Worth the Risk

devoted to her work as he was to his. And besides running City Seeds, she would soon be holding down an accounting job. He hoped she would learn to manage better than he had. A satisfying career was only part of a fulfilling life.
    Brad assured himself that by hiring Alice and allowing her to take part of the responsibility for running Black Jack’s, he would have more time to himself. Who was he kidding? Taking one day a week off didn’t make a balanced life. He’d been unable to ask Lexi if she could go out another night because he didn’t have any time available.
    His next free day was Saturday, which he would spend going from one baking contest to another. Of course, he would have to work Saturday night. It was the busiest night of the week—make-or-break time in most restaurants.
    He thought back to his failed marriage. He’d been too wrapped up in his work to devote the necessary time to a relationship. If he wanted to try again, he would need to make some real changes in his schedule and allow the sous-chef more freedom.

Chapter 7
    Lexi leaned toward Amber so her sister could whisper in her ear without having anyone in Stovall Middle School’s auditorium overhear them. The contestants had baked their entries for the contest in the cafeteria and the desserts had been brought here for judging. They were on display at the front of the room. Each entry had a number beside it but no name was attached. There were about a dozen, Lexi noted.
    Most were fairly professional, considering middle school students had baked them, but a few others weren’t so good. One was a chocolate layer cake that listed like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Another looked like a sticky caramel bird’s nest.
    The contest rules stated that entries had to use healthy ingredients. Nothing was mentioned about presentation, but Lexi suspected appearance would influence the judges—at least a little. Amber’s Ali Baba Tart looked as good as any dessert Lexi had ever seen. It was a simple raspberry-chocolate tart garnished with plump raspberries from their garden.
    “I’m not going to win,” Amber whispered, a note of despair in her voice. “Monsieur Broussard watched every move I made. He didn’t smile or even blink. He made me sooo nervous, I know I messed up big-time.”
    “Don’t worry,” Lexi reassured her sister as she glanced around the crowded auditorium, looking for Brad. He hadn’t arrived yet, which wasn’t unexpected. Since he wasn’t a judge, he didn’t need to be here when the chefs sampled the desserts. His job was to award the prizes at the various schools.
    Still, she kept hoping to see him. She wondered what would have happened if she’d gone out with him.
    Don’t go there, she warned herself. She had too much on her mind, too many things to do. She couldn’t waste time mooning like a teenager over a man.
    Suddenly, Brad came through the side door with Charmayne at his side. A few people noticed him, but most seemed to think he was just another parent or friend here for the contest. He glanced around the auditorium, spotted Lexi and… Had he winked at her? It happened so fast she couldn’t be sure. He opened the backstage door for Charmayne and disappeared before he saw the special smile Lexi flashed at him.
    Be cool, she told herself, knowing she would see him after the contest.
    “Brad brought the pastry chef, Charmayne,” whispered Amber, who obviously hadn’t noticed the wink. “I wonder why. Do you think she’s going to sample the entries?”
    “I’m not sure, but he may want to introduce her as the person the winner will work with this summer.”
    “Makes sense,” Amber replied. “Look! There go the judges. That was so fast.
    Lexi saw the judges leaving by the same side door that Brad had used. “They’re probably on their way to the next contest. This is their second today. They have six in all.”
    “Right,” mumbled Amber.
    Lexi could tell her sister was getting nervous. It wouldn’t be long now. The endless rounds of chocolate-tart making would be over. She wanted Amber to win and knew how devastated she would be if she didn’t at least place in the contest. But if she did win, it would mean yet another series of baking experiments and tasting sessions and less work in the garden.
    Mr. Rodgers, the principal of the middle school, walked up to the microphone. He tapped on it twice and silence fell across the large crowd. “Earlier I introduced the judges, chefs from local