Page 104 of Make Me Swoon

“Coraline,” I whisper against her skin as I kiss a path down her neck.

She arches, giving me more access to her neck and that’s when the door opens behind her and we both stumble into her apartment.

“I’m so sorry! I thought I heard something and I didn’t even think that it would be you,” Sayler says, looking apologetic.

“It’s okay,” Coraline says and I give Sayler a nod, making sure that Coraline is steady on her feet before I step away from her a bit.

“Well, good night,” Coraline says, obviously ready for me to leave and I give her a smile.

“See you later,” I say, leaning in and brushing my lips against hers once more.

I pull back to see a red blush staining her cheeks and I grin.

“Have a good night, ladies.”

My lips tingle the whole way home.

TEN

Coraline

I takea deep breath before I open the front door of the address that Max emailed me. He’s waiting for me in the empty dining area and my heart starts to race. I’ve always dreamed of working in a restaurant like this but as I walk through the front doors and get my first look at the still-unnamed restaurant, it feels more real.

I need this job. I want to run this place.

“Hey, you must be Coraline,” Max says, holding a hand out to me.

I shake it, taking in his button-down shirt and jeans. He’s dressed more casually than I had expected but it puts me at ease. He’s got dark salt and pepper hair and warm blue eyes and the friendly look in them also help me relax.

“It’s so nice to meet you,” I tell him with a smile and he nods.

“Kitchen is this way.”

He points out the bar area and the hallway that leads to the back office. The kitchen door is right next to the hallway and I follow him inside, almost weeping when I get a look at the pristine kitchen.

It’s a chef’s dream and only strengthens my resolve to nail this job interview and become the chef of this place.

“My daughter, Cat, loves your food truck. I think she eats there at least four times a week,” he says with a grin and I try to remember any regulars that I have/

“Does she have purple hair?” I ask him and he grins.

“I think it’s teal now, but yeah, it was purple for a while.”

I smile as I head around to the other side of the counter and look at some of the ingredients that are laid out.

“So, I haven’t thought of a name yet, but we’re narrowing it down and I’m hoping to be open for business in a month. I did interviews all week and you’re actually the last one. I’m hoping to make a decision in the next few days.”

“Do you have the rest of the kitchen staff hired yet?” I ask, wondering about the process.

“No, I want to leave that up to the chef since they’re the ones who will be in charge of this domain.”

I nod, running my fingers over the stainless steel countertop.

“My vision for this place is to be different from my other restaurants. I have Abernathy Brewery, which is more of a pub or bar, Salitos, which is tapas, Risel, which is more upscale, and then this place. I want it to be more of a comfort food menu and more laid back than Risel.”

I nod. That’s my sweet spot and what I want to cook too, so it’s a perfect fit. Now I just need to make the best meal of my life to show Max that.

“That’s what I make at The Culinerdy Cruiser. Americana comfort,” I tell him with a smile and he nods.

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