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    All Is Fair In Food And War
    All Is Fair In Food And War
    All Is Fair In Food And War
    Ebook149 pages1 hour

    All Is Fair In Food And War

    By Samantha Baca

    ()

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    About this ebook

    It all started with a competition.

     

    If he won, I'd agree to go on a date with him.

     

    If I won, he'd leave me alone.

     

    Miles Sexton was the kind of guy I avoided at all costs. The man's confidence and good looks screamed heartbreaker, and I'd had enough of that for a lifetime.. 

     

    But it wasn't easy to avoid someone when they parked their food truck right outside the upscale restaurant you worked at as the executive chef. Or when they constantly came in, asking to borrow ingredients because they failed to be prepared.

    Miles got under my skin in more ways than I could count, so when he proposed the stupid cook-off, I figured it would be an easy way to get rid of him. Quick. Easy. Done. 

     

    But luck wasn't on my side when my nosey boss found out about it and offered to not only host the event, but to let him work there every day to prepare for it. 

     

    Having Miles constantly in my space was even harder than I imagined. It was more than the heat in the kitchen that set things ablaze between us. There was a chemistry there, sizzling beneath the surface, ready to explode. 

    With my reputation at stake and a heart to protect, I couldn't afford to lose. 

     

    May the best chef win! 

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSamantha Baca
    Release dateOct 21, 2022
    ISBN9798201232030
    All Is Fair In Food And War

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      Book preview

      All Is Fair In Food And War - Samantha Baca

      One

      Kat

      I need a rack of lamb , a sirloin medium, and steamed mussels, I called out, sliding the ticket to the side as the kitchen staff buzzed around me. It was a bustling Friday night which meant that Ambrosia would have a line out the door with people trying to get a seat, even though we were booked three months out with reservations.  

      I focused on the tray that was ready to go out, making sure everything was perfect. As executive chef, it was my job to ensure that every dish that went out was exactly as it had been ordered and that our signature style was reflected in the presentation. We weren’t Seattle’s premier and most sought-after restaurant for nothing!

      Looks wonderful, thank you, Lauren. I smiled at the server as she lifted the tray and carried it out.

      A few more orders came through, and I was pleased that almost everything was correct, minus a few minor details. However, I tried to be gentle as I coached our newest chef, Javier, on what he had missed. I knew that most kitchens of our status would feel somewhat like stepping into Hell’s Kitchen, but I prided myself on treating everyone with respect. You didn’t become a world-famous chef by belittling others.

      Once the orders were corrected, I gave Javier a pat on the back and went about checking the rest.

      Hey, do you think I could borrow a cup of sugar?

      My head turned toward the velvety smooth voice. The question hadn’t been asked of me, and now I knew why.

      Why don’t you make sure you have the supplies you need before you open? I asked, stepping beside Jamie, who was blushing as Miles gave her the smile that usually got him whatever he wanted.

      He leaned forward, resting against the counter that separated us.

      Hey, Kat, you’re looking good tonight. He gave me a cheeky smile and raised his brows.

      I tilted my head and sighed.

      Really? You’ve sunken as low as sweet talking me for a cup of sugar?

      Would you like me to earn it some other way? Because I’m totally open to suggestions.

      He rubbed his plump lips together, and I heard a soft whimper escape from Jamie. I subtly nudged her with my elbow, and she jerked to attention and then rushed off. She was the sous-chef which meant that she needed to be focused on what was happening in the kitchen and not on the flirty buffoon standing in front of me.

      If you paid attention to your inventory, you wouldn’t need to constantly come by asking us for stuff, I said sharply, trying not to let his green eyes lock onto mine.

      I thought I had plenty, but then I launched this new caramel cheesecake dessert tonight, and it’s been more popular than I’d imagined. I ran short. He shrugged as if it was an everyday thing to run out of ingredients when you were working in food service. But I guess for him, it was.

      Fine, I sighed. But this is the last time, and I mean it. If you’re going to run a food truck, then you need to learn how to manage it.

      Yes, ma’am, he replied before biting his lip.

      I ignored the way my stomach flip-flopped and grabbed two cups of sugar from the kitchen.

      I assume this is all that you need tonight? I asked. I can’t afford to have my staff constantly distracted, so if you need something else, let’s just get it over with now.

      He leaned in close as he took the sugar. His mouth hovered just above my ear, sending a shiver through me as the warmth of his breath trailed down it.

      I’ll take a date if you’re handing them out.

      In your dreams. I pulled back and arched an eyebrow.

      Can’t blame me for trying, he laughed and then stepped back. He turned to leave, then stopped and spun around to face me. Just so you know, you’re always in my dreams, he announced loud enough for the entire kitchen to hear. Even the wet ones.

      My face flamed with embarrassment as he tossed a wink at me and left.

      I could hear the murmured voices as the kitchen buzzed around me. I turned and caught everyone’s attention as they stopped what they were doing and froze.

      Alright, the fun is over. We have work to do. Get those plates over to the expo now. We’re about to be in the weeds here. Let’s go!

      I walked through the kitchen, checking the different stations and making sure that everything was on track. Miles had stirred everything up and created a vibe in here that left everyone buzzing with excitement—even me—though I hated to admit it. If we wanted a successful night, I needed to get everyone refocused.

      Chef, the guest at table nineteen sent their sirloin back, Emily said as she showed me the returned plate. I peeked at the cut mark in the steak and noticed it was rare.

      I grabbed the ticket from the rail and checked it.

      Javier, the sirloin for table nineteen was supposed to be well done, and this was sent out rare. We need to flash it on the fly. I took the plate from Emily and passed it back to Javier.

      Sorry, Chef.

      I nodded and continued checking trays as they were brought to me. Soon, I felt back in the groove and forgot about the frenzy Miles Sexton had caused with his flirty banter. I’d known him ever since he parked his obnoxiously big food truck right outside two months ago and never moved.

      Once it started to slow down, Jamie joined me at the front of the kitchen and watched the staff as they bustled about, finishing up the last few orders of the night.

      So, are you going to give in and let Miles take you out on a date? she asked, looking up at me.

      I frowned and shook my head.

      Why not? He’s soooo hot.

      Then you date him.

      Helllooo, I’m married. She held her hand up and wiggled her fingers in front of me, showing me the simple gold band she wore to work.

      Well then, consider yourself lucky. Miles is a total player and is just looking to get laid.

      Sorry for being blunt, but I wouldn’t say no to that, she laughed and shrugged before pushing off the counter to go talk with the server before they delivered their order.

      I knew Miles’ kind and could recognize what he wanted a mile away because I had been engaged to a guy just like him. That’s why I made it my mission to avoid him every chance I got.

      Two

      Miles

      M an, those cheesecake bars really sold out tonight, Anthony said, leaning against the counter. He’d been my best friend since we were in college and helped me start up the Miles High Food Club, a food truck that served a random assortment of sandwiches and fried foods, depending on my mood.

      I didn’t expect them to be so popular.

      I think after the first girl said that they tasted better than sex, that was all the advertising we needed. You know how good word of mouth works. He chuckled and folded his arms over his broad chest.

      I told you to take one to Kat; you probably would’ve scored that date you’ve been after.

      I smiled a crooked grin, knowing that he was right.

      I looked over at the shelf behind us with five full bags of sugar and then at the container she’d given me when I’d gone over to ask for some. It was stupid, but I felt the need to get her attention any way that I could.

      There was something about her that really got under my skin. Anthony was convinced that it was because she was the only girl who had ever rejected me when I’d asked them out, but I knew it was something deeper than that. Maybe it was her fiery attitude every time I talked to her, or maybe it was because I could tell she wasn’t interested in me because of my looks like most girls seemed to be. I was thirty years old and had long outgrown the superficial aspect of dating. I wanted someone I could grow old with and get to know without worrying about them hiding the second they washed their makeup off.

      Did you want to go get a beer, Anthony asked. Or are we waiting for Kat to leave so you can watch her and pretend that you’re not secretly obsessed with her?

      I’m not obsessed with her, I said over my shoulder as I wiped down the counter and tossed the rag into the pile of laundry that I needed to do tonight.

      But he was right. I was delaying and taking longer to shut down tonight, because I was waiting to see her.

      You’re such a terrible liar.

      I was about to throw some sarcastic comment back at him, but the door to Ambrosia opened, and I saw Kat walk out with Jamie. They were laughing at something, and I could see the way Kat’s brown eyes sparkled. Her dark curly hair was pulled down, barely brushing against her shoulders as she walked.

      I rarely got to see her outside of work, which meant that I appreciated every chance I had of seeing her wearing something other than the pressed white button-down shirt, black dress slacks, and apron that hid her body. If I had to guess, the girls were going out tonight, given that she was wearing a low-cut black dress that wrapped tightly around her curvy body and hit mid-thigh.

      I watched which direction they were headed

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