“I’m available,” she said.
Martin turned back to them. “It was shocking for us to get almost the same dessert from you both.”
Kelly clicked her thumb against her fingernail.
“Our hidden cameras caught you two talking about the last round backstage.”
Kelly’s mind reeled in an attempt to rewind to what they’d said. The show had been quite open about filming and recording throughout the whole process. She hoped she hadn’t said anything she’d regret. Over the past few days, she’d gotten so comfortable she’d kind of forgotten the cameras were even around.
The big screen suddenly filled with footage of the two of them talking in the green room.
Martin led Kelly and Andrew off to the side of the stage where they could see better.
She watched the two of them talking. His body language echoed her feelings—leaning in toward each other. Him touching her hand so gently. Her giggling as he pushed her hair back from her face. The tilt of her chin as she looked at him. There was still something there, and it wasn’t one-sided.
As they got to the part where she said they might get disqualified, her hands clenched.
“Don’t you two worry,” Martin said. “There’s no disqualification, but we are going to get down to a winner. Only one of you can win the hundred-thousand-dollar prize.”
Kelly’s lips quivered as she smiled.
Andrew probably wanted the money to open his restaurant. She just wanted validation. She hoped he won.
“We were going to have you both bake something, but instead we’ve decided to let the audience help choose the winner of this round. After all, we do have two huge desserts here.”
Whoops and whistles poured from the audience as a team of twelve people dressed in white chef jackets made their way out on stage to begin serving cake.
They split into two teams, six on each of the cakes.
Martin explained how things were going to be decided. “Our team of bakers will begin passing out cake to everyone in the audience. While they’re getting that going, everyone will find a controller under their seat. Once all of the cake has been distributed, we’ll have a countdown, and you’ll select your favorite pastry chef.”
The white-coated bakers carried trays with plates of cake out to the audience, making short work of it.
“Those who choose Andrew’s as being the most creative, most applicable to the proposal theme of Marry Me, and of course, taste, will choose A. Simple, A for Andrew. If Kelly’s entry meets those three points—creativity, theme, and taste—then you’ll be voting B on your controller.”
The two cakes on stage had quickly dwindled, the beautiful creations now reduced to what looked like the aftermath of an earthquake.
Excitement built in the room as the audience took to the task with fervor.
Chapter Thirty-Four
As they stood there next to each other on stage, Andrew reached for Kelly’s hand. She smiled and let him take it.
He gave it a squeeze. His heart pounded so loud he wasn’t sure if she’d said anything when he’d taken it. As the cake was distributed to the audience members, the noise level rose significantly.
Andrew said to Kelly, “I don’t think any of the original recipes I’ve created since I left have been as good as anything we created together.”
“I know that’s not true. You’re a culinary artist,” she said. “I’m just doing what I love.”
“I want to do what I love too.” He never took his eyes off her. “With who I love.”
She rewarded him with a smile broader than the one in his heart. “Me too.” She moistened her lips. “So much,” she whispered.
“Are we ready?” Martin asked. “Help me count down from ten…nine…eight…seven…six…five…four…three…two…one. Cast your votes.”
The audience held their controllers, and on the big screen a graph began calculating votes. The bar chart shifted as the votes were counted. Andrew’s votes jumped higher, and then Kelly’s overtook the lead. The numbers stayed close, but as the last few votes registered, the winner was Kelly.
She stood there dumbfounded.
“You won,” he said, and with all his heart he was happy for the outcome.
Martin walked over to her. “Our winner of the Four Square Cooking Show Valentine’s Day Bake-Off! Kelly McIntyre.”
Like a Miss America beauty queen, her eyes filled with tears and her hands went to her face. She looked, wide-eyed, toward Andrew, shaking her head.
He stepped over and pulled her into his arms and swung her around. “Congratulations!”
Confetti in red, pink, and white began falling from the ceiling.
Her hands shook as Martin held a huge cardboard check in front of her.
“Our one-hundred-thousand-dollar prize winner.”
“Thank you,” Kelly said. “Thank you so much.” She turned to Andrew. “I can’t believe this.”
He pulled a macaron from what was left of his entry and handed it to her. “You deserve this.”
She read the word Yes on one side, and then turned it over and saw I Do. “Was that a mistake, or were you hedging your bets?”
“It was no mistake.”
“I know, I know. Everything you do is intentional.”
He pulled her into an embrace. “Except when I broke your heart.”
“Let’s never talk about that again.”
He tilted his head back. “Best thing I’ve heard all day. I really am the winner. You can have that check and title.”
She laughed. “I worked hard for that. You were tough competition.”
He reached for her hand and laced his fingers through hers.
“Best day ever,” she said.
Dawn rushed over to them. “I knew you two were perfect for this show. I’m forgiven, right?”
“Yes, I can’t believe you did all of that,” Kelly said.
“I’d do anything to make sure my brother finds the happiness he deserves, and I’ve always thought you two were perfect together,” she said.
“I owe you big time, sis. In a good way.”
“Just be happy. I’ve got to run. My flight leaves in less than two hours. It’s going to be tight as it is. I’ll talk to you both soon.” She blew them a kiss and ran off.
The PR team tugged Kelly from one stage to the other, shooting photos to
