Andrew was nearly in analysis paralysis, trying to decide which of the fancy recipes he’d mastered over the years he should bring to the table.

Andrew’s helper, Victoria, stood by as he rattled off different cake ideas. “We could do a pink champagne cake with a raspberry mousse. That would be easy to pull in Valentine’s Day colors.” Then he jotted down three more. “Oh, or a salted caramel toffee crunch cake. We could color the toffee red and do three tiers, but no frosting on top or the sides, just loose frosting poured across the top dripping down. It could be really pretty.”

Victoria was a young lady, wearing a 3/4-length sleeve chef coat and a wedding band.

“I think,” she said, “take the competition out of the equation for a second. If you were proposing to the girl of your dreams tonight on Valentine’s Day, what would you want to bake? I mean, something dripping down the sides doesn’t sound like it’s going to sweep a girl off her feet.”

He stepped back. “You’re right.” It was essentially the same advice Lori had been giving him. Keep your eye on the theme. Don’t worry about the complexity of the recipe. That’ll come naturally.

The only woman he’d ever asked to marry him was Kelly. There was no question in his mind what he would bake for her. The Honey Almond Cake they’d created while they’d been dating and he’d worked in the café slinging hash in the evenings. Simple in taste, but he could make the presentation elegant.

Andrew shook Victoria’s hand. “If there’s anything you’re not comfortable with that I ask you to do, let me know. We’ll divide and conquer to your skill set.”

“I was top of my class. Don’t you worry. I’ve got your back,” she said proudly.

“Awesome.” He folded his arms across his chest. He hadn’t made a tiered cake since culinary school, but this wasn’t a wedding cake competition; the theme was Marry Me. A proposal cake. “So, I’m thinking a proposal cake can go a couple of ways. If you’re confident of a yes, it could be a big party cake. Not so sure of the yes, then it could be just the two of you.”

“Somehow I find it hard to believe you’ve ever had an unconfident day in your life.”

“I’m going to take that as a compliment.” He laughed. He liked her confidence too. Like Kelly, she spoke her mind.