Page 25 of The Baker's Dozen

Lisa laughs softly. “No, babe.”

Do I believe her?

Over the next few hours, the final contestants will show off their skills in the kitchen, and as we collectively try their meals, from a starter course on through to desert, we’ll cull the numbers and find our lucky thirteen.

“I’m freaking out.”

Lisa turns to throw the towel in the trashcan, then places her hands on my upper arms and gives me a gentle squeeze. “I know you are. But this is good. Everything is happening.” She looks pointedly into my eyes, widening hers for effect. “You’re a television producer, Sophie. The real deal.”

I make a sound that isn’t quite a laugh and she shakes her head at me.

“This show is going to be epic, Soph. You’re revolutionizing dating shows. It’s going to beepic.”

I nod.

“Say it.”

“I’m revolutionizing dating shows.”

“Yes, but I want you to tell me how epic this is going to be.”

I laugh self-consciously, then concede. “This is going to be epic.”

“Louder, girl.”

“This is going to be epic!” I shout, and the words echo in the large bathroom.

Lisa ducks her head on a laugh. “See?”

“Unless something goes wrong.”

Growling, Lisa gives me a little shake. “Stop it.” She drops her hands to prop them on her hips instead. “Nothing will go wrong. You’re the most detail-oriented person I know, and you have gone over everything with a fine-toothed comb.” She links her arm through mine and begins to lead me toward the door.

“What if I missed something?”

“You didn’t.”

I sigh as I allow her to lead me out into the long hallway that runs along the length of banquet rooms.

“But what if I did?”

“You didn’t.”

We reach the door to the conference room we’ve rented closest to the kitchen and Lisa turns to me, gripping my shoulders once more as she says, “And if you did—which you didn’t—we’ll address it.”

I breathe deeply and nod.

“Repeat after me: There’s nothing I cannot handle.”

“There’s nothing I cannot handle.”

“I am a badass… producer… boss babe.”

I roll my eyes. “Not saying that.”

She crosses her arms and levels me with a narrowed stare.

I grunt. “I am a badass producer.”

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