Page 11 of The Sweetmate (Check-In #2)

Lisa

Casey and I arrive to the set for the cooking competition.

It’s being filmed on a streaming network, and if all goes well, Casey could get invited to more major networks.

The goal is to prove he can be family friendly and mainstream.

The judges are supposed to be well-known food critics and an A-list actress.

“They need me to head to hair and makeup. Are you coming with or…” He lets his words trail off.

“I’m going to take some photos and then come up with some teasers for your socials.”

“Yeah, I liked the photo of the flan you posted last night,” he says. My face must giveaway my shock, because he chuckles. “Don’t act surprised. They’re my socials. Of course I checked them.”

“Thank you. I promise I’ll get some better photos today.”

“Better? Don’t downplay what you’ve already done. My uncle recruited you for a reason.”

He gives me what I consider his signature wink and strolls off. Seriously, I’ve never met anyone who winks as much as this guy. Yet he somehow pulls it off. I shake my head and begin to wander around the set.

There are three prep tables with mini-kitchens behind them. Attached to each table is a stove and oven.A wall is lined with ingredients and two giant refrigerators. I take photos, zoomed in and focusing on different equipment around the kitchen.

“You’re never going to believe the latest bullshit.” Casey’s voice comes from behind me.

I spin around to see him with foundation streaks on his face, a salon cape wrapped around him, and a poor stylist chasing after him with a makeup brush.

He releases a frustrated sigh. “I thought I’d be baking! I’m here to bake.”

“I’m going to need more details before I can join you in being irate.”

“First, I appreciate that you’re prepared to stand by me in outrage. Second, turns out I’m the celebrity judge. They want me to walk around and yap with everyone. Worse, what if I have to admit if I don’t like someone’s dish. Then I’m back to looking like the asshole again.”

“That’s more screentime. And it guarantees you’ll be in all five episodes.”

“I wanted to wow everyone. I wanted there to be reports of how spectacular my desserts were and how I won in a clean sweep. Not some puff piece in a short online article as host and jerk-off judge. How am I supposed to be taken as a serious baker when I’m not even qualified to be a competitor?

I’m the taste tester! I’m the sideshow entertainment. ”

My chest tightens at the sound of defeat in his voice. No. Not on my watch. We’ll fix this. But first, Casey has gotten the whole set’s attention. We do not need anyone uploading any photos or videos of his outburst or aggravation with the situation. It’ll only make matters worse.

I lean into him and whisper, “We can make this work to our advantage. You will show what a role model you can be as their mentor. Give advice. Do what you do best and be charming.”

A flicker of hurt crosses his face before it’s replaced by anger. “I’m more than a show pony. I’m not some pretty puppet or court jester.”

I snap my fingers in his face. “Hey. That’s not what I meant.

Can you please get out of your own head and self-pity for five minutes?

” My hands wrap around his broad and strong shoulders.

“You are going to help the contestants. Give ideas. Interact with them and show them what makes this show the most entertaining and memorable bake-off anyone has ever watched. We already know you can bake. But can you teach? Isn’t your goal to inspire?

Here’s your opportunity! Be their mentor.

Be the role model of these contestants that you want to be for everyone. ”

I’m caught off guard and completely unprepared when Casey’s strong arms embrace me and lift me off the ground.

We spin in a circle before he cheers, “You’re a genius!

” Easing my feet back onto land, he chuckles.

“I’ve never had anyone talk me from the ledge like that.

” He rubs the back of his neck as an adorable hue of pink colors his cheeks.

“I appreciate you finding the silver lining and helping me see this from a different angle. You’re right. I’m excited now for this.”

My instincts tell me not to give him another hug. Again, reporters are here, bystanders who probably all own a cell phone with a camera—witnesses everywhere. His happiness is infectious, which is the only way I can explain why I wrap my arms around him. “You’ve got this,” I whisper to him.

“Thank you.” His voice comes out husky and breathless, as his lips linger along the edge of my ear.

Let’s pretend that didn’t happen. While we’re at it, I’m going to imagine I’m not turned on right now. I scramble back from him, putting a respectable amount of space between us. “You’ve got this,” I repeat louder and, to my immediate regret, give him two thumbs up.

Casey returns the gesture with the biggest goofy grin. I quickly pull my photo up and snap a photo. As he goes back to hair and makeup I log into his socials and post the photo. I make a status wishing everyone a great day and, “ Whatever the day brings, you’ve got this. ”

It’s only thirty minutes later that he returns.

I stand back and watch as they direct him and show him where all the cameras will be placed.

The goal is for the contestants to use three secret ingredients.

He can spend up to ten minutes with each team of two.

For the most part, he doesn’t have a script, and before long, they’re yelling action.

Casey Riis somehow manages to become even more magnetic when a camera is on him.

The man is a natural in front of an audience.

A little voice in my head keeps telling me that he might not be as bad as I originally made him out to be, but then he looks at me and winks.

Quickly, I avert my gaze, because I am not blushing right now.

Nope. Not me. I’m not going to swoon over the man who just purposefully made a dirty pun about eating the center of a fruit while looking at me. Not happening.

I snap photos and take lots of videos. Tonight, I’ll go back and edit. For now, I have no clue what I’m even going to use some of this stuff for, but I’d rather be overprepared and have too much material than not enough.

“What are working on over here?” Casey asks two bakers. They tell him they were originally going to use the secret ingredients of bananas and nuts to make a banana split cupcake, but they see two other teams already doing that.

“The clock is ticking. Y’all have any ideas what you’re going to do, or push forward and hope yours is better than theirs?

“Three cupcakes of the same flavor? I don’t like our odds but I can’t think of any other combination of banana and nuts.” The contestant looks completely defeated.

Casey curls his upper lip and begins singing a few choruses of Suspicious Minds by Elvis Presley.

One contestant looks confused but then the other one snaps his fingers. “Elvis Prelsey! His favorite sandwich was banana, peanut butter, and bacon!”

His partner’s eyes widen, and she raises her hands up in excitement. “We could do a banana cake with peanut butter frosting!”

“Then sprinkle candied bacon on top!”

Casey makes eye contact with me and I give him another thumbs-up. Why do I keep giving thumbs ups? I never do this! He looks to the two contestants who thank him profusely and gives them a thumbs up while saying, “You’ve got this!”

While they take a break before judging, I busy myself capturing photos of Casey in the moment. Him laughing. Him studying an apple—my archnemesis. He must finally feel my eyes on him, because he turns my way.

“Don’t worry. I’m not plotting your demise, cupcake.” He tosses the apple into the air and then captures it.

“I think I liked it better when you called me Snow White,” I grumble.

“You’re more of a scrumptious cupcake. Besides, Snow White was a young girl. Not my taste.”

“Ew. Good to know you have some morals.” I roll my eyes. “Also, you know your fairytale trivia.”

“Absolutely. Hansel and Gretel is probably my favorite. Mostly for the edible cottage.”

I bark out a laugh. “Including the whole cannibalistic nature of the story? It was a trap to lure children to their fiery death.”

Casey places his hands on his hips and bends slightly to whisper in my ear. “The use-of-desserts-to-tempt-and-lure-someone aspect appeals to me.” He stands up straighter, and those pearly whites sink into his lower lip. “I bet with the right sweets I’d be able to lure you so I could eat you up.”

It’s no longer just warmth that spreads throughout my body.

I feel like I’ve been thrown into an inferno.

His eyes light up with excitement and I can’t look away.

I need to escape, but I feel my body leaning toward him.

He’s not wrong. After the few dishes I’ve sampled, I know I’d eat every last bite he put in front of me.

Even if he offered me that damn apple. I’d consume all of it.

But he wouldn’t need to use sweets to lure me.

This man is temptation enough. A male voice calls out to Casey, and thank goodness the trance is broken.

I’ve got to be stronger around him. We were talking about cannibalism, childhood fairy tales, and him performing oral sex. That’s what got my defenses to almost crumble. I’m pathetic. Or desperate. It could also be that I’m not that experienced.

***

“And that’s all for today,” a voice booms out around the set. “That’s a wrap!”

I’m relieved to hear the day is finally over. Casey has people coming from all directions, but he brushes everyone off to come straight to me. “Are you ready to eat?”

Our earlier conversation slams into me. “I need you to be more specific considering our previous conversation.”

“I could go for either, but I was talking about eating in the sense of consuming nutrients. The sustenance of life.” He snaps both fingers and points to me. “Not to say I couldn’t survive off—”

Quickly, I place my hand over his lips. “Don’t finish that sentence. I’m hangry and not in the mood.” A warm wetness slides over my palm and I pull it off his face. He licked me!

“Delicious. Salty, with a hint of mint.” He winks and I’m forced to press my lips together to avoid smiling at the dork.

“Must be from my sanitizer.”

“Least I know they were clean before I slobbered all over.” He takes my hand before I can completely pull it away.

“In all seriousness, let me treat you to one of my favorite meals as a thank you for inspiring me today and making this the most fun I’ve had on this tour.

I know it’s my favorite meal, but I’d like to share this piece of me with you.

A part of me that only those who truly know me have seen. ”

“Sounds interesting.”

“It’s life-changing.”

I didn’t expect life-changing to be the Dairy Queen drive-thru. Casey orders four cheeseburgers, two orders of onion rings, two orders of fries, and two milkshakes—vanilla, with coffee added, caramel syrup drizzle, and whipped cream on top.

“When you mentioned life-changing, were you referring to my health?” There’s no hiding the skepticism in my voice.

Casey’s response? A slow nod and a shit-eating grin. One would think that’d be the end of our meal, but no. On the way to the hotel, he stops at the first grocery store he sees and asks me to wait in the car. In five minutes flat, he’s returned with a single bag.

“Now it’s about to be life-changing.”