The Vampire's Valentine Surprise(3)

And now here she was. Facing down a crazy day of baking. The other contestants in the tent looked just as nervous as she felt. She had to get this under control. This was no way to start the day. Desperate for a distraction, she checked her list for the thousandth time. Then she recounted her baking sheets and cake pans. And did one more inventory on her supplies. She knew she had everything she needed, but that didn’t put to rest the stupid little voice in her head that said she didn’t.

Her station of two tables and a stove/oven unit and small fridge was set up in Tent One on the fairgrounds. There were six tents altogether, three for the actual bake-off that held twenty-five contestants each. And everyone was entering at least one of three categories: Cakes, Chocolates and Cookies.

Except for the truly mad, who had entered all three. Why on earth had she done that? She groaned and tipped her head back to stare at the tent poles. She was crazy. She knew that now. Crazy and overly ambitious.

But winning this contest could be big. Besides bragging rights and a righteous trophy, the winners in each category got a nod in Home Baker Magazine. That kind of publicity could be just the thing to get Delaney’s Delectables into the mail-order game.

And mail-order chocolates and confections were big business. The kind of big that could lead to things like getting a spot on Shopping TV. That would be the fulfillment of a dream that a year ago had felt so far away it might as well have been on Mars.

She sighed. She was getting herself worked up over something that hadn’t happened and might not. She knew that. So she closed her eyes and took a few measured breaths in an attempt to calm her nerves. Breathing wasn’t a necessity as a vampire, but she’d only been one for nine months and some habits weren’t that easy to break.

“All ready?”

She jumped, startled by the sound of her husband’s voice. “Hugh, you scared me.”

“Sorry, darling. Just thought I’d swing by with a coffee and see if you needed anything.” He held out a cup. It was from her favorite coffee shop, the Hallowed Bean, which was also conveniently located right across from her store on Black Cat Boulevard.

“That was very sweet of you, but I don’t think caffeine is a good idea for me right now. How did you get in here anyway? I didn’t think they let anyone in besides contestants and one assistant, and as much as I love you, I listed Ivy as my assistant.” The Sheriff’s wife had been helping out in Delaney’s shop for a while now. Ivy Merrow had serious baking skills and was the first werewolf Delaney had ever called friend.

He smiled. “No one says no to an Ellingham, darling.”

“I suppose not.”

He glanced around. “Where is Ivy?”

“Running the store. If I need her, which I won’t, she’s got my okay to lock up and do whatever needs doing. But between Stanhill and I, I’m pretty sure we packed enough stuff for everyone in this tent to bake with.”

“Good.” He held out the coffee again. “You sure you don’t want this? You love their coffee. You love all coffee.”

“That I do, but today…maybe just leave it on the table. I’m not sure I’ll drink it, but I might change my mind.” She frowned and whispered, “I’m kind of a hot mess of nerves right now.”

He put the cup down on the front table, then walked around it and pulled her into his arms. “Don’t be nervous, my love. You’re going to do just fine. You’ve practiced these recipes so many times I bet you could put them together with your eyes closed.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder, so comforted by his loving embrace and kind words that she felt a little weepy. He was such a good man. “You’re right. I know you are. I just can’t shake these nerves today.”

He kissed her temple. “That’s natural, don’t you think?”

She looked at him. “Probably. But none of the other contestants seem to be freaking out.”

“You’re only saying that because you haven’t seen Birdie Caruthers. She’s in Tent Two. Apparently she called Sheriff Merrow to report that one of her tables had been stolen and that he, as her nephew, had better find the perpetrator immediately.”

Delaney shook her head. “And?”

Hugh rolled his eyes. “Her table was right where it was supposed to be. In front of her. She thought every contestant got three.”

Delaney giggled, her mood lightened. “That sounds like her.” She kissed him. “Thank you for taking care of me.”

“It’s my life’s work.” He winked at her.

She rested her fingers on the amulet that hung from the slim chain around her neck. She hadn’t taken it off since becoming a vampire, except to switch it over to a bracelet on occasion, but that particular piece of jewelry wouldn’t fly with all the work she had before her today. She’d kept her wedding and engagement rings on, though. “I thought your life’s work was figuring out how to keep us safe in the sun without these amulets.”