Page 37 of The Billionaire & the Virgin Chef
Emily
I’ve been workingfor Blair for six months and I’ve been a little off lately. It feels like it’s been ages since a patron has asked to speak to me about one of my entrees. Blair lets me prepare at least one dish per week that’s 100% myrecipe.
Naturally, I can’t contain my ecstasy when any of my menu items are well received by our most loyal customers. I’m in more direct contact with my catering clients and the guests who consume my creations there, and they continue to rave about me, as well as put money behind their feedback through repeat orders andreferrals.
Here atGauche, it’s been quiet. I can’t help wantingmore.
Tonight, in between our two scheduled dinner sittings, Patrick, the late twenties weeknight maître d’ makes my day. He comes into the kitchen and informs me that someone has asked forme.
I’m excited. Torn too, because not all feedback is stellar. But then again, it’s been so long since I’ve had that face to face interaction with anyone here, I’m happy to have evoked any reaction at all related to tonight’s entrée: herb butter quail under a mango pineapple glaze served with Sherry vinegar red potatoes, sweet onions, andgorgonzola.
Removing my apron, I say a little prayer and push through the kitchen access doors. On the other side, though, I discover a near-empty dining area. It makes sense that the place would be partially cleared out. We’re between dinner sittings. Which means that the patron must really be taking his or her time savoring my entrée. Ornot.
I look around. There’s only the maître d’, a few wait staff preparing the tables for the next sitting, and one couple near the front with their backs to me. I put on my most professional smile as I reach their table and hope for thebest.
If it weren’t for the young woman around my age with the long, wavy blonde hair, I would’ve recognized the manalready.
“Dylan?” I say his name in a question. Has he been here for an entire meal without letting me know? With this girl? I study her face more closely. She’s familiar somehow, but I’m almost sure I’ve never seen her before. Unless she’s a colleague at workor—
“Emily, love.” He slides out of their booth and pulls me into hisarms.
“Hi,” I say, confused. “I didn’t realize you were here all along. No one toldme.”
“We thought we’d surpriseyou.”
We? They’re awenow?
“I don’t understand,” I admit to their beamingfaces.
“We came by to see you for a few reasons. First, because the two most important women in my life are also two of the busiest people I know. Believe it or not, finding a day and time that you’re both in the same city has taken a lot ofcoordination.”
A tinge of jealousy sparks within me, but I’m at my place of work. The option to raise hell and demand an explanation at the top of my lungs isn’t on thetable.
Two most importantwomen.
Really?
I’ve heard the rumors that Dylan was a bit of a manwhore before he met me. It’s all over his social media too, but I was willing to look the other way because by all accounts, Dylan did a complete one hundred and eighty from his bad boy behavior when he met me. It’s never been an issue. The way I see it, everyone’s got a past. And Dylan has never given me a reason not to trusthim.
But this? I wasn’t expectingthis.
Two most important women. Being a sister wife isn’t in the cards forme.
“I’m confused,” I admit, my jaw tight as I work hard to control myresponses.
“Emily, I want you to meet my little sister,Vanessa.”
“Oh! It’s lovely to finally meet you,” I say, my voice overflowing with excitement and a bit of relief as I reach across the table to shake herhand.
She stands and wraps her arms around me, hugging me warmly, as though we’re old friends. There are no air kisses like her mother gives out. “It’s great to finally meet the girl who managed to take my brother off the meatmarket.”
“I think I mentioned that Vanessa’s in law school,” Dylanexplains.
“Congrats,” I tell her. “Following in your parents’footsteps?”
She smiles. Looking at them as they stand side by side, I see the resemblance. “You could call it that. Practicing law is in our blood. Although, before this, I was on an environmental advocacy project. We can chat all about it. I’m in town all weekend if you’refree.”
“Definitely. Dylan, can you give her my number for us to set somethingup?”
