Free Worth the Risk by Meryl Sawyer Page A

Could I come by and take you with me to sample some gelato that I’m thinking of using?”
    A sigh of happiness nearly broke from her lips. “Sounds like fun.”
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    â€œWhat do you think?” Brad asked as they sampled strawberry gelato at Gelato Paradiso. The Italian shop had been open for more than a year, but Lexi had never tried it.
    â€œGreat.” She licked the ice cream in the waffle cone. “Sensational, actually.”
    â€œI’m thinking of cutting a deal with the owner to exclusively supply Black Jack’s with several flavors of gelato.”
    â€œHow would you serve it? Alone? With fresh fruit?”
    â€œI’d take vanilla to put with our flourless chocolate cake or whatever else Charmayne thinks will work. I’ll also use it with seasonal fruit. Baci could stand alone.”
    â€œPerfect.” Lexi had already sampled the chocolate and hazelnut gelato called baci and knew it was unique enough to stand alone. She smiled at Brad and allowed herself to bask in the shared moment. He was asking her opinion; she had to mean more to him than just a quick date.
    They were sitting at a table for two hardly bigger than a briefcase, eating the gelato. An undeniable magnetism had built between them. What would she do if he kissed her? Kiss him back came the immediate answer.
    â€œHow’s the summer job?” he asked.
    Lexi had conditioned herself to give a reply like “good.” But that wasn’t the truth, and considering how Brad treated her, she needed to share her feelings with him. “I’m a little bored. No, actually, I’m really bored. I’m working on taxes. It’s the same stuff over and over every day.”
    â€œAren’t we beyond tax season?”
    â€œYes, of course, but you’d be surprised how many people missed the deadline and had to ask for an extension. We’re working on those now.”
    â€œYou must have known what it would be like to work for an accounting firm,” he said, leaning closer.
    â€œI did, but I guess being at a small private company for so long made me think I’d be doing lots of things, not just taxes. I find I’m in a rut. Taxes are the bread and butter of the firm.”
    â€œYou could go elsewhere and do something more challenging with your degree.”
    â€œTrue,” she agreed. “But first I have to pass the exam. So I’m stuck here until the fall at least.”
    He took her hand and rose. Her skin prickled at his touch. As they walked toward the door, he put his arm around Lexi and she couldn’t resist leaning against his powerful chest. “Life’s too short to get stuck in a job you hate. It’s worth the risk to follow your dream.”
    â€œTrue,” she agreed, but she also had a sister to put through school.
    He stopped outside the shop, his arm still around her. “Speaking of dreams. I have an idea.”
    Something in his tone alerted her. “Oh? What’s your idea?”
    â€œAmber is determined to win, isn’t she?”
    â€œYes. Obsessed is a better description,” she reluctantly admitted.
    â€œWhat if she doesn’t? Your sister will be upset, won’t she?”
    â€œAmber will go to summer school as planned. It’s important for her to pull up her math marks by taking a prep course in algebra this summer.”
    Brad studied her for a moment. “Amber will be fifteen in a few weeks and old enough to work. What if I give her a job that will allow her to attend summer school and work part-time at Black Jack’s?”
    â€œNo! Don’t do that!” Lexi responded more sharply than she’d intended.
    Brad dropped his arm and took a step back.
    â€œI—I’m sorry,” she stammered. “I didn’t intend to sound so angry. It’s just that Amber has no discipline and she’s developing an attitude. If she wins the contest and earns the internship, I’ll make