“Is that what attracted you to Donovan? His patience?”
Donovan cut his eyes at the host. Ooh, she was smooth. He had to give her credit for segueing into gossip so seamlessly.
To her credit, Jada rolled with it. “Absolutely. I knew he was special when I made a mess of things in the kitchen and he kept encouraging me.”
“How long have you two been seeing each other?”
While Kayla talked, Donovan started mixing the ingredients.
Jada absently handed him the bottle of vanilla before answering. “I met him before I went on My One and Only, and I couldn’t stop thinking about him while I was on the show. When it was time to make that final decision, I had to be honest with myself.”
Kayla nodded like she was conducting a hard-hitting news interview. “That honesty led to an interesting reaction from the show’s fans. Donovan, have you seen the abuse Jada has taken online?”
He nodded. “I have, and it’s total BS.”
Beside him, Jada jerked, clearly surprised he’d sought out the vitriol spewed her way. He shrugged. He hadn’t mentioned it because he wasn’t sure she wanted to talk about it.
“I’d use stronger language, but I recognize this isn’t a late-night show on premium cable or streaming service,” he added.
Kayla made an “aww” face at the camera. “Jada, you’re a lucky woman to have someone defending you like that.” Her expression hardened. “Of course, there is some speculation that all that glitters isn’t gold.”
Donovan froze. Did she know they weren’t actually dating?
“There’s been some speculation that Donovan is dating you to get a better contract with the Knights,” she continued.
Fury rose in Donovan so fast it damn near obscured his vision. A loud guffaw stopped him from setting Kayla so straight she’d never look askance again.
Jada slapped her hand on the table. “Are you serious right now? He’s dating me to get a better contract? That would be a big fat hell no. He’s the most upstanding man I’ve ever met and the last person to ever do something so underhanded. He didn’t even know who I was when we first met. Please apologize to him right now or I will walk off this show.”
Jada was deadly serious. She looked for all the world like a warrior ready to defend her family. He was touched beyond belief. Despite everything that had gone down between them, despite the way he’d hurt her feelings in that supply closet, she still had his back.
Kayla’s eyes had widened. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend. I just wanted to get your thoughts on some of the rumors that are out there.”
“That rumor is false, I assure you,” Donovan said, his voice quiet and steady with resolve. Jada reached for his hand, silently offering comfort.
Kayla considered them both. “Yes, I can tell it is. My sincere apologies.” She turned to the camera with a smile. “And before I get fired for running off our guests, why don’t we get to the baking? Jada, since you’re not baking today, do you mind directing traffic by reading off the ingredients?” She jerked her chin toward a guy in his early twenties, one of the production assistants, who was holding cue cards.
Jada hesitated, then cleared her throat. “Sure, no problem. Well, actually, there might be a problem. I’m dyslexic, so if I hesitate or mispronounce something, that’s why.”
“Oh, if you want, I can do it,” Kayla said.
Jada held up a hand. “No, I want to do it. Dyslexia isn’t the end of the world. I’ve learned to compensate and muddle through when the situation calls for it. It can be hard, but I don’t want to give the impression that I can’t do something because of it.”
She didn’t look at him the whole time she spoke. Why? Did she think he would make fun of her? Did she think he was that much of an asshole? Is that what all their interactions had led her to believe?
“You’re absolutely right,” Kayla said. “Whenever you’re ready.”
Jada held out her hand toward him, signaling her okay with him going forward.
“We add the butter and sugar, then add two eggs, our secret ingredient, and the flour,” Jada said while Donovan and Kayla demonstrated in their respective bowls.
Just like on the football field, he soon forgot about the cameras and became engrossed in the task at hand. He and Nicholas had premade portions of the cupcakes so they would have time to get through the whole process in the five-minute segment. He whipped the sugar and butter into a frothy mixture in the glass bowl while Jada watched.