Page 15 of Winner Takes All

I roll my eyes with enough exaggeration to make sure they all see it. “Can we please talk about something else,anythingother than Victor?”

“That’s boring,” Aunt Eileen says, waving her hand dismissively. “You have to remember that the best victories come when we least expect them.”

“I’m well aware of that,” I tell the ladies.

“Very well. We’re off to brighten the morning of others,” Aunt Eileen says. The women turn and exit with as much commotion as their arrival. They’re laughing as they make their way to their next victim. I can’t imagine how this town will survive without them. As much as they drive me crazy, I love them, and have to admit they make things interesting.

“Those three are impossible,” I mutter, once again trying to focus on my cooking as I speak to Sia. “They’re making the entire town think I want something to happen between me and Victor. You aren’t helping the matter.”

She smirks. “They aren’t blind, Nikki, and once they have something in their heads, there’s no stopping them. Besides, you have to admit, there’s some serious chemistry going on between you and Victor.”

I sigh as I pick up a handful of fresh herbs and tear them before tossing them in my dish. “Maybe, but that doesn’t change the fact that this is a competition and I’m here to win.”

Sia nods, her smile softening. ”You’re here to win, but you have to enjoy the journey as well and can’t pass up great opportunities. What’s the point of winning if you don’t have someone at your side to share the victory with?”

“I have you,” I tell her.

“You’ll always have me, and it’s great, but we all need a partner in life. We need a lover to share the most intimatemoments with. I love you to pieces, but I don’t want to snuggle naked together.”

I burst out laughing. “Only if we’re in the arctic freezing,” I tell her.

“I don’t know if I could do it even then,” Sia says. Now we’re both laughing. I needed this distraction. I haven’t looked at Victor for a full minute now.

This allows me to focus again on my cooking. The crowd around us has grown and I know it’s time to step up my game. If Victor wants to impress the crowd with fire, I’ll show everyone what real cooking is all about.

I turn up the heat on my burner, the oil in my pan beginning to shimmer. I throw in some spices, letting the aroma waft through the air. This makes several heads turn my way, causing even more people to show up at my booth. I know how to make scents travel.

“Come on in,” I call out. “This is how you create magic in a kitchen.”

I toss in some finely chopped garlic and shallots, the sizzle and smell satisfying. The crowd claps, calling out their approval as the scent of my dish grows richer. I add some diced tomatoes, letting them caramelize before deglazing the pan with a splash of white wine. The crowd claps again, and this time my smile’s bigger and real.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Victor glancing my way. I turn and our gazes lock for a brief moment. I see a flicker of something in his gaze, but I can’t name it. If this wasn’t a competition I’d say it’s admiration, but that’s a crazy thought. Still, it makes my heart skip a beat.

I decide to push the boundaries a little more as I reach for my pasta dough that’s been resting for a while now. With quick practiced movements I roll it out and begin cutting it intodelicate strands. The crowd grows more animated as they cheer me on.

“Beautiful pasta isn’t just about ingredients,” I tell the crowd, my hands moving deftly as I form the dough into shape. “It’s about technique, love, and the passion you put into it. That’s an ingredient most chefs don’t bring to the table. When you absolutely love what you do, it shows in the final product.”

The cheers grow louder, making me feel a surge of pride. This is my moment, and I’m not going to let Victor, or anyone else, take it from me. I plate the dish, carefully arranging everything just so before adding a final sprinkle of fresh herbs I collected this morning at the farmers market.

“Here you go,” I say with a wave of my hand. I step back and let the crowd admire my work. “This is a dish made with love and maybe a touch of magic.”

The applause is deafening and I can’t help but glance over at Victor again. He’s not even trying to hide the fact he’s watching me, a smile on his beautiful lips. I’m not sure what the look means, but I meet his gaze head-on, letting him know I’m not even close to backing down.

Sia steps up next to me, her eyes dancing with amusement. “I think the two of you are putting on a much better show with your heated looks than anything either of you are putting on the plate. The cameras are sure to capture it for all the world to see. Carol’s practically dancing in the background knowing you two are making this festival the best one of all.”

I snort as I roll my eyes. “I’m simply trying to win. Victor can flirt all he wants, but he’s barely a blip in my radar.”

Sia chuckles. “You keep telling yourself that, Nik. I’ve been seeing the glances too and this competition keeps getting hotter by the minute.”

My cheeks flush, but luckily it’s hot out so no one will think anything of it. “This is barely the beginning. It’s going to get hotter... on the stove. It has nothing to do with Victor.”

“This is a festival to go down in the books,” Sia says. “I can’t wait to see what the ultimate prize will be.”

I shake my head and get back to cooking as I prepare for another round. This is a long game. The festival’s alive with energy, which feeds my soul. The tension might be crackling in the air between Victor and me, but I can tune that out and focus instead on the excitement of the people around me. It will all work out in the end... in my favor.

Chapter Eight

Nikki

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