Kelly finally swallowed the breath she’d been holding. “Thank you, Chef.” One. She held a finger behind her back. Then made it two, hoping for the best.

“Thank you, Georgie. Chef Abraham, what are your thoughts on Kelly’s dessert?”

“I like it very much. It’s much simpler in style than some of the others, but I like the balance.”

Kelly’s throat felt like it was swelling.

“You’ve used every ingredient successfully, and I love that you hand-carved the numbers for the topping. You show great precision. I would have like to have seen something a little more out of the box. Fancier, or unexpected.”

Her smile wavered. She rubbed her thumbnail against that second finger, unsure if it had been a pass or fail.

“Good feedback from Abraham. And Chef Collin. What are your thoughts?”

Kelly’s heart pounded so hard she had to concentrate on the smolderingly handsome Chef Collin’s mouth to make out the words.

“I disagree with Abraham. I think this dessert is out of the box.” Chef Collin leaned over to eye his fellow judge.

Thank goodness. He must’ve liked it.

Chef Collin went on, “I don’t know that I’d have baked a flourless cake in the first round. That in itself was a bold move, and we’ve got great, bold flavors to match.” He turned and faced Kelly. “This cake is baked to perfection, and the frosting makes for an unexpected surprise. I’m not sure I’d want to eat chocolate flourless cake without your frosting ever again.”

“Thank you, judges,” Kelly said, trying to resist the urge to skip off the stage. As she’d been coached earlier, she turned and exited the stage to the left.

“Cut.”

Brenda stepped through the door and grabbed her hand. “We’ll just wait here for a second while they make sure they’ve got everything they need.”

“We’ve got it,” came over the speaker.

“You’re done,” Brenda said. They scurried down the hall toward her dressing room, and as soon as they closed the door, they both squealed. “You did so great, Kelly!”

“I’m afraid to get too excited.”

“Well, don’t be.”

A minute later, a knock at the door sent Kelly into overdrive, but it was the woman who’d collected her desserts on the cart stopping by to deliver a sample from the three other entries. “Here you go. The competition.”

“Thank you,” Kelly said, jumping to her feet to get a first look at them. “These are gorgeous.”

“Yours is beautiful too.”

“Are you going to help me taste them?”

“You first,” Brenda said.

Kelly took a seat and picked up her fork. She wasn’t sure which one to start with.