Page 2 of Chef's Kiss

Cameron

I knowI’m being a jerk, but I can’t help it. The owner of the Inn going above my head and hiring someone without my consent burns me. Not to mention the fact that it’s not justanyperson. Everyone knows that Liz Howard is the best chef in the area. I’m not afraid of holding my own—that’s easy, I’m damn good at what I do—but I’m afraid of favoritism. When my employer calls the shots, I have to ensure that I’m the only one in charge in my kitchen.

It’s even worse, considering how insanely beautiful Liz is. Even her apron and kitchen clothes can’t hide her voluptuous curves. With her heart-shaped face and full, rosebud lips, she’s a pinup girl come to life. Her dark hair is pulled up into a topknot, secured in front with a bandana, but I can’t stop imagining what it would look like down, falling around her bare, soft shoulders.

Stop!This is counterproductive. It’s hard enough to play bad guy without thinking about how much I’d love to see this woman naked. I let out a grunt and flip the page in my notebook hard enough that the corner rips.

There’s so much to do before the big New Year’s Eve event. Luckily, the rest of the kitchen staff will be in any minute, and this tension between Liz and myself will dissipate…I hope.

I sneak a glance at the dark-haired beauty. Her agile hands work like magic, handling the long stems. Her concentration is so intense that she doesn’t notice a strand of dark hair falling against her cheek. Then, as if the spell breaks, she lifts her head and reaches to tuck the hair behind her ear but catches me staring.

“I should probably get a hairnet.” She doesn’t hold eye contact with me very long, which is a shame. I could stare into her warm hazel eyes all day.

“Probably.”

“I just hate the way they look. I feel like a lunch lady.” Liz pulls out a hairnet from the box and stretches it into shape. “Not that I have anything against lunch ladies. I was one in high school.” She gives a half smile, still not meeting my gaze. I can’t blame her. I’ve come off harsher than I intended to be.

“You worked in the lunchroominhigh school?”

“Yeah. It was a private school. They had a great culinary program—super fancy stuff.” She laughs at herself. “But we didn’t have any money, and I was there on scholarship. Part of that scholarship was work/study in the kitchen.”

“No shit?” I cross my arms over my chest, warming to her whether I like it or not. There’s something about someone who’s had to work for what they have that instantly turns me on to them.

“Yeah. At first, I was a little embarrassed, you know?” She stretches the haircut over the front of her hair, pulling the stray hairs into place. Normally, this would be a superbly unsexy gesture but actually makes her look cuter; it shows off her face. “High school kids can be mean, especially rich ones.”

“I can relate.”

“Yeah?” Her eyes light up, and my heart swells. She’s like a beam of light I want to keep glowing so I can bask in her warmth. “It all turned out okay in the end. Those lunch ladies taught me some tricks I never would’ve learned in the fanciest culinary circles, including how to stretch a small budget.” She raises her ruby-tipped pointer finger. “Which is how I kept my restaurant afloat before…well, before it sunk.”

She can’t hide the hurt in her words, and I again find myself melting before her. “It was an excellent restaurant.”

Again, her eyes light up. “You’ve been?”

“Yeah, twice. I had the Canard aux cerises. It was magnificent.”

She rests her hands on her full hips. “What did you have the second time?”

I let out a little laugh, embarrassed to admit the truth. “It was so fucking good that I had to have it again.”

“Oh, man! You’ve got to let me cook you my Coq Au Vin.” She holds up her hand. “I know, I know, it’s a simple dish, but I have a secret ingredient that made it my best seller for ten years.”

I take a step toward her. “What’s the secret?”

She raises her eyes to meet mine, her teeth sinking into her lower lip. In the pause, I imagine how sweet her kisses must taste, like a cherry tart.

“Come closer,” she says, and I obey. Liz wags her finger at me, and I lean down so she can whisper in my ear. “I can’t tell you; it’s a secret.” Her breath tickles my ear. She giggles and pulls away.

“That’s a nasty trick.”

“I’m a nasty gal.” She winks, and I know she’s teasing, but I can’t help but be impressed at how quickly she’s broken my will to keep her at arm’s length. It’s a skill not many possess. They don’t call me hard to get to know for nothing. Like Liz, I’ve spent my life in the kitchen, but for different reasons.

Voices from the hall pull my attention away from my sexy little sous chef, indicating the rest of the day staff has arrived. I don’t have a chance to say anything else to Liz; she turns around and gets back to work dicing the scallions as the crew comes fumbling inside.

“Everyone, this is Liz Howard,” I say as soon as I have their attention. “She’ll be with us this week prepping for the big event. She’s my second in command, so do whatever she needs done.” I can already tell by their faces that they’re unsure of the stranger in their domain. “She used to run Le Petit Brasserie.”

“Oh my God, I loved that place.” My prep cook, Kaitlyn, says with a smile. “It’s awesome to have you.”

Seeing Liz’s smile as she’s welcomed into the crew, I have to admit that I agree wholeheartedly.

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