Page 27 of Until August
What better place to start than in the kitchen? The only place where I felt like I belonged.
Cooking had saved me in the past, and I was counting on it to perform another miracle.
CHAPTERTEN
Nicola
“Eighty-six the special,”Miguel called.
“Ding, ding, ding. And we have a winner!” Luca yelled, simulating the noise of a crowd just like he used to do when he was a kid shooting hoops in the driveway.
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t hide the smile.
It was a small win but knowing that my special had sold out gave me a little confidence boost.
I passed the news to Ari, who seemed to be hanging around the kitchen more than necessary tonight. Big surprise. She wanted to witness all that big dick energy in action.
I had to admit that August was impressive, though. It felt like he was everywhere all at once. Helping the chefs run their stations, plating food, tasting sauces, and ensuring the service ran smoothly. Quite a feat considering he’d only stepped foot in this kitchen a few hours ago.
I finished garnishing two entrées, wiped the rims of the plates with a clean towel, and set them on the pass as August appeared at my side. He was armed with a small jar of sauce and a smile. For a moment, I was so dazzled by his smile—the straight white teeth and full lips and the sexy little lines around his piercing green eyes—that I got tongue-tied.
It almost came as a shock to stand this close to him and have him in my space. Pistachio Guy. My first kiss. My first crush. And now, all these years later, we were both chefs, and he was in my kitchen, looming larger than life and stealing my breath. I hoped this feeling would fade over time, but right now, his nearness made my stomach flutter.
Such a foreign feeling, one I hadn’t felt in so long. As if I was a flower withered on the vine and he was the sun. I felt myself unfurling, reaching for the light.
“Your special was a hit,” he said. “It’s a keeper.”
I returned his smile. “Guess we got the balance right with the fennel.”
“Looks that way.” He bit the corner of his mouth, and I felt like I was sixteen again. Why was that so sexy? He dipped a spoon into the jar of sauce and held it in front of my lips. “Taste,” he commanded.
My lips parted on command, and he held my gaze while I tasted his sauce. Sicilian pistachios. Cream. Sugar. Heaven. I might have moaned. “Why are you feeding me pistachio cream?”
“It’s for the dark chocolate tart. We’ll serve it on the side in a small glass. Hannah and I thought something was missing.”
Hannah never mentioned it before, so I could only assume it was August’s idea. “Okay.” My voice sounded breathy.
“Nic. Nicola. Nicola!” My gaze snapped to Ari. “We have a problem.”
Oh shit. “What’s wrong?”
She lowered her voice. “I think you should come with me.” Her eyes darted to the bar, and my gaze followed. It only took a few seconds to identify the problem and to ascertain that I needed to do damage control. “I’ll be right out.”
Ari nodded and hurried back to the dining room. It was the worst possible time for Belinda to show up, right in the middle of a busy service on a Saturday night. But then again, there was never a good time to see Belinda.
“August, can you cover the pass?” I hated to ask. This was his first night, only a trial shift, and he wasn’t even an official employee. But if I didn’t go out there, she’d cause trouble like last time.
“No problem.”
“Okay.” I hesitated, my eyes darting to the rail of tickets and then back to him.
“I’ve got this,” he assured me. He put his hand on my shoulder and gave it a little squeeze. “Go do what you need to do.”
Since I had to deal with Belinda, I had no choice but to leave August in charge. “Thank you.”
I threw my apron on the shelf under the counter on my way out of the kitchen and hurried into the dining room.
Plastering on a fake smile for the customers, I strode past their tables to the bar where Belinda was harassing Rob.
