stood, blinking, frozen, icing dropping from his face in chunks. “Not fair, Varland. Not fair.” He wiped his eyes, then grinned, licking his lips.
She edged over in front of him, laughing, and pulled a portion of iced cake off his neck. “Come on, now.” She tossed him a flirty look as she popped the piece of cake in her mouth. “You know what they say . . .”
“What’s that?” He pulled her close, rubbing his face against her own cheek and hair and transferring the icing, making her squeal.
She leaned back to smile in his face, barely getting the words out before he interrupted with another kiss.
“All’s fair in love and cupcakes.”
Kat’s Raspberry Lemonade Torte Cupcakes
For the cupcakes and filling:
3 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
4 eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons lemon zest
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 to 1 ½ cups lemon curd
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer (or using a handheld electric mixer), cream the butter and sugar. With the mixer on low, add the eggs one at a time, along with the vanilla. Stir in the flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the buttermilk, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Beat just until combined. Do not over mix.
Fill the prepared pans with the batter, filling each cupcake liner ¾ full. Bake in preheated oven until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, approximately 20 to 25 minutes. Let cupcakes cool in pans for about 10 minutes before removing them to a rack.
Fill your cooled cupcakes with lemon curd using a pastry bag, fitted with a tip big enough for the filling to pass though. Insert the tip about 1 inch deep into the cupcake. Squeeze the pastry bag, filling each cupcake with approximately 1 to 2 teaspoons of lemon curd.
For the raspberry buttercream fluff and garnish:
1 cup butter, softened
4 cups confectioner’s sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla
½ cup seedless raspberry jam
1 (13 oz.) jar marshmallow crème or fluff
Fresh raspberries
Striped paper straws, cut in half
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter until light and fluffy. Add vanilla. Slowly beat in the sugar, 1 cup at a time. Beat in raspberry jam. Once fully combined, gently fold in marshmallow fluff. Pipe onto completely cooled cupcakes and garnish with a fresh raspberry and a striped paper straw.
KAT’S TIP: If you don’t have buttermilk on hand (and who does?), you can make your own! Just pour 1 tablespoon of bottled lemon juice into a 1-cup measuring cup. Pour milk over the lemon juice, filling the measure. Allow the mixture to rest for about 5 minutes, and Voila! You have 1 cup of buttermilk.
Discussion Questions
1. Kat felt stifled in her work at Sweetie Pies—yet at the same time, she held herself captive while complaining about being trapped. Have you ever let fear keep you from breaking out and taking a risk in relationships or your career?
2. Lucas loved Kat enough to sacrifice his dreams in order to help her accomplish hers. Has anyone ever done that for you? Have you done that for someone else? What was the result?
3. Kat had strained relationships with her family, especially her sister, for various reasons—namely, jealousy and miscommunication. How do you think Kat could have worked through those issues with her family members sooner than she did? Have you ever been in a similar position with a sibling or parent? What happened?
4. Because of growing up with a single mother, Lucas carried a burden of always feeling like he had to take care of everyone in his life—his family, his best friends, the kids on his football team. He didn’t realize that sometimes being too invested in someone’s life tends to hold them back, rather than propel them toward their goals. Have you ever let a circumstance of your childhood shape you negatively as an adult?
5. Would you ever compete on a reality TV show if given the chance? Why or why not? What theme would it be if you could star in a show?
6. Who are you most like? Lucas—the realistic Protector for those in your life? Or more like Kat—the afraid-to-leap Dreamer?
7. Kat loves baking, but deep down, was searching for her identity in something more. What do you feel like defines you, whether intentionally or unintentionally? What labels do you wear?
8. Kat and Lucas both kept waiting on the other to make a move and reveal their love for each other beyond friendship. Who do you think should have taken the lead there and why/when?
9. Kat tended to describe people in terms of cupcake flavors. What cupcake flavor best describes you?
10. Do you think Lucas’s big gesture of signing up Kat for Cupcake Combat was a good way to reveal his feelings for her and show his support of her dreams? Why or why not?
11. At one point in the story, Lucas—out of his love and desperation—was torn between helping Kat win the competition and taking the opportunity to sabotage her efforts so she wouldn’t win and move away from him. Have you ever wanted to do a bad thing for what seemed like a good reason? What happened as a result?
Acknowledgments
It doesn’t just take a village to write a book, it takes an army—an army of well-prepared, heartfelt warriors who are amazing at what they do!
Many props to my editor, Becky Philpott, for her editing prowess, her genuine friendship, and her sincere heart—I couldn’t have done this without you! Your support and prayers for me during the writing of this novel will never be forgotten and never taken for granted.
To Jodi Hughes and the entire editorial and marketing team at Zondervan—you guys are so fun, and I loved your vision for this book from the start. Thanks for getting me, and being so great at your job!
Also special thanks to my agent, Tamela Hancock Murray, who is a rock in the ever changing publishing industry. Thank you for always covering me in prayer when the waves crash, and for your constant cheerleading and encouragement. You are a blessing!
Thanks to Lori Chally, Katie Ganshert, Anne Prado, Sarah Varland, Georgiana Daniels, Jenn Knight, and Krystle Trudell, who have taught me that friends are like cupcakes—you can’t ever have too many, and the sweeter the better! You girls are such a blessing to me, you have no idea. Cupcakes on me!
To Jacki Amanda and Rebecca Melton—“Are you ready?” “NO!” Thanks to you ladies for swinging with me right out of my comfort zone and for making memories of the heart that can never be erased. Our mansions in heaven better be on the same block.
To Bobby, Christy, and my entire Authentic ministry family—God sent you to me in a big ol’ giftwrapped package, and I am eternally grateful. We can’t stop. We won’t stop.
Special thanks to my mama, for being the world’s best nana and babysitter for this mama who needed to write. And to Audrey Elise, the sweetest kindergartener this world has ever known, my heartbeat, my gift in life . . . I don’t deserve you, but I wouldn’t want to watch Cupcake Wars with anyone else.
To all my readers—this cupcake’s for you!
And to Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of my faith, the one from whom all blessings flow—my best friend, the inventor of cupcakes, and the one who kept holding my hand even on the days when I let go . . . I love you.
About the Author
Betsy St. Amant has a heart for three things—chocolate, new shoes, and sharing the amazing news of God’s grace through her novels. She lives in Louisiana with her adorable storytelling young daughter, a collection of Austen novels, and an impressive stash of Dill Pickle Pringles. A fiction author and freelance journalist, Betsy is a member of American Christian Fiction Wr
iters and is multi-published in contemporary romance. When she’s not reading, writing, or singing along to a Disney soundtrack with her daughter, Betsy enjoys inspirational speaking and teaching on the craft of writing and can usually be found somewhere in the vicinity of a white-chocolate mocha.
Visit her website at www.betsystamant.com
Facebook: BetsySt.Amant
Twitter: @betsystamant
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