“Nice try, but no. I would if it was biscotti. This isn’t biscotti. Flavors are good though.” Sven dropped the cookie and tearing the handle off his cup, ate it. “You make some excellent chocolate.”
“Niko, why are you competing on the show?” Grace asked.
And there it was, the moment he’d been dreading. Speaking about Chloe was difficult and personal. He’d promised Alice he’d talk about Chloe if he made it to the last round and he couldn’t back out of his word.
How to answer? Niko had rehearsed this in his head a thousand times. He wanted to keep it light except his reasons for being on the show were anything but.
“My niece, Chloe, is sitting next to the Christmas tree. I’m competing on 3Square because she’s a huge fan. She’s funny and sweet, stubborn, and smart. What’s she’s not, is cancer.”
His voice broke and he cleared his throat. Diana slipped her hand back into his and he linked his fingers with her comforting ones.
“When people look at her, that’s all they see, a sick child. She’s a person who’s fighting for her life every second of every day. Win or lose, I’d like everybody watching to honor Chloe and kids like her by donating blood and consider being a stem cell, or bone marrow donor. A simple blood test can save any number of lives across the globe. It’s a small thing with big repercussions.”
“Thank you, Niko,” Grace said with a trembling smile, her eyes sheened brightly with unshed tears. “Donating blood saves lives, not only for children like Chloe but also for soldiers like Diana. You’ll find a link on our webpage for blood donation sites in your area. After a word from our sponsors, we’ll reveal the winner of 3Square Christmas edition. Stay tuned. You’ll not want to miss this.”
Niko stayed on his mark, wishing he could hear what the judges were saying. They were arguing back and forth, often casting a glance at him and Diana and then whispering again.
“I wasn’t expecting to be so nervous. I survived enemy gun fire, you’d think I could deal with a little bit of cooking-show drama,” Diana said in an amused whisper. “They thought my cake was dry. The kiss of death.”
“And my cookie was overcooked,” he reminded her. Two batches and he’d screwed both of them up. But he’d gotten something on the plate, which was half the battle.
“Those chocolate cups were clever and they looked delicious. I’ve always wanted to learn how to make chocolate. The bakery where I work is limited to what product we put out. If I win, I’m buying my own bakery,” she said.
“If you want to come by the shop, I’ll teach you chocolate in exchange for some help with my petit fours. The ones you made in the first round would sell well and I get a lot of demand for them at caterings.” Once the show was over, he’d be busy. He could use someone talented like her to help make the product. And since he wouldn’t be tied to CG, perhaps he could travel to California and see Alice on occasion. If there was still anything between them by then.
“Ladies and gentleman, the minute you’ve all been waiting for. The judges have made their decision. Sven will you please do the honors?”
“First off, both of you did an amazing job throughout the competition. I see a bright future for both of you in the culinary world. While both of you had issues in the last round, there was a clear winner tonight.”
Niko hoped he spoke the truth. The idea of his own show featuring chocolate continued to resonate with him and he’d pursue his prospects with or without Alice.
“Contestants,” Grace began, and then paused, annoying the shit out of Niko. He realized it was for dramatic effect but his fucking heart was sprinting like he’d drunk six pots of coffee.
“Look at your stations.”
He turned his head and his lips began to curve until he was grinning so wide his jaw ached. The light over his station was shining bright. He’d won. Niko had actually won.
“Congratulations, you out-cooked us all.” Diana said, smile warm. He went to shake her hand but she hugged him for a brief second instead.
He’d fucking done it.
“Niko, you’re the winner,” Grace said.
“Uncle Niko, Uncle Niko.” Chloe sprinted out of the shadows and threw herself into his arms. She clung to him, her body shaking uncontrollably. Alarm bells shot through him. He cupped the back of her head and whispered into her ear. “Are you okay?”
“My dream came true.” She cried, pressing her wet cheek against his. “You won, you really won 3Square.”
“Yes, Kiddo, I really won,” he said, holding her tight, his vision blurring, and his throat constricted.
Everything he’d done, he’d done for her.
Every sacrifice, every hour worked was with Chloe in mind. She meant the world to him and he couldn’t lose her.
He couldn’t.
Chapter Forty-Five
Alice stepped into the first-floor kitchen at CG, anxious to see Niko. Her heart thumped harder at the sight of him standing at the table making salted caramel squares. She should be exhausted after the stress of the show, but energy hummed through her veins. “Hey, I thought I’d find you in here, my first Christmas special 3Square winner.”
