Page 4 of Chef's Kiss

“Not anymore,” I say scooting a chair next to him. “I’m here now, and we’ll figure this out together.” I give a nod, letting him know I mean business.

“Thanks, Liz.” I roll up the sleeves on my long-sleeved t-shirt and smile as he tries to avoid staring at my cleavage. Mission accomplished.

ChapterFour

Cameron

Three hours later,Liz and I plowed through the figures and overturned the kitchen, taking stock of what we have versus what we can cancel. With the menu slightly redesigned and just a day left of prep, I’m feeling a little better about what happened. But I can’t help being a little embarrassed in front of Liz.

“Thanks again for being here.” I lock up the kitchen behind us. With the restaurant closed until New Year’s, at least that’s something off my plate.

“It’s my pleasure.” Her full cheeks flush. I’ve never noticed how long her eyelashes are before.

“I bet you miss it.” We head down the hall, and I resist the urge to place my hand on her lower back. “Your restaurant.”

“More than I care to admit.” She reaches up and takes her claw clip out of her hair, causing dark waves to cascade down her back. “At least this is helping me keep my mind off things.” She sneaks a glance at me, her hazel eyes shining.

“Things will work out for you, Liz. You’re an incredibly talented chef.” I suck in a breath of air. “In fact, I was a little intimidated when I heard you were coming to work the event.”

Liz stops dead in her tracks. “Are you serious?” Her eyes widen. “You?”

“Is that so hard to believe?”

“Actually, yes. Everyone in town talks about how great you are.”

“I could say the same for you.” I turn to face her. The urge to kiss her burns deep in my gut. Wondering if things between us are actually possible. Are we too alike? “Do you have plans?”

“Right now?”

“Yeah.” God, did I speak too soon?

“No.” The corners of her lips raise slightly. It eases my nerves. Something tells me it’s not just her culinary skills that intimate me. Everything about this woman feels like high stakes. From the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew we were supposed to be together.

“Good. Let’s go grab a drink.”

She lets out a long sigh. “That’s just what the doctor ordered.”

We each get in our prospective cars and meet at Larry’s, a local watering hole. The crowd consists mainly of regulars; old timers draped on barstools whose wives still call the landline when it’s time for them to come home.

“I love Larry’s.” Liz nudges my shoulder as we walk inside. “It’s just so fucking normal.” The local man nearest us lets out a long beer burp. Liz’s hand covers her mouth when she laughs. “See?”

“That was just good timing.” She stops dead in her tracks and turns to me.

“Oh my God.” She gently slaps my arm.

“What?”

“He smiles. The serious chef even has a dimple.” Her pointer finger digs into the little indent on my left cheek. I pull away, feeling embarrassed.

“Of course, I smile.”

“Well, it’s the first time I’ve seen it.” We snag two stools at the emptier end of the bar. “It makes you look a little more approachable.”

“I don’t want to look approachable. I run a kitchen. It’s part of the gig.” We order two beers. Joyce, behind the bar, cracks open the icy bottles and sets them in front of us.

“Cheers.” We clink glasses, and again I’m struck by Liz’s natural beauty. With her dark hair and light eyes, she reminds me of a modern Snow White. I catch a glimpse of her cleavage when she raises her glass. God, I bet she looks insane naked, all soft and curvy. What I wouldn’t give to get my hands on her.

“It’s not easy being the boss, I get it.”

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