Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101505 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101505 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
“Shut up!” Paisley says, whacking me.
I laugh. “I’m serious.
“So that’s why you two are always making eyes at each other, then.”
“We are not,” I say.
She rolls her eyes, smirking. “Continue. I want to hear the rest.”
“There’s not much more. We met up to cook together. He taught me a lot of what he knew, which was a surprising amount because I figured he was just a typical hockey jock. At the time, I think I was still letting myself wallow since figure skating never worked out for me. And those few weeks of cooking with Nolan lit something in me. After that, I just started dreaming bigger and bigger.” I smile, biting the corner of my lip partly out of embarrassment for what I’m about to admit. “I want to be a head chef one day. Make my own recipes. Lead my own staff. I want to do something special–to make food people write about.”
“Well, you’re off to an awesome start,” Paisley says. “Usually, a new hire would be deep in the weeds with everything Zander’s throwing on your plate. You’re absolutely kicking ass.”
“Thank you,” I say, blushing partly because I wonder how much of her perception is from Nolan’s quiet assistance.
“So you and Mr. Saulters, huh,” she asks, putting one fist on her hip and looking up thoughtfully. “Did you guys date, or something, too? Because it sounds pretty freaking romantic.”
“We dated, I think. We were the only two people who signed up for a culinary club in Frosty Harbor. He was just here for the offseason and I was searching for something to fill the hole figure skating left. I had all this drive and ambition and nowhere to point it. Until I found cooking, that is.”
“So, what happened? Obviously you two aren’t dating now.”
I rub the back of my neck. “I think we sort of unofficially started dating. First, we cooked at his friend’s cabin a lot. Then it was at my place. Then we were talking all the time. And then we’d kiss some, but it never went much past that.”
“So innocent,” Paisley laughs.
I grin. “Yeah. But I started to worry I was going to choose him over my dreams. I started feeling this pull to drop everything for him. To just be a girlfriend. An accessory,” I add with a twist of my lips.
“Not so bad, if you ask me,” Paisley says.
“It sounded like a cold, depressing death, to me. And I decided to act before it got any more hold over me. There was an opening in a culinary school in New York. I signed up, broke things off with him, and moved. I changed my phone number and completely cut contact.”
“Wow,” Paisley breathes. “Just like that?”
“Yep,” I say, skipping over the ugly crying, frantic nights of talking myself out of calling his number and apologizing or at least trying to explain where I was coming from. “Just like that,” I say.
“Well,” Paisley says. “That is kind of badass. You really didn’t let anything get in your way. But can I admit something?”
“Sure.”
“I’m kinda relieved Mr. Saulters is only here during the offseason. I get so nervous when he’s in the kitchen. He’s so hot it honestly kind of freaks me out a little.”
“Who freaks you out?” A deep voice asks. “I’ll ask him to leave.”
Nolan is standing in the kitchen now, arms crossed.
“Umm,” Paisley says, going bright red.
“Mind giving us a minute, Paisley?” Nolan asks.
Paisley doesn’t hesitate. She’s like a rabbit right after a gun goes off–dashing out of the kitchen towards the dining room, where the servers are all talking with Zander about something.
“Is someone bothering you two?” he asks.
I can’t help grinning. “We were talking about you. And I don’t want to inflate your ego, so I’m not going into any more detail than that.”
“Oh,” he says, looking relieved. “Let me finish up for you.” He reaches to take the plastic wrap from me.
“I’m fine, Nolan. But thanks.”
He leans back, crossing his arms. “If you’re better already, that means I have to start being an asshole again. You sure you’re feeling better?”
I smile to myself, then put a hand on my lower back and groan. “I don’t know. Maybe I do feel another wave of cramps coming along.”
“Sit, then.” Without waiting, he puts a hand on either side of my waist and lifts me, gently setting my ass down on the prep table. “You stay there and I’ll finish your closing work.”
I bite my lip. There’s no way I’ll ever admit it, but the way he just lifted me like I weighed nothing was insanely hot. I remind myself that Nolan prefers to pamper me right now, whether I need the help or not. I’m just doing the nice thing for a guy who had to go through hard times when he was younger. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that I might be enjoying the princess treatment. Just a bit.