“Aren’t we beyond tax season?”

  “Yes, of course, but you’d be surprised how many people missed the deadline and had to ask for an extension. We’re working on those now.”

  “You must have known what it would be like to work for an accounting firm,” he said, leaning closer.

  “I did, but I guess being at a small private company for so long made me think I’d be doing lots of things, not just taxes. I find I’m in a rut. Taxes are the bread and butter of the firm.”

  “You could go elsewhere and do something more challenging with your degree.”

  “True,” she agreed. “But first I have to pass the exam. So I’m stuck here until the fall at least.”

  He took her hand and rose. Her skin prickled at his touch. As they walked toward the door, he put his arm around Lexi and she couldn’t resist leaning against his powerful chest. “Life’s too short to get stuck in a job you hate. It’s worth the risk to follow your dream.”

  “True,” she agreed, but she also had a sister to put through school.

  He stopped outside the shop, his arm still around her. “Speaking of dreams. I have an idea.”

  Something in his tone alerted her. “Oh? What’s your idea?”

  “Amber is determined to win, isn’t she?”

  “Yes. Obsessed is a better description,” she reluctantly admitted.

  “What if she doesn’t? Your sister will be upset, won’t she?”

  “Amber will go to summer school as planned. It’s important for her to pull up her math marks by taking a prep course in algebra this summer.”

  Brad studied her for a moment. “Amber will be fifteen in a few weeks and old enough to work. What if I give her a job that will allow her to attend summer school and work part-time at Black Jack’s?”

  “No! Don’t do that!” Lexi responded more sharply than she’d intended.

  Brad dropped his arm and took a step back.

  “I—I’m sorry,” she stammered. “I didn’t intend to sound so angry. It’s just that Amber has no discipline and she’s developing an attitude. If she wins the contest and earns the internship, I’ll make it work somehow. But I really want her to study this summer and help me with City Seeds. Why should I pay someone to work in our business while Amber earns minimum wage working in a restaurant?”

  “Because the experience would do her good,” Brad replied in a strained tone that indicated he didn’t agree with her. “She might discover that she doesn’t care for the restaurant business.”

  “That’s what you thought when we came to lunch.” The second the words left her lips, Lexi cursed herself for saying them. “What I mean is…Amber is stubborn. She won’t admit she doesn’t like working at Black Jack’s even if she does.”

  “I understand,” Brad said, but it was clear that he didn’t. They walked to his car in silence and he made no attempt to put his arm around her again.

  Chapter Nine

  Unlike the preliminary round, the finals of the bake-off were held in the evening. Lexi was grateful, and she was sure the other working parents were as well.

  Amber had come to Samuel Houston High School’s cafeteria midafternoon to bake and decorate her torte. At this point, the chefs had sampled the desserts and decided the winner. Lexi expected Brad to make the announcement after the head of the foundation called the group in the auditorium to order.

  Once again, she glanced around to see if Brad had arrived. This would be the first time she’d seen him since their disagreement last week. He might have come in through a back entrance, she decided.

  A cold knot had formed in Lexi’s stomach the minute she’d walked up the steps of the auditorium. She was concerned that she’d ruined her chances with Brad. No matter how many times she thought about it, Lexi felt she was right. Her sister did not need a job handed to her. If she won, that was one thing, but if she didn’t, then summer school was the best place for her.

  The curtains parted to reveal a spacious stage with a podium in the center. On a table stood a large silver trophy and an easel with a huge mock-up of the thousand-dollar check the winner would receive. The other side of the stage had a table with the desserts on it. Seated in the rear were the judges and several other people, including Brad and Charmayne.

  Lexi tried to relax, but it was impossible. The air in the huge room seemed to be electrified as Brad was introduced and stepped up to the microphone.

  Looking very handsome, he smiled at the audience. Lexi warned herself that Amber might not be the only Morrison to be disappointed today. What if Brad left without talking to her?

  “I want to thank our judges for their hard work in both rounds of this Light-and-Healthy Bake-Off,” Brad told the audience.

  Lexi barely listened as he introduced the chefs who’d judged the contest. Get a grip, she told herself. Win or lose—her sister would need her. The contestants were seated in the first row with their backs to the group. Lexi could see Amber’s glossy-brown hair but not her face.

  “I’d like you all to meet Charmayne Collins,” Brad said, “pastry chef at Black Jack’s. The winner will be interning with her this summer, in addition to winning the prize money.

  “My goal in sponsoring this contest is to help combat childhood obesity. I was an overweight kid myself. I know how being overweight can make you miserable, wreck your health. People need to think about what they eat.”

  Charmayne added, “That’s where I come in as a pastry chef. Everyone loves dessert, but it isn’t always good for us. That’s why we’ve asked contestants to create healthier desserts with reduced sugar and fat.”

  “We have some really outstanding desserts here tonight,” Brad said. “The judges told me it was difficult to pick a winner. In fact just one vote separated the first runner-up and the winner.”

  “Maybe we should announce the second runner-up,” Charmayne cut in.

  “Right,” Brad conceded with a smile. “I almost got ahead of myself.”

  The audience laughed politely, but Lexi mentally crossed her fingers. Please, please. Let Amber win. Despite the havoc it would cause, Lexi wanted her sister to win. She’d tried so hard, and she was truly an excellent cook.

  “Second runner-up goes to Taylor Jamison for her Waldorf Cupcakes.”

  It took a few minutes for Taylor to come forward and accept her award, then thank everyone who’d helped her. Lexi stared at the back of Amber’s head, willing her to turn around so she could smile her encouragement, but her sister remained facing forward.

  “The next award is special,” Brad said when Taylor had left the stage. “This entry came within one vote of giving us a tie. The first runner-up is a fabulous cook with a real future. The prize for first runner-up goes to Amber Morrison for her Diva Torte.”

  A wild flash of disappointment ripped through Lexi. Oh, no. Amber had lost by one vote. How terrible to come so close yet not win.

  “The recipe makes excellent use of beets—you’d never guess they were beets—to achieve the red color,” continued Brad. “She used grape seed oil instead of less healthy oil and agave nectar for sweetness.”

  Amber was approaching the podium now. She must be heartsick, Lexi thought, but she sported a smile as she accepted the small trophy.

  “I encourage all of you to think about what you’re eating,” she told the audience. “Go for light and healthy!” She started to step away from the microphone. “Oh, and a huge thanks to my teacher, Mrs. Geffen, and my sister, Lexi.”

  Lexi watched as Amber left the stage, her runner-up trophy in the crook of her arm. She kept a smile on her face as she returned to her seat. Lexi listened politely while the winner was announced. A burly youth who looked as if he’d be more at home on a football field won with his Cranberry Baklava.

  One vote.

  How would Amber take such a narrow defeat?

  The ceremony finally concluded and Lexi rose to join her sister, but Amber left her seat and headed for the stage where the winner, Toby McCall, was talking with the chefs. Amber went right up to Toby and high-fived him. Apparently they’d become friendly during the contest.

  Lexi smiled to herself. Maybe this contest was a learning experience on more levels than one.

  “Sorry Amber didn’t win.” Brad’s voice came from beside her. He’d walked up unexpectedly while she’d been watching her sister. “It was really close.”

  Lexi drew a deep breath and refused to reveal how thrilled she was that he’d sought her out. Maybe she hadn’t lost her chance with him after all. She told herself to say something that would smooth things between them.

  “Amber can be proud. She created two innovative desserts. Just because she didn’t get first prize doesn’t mean she isn’t a winner. Still, she’s going to be disappointed not to be working with Charmayne.”

  Amber was talking with the chefs now and they were all smiling at her and chatting as if they were old friends. Pretty amazing, Lexi decided. She would have thought Amber would have left after congratulating the winner.

  “Your sister has talent,” Brad said, his voice low. “Are you sure you don’t want me to offer her a summer job?”

  Lexi was tempted to say yes and change the dynamics of the situation. Brad could be a hero and Lexi would no longer be the spoilsport sister. She and Brad could take up where they’d left off. But she knew what was best for Amber. She boldly met his eyes. “Thanks, but Amber needs to attend summer school and help with City Seeds.”

  “Not even a part-time job? A couple of hours a day?” he asked, a trace of reproach in his voice.

  Again, she had to resist the urge to say yes. Experience with her sister told her that Amber would find any excuse to hang around Black Jack’s when she should be home in the garden or studying.

  “Thanks for the offer, Brad. Maybe next summer.”

  “Okay,” he said slowly, as if he expected her to change her mind. “Did you tell Amber that I wanted her to work for me this summer?”

  “No, I didn’t. I wanted her to concentrate on winning.”

  “But you didn’t want her to win. Did you?”

  “Of course I did!” Indignation rippled through her body. “I was prepared to give Joey Tran a full-time job with City Seeds so Amber could complete the internship.”

  Amber spotted them and dashed over, smiling. “I almost won.”

  “You did great,” Brad said with real enthusiasm.

  “I gave it my best.”

  “It was really close,” Brad told her. “Just one vote and we would have had a tie.”

  “It’s okay,” Amber said with sincerity. “I had fun just trying.”

  Brad nodded his approval, but Lexi could hardly speak. Was her sister really this calm about not winning?

  “I’ve got to run,” Brad said—more to Amber than Lexi. “Saturday night is our busiest time.” He turned and left without saying a word about seeing Lexi again.

  “What happened?” Amber asked. “I thought you two were…you know—”

  “Brad’s busy. I’m swamped between work and studying for the exam. That’s all.” Lexi told herself this was the truth, but it wasn’t the whole truth.

  “Then why did Brad come over to talk to you after the contest?”

  Clearly Amber was more perceptive than Lexi realized. Her sister’s voice, her expression said she knew Lexi wasn’t being entirely honest.

  “Brad came over to talk to me about giving you a part-time job this summer at Black Jack’s.”

  “You’re kidding! That’s awesome!” Amber was practically bouncing up and down. “I can hardly wait.”

  “Don’t get excited! You’re going to summer school and work in the garden. Next summer, if your grades are still good, you can work for Brad. I’m sure he’ll give you a job.”

  “That’s not fair!” Amber practically shouted and the group nearby stopped talking to look at them. “Next summer is, like, aeons away. Brad could sell the business or something.”

  Just what Lexi didn’t want—a scene—in front of all these parents. Over Amber’s shoulder she saw Rick Fullerton and his pastry chef coming in their direction.

  “Don’t turn around,” whispered Lexi, thankful for the diversion. “Here comes Rick Fullerton and Monsieur Broussard. I’ll bet he didn’t vote for you.”

  Tears welled in Amber’s eyes. “You’re right. Monsieur Broussard hasn’t liked me since the first round.”

  Lexi shook her head. “Don’t blame him. Rick Fullerton is angry that Brad now gets his produce from us.” She slipped her arm around her sister. “Let’s get out of here.”

  Chapter Ten

  A week later, Lexi arrived home and pushed through the front door. A cool wave of air indicated the ceiling fan was on low. It was a welcome relief from the heat outside.

  Lexi was late—again—and she was exhausted. It was apparent the accounting firm saw the summer interns as little more than indentured servants. The work they assigned the interns always required overtime. Since they were paid a base salary, the interns didn’t earn any more money for the extra hours.

  “Amber, I’m home!” she called.

  There was no answer. Lexi shrugged out of her jacket and hung it on the hall tree. She shouldn’t be surprised Amber wasn’t around. The house was silent. Where was she?

  Amber hadn’t been bitter about not winning. She’d taken the loss in stride, proud of missing by just one vote. Lexi had to give her credit. The contest had matured her sister. In another week summer school would begin. With luck, Amber’s transformation would carry over and she would take summer school seriously.

  As she opened the refrigerator to see what she could throw together for dinner, she heard Amber blast through the front door. “Lexi, are you there?”

  From her sister’s upbeat tone, Lexi decided something good must have happened.

  “Sit down,” Amber said, her cheeks flushed.

  Lexi slowly lowered herself into a chair at the kitchen table. After tossing her purse on the table in front of her, Amber took the seat opposite.

  “Please, just listen. Don’t say anything until I’ve explained.” When Lexi nodded, Amber continued. “I brought up my grades, right?”

  A warning bell sounded somewhere deep in Lexi’s brain.

  “I baked all those goodies for the contest but didn’t risk triggering a diabetic episode by eating them. I had the seniors test for me. True?”

  Lexi nodded. What was Amber leading up to?

  Amber pulled a packet of CDs from her purse. “I want to bring up my math grade next year by studying algebra this summer. That’s why I borrowed these Learn on Your Own CDs from Joey Tran. I can work in my spare time on the computer.”

  Now Lexi got it. This was Amber’s way of getting out of summer school.

  “I’ve got a job! A real job that pays way more than minimum wage!”

  Great. Lexi had alienated Brad for nothing. Amber had gone out and found a job. From her glow of exhilaration, Lexi realized it would be a knock-down-drag-out fight to convince her sister to give it up.

  “Aren’t you going to ask where?” Amber inquired.

  “Am I allowed to talk?”

  “Of course!”

  “Where are you planning to work?” She emphasized the word planning so Amber would know she wasn’t agreeing to anything.

  “Guess,” Amber said, her blue eyes sparking fire.

  Lexi knew Amber loved being in a kitchen. She might have checked local bakeries for a job, but she doubted she would have found one so quickly. The fast food places had tremendous turnover. There were always openings at them. “Bronco Bill’s?”

  “Nope!”

  The way Amber’s eyes gleamed, Lexi figured she was on the right track. “Chicken Bucket.”

  “No way. Yuck. Fried food.”

  “I give up.”

  Amber smiled the sly smile that said she was up to something. “Where’s the last place you’d think I would find a job?”

  Lexi crossed her arms and stared at her sister for a moment. “You didn’t go to Brad, did you?”

  “Of course I didn’t ask your boyfriend for a job. Not when the contest winner is working there with Charmayne.”

  “Sorry.” Lexi tried for a casual tone. “I give up. Where did you find a job?”

  An expression of smug satisfaction crossed her features. “I start tomorrow morning at…Marché.”

  Lexi stared wordlessly at her sister. One of the premier restaurants in the city had hired Amber. How could that be? Rick Fullerton had seemed upset with Lexi since he’d met them at Black Jack’s. Amber had lost the contest by one vote—Rick’s vote. Or so they’d assumed.

  “Say something,” Amber said.

  “That’s…fabulous,” Lexi sputtered. “I’m so thrilled for you.”

  “There’s more.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m working in the pastry kitchen with Monsieur Broussard.”

  Lexi was helpless to smother her stunned gasp. “You’re kidding! You said he was as friendly as a scorpion.”

  “I thought so at first. It’s just that he doesn’t speak English that well so he doesn’t say much. He came here this afternoon with Rick Fullerton to pick out marionberries for a special dessert. Rick said my torte was superb and asked for the recipe.”

  “He did? That’s—that’s amazing.” Lexi couldn’t believe Rick would ask anyone for a recipe but Amber wouldn’t make it up.

  “Monsieur Brossard said he’d be ‘honored’ to have me work for him.” Amber grinned. “Honored. That was exactly what he said. Rick was really impressed with me and thought I should have won. They asked if I wanted a part-time job in the pastry kitchen.”