Page 10 of Sensuous

“Don’t let this interview thing freak you out. It’s just like going for a job, right?”

I turn to see the woman at the next kitchen station smiling at me. Pretty with blond hair and big blue eyes, she looks so sweet that I instantly feel bad that I don’t know a thing about her. Frantically, I try to remember her name. Kim? Cam? Damnit! I’ve been so focused on goddamned Alex March that I can’t even recall a single contestant other than him.

“Thanks.”

For a long moment, I hesitate in the hopes that she’ll fill in the dead space and remind me of her name. Thankfully, she does and spares me the embarrassment of admitting I haven’t paid attention to anyone but Mr. Superchef today.

“I’m Emma. And you’re Kat, right?”

She extends her hand to give me a handshake, and I smile. “Thanks. Yeah, I’m Kat. I guess I must look pretty worried since you felt like you had to give me a pep talk, huh?”

“It’s okay,” she says, waving away my concern. “I’m a little freaked about it too. This is the second time I’m doing a reality show like this, so I should be better at it.”

“The second time? Really?” I ask, suddenly surprised that someone would be allowed back to compete after losing before.

That gives me some hope that if I don’t win Chef on Chef my chance at competing on another one of these shows won’t be ruined. God, I’ve already talked myself into losing. I really need to stop that.

Emma nods like she’s embarrassed, so I quickly say, “That makes me feel better because I get the feeling I’m not going to be standing in the winner’s circle this round.”

So much for trying to think of myself as a winner.

I watch as her gaze moves past me to Alex standing at his station to my right. “I think I know who you believe is the front runner.”

Glancing over, I see Alex utterly focused on arranging his knives. God, even when we have down time he’s all about the job!

“Well, he does seem to have my favorite dish down pat,” I say with far more resentment in my voice than I had hoped would come riding out on each word.

Right before my eyes, I see Emma come under his spell. What the hell does this guy have that makes everyone like him?

“Well, he’s exactly like the kind of guy who won in the first competition I was in. Tall, dark, and gorgeous,” she says in a dreamy voice.

So much for finding a friend here.

“Looks aren’t everything,” I say, knowing full well his ability as a chef is fantastic too.

Jesus does Alex March not have a single flaw?

Emma drags her gaze away from him and his fantasticness to give me a smile. “You’re right. I had basically given myself not a chance in hell once he walked in, but I need to be thinking like you. Looks aren’t everything. If they let us into this competition, then they must think we have something great about us.”

“Exactly. So what if he’s good looking and great in the kitchen? They aren’t looking for a husband. They’re looking for a winner, and that can be any one of us, including you or me,” I say with far more confidence than I usually possess.

“Thank you!” Emma says, grabbing my hands to give them an enthusiastic squeeze. “That’s exactly what I needed to hear after my vegetarian lasagna turned out to be less than wonderful.”

Her smile fades to a frown, so I say, “Don’t get down. It’s still early in the competition, and I bet you’re fantastic on camera.You’re gorgeous, so that’s halfway there, and you know the kinds of questions they’re going to ask, so I bet you do incredible when they call your name.”

“Emma! You’re up!” Shane calls out from the other side of the room.

A look of terror flashes in her eyes. “I guess that’s me. Wish me luck.”

“You’re going to be great. Good luck!”

She hurries off, leaving me standing in front of the oven in my area. Everyone follows her to watch the interview, likely feeling nervous like I do.

Everyone except Alex, of course.

I turn to look over at him and see him still playing around with his knives. Is he so confident that he doesn’t even feel curious about what kinds of questions they’re going to ask us?

Just then, he turns his head and smiles at me. Even his teeth are perfect. God, I really do hate him.

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