“I think we have all tasted enough,” Marianna declared, placing her spoon down.
The other two judges, George Alexandru and Carly Armando, nodded, also putting down their forks.
“I’ll go first,” Carly said, clearing her throat. The judge’s brown eyes fixated on Ember, leaving her about two seconds away from passing out.
They can see the sweat marks under my tits, for sure.
“I’m not a huge fan of ice cream,” Carly began her diatribe. “It’s not something I reach for, you know?” She dragged the scoop of ice cream toward her, picked up her spoon and shoveled a bite into her mouth. “This isn’t ice cream. It’s literally peaches and cream. You flavored the cream perfectly. It’s tangy but not too sweet. This was a masterpiece. I would reach for this.”
“I agree,” George piped up.
Suddenly, there was no sound in Ember’s head. All of her sweat dried up, leaving her a shaking mess in front of the judges under the harsh light of their judgment and the spotlights.
“It wasn’t the best I tasted today during the competition,” Marianna shrugged. “It was okay. I mean, you could have picked a different fruit for more of a challenge. I thought it was a safe choice for someone of your caliber.”
The last sentence rang out in Ember’s head.
Was that a compliment? WAS IT A GOOD THING?
“Next, there is your creme brulee,” Marianna continued. “You must know that this is my specialty in my Paris bakery. I know a good creme brulee when I see one, when I taste one. I would serve this in my bakery.” She pushed the dish away, looking bored and disinterested.
What. Was. Happening?
Ember’s knees buckled under her. Why did they make her stand? She needed a chair. Stat. Pronto. Now. “Thanks,” she croaked through her dry throat.
“It was a bit too sweet for me,” George piped up, “but decent enough. Carly?”
“I loved it. You did a good job with it. The sugar crust gave a nice satisfying crack, and that is always the satisfying part for me.”
“Thanks,” Ember repeated like she was on a loop.
“So, we have reached a decision,” Marianna said, still looking like she would rather be anywhere but judging Bakers Gotta Bake.
It made it impossible for Ember to guess at what was about to happen.
Was her dream about to be crushed?
Was her life about to change forever?
“Through the entire competition, you produced quality work. Not only your flavors but also your craft. You have a flair for creation, and that’s not a skill that is accessible for everyone.” Carly smiled brightly at her. Surely, it was because she was about to let her down easy.
“I was a huge fan of your triple chocolate cupcakes. The different kinds of garnishes really worked well with those. You won a challenge with those.” George winked at her. Was he being creepy? She had a mate. Sort of. Almost. “In fact,” George, the Judge, went on, “apart from Roberto who won two challenges, you won three.”
“So, obviously, this means you’re a great pastry chef,” Marianna added.
“That is why you’re the winner of Bakers Gotta Bake and the proud new owner of your very own bakery and tv show.”
Ember blinked up at the judges.
I won?
I won—
I. WON!
“Congratulations,” Carly clapped, giving her a big wide smile. “Well deserved. If you go through that door, your loved ones are waiting to celebrate with you.”
“They are?” Ember’s voice sounded strange to her own ears.
On trembling legs, she walked toward the green room. As soon as she opened the door, there was an explosion of sound.
Masons and Bradys alike threw their hands up, holding banners announcing her victory. Ember blinked back tears, still stunned. Kai picked her up and twirled her around. She didn’t care that she had sweat through her clothes and definitely needed a shower. She didn’t care that she was crying like a newborn babe.
She had done it.
She had won her bakery.
“I’m so proud of you,” Kai whispered in her ear before setting her back down. He kissed her deeply, earning them a loud cheer from their families.
Cinder and Sparx were hopping excitedly, huddled with her crying mother and beaming father.
Lee was grinning at her, holding up Sophie, who was clapping with her chubby little hands. Carmen had baby Orlando in a Baby Bjorn, out like a light. Silvester ran toward her, colliding into her legs. He pulled at her pants with a toothy grin.
“Auntie Ember, can I have some of that ice cream now?” He pointed to the television that was playing the announcement of her winning on a loop.
“Do you like peaches? There are peaches in it.”
The little boy’s face fell. “Why do you put weird stuff in ice cream, Auntie?” he raced off, unaware that he had said the funniest, cutest thing ever.
“Think our children will like weird stuff in their ice cream?” Kai asked, nuzzling her neck.
“I’ll train them well,” Ember giggled, completely elated, her heart full of blessings and gratitude.
Epilogue
Ember
Ember wrapped a towel around her wet hair and another around her body. The plush material soaked up the beads of water from her long, hot shower. She had tried to tempt Kai into showering with her as soon as they had gotten home from filming. He declined, saying she deserved to pamper herself after winning her own bakery. The way he had beamed at her with pure excitement had been intense and zinged right to the center of her. He had kissed her and sent her off to shower, promising that they would celebrate as soon as she was comfortable.
Ember had done it. She’d won.
She did a happy little dance as she slid her nightgown over her head. The light blue silk hugged every curve of her body, the neckline dipping low. She didn’t even bother slipping on underwear. She knew where the night’s celebration would end, with her naked and under Kai.
Actually, with Kai, there was never any way of knowing if she’d be under him, over him, or beside him. When he fucked her, he moved their bodies around, and in each new position he pulled an intense orgasm from her willing body. Ember shivered in anticipation.
Winning Bakers Gotta Bake had filled her with pride, but knowing she was going to commemorate it alone with her man was just as good. Cinder had told her to find a man that didn’t make up her entire life, that completed it.
That is what Kai did.
The victory was sweet, but sharing it with Kai? Well, that was everything.
After towel drying her hair as best she could, she made her way to the living room of Kai’s place. Or, as he preferred to call it now, their place. She was all but living with him already, and the second her lease was up on her apartment, she would officially move all of her things into Kai’s house.
She constantly joked that if she married him, it would be for his kitchen.
Really, it was because Kai was a wonderful man. The best, actually. He had stood by her side while she had been a stubborn dummy who went on with the competition even through death threats. Had the roles been reversed, she would have gotten the hell away from someone intent on getting themselves killed.
But not Kai.