Hot in the Kitchen Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Epilogue

  Links

  Hot in the Kitchen

  Book 1

  Olivia Burke

  Copyright © 2019 Blue Fire Media, LLC

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below.

  Olivia Burke

  PO Box 21301

  Roanoke, VA 24018

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters and incidents depicted in this novel are products of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations or persons (living or dead) is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of author or publisher.

  If you want more sweet romances, join my newsletter at www.oliviaburkeromance.com and get the latest on all upcoming releases.

  “Kitchen’s on fire again.”

  Natalie’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head at the blasé reaction. Katie, her trainer, rolled her eyes as she repeated it to the general kitchen area. Natalie swiveled on the bar stool to see one of the prep cooks put out whatever fired up on the grill. All the while, Katie never stopped polishing silverware.

  “Is that supposed to happen?” Natalie asked.

  “Don’t worry about it.” Katie tossed another spoon into its rightful place. “Let’s see, what else do we need to cover on your first day?”

  Natalie turned back to her training session. Katie continued polishing as she spoke, the metal in her hands winking every so often when the lights hit it just right.

  “You should know that it’s tip share for the servers. That means we all help each other out. You have to be a team player, got it?”

  “Absolutely. Daniel explained it already.”

  Daniel, the manager at LUSH, had interviewed and hired Natalie two days ago. The evening’s servers piled their tips together, dividing it evenly depending on hours worked. Natalie was relieved; it’d been a while since she’d waited tables and she was a little nervous about jumping back in. Knowing the other servers would help out if she found herself in the weeds eased her anxiety a bit.

  Tucked inside the city’s hippest neighborhood, LUSH claimed the farm-to-table fortune. Fresh, local ingredients, a knowledgeable, friendly staff, and it also had the best bar in town, with a wine list that would have Natalie studying for days. The LUSH bartenders were like celebrities with the way guests lined up for their cocktail skills.

  Exposed brick walls on either side and a broad peek into the kitchen excited the guests. Many of them were passionate foodies, while the rest were either rich, celebrating an occasion, or trying to impress someone.

  Natalie Brown didn’t plan to be waiting tables at 26 years old, but if she had to do it, she wanted to be at LUSH. Tips there would help cover school loans while she—god help her—lived with her parents. Moving back a few months ago had cost her nearly every penny she had left, so free rent was a huge factor, if not inconvenient and somewhat embarrassing. But her being home also helped her mom; her father’s recent diagnosis had them scrambling to prepare for the worst. In any case, Natalie saw LUSH as a good stepping stone to get back on track.

  “Right,” Katie said, bringing her back to attention. The pretty server rolled her eyes. “And Daniel is Daniel, not Dan, as he continuously points out.”

  Natalie was puzzled. “To whom?”

  The corner of Katie’s mouth curled. “The kitchen, who ignores his request just to mess with him. Drives him nuts.”

  Natalie laughed. “Poor guy.”

  Katie arched a perfectly plucked eyebrow at her. “So why are you waiting tables?”

  Because my dad’s dying. Because I hated the city I lived in. Because I didn’t want to be away from him and home. Because, because, because… There were plenty of reasons, but Natalie paused before speaking, wondering how much to tell her. Talking about her dad’s terminal illness was already difficult enough, but she wasn’t sure she was ready for those sympathetic looks and “we’re so sorry” pats on the arm. Better to be strong and not let anyone know.

  “I’m trying to finish vet school. Or saving up for it, I guess.” It wasn’t entirely a lie, either. Natalie didn’t elaborate further, but Katie nodded in understanding.

  “Right on,” she said. “I’ve got a year left for my master’s and Adam is actually about to apply for a PhD program.”

  “Wow.”

  “Yeah,” Katie said sagely, nodding. She tucked a loose strand of long, sandy-blond hair behind her ear. “We’re a pile of smarties here. But surprisingly, turnover is really low at LUSH. The money’s too good, I guess.”

  Natalie finished polishing the last fork in the pile. Adam, who’d introduced himself when she clocked in, came out with another plastic container of silverware. All the servers wore dark jeans, and his blue button-up popped with his dark blue eyes behind black frames. He plunked the silverware on the bar, spinning on his heel to head to the broom closet.

  “We polish everything,” Katie told Natalie, dragging out the word. “Be careful with the wine glasses, you’ll be surprised with your own strength.”

  Natalie took another look around the restaurant. She and Katie sat at the enormous bar, fully stocked with every liquor imaginable behind the beautiful wooden tabletop. The bar stools matched the top, as did the rest of the tables in the place. The bar stood against the right wall in the spacious room, a huge draw for the happy hour and late-night crowds.

  Natalie had only eaten at LUSH once, for her parents’ twenty-fifth wedding anniversary last year, right before her dad got sick. In the close-knit neighborhood, they only lived a few blocks away, but it was always so busy, they couldn’t just walk in. Her dad booked the reservation weeks in advance, and after the meal she and her parents had eaten, they’d understood why. Every bite had been downright delectable, better than anything she could’ve imagined. Their extensive wine menu had more options than she could ever hope to know (and was in fact, probably the biggest thing that made her nervous about the job, since she’d have to memorize each one).

  “Katie,” a deep voice said. “Who’s our new friend?”

  Katie heaved a deep sigh, clearly annoyed at the interruption. Natalie turned to identify the owner of the voice and struggled not to gape at the sight of him.

  The guy looked like he stepped off a movie screen, with bright hazel eyes and dark hair tousled just so. A chiseled jaw and well-built physique added to the swoon factor, but the blinding white smile he shot her way dazzled her. Natalie found herself staring and hoped her mouth at least hadn’t dropped to the floor.

  “Natalie, this is Hunter Stone, one of our bartenders.” Katie tossed a polished fork in her pile a little too hard.

  Hunter winked at her. “It’s very nice to meet you. Welcome to LU
SH.”

  Natalie blushed, hating herself for it but also still swooning a little at the hot bartender. A guy like that would make any woman stumble over her words. Natalie was used to good-looking guys, but Hunter was off the charts.

  “Back off Hunter, she’s only been here an hour,” Adam said as he came back to the bar. He gathered up the now-organized silverware, taking it back to the service station.

  “What?” Hunter’s tone might’ve been innocent were it not for the little wink he shot Natalie. As Katie gestured for Natalie to follow her for a tour, Hunter called out to her as they walked away.

  “Looking forward to getting to know you better.”

  Natalie snorted, which made Katie grin. “Don’t mind him, he’s ridiculous.”

  They joined Adam in the small servers’ workspace, the three of them taking up most of the room. Natalie raised an eyebrow at Katie. “Is it me, or is everyone who works here ridiculously attractive?”

  “Oh, well thanks for noticing.” She batted her eyelashes, laughing. “Daniel will never admit it, but that’s accidentally on purpose. LUSH, where the food is beyond and the staff is hot. It’s a win-win.”

  “We knew you were a shoo-in when you came in for your interview,” Adam added as he filled the coffee-maker with fresh grounds.

  Natalie snorted. “Thanks, I guess. At this rate, anything that brings in more money to pay off bills is a plus.”

  “Good decision,” Adam said with a sharp nod. “You’ll make way more money here than you ever could in retail. The tips in this place are ridonk.”

  “Sorry I’m late!” They heard her first, a moment before a dark-skinned young woman flew in from the hallway, practically slamming into Adam as he stepped out of the station. “Sorry, sorry!”

  “This is Rachel,” Katie said, introducing them. “And she’s always late.”

  “Which is why always she gets bathroom duty,” Adam said, rubbing his shoulder where she’d smacked into him.

  Rachel groaned, tossing her braids up in a top-knot. “One of these days I’ll get my life together.”

  “Doesn’t look like today’s the day,” Adam said. At Rachel’s annoyed expression, he laughed, blowing her a kiss as he walked away. “I’ll grab more napkins from downstairs.”

  He yelled “Corner!” just as he turned to head down the steps, to prevent any coworkers from bumping into him. Natalie made a mental note to remember the little steps like that; the last thing she needed was to trip someone carrying something upstairs.

  “I gotta clock in,” Rachel said, throwing an apologetic look at Natalie. “Nice to meet you, let’s chat later.”

  “She’s, like, the only one who doesn’t live right here in the neighborhood,” Katie said. “Although she’d probably be late even if she lived downstairs.”

  Katie showed Natalie where everything was in the station, from plates and glassware to straws and teabags. Then she learned the glass water bottles and a few ingredients were kept in the hallway fridge, while the larger fridge stood just outside the back door on the deck.

  Once finished, she steered Natalie into the kitchen. It was a very clean space, with silver prep tables, spotless appliances, a wooden butcher block on either end, and the dishwasher area in the back corner. The open space gave them a nearly direct line of sight to the bar, where the bartenders prepped for the evening.

  Katie introduced Natalie to the dishwasher, a teenage boy who hardly looked up from his soapy sink. Next were the line cooks, including sauté, salad, and grill cooks, and a pastry guy on the far end, all of them male. She guessed most of them to be in their mid-twenties to early thirties, and not one of them gave her a second glance after a brief hello.

  “And this is Chef Thomas Finnegan,” Katie said proudly, dramatically waving an arm at the young man behind the table. “LUSH’s youngest chef ever. Chef Tom, this is Natalie Brown.”

  Chef Tom’s hands were busy with herbs and spices. His cheeks reddened at the grandiose introduction, but he gave Natalie a small nod and smiled, which put her at ease. Though he had to be in his late twenties, he had a boyish appeal, with a stockier frame and freckles everywhere. His black cap sat atop wavy ginger hair that brushed the collar of his chef’s coat.

  “Natalie?” He cocked his head. “Have we met before?”

  “I don’t think so.” She bit her lip, wondering how she could possibly know him, but came up blank.

  “Guess your name just sounds familiar.” He shrugged, moving on. “You have server experience?”

  “Oh,” Natalie said, frantically nodding, “yes.”

  He laughed at her nervous reaction. “Just making sure. It’s not for the faint of heart here.”

  She squared her shoulders. “I can handle it.”

  “Great.” Tom moved to wash his hands in the nearby sink. “Welcome to LUSH.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Natalie murmured. He’d already turned his back to her, focused on his next task at hand for the evening’s menu.

  Katie leaned in next to her. “Don’t let the charm fool you. He quizzes us every Friday during prep.”

  Natalie grimaced, not having thought about how serious this job could get. She’d have to pull double duty with menu memorization and studies. One step at a time.

  Katie turned to greet someone entering from the other side. “There you are—finally, Natalie, this is our sous chef, Seth Clark.”

  The entire world slowed down at the name. Natalie looked up to see the sous chef entering the kitchen. Sure enough, Seth Clark, looking far better than her memories gave her credit for, wearing a chef’s jacket. Sous chef was embroidered into the upper right corner, with his name below it.

  Seth’s eyes widened when they met hers. They stared at each other; it could’ve been a second or an hour, Natalie wasn’t sure. Her heartbeat picked up at the sight of him. It’d been four years since she saw him last; not only had he grown a super sexy beard, he’d lost weight and gained muscle in all the right places. His dark hair was beneath a black hat like the one the chef wore. She was surprised to find she’d remembered the flecks of gold in Seth’s green eyes just so, though there was a tinge of something new there she didn’t quite understand.

  “Natalie.” Seth said her name as though it were a greeting, his tone full of disapproval.

  She gave him a pathetic wave. “Um, hi.”

  Katie glanced between them, clearly interested in the vibe. “You two know each other?”

  “In a previous life,” Seth answered first. His abrupt tone didn’t offer more time for questions as he got back to work.

  Natalie cringed, probably deserving that blunt answer. Katie got the hint, ushering her out of the kitchen. The girls went back into the service station. Natalie managed to ward off more of her questioning looks. They went into work mode as she continued showing the ropes, and eventually Katie’s curiosity was forgotten. Natalie helped fold more napkins, determined to stay out of the kitchen unless absolutely necessary.

  Natalie hadn’t realized Seth Clark worked here when she took the job. If she had, she wasn’t sure if she would have. What she did know, however, was that LUSH’s sous chef clearly still hated her after all these years for breaking up with him.

  Seth had been grumbling to himself for the last three minutes. Many, many curse words flew through his head as he prepared ingredients at his station. He pushed back a flood of memories, disappointed they were so eager to come to the surface.

  He’d nearly keeled over when he walked into his kitchen to see Natalie Brown standing there. Seth didn’t think he’d ever see her again. Had resigned himself to the thought, actually. Her familiar scent of vanilla enveloped him, lingering in his nose. He hadn’t even known he’d remembered it.

  And god, she looked better than ever. It was unfair how hot she looked in her simple black button-up shirt and fitted jeans. Nat had always been a natural beauty, with thick, chin-length curls that framed her face, big brown doe eyes with long lashes, and petite figure. He’d pushed thos
e thoughts out of his head a long time ago, not wanting to recall how beautiful she looked in his bed. He still remembered the way the strands of her soft hair felt between his fingers …

  “Yo!”

  The voice snapped Seth back to attention. He turned to see his head chef–also his best friend and roommate–staring at him.

  “What?” Seth asked.

  Thomas Finnegan–Tommy to Seth–tipped his head towards the front of house. “I asked if you know the new girl?”

  “Who, Natalie?” Seth asked between gritted teeth.

  Tom grinned, never looking up from his soup stirring. “You do. Did you go out with her?”

  Seth shrugged. “Possibly.”

  As Seth’s best friend, Tom saw through the blatant lie. His irritatingly smug smile grew. “Uh huh.”

  “What?”

  “You’re a terrible liar, you know that?” He looked up from his pot on the stove long enough to smirk at Seth.

  “Let it go, man,” Seth warned him.

  “I haven’t seen you this shook since I came from behind to beat you at fantasy football in the championship game two years ago. What’s the deal?”

  “No deal.” Seth shook his head, concentrating on filleting the last piece of fish for the night’s menu.

  “Oh, there’s definitely a deal. Were you two serious?”

  Seth sighed over his chopped carrots. “Natalie and I dated a few years ago, back when I was a lazy bum.”

  Tom’s eyes dawned with realization. “Right before we met. She’s the girl, the one you’ve mentioned, like, one time ever. She broke your heart, right?”

  “She didn’t–,” Seth caught himself, irritated, and lowered his voice. “Look, we can talk about it if you really want to know, but not here.”

  Tom faked a shudder. “So serious. Man, you used to be so fun, remember?” At Seth’s scathing glare, he relented. “Okay, okay, sorry. You were never good at multitasking anyway.”

  “Let’s not talk about this later.” Seth rolled his eyes, retying the apron around his waist.