Hot in the Kitchen
Page 12
“Glad I can help.” Natalie rewarded him with a beautiful grin. “So what happens now?”
“You and your plans,” he said, chuckling. “It always comes back to plans.”
“Maybe not.” Natalie shrugged as he pulled her close to kiss her temple. “I can make plans or not make plans with you. As long as we’re together.”
He smiled against her hair. “You don’t know how long I’ve waited to hear those words.”
Natalie returned to work a few days later, welcomed back enthusiastically by her friends. She helped prep and perfect table settings, restocked the service station, and, according to Aubrey, made “googly eyes” at Seth the entire time she did it.
“We’re glad to have you back, Nat,” Aubrey said as she cut lemons.
“It is so nice to be back,” Natalie said, smiling widely at her Aussie friend.
“And better than ever, it seems.” Aubrey gave her a knowing wink.
“Does everyone know?”
“That you and Seth are back together? Oh, definitely,” Adam said as he walked by with a tray full of clean wine glasses.
Natalie laughed.
Hunter came back from the hallway and stepped behind the bar, offering Natalie a tentative smile. “Hey, Nat. I’m really sorry about your dad.”
Natalie’s heart tightened at the thought of her father, but instead she focused on Hunter and relaxed. “Thanks, Hunter. And thanks for the wine, too, that was really nice of you. My mom and I really enjoyed it.”
She offered him a smile. When he returned it, Natalie felt as if a little shift between them had turned into friendship.
“Hey Hunter,” Aubrey interrupted them, pointing to the calendar behind the bar. “Can you cover my shift that weekend? I know it’s a couple months away, but I’m a dead woman if I’m not there, so I wanted to make sure.”
“Sure,” he replied, leaning over to wash a glass in the bar sink. “What’s the occasion?”
Aubrey grimaced. “My sister’s getting married.”
Hunter paused scrubbing to look up at her with renewed interest. “You have a sister? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
Natalie burst out laughing at Aubrey’s glower, turning to head to the service station. Dinner shift began as the first customers walked through the front door. The servers split up, helping each other with tables as the night continued. Service fired as the kitchen went into whirlwind work mode, never missing a step.
The rhythm was easy to fall back into, for which Natalie was grateful. She took care of her tables, refilled water, and helped Adam and Katie when they needed it. It was a good night, both for her head and financially, as her own tables were generous tippers.
Adam had a new table, while Aubrey made three drinks at once behind the bar. Natalie rolled her eyes at Hunter, flirting with a gorgeous customer at the end of the bar. She didn’t seem to mind, leaning over the bar to give Hunter an ample eyeful of the blessings a plastic surgeon gave her.
Chef Tom called for service and Natalie slipped into the kitchen behind Katie, waiting to help where needed.
Katie loaded the plates on either arm, grinning at Natalie. “I’ve got this, you catch the next one.”
Natalie nodded and stood patiently, shooting Seth a smile. Without missing a beat, he returned it at the same time as he plated.
“If you’re gonna distract the sous chef, you may need to wait out in the hallway.” Chef Tom smiled as he said it, at least not annoyed with their little glances. “You guys okay out there?”
“Absolutely,” Natalie said without hesitation.
He glanced up and she followed Tom’s line of sight to Aubrey at the bar. The blond bartender shook the metal canister in her hand, laughing at something a customer said.
She and Seth shared a little smile and she grinned at Tom, who knew he’d been caught. “You should ask her out.”
“Couples really do start to resemble each other.” Tom rolled his eyes. “You sound like Seth.”
Natalie shrugged. “Just saying … maybe it’s time for Chef Finnegan to fall in love.”
“Keep your curses to yourself, woman!” Tom cried out dramatically, slapping a hand over his chest.
Natalie laughed, ponytail bouncing as she went to the kitchen doorway.
“Hey, wait,” Seth said. He eased out from behind his metal table, trailing after her. He checked the empty hallway before leaning in.
Natalie faked annoyance. “What, are you embarrassed to be seen with the wait staff?”
“The opposite, actually,” Seth said before pushing her against the wall. His face came close to hers, their noses gently bumping. “I didn’t want to embarrass them with my public display of affection.”
Before Natalie could tilt her head, he brought his lips to hers, silencing her question. He deepened the embrace, wanting her to feel the promise in his kiss. Natalie’s arms wrapped around his neck while his snaked around her waist. Every inch of them pressed against each other. Natalie ran a hand along his arm and back up to his face. She never wanted to let go. When Seth pulled away, they were both breathless.
Seth’s eyes met hers and she melted at the blinding grin he gave her. “Ready?”
Natalie nodded, somehow feeling as though they were agreeing to much more than a regular shift. It only increased the happy, twirling butterflies in her stomach as she returned his broad smile.
“Service!” Chef Tom announced.
Natalie and Seth stayed side by side as they moved to take their places in the LUSH kitchen.
Don’t miss the second book in the LUSH Restaurant Series
Fresh in the Kitchen, starring Aussie bartender Aubrey Walker and LUSH head chef Tom Finnegan, releasing in May!
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