Page 146 of Falling for Mr. October

She gives me a weighing look. “Are you going to tell me what you agreed to?”

Might as well. She’ll find out soon enough.

“I’m going to lose the apple pie contest in front of everyone. Boo-hoo, it’s going to be very embarrassing for me.”

She’s silent for several long seconds before she bursts. “Giovanni! We’ve spent the last two weeks trying to make the perfect apple pie. Luanne’s going to murder you.”

“We’re still going to make the pie.” I tuck her bangs behind her ear. “He’s going to win, but he’s going to do it with his inferior pie. God knows, that’s the only way that man will ever win anything.”

“But I don’t want him to win.”

“He’s going to lose what matters most, cara mia. If he were a smart man, he’d realize he already has. But he’s agreed to sell The Rotten Apple to me and to stop fighting Kitty’s will.”

“All you have to do is lose a stupid apple pie bake-off?” she asks, shaking her head incredulously. “He’s an idiot.”

“Absolutely, and thank God.”

She hesitates before saying, “But Giovanni, you must have made those arrangements before you knew you were staying.”

I shrug, trying to play it off as if it’s nothing. “You would have still been here. If there’s anyone I’d trust as a business partner, it’s you.”

She kisses me, and I feel pretty fucking lucky for a chef who’s about to throw a baking contest.

“ I’m going over there after the interview today to get our agreement in writing,” I tell her. “He wants everything on camera too, so his victory will be part of my show. Like I said, I don’t give a shit. I’m getting what matters.”

She pushes her bottom lip out a little. “It still makes me sick to think of him getting anything.”

“Will it make you feel better if you know I’m not done with him?”

She perks up. “Tell me more.”

I explain the rest of my plan, formed only over the past couple of days, and by the time I finish, she’s grinning. It’s a smile that would launch a thousand fucking ships, no doubt about that.

But then she hesitates, her brows knitting together.

“What is it?” I ask softly, tracing the furrow between them.

“It’s just…” She claps my arm. “Do you really want to do that? Are you so sure you’re staying?”

“I’ll be here as long as you’ll let me.”

“Then you’ll be here forever.”

My heart overflows with raw emotion. I pull Bianca into my arms and hold her close, so honored to have her trust. Our bodies are pressed tightly together, and I feel the buzz of the phone in her pocket under my hand.

“So I hope you forgive me for not warning you,” Bianca adds.

I tug back, surprised. “Warning me?”

She smiles just as a knock lands on the front door. “Why don’t you go open that, Mr. October?”

She holds up a finger, signaling for me to wait, then reaches across the table into the bag she prepared for work and removes my “Smut Slut” hat, which she settles onto my head. I’m already wearing one of Helen’s shirts—the better to get out our message and get more funding for The Rotten Apple. Already, we’ve made enough to completely transform the backyard and add more entertainment options to the rec area.

“They need to get the full picture,” Bianca says, angling the hat to her satisfaction.

“You think the cameramen are out there?” I ask, my blood pumping fast.

“I know they are.” She hesitates before adding, “That text was from your agent. She and I have been talking.”