Page 2 of Sensuous

For the first time, Jonathan speaks up, and I’m instantly impressed with how deep his voice is. Like someone who sounds like Darth Vader deep.

“Alex, we’re the producers for an upcoming reality show Chef on Chef for the Food and Leisure Network. Are you familiar with reality cooking shows?”

I feel my smile begin to fade as he speaks. Yes, I’m familiar with them, and no, I don’t watch them. I’m not interested in any show that creates drama for drama’s sake while trying to make people feel like shit because they can’t make a decent dish out of crap someone found in the back of their grandmother’s pantry.

“Not really. I’m sure I’ve caught a few of them over time, but I don’t really go in for that kind of thing.”

As I finish speaking, I see my father with his gaze full of curiosity staring at me, so I quickly add, “Then again, I don’t have much time to go in for anything since I’m here almost every night.”

Shane reaches across the table and slaps me on the forearm. “Well, no matter. It might be better if you have no real experience with shows like ours, to be honest, for what we have in mind.”

I still have no idea what the hell any of them are talking about and I need to return to my kitchen, so I nod and smile. Hopefully, they’ll start talking plainly any moment now.

“Here’s the thing, Alex,” Maria says. “We’ve heard great things about you, and after eating our dinners, we can see you clearly know what you’re doing. You’re also exactly what we’re looking for in a chef to participate in our show. You’re talented, good-looking, and I’m betting viewers will adore you.”

“Adore me doing what?” I ask, already having a sick feeling in my stomach about what I believe she’s going to say next.

With a big, toothy smile, she answers, “Competing for a million-dollar prize.”

Her words hit my ears strangely, so I repeat what she said. “A million-dollar prize?”

“Yes. Chef on Chef will have eight contestants competing for a million dollars to start their own restaurant. We know you’re happy here since it’s your family’s business, but think about what a million dollars could do for you, Alex. You could go out on your own and establish your very own restaurant.”

I turn to look over at my father and wonder if he’d be so happy if he knew what these people were proposing. Not that I have any plans to strike out on my own. Why would I when I’m going to have this business sometime in the future? It’s notlike Cash, Liam, or Wilder have any interest in CK, and both my father and Kane have already started talking about when they’ll be walking away from the business.

“As much as I’m flattered to be considered, I don’t think I’m exactly right for this show of yours. Thanks for the offer, though.”

Before I can stand to leave, Shane grabs my arm from across the table to stop me. “Hang on. Hear us out. As Maria said, you’re perfect. You’re known as a talented chef, and you’re exactly what viewers will want to see in a contestant.”

“Again, I’m flattered, but no thanks. Good luck with the show, though.”

“Take my card then,” Jonathan says in that deep supervillain voice of his. “If you reconsider, call me. Don’t miss out on a chance of a lifetime.”

Just to be polite, I take his business card and smile as both Shane and Maria hand me theirs. I thank them again since I don’t want my disinterest in their reality show to hurt the restaurant and head back toward my kitchen. By the time I reach my father, he’s nearly bursting to know what it was all about and follows me back through the doors.

“So that looked interesting. I saw they gave you their cards. What’s up?”

Tossing all three business cards onto my table where I keep my stuff while I’m working, I laugh at how curious he is. “Well, if you must know, they want to steal me away and give me my own restaurant,” I joke.

“What? Really?” he says in a voice of pure shock.

“Sort of. They want me to be on some reality show. I thought the woman was going to lick me at one point, which was more than a little creepy, to be honest. I turned them down, of course. I don’t have any interest in reality shows.”

“What would this show be about?” my father asks as he studies me all wide-eyed like I’m different now that three strangers think I’d be perfect for their reality cooking show.

Standing at my station again, I slip on my hat and gloves again to get back to work. As I pick up my knife, I shrug. “I don’t know. It’s called Chef on Chef. Sounds more like porn than anything to do with food.”

“Hmmm…you know, your mother watches those things. I’ve walked through the living room while they’ve been on sometimes. They always mention the restaurants the people work at. It could be good for business here, Alex.”

I glance up and down the line full of busy chefs making food for a packed house and then turn to look at him. “As if we’re struggling here in any way? I’m betting if I went out to check the reservations that we’re booked solid for months. Speaking of that, how did those three get in tonight? Did you have something to do with that?”

My father raises his hands as if to surrender. “Not me. Maybe Kane, but I swear I didn’t know a thing about it.”

“Well, I’m not interested in any of it, so Mom is going to have to watch a crop of strangers cook when it finally airs.”

As I get back to making food, he leans in and says in my ear, “Not even if there might be beautiful female contestants?”

Slowly, I turn my head to stare him down. “You know, just because Cash, Liam, and Cade are all settled down now doesn’t mean I want to be. I can find beautiful woman anywhere, Dad. I don’t need to go on some reality show to do it.”

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