"Being on that reality show gave them a big publicity push. But yeah, I hate that they're so close by. Our little corner of South Philly doesn't need two bakeries within two blocks of each other." Ashley crossed to the mixer, her mother's mixer. No matter what she tried, they couldn't seem to compete against the bigger bakery in the next block. She'd lowered prices, ran specials, and tucked extra samples into orders. What hadn't they tried? The worry had sucked all the life out of her creativity.
Biting her lip, Katie wandered closer. "I've been thinking. I can leave school and move back here."
"No." Ashley shook her head. "You need to finish. You promised Mom that you would."
"But I don't want you feeling like you have to handle this all on your own." Concern darkened her sister's gaze. "You had to let your assistants go, and you're on your own. It doesn't seem fair."
"We'll be fine. I promise." Ashley forced a smile for Katie's sake, but the ball of uneasiness in her stomach wouldn't dissolve.
Katie gripped the oven mitt, her expression worried and unsure. "I wish Mom were here, she'd know what to do."
Losing the bakery would be like losing their mom a second time. Ashley hugged her sister. Without her mother, Katie was all the family she had left.
They'd endured much drama together during the last two years, during their mother's illness and... afterward. Her sister didn't need anything new to worry about. Ashley kept the knowledge of the loan application to herself. "We'll figure it out. Mom worked so hard to make the bakery successful. We'll find a way to keep it going. For now, you get started on cleaning the oven. I need to get over to the senior center."
She picked up the bag containing the cake box and grabbed a second bag that held her supplies for the baking demonstration.
With a wave goodbye, she stepped outside. Air warmed by springtime greeted her. She lifted her face to the sunlight and inhaled the sweet smell of hyacinth wafting from the large pot outside the bakery door.
Bliss Bakery wouldn't fail. Not on her watch.
The lunchtime rush crowded the busy South Philadelphia streets. Ashley stood with her face lifted to the sky, wishing she could walk the ten blocks to the senior center instead of drive. She could really use the time to calm down and think about what to do to save the bakery, away from Katie's worried eyes. They'd already sold the artwork, and furniture Mom had left them. Ashley refused to part with the few pieces of jewelry she had left. That bank loan had to come through...
Turning from the store, she froze. A large Rottweiler bounded down the street, heading straight for her, its red leash trailing in the wind. Pulse racing, she shifted closer to the building, but the dog altered its path and jumped. Large paws hit her shoulders and knocked her backward onto the sidewalk.
She lost her grip on her bags. Everything fell to the ground with a loud smack. Her rolling pin spilled out of the bag and spun into the street. The dog nosed the glossy yellow cake box. Its lid popped open, filling the air with the sweet scent of buttercream and vanilla. Broken pieces of cake and demolished sugar flowers stuck to the insides of the box. Smeared icing clung to the lid amid crumbled remains of the carefully crafted flowers.
"No!" Panic and despair covered common sense, and Ashley reached her fingers inches from the dog's mouth and grabbed the cake box. She held it out toward her other side but the dog lunged across her body, and his face landed on the crushed cake.
"Rocky! No! Come here!" A deep, rich voice yelled over the sound of sneakers smacking the pavement. The man attached to the voice grabbed hold of the dog's collar and tugged Rocky's body off of her. His other hand held a ragged half of the dog's leash. Tucking the leash into his pocket, he knelt beside her. "I'm so sorry. His leash snapped. Are you okay?"
"I don't think anything's broken." Tearing her gaze from the straining dog, Ashley accepted his owner's outstretched hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet.
She pushed her hair out of her eyes. The baking supplies lay scattered on the cement.
Wanting to scream or cry in frustration, she turned back to the stranger. Her gaze traveled up his long, jeans-clad legs, over the broad T-shirt encased torso, to rest on his attractive face. Eyes the color of green jade looked into hers. Goosebumps pebbled her skin as recognition dawned. He looked familiar. Her mind raced, trying to place him.
He glanced at the remains of the cake in the box. Then at the logo on the box, then at the matching logo on her bag and jacket. "Oh no. Wait... Bliss Bakery? Please tell me you're not Ashley."
She narrowed her eyes. "I am."
He rubbed his hand over his face. "I'm Xavier Brennan. I play football for the Philadelphia Frenzy."
Now she knew who he was. But how did he know who she was? "I didn't recognize you right away. Not out of uniform and away from the field. I'm sorry, have we met?"
A winning smile lit up his face. "I'm here to officially let you know that you're one of the finalists in Cakes Against Cancer."
Elation exploded like a firecracker. She nearly hugged him. "Oh my goodness. That's amazing. I can't believe it."
"I just came from meeting with my team owner. The team is working with Food TV. He thought this would be a cool way for us to meet." He dipped his head, almost shy. "Since I'll be your partner."
"Partner?" She blinked. There hadn't been anything listed about having a partner. Certainly not a member of the city's pro football team. Nor one who had made headlines with his off-season antics.
"The team owner's daughter works
