Chapter Twenty-Five

Pepper

Six Months Later…

“Welcome to the Food Network’s own Battle of the Sexes!” Barb shouts.

The audience goes crazy, and I find myself grinning. It’s the first on-air show under the new format, and I couldn’t be more excited. Since the competition, time has flown…and I can hardly believe that I’m co-starring in my very own show with Carter.

“Now, Pepper, you’re going to be working with Amy,” Barb says, showing a blushing blonde woman over by my range. “And Carter will be working with Amy’s husband, Mark.”

The crowd goes nuts again. I give Amy a quick hug. We already met backstage, but the embrace seems like a gesture of good faith as I lead her over to the prep station.

“Now, Pepper and Carter will have twenty minutes to coach Amy and Mark into cooking a winning dish,” Barb says. “Set the timer, please!”

The timer starts to count backwards, and Barb walks over to her table where she sits down.

“I’m so nervous,” Amy whispers. Her delicate hands shake as she wields the knife. My mind drifts back to the horrible time I threw one at Carter. It seems like a lifetime ago. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”

“Don’t be nervous,” I tell her. “We’re going to prepare something that will blow your husband out of the water.”

Amy wrinkles her nose. “Mark always says my chicken is too dry. Can you help with that?”

Over the course of the next twenty minutes, I guide Amy into a quick marinade of pickle juice, brown sugar, and a few spices for her chicken breast. Then I show her how to pound the breast down to a perfect three-quarters of an inch before pan-searing it in a mix of coconut oil and herbes de Provence.

When the timer dings, Amy has a dish that looks amazing, yet simple.

“You did great,” I tell her, patting her on the shoulder. “There’s no way Mark is going to be disappointed.”

Amy beams. “Thank you.” She glances over at Carter and Mark. They’re hard at work making something I can’t quite recognize. “This does look better than what I make at home.”

“Cooking is a science,” I tell her. “And there are a few basic things to get down pat before you start improvising.”

“Thank you,” she says again.

A production assistant carries Amy’s chicken over to the judges’ table. Amy looks nervous, and I move to reassure her again. Carter and Mark have created a quick dish of roasted carrots and beef tips, and even I have to admit that it smells heavenly.

“If we can all join in the middle,” Barb says, walking over to the long table and sitting down. “Amy, Mark, this looks incredible.”

I glance over at Carter. He winks at me, and a warm rush floods my body. I love you, I think as I stare into his deep blue eyes. By the way he looks at me, I know he feels the same.

Barb tries both dishes and pronounces Amy’s chicken the winner. It’s hard not to gloat as Amy is awarded a gift basket full of culinary goodies and a five-thousand-dollar gift certificate to KitchenAid.

Most importantly, bragging rights.

“A very good job by both contestants,” Barb says. “And just to celebrate our very first taping, we have a special surprise.”

I narrow my eyes and mouth ‘what?’ at Carter. Nobody forewarned me about any special surprises. But he smirks at me and turns to the side of the stage, clapping his hands.

“Claude,” Carter calls. “It’s time.”

My jaw drops as I see Claude, Carter’s portly pastry chef from Steakhouse, waddle on stage. His mottled complexion redder than normal, he carries a cake that has to be at least five tiers tall. It’s exquisite, with pink and white fondant, and an arrangement of sparklers on top. For a moment, I think Claude’s going to drop it. But he makes it safely to the long table and sets it down with an audible sigh of relief.

“This is my pastry chef,” Carter says, putting an arm around Claude, who looks both proud and uncomfortable. “He brought a special treat, all the way from Vegas.”

Carter steps forward and takes a lighter from his pocket. He turns to me and winks.

“This is for you, Pepper,” Carter says. He flicks the lighter on and lights the sparklers. For a moment, the cake is illuminated by glowing fire. Then there’s a loud pop! and the top tier of the cake flies into the air. The audience gasps and Claude drops to his knees, wailing loudly.

“What’s that there cake doin’?”

At the sound of a familiar voice, I whirl around to see Cody. He’s on stage, with a lasso in his hand, whipping it through the air. I gasp as he flings the rope through the air and lassoes a small box covered with frosting, bringing it down to the stage. Carter steps forward and takes the box. He brushes frosting from the top and walks over to me where he kneels.

“Yeehaw,” Cody calls. He grins at me and claps his hands. “Congratulations, baby sister!”

“What?” I gasp, covering my mouth with both hands. “What is this?”

There’s a splotch of frosting on Carter’s forehead. “Cody came to support you.” There’s so much love in his beautiful blue eyes as he steps closer to me. “Because I thought you might want your brother here when I ask you to marry me.”

Tears fill my eyes as Carter opens the box. A large, pear-shaped diamond set in platinum twinkles up at me, and I start to cry as I nod. My heart races, threatening to burst, but I’ve never felt such pure happiness.

“Yes, yes!” I tremble so hard I can barely get the words out. As Carter gets to his feet and slides the ring onto my finger, I swoon into his arms.

“I love you,” I whisper.

“I love you,” Carter whispers back, nuzzling my ear. “We’ve both melded together to create the perfect recipe.”