and cooked in their program. Until then, I hadn’t really appreciated how food was grown and how to prepare it.
“You see, I’m a diabetic. I have to be careful what I eat. Their program gave me a new appreciation for foods I’d never tasted. That’s why I enrolled in Mrs. Geffen’s class.”
Amber paused, then smiled at Brad. “I’m sure I speak for all the contestants in thanking the Chefs’ Association for sponsoring this contest.”
Tears welled in Lexi’s eyes. She’d never heard her sister speak about her diabetes so passionately or in front of such a large group. That took true courage.
Brad strode up to Lexi. He projected such an energy and power, and Lexi was almost embarrassed by her instinctive response to him.
“Your sister outdid herself,” Brad told her.
“Amber deserved to win. She tried hard. I can’t tell you how many tarts she baked.”
“She didn’t taste them all, did she?” Brad sounded concerned. That made her like him even more.
“No. She was good. The seniors at the center sampled them and offered opinions.”
“Hey, that’s a smart move.” Brad touched her arm lightly. “You’re both very enterprising.”
“I guess.” Lexi had never thought of herself as anything other than a survivor. She did what she needed to do, even if she often felt as if she was on a treadmill.
“I’ve got to rush off to another contest,” Brad said. “How about going out for coffee around five—before I have to get back to the restaurant for the dinner rush?”
Lexi’s heartbeat throbbed in her ears and she felt heat creeping up her neck. “I’d like that.”
“Good. I’ll pick you up at four.”
She watched him walk away. A strange excitement filled her as she turned to find Amber.
Chapter 8
“So you’re a runner.” Brad flashed his engaging smile. “So am I, when I have the time.”
“Same here,” Lexi responded. “I was on the track team in high school, but now I’m lucky if I can find the time to run a couple of days a week.” An unexpected glow warmed her. They had a lot more in common than she’d thought.
They were sitting at a small corner table at Brew Ha-Ha, having iced caramel-flavored coffee drinks and sharing a blueberry scone.
“What about movies?” Brad asked.
So many questions, she thought. Most men liked to talk about themselves or their work, but not Brad. He wanted to know all about her.
“I don’t have much time for movies lately,” she said. “When I do go, I look for foreign films.”
“Hey, so do I.”
“I don’t mind the subtitles. I like to see how people in other countries view life.
“Exactly!” He leaned forward and lowered his voice in a way that added to the intimacy she already felt. “I’m not interested in films that are nothing but car chases and shoot-outs.”
Lexi nodded. Most of her dates had taken her to “guy” movies because they liked them or silly “chick flicks” to please her. She’d rarely been asked what she wanted to see. “I like to talk about films after I see them. That means there has to be something to discuss.”
His look was galvanizing. What was he thinking? Did she sound pretentious?
“I like to talk about films, too,” he told her. “I find I dissect a lot of things to see what makes them work. This place, for instance.” He examined the last bit of the scone they’d been sharing. “The coffee is great, but there are other places with coffee that’s just as good. What makes Brew Ha-Ha special is their pastries.”
“Right,” she agreed. “Their scones are tastier than others even though they’re low fat. At least that’s what the sign says.”
“They are. I’ve spoken at length with the owner.” He stared at her thoughtfully for a moment. “You analyze the world around you, too.”
It was a compliment, but Lexi wasn’t sure how to respond. Finally, she said, “I guess that’s why I’m a numbers person. I like to come up with definite answers.”
“That’s
“You see, I’m a diabetic. I have to be careful what I eat. Their program gave me a new appreciation for foods I’d never tasted. That’s why I enrolled in Mrs. Geffen’s class.”
Amber paused, then smiled at Brad. “I’m sure I speak for all the contestants in thanking the Chefs’ Association for sponsoring this contest.”
Tears welled in Lexi’s eyes. She’d never heard her sister speak about her diabetes so passionately or in front of such a large group. That took true courage.
Brad strode up to Lexi. He projected such an energy and power, and Lexi was almost embarrassed by her instinctive response to him.
“Your sister outdid herself,” Brad told her.
“Amber deserved to win. She tried hard. I can’t tell you how many tarts she baked.”
“She didn’t taste them all, did she?” Brad sounded concerned. That made her like him even more.
“No. She was good. The seniors at the center sampled them and offered opinions.”
“Hey, that’s a smart move.” Brad touched her arm lightly. “You’re both very enterprising.”
“I guess.” Lexi had never thought of herself as anything other than a survivor. She did what she needed to do, even if she often felt as if she was on a treadmill.
“I’ve got to rush off to another contest,” Brad said. “How about going out for coffee around five—before I have to get back to the restaurant for the dinner rush?”
Lexi’s heartbeat throbbed in her ears and she felt heat creeping up her neck. “I’d like that.”
“Good. I’ll pick you up at four.”
She watched him walk away. A strange excitement filled her as she turned to find Amber.
Chapter 8
“So you’re a runner.” Brad flashed his engaging smile. “So am I, when I have the time.”
“Same here,” Lexi responded. “I was on the track team in high school, but now I’m lucky if I can find the time to run a couple of days a week.” An unexpected glow warmed her. They had a lot more in common than she’d thought.
They were sitting at a small corner table at Brew Ha-Ha, having iced caramel-flavored coffee drinks and sharing a blueberry scone.
“What about movies?” Brad asked.
So many questions, she thought. Most men liked to talk about themselves or their work, but not Brad. He wanted to know all about her.
“I don’t have much time for movies lately,” she said. “When I do go, I look for foreign films.”
“Hey, so do I.”
“I don’t mind the subtitles. I like to see how people in other countries view life.
“Exactly!” He leaned forward and lowered his voice in a way that added to the intimacy she already felt. “I’m not interested in films that are nothing but car chases and shoot-outs.”
Lexi nodded. Most of her dates had taken her to “guy” movies because they liked them or silly “chick flicks” to please her. She’d rarely been asked what she wanted to see. “I like to talk about films after I see them. That means there has to be something to discuss.”
His look was galvanizing. What was he thinking? Did she sound pretentious?
“I like to talk about films, too,” he told her. “I find I dissect a lot of things to see what makes them work. This place, for instance.” He examined the last bit of the scone they’d been sharing. “The coffee is great, but there are other places with coffee that’s just as good. What makes Brew Ha-Ha special is their pastries.”
“Right,” she agreed. “Their scones are tastier than others even though they’re low fat. At least that’s what the sign says.”
“They are. I’ve spoken at length with the owner.” He stared at her thoughtfully for a moment. “You analyze the world around you, too.”
It was a compliment, but Lexi wasn’t sure how to respond. Finally, she said, “I guess that’s why I’m a numbers person. I like to come up with definite answers.”
“That’s
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