“Ronan, focus on the stations. Let’s start with Diana and move on to Niko.” Alice watched the older woman grab a pan off the stove too fast, hot liquid spilling over the edge and on to her hand. She cried out and managed to drop the pan on the counter before the medic on set ran to her side. He rushed her over to the sink and put cold water on the burn. Diana was looking to the stove, terror on her face when the timer went off. She tried to jerk her arm free when Niko ran to her station, opened the oven, and pulled out her toasted almonds. He put them on the stove and rushed back to his own station.
“Let’s cut to the three-minute commercial spot. That’ll take us back two minutes before the round is over.”
Alice had only seen a handful of contestants do a similar kindness to their fellow cooks. Helping Diana out could lose him the competition. Knowing Niko, he wouldn’t want to win an unfair fight. The medic put salve on Diana’s wound and she shot back to her station, ready to finish her cake.
“And we’re back from commercial. Two minutes on the clock.”
Fingers gripping the armrest, she locked her gaze on Niko who was pouring a mixture into his chocolate cups and adding foam to the top.
He glanced up and looked straight in her direction. A warm glow flowed through her and she stood, too anxious to sit down. All the planning and effort would be over in five seconds. Once the judging took place, the winner would be announced.
“Call time, Grace.”
“And time.”
Chapter Forty-Four
Niko wiped the back of his hand across his brow and blew out a breath. Pulling from his years of discipline, he willed his tense muscles to relax. The cups had held together beautifully and he’d finished off the chocolate milk with a decorative CG foam stamp. This was it, the culmination of all his hard work and dedication to learning everything he could about chocolate.
Diana was up first and the judges began discussing her Santa almond cake.
“The flavors are there, I’m not sure about the presentation. Of course, your injury hindered your decorating. How is the burn?” Elaine asked.
“While it hurts, I’ve had worse. I wanted to thank Niko for his help.” Diana glanced over at Niko, kindness and appreciation reflected in her dark eyes.
He nodded his acceptance of her compliment. She was more than a brave soldier; she was a genuinely nice person. As much as he wanted to win, she was equally deserving of the honor. “You’d do the same thing for me.”
Smiling, Grace shifted and addressed the camera. “Our competitors are acting in the spirit of Christmas. After the commercial break, the judges will talk to Niko.”
His anxiety level cranked up a notch. Ridiculous, but the truth. He tried to project more confidence than he was feeling inside. What he couldn’t give for five minutes at the punching bag to relieve the stress. Or an hour in bed with Alice.
She watched from the shadows just beyond his sight. Niko wanted to seek her out except he couldn’t move from his spot.
“This looks so much easier on TV.” Diana held out her good hand to him and wiggled her long fingers in invitation. She grinned, her teeth white against the flawless ebony hue of her skin. Diana was beautiful both inside and out and he couldn’t have asked for a more worthy opponent.
He placed his hand in hers and squeezed, comforted by the fact she was in the same boat as he was. “I know, right? I thought I was ready for everything. It’s all a blur and time is like a giant sieve.”
“Isn’t that the way it always is?” Diana said.
“And we’re back from commercial in five, four, three…” Alice’s voice broadcast over the speaker, cool and in control. He wished he felt the same at that moment. He dropped Diana’s hand and waited for the cue to start his presentation.
“Before the break, we talked to Diana. Niko, please tell us about your dessert.”
“What you have before you is cayenne chocolate milk in an edible milk chocolate cup. And the Santa cookies are Kourambiethes, a Greek Christmas cookie that my grandmother makes every Christmas. She’s here in the audience.” Niko heard clapping and smiled. Although he couldn’t see her, her spirit reached him across the room. “I used walnuts for his eyes and white chocolate for brows. The red hat is powdered sugar mixed with edible dust and the beard is powdered sugar.”
Frank picked up the cookie, took a bite, and then washed it down with the chocolate milk. “Nice, nice. I like this. Great texture for the cookie, biscuit-like consistency and not too sweet. Almost savory. It blends well with the flavor of the milk.”
“It’s my niece’s favorite.” Niko licked his lips, hating that he was anxious. He couldn’t help it. Being judged was nerve-wracking, coupled with knowing that millions of people were watching. He was doing this for Chloe. He had to remember that.
“You stayed in your comfort zone,” Elaine pursed her lips and picked up the chocolate cup. She raised her eyes and pleasure transformed her rather sharp features. “Then you also ventured out of it. Milk and cookies, a great spin on a Santa Claus classic. You had a problem with the first batch of cookies.”
“Yes, my apron caught in the dial of the stove and turned it to broil from bake. Not my finest moment,” he said. Laughter issued from the audience and he shrugged, fighting the rush of embarrassment over such a stupid mistake. He was only human, no matter how much he wanted to be otherwise.
“Well, you pulled it out at the last moment,” she said.
“Chocolate cups, I like it.” Sven bit into his cup and chewed. “Your chocolate is exceptional. Creamy with a hint of cayenne. The cookie,” he quirked the corner of his mouth and fiddled with the one on his plate. “Mine is a bit overdone around the edges.”
“Would you believe me if I told you it’s that way on purpose?” There wasn’t much he could do about it now. Either they picked him as the winner or he lost. No do overs in a competition.
