Calla's Kitchen

by Teresa Crumpton

  “Thank you. Can I also get a water please?”

  “Coming right up.” He winks.

  From the corner of my eye, I spot the hostess glaring at Max.

  “I don’t think your girlfriend appreciates your flirting,” I add casually as I finish my first drink.

  “My girlfriend?” Max asks with a confused expression.

  I nonchalantly peek over my shoulder to see where the hostess has gone, and gesture to the young woman with my thumb.

  “No, definitely not. She likes to think she controls the front of the house, though. I guess she does in some ways, but I wouldn’t go anywhere near her. The look she’s sending this way is more likely that she sees you as competition. And she definitely doesn’t like competition.” Max drums his hands on the bar.

  “Competition? Why would I be competition?” I stir my drink.

  “You’ll find out, I’m sure. Now, let me go see if your dinner is ready.” Max heads out from behind the bar, only to be stopped short.

  A tall, black-haired man, probably in his early forties and dressed in slacks and a chef’s jacket, carries a tray of food into the bar. He looks vaguely familiar. Like I’ve seen him in the paper, or maybe around town. Max steps back behind the bar. The chef places the tray next to the bar and unloads four plates, placing two in front of me and the others next to the stool that has been vacated to my right.

  The Ahi is mouth-watering, as are the sides Max suggested. The second plate has some sort of shrimp dish that I don’t remember seeing on the menu. Glancing at the other two plates beside me, the only difference is that instead of Ahi, one has the tri-tip, if I’m not mistaken. It is prepared perfectly. More rare than medium, so the center is a little red rather than pink. Max was right. I couldn’t have gone wrong with either dish.

  “Max, can you keep this behind the bar for me?” The man hands the tray over to Max.

  “Sure, Chef. Would you like your usual?” Max takes the tray, stashing it behind the bar before grabbing a highball glass from his counter.

  “Please,” the man answers as he pulls out the chair and takes the seat next to me. “Chef Calla. I know this is a little presumptuous, but may I join you for dinner?”

  I read the man’s name off his jacket. Chef Caleb Davies. Max’s comment about the hostess makes a lot more sense now. She has her eye on the head chef and owner of Nectar.

  “It’s your restaurant. I’m pretty sure you can sit wherever you want,” I quip.

  Max chuckles and places Caleb’s drink next to him. “Calla, let me officially introduce you to Chef Caleb Davies, owner of this fine establishment.” He winks at me.

  “Max, can I get more water?” I am clearly going to need my wits about me.

  “Sure thing, Calla.” Max fills a glass with some ice and water and places it on the bar. “If you need anything else, let me know.” He moves away from me and Caleb to work the other bar orders.

  “So what brings you in tonight? I would’ve thought you’d be in your own kitchen.”

  “Normally, I would be. But my chefs decided I needed to come out tonight to sample your food. This all looks delicious, by the way. It’s a little more than I asked for, I think.”

  “Sorry about that. I heard you were here, and I wanted to whip up something a little extra for you. I also have a dessert coming out. I hope you don’t mind.” He takes his napkin off the bar and unrolls it.

  “It’s fine. I might not be able to finish all this, though. So please don’t misconstrue that as I don’t like the meal.” I pick up my fork and dig into my first dish.

  “The shrimp is a new item that I’m working on. You’re the first one to try it.” Caleb leans into me as if whispering in my ear.

  I startle, almost dropping my shrimp, but recover quickly.

  “What did you decide to call it?” I take the first bite, and the flavors explode in my mouth.

  Crisp bacon engulfs the succulent tequila-lime buttered shrimp in a tight hug and sits atop fresh guacamole.

  “I’m not sure what to call it yet. Maybe something with drunken in it. Or... with the tequila and guacamole, Mexican something. You got any ideas?” Caleb takes a shrimp and pops it in his mouth.

  I swallow. “What about Mexican Drunken Shrimp? Or Bacon-Wrapped Mexican Drunken Shrimp?”

  He wipes his mouth with his napkin. “I think I like Mexican Drunken Shrimp. Thanks, Calla.”

  “No problem.” I take a bite of another shrimp before digging into my meal.

  Max pours each of us two glasses of wine, placing the different glasses next to the plate he is pairing the wine with. He also refills our water glasses. I take a drink of water then try the white wine Max has paired with the shrimp.

  “Thank you, Max. This Pinot Gris goes beautifully with the shrimp dish.” I take another sip and face Caleb. “You know the guys I work with will absolutely love these, right?” I point my fork at the Mexican Drunken Shrimp. “And when I explain them, they’re going to want to create something like this.”

  “I’m sure your boys can come up with something equally as good. So, I won’t hold it against them.”

  I savor the Ahi, barely taking time to respond to Caleb’s questions as we eat. Max has paired another Pinot with the Ahi, though the Pinot Noir adds hidden depth to the tuna that I hadn’t expected. Not quite halfway into the main course, Caleb’s presence is being requested back in the kitchen.

  “Calla, I’ll be back as soon as possible to finish dinner.” He takes my hand and kisses it.

  “Thank you, Caleb, for a wonderful meal. And for the company.”

  He picks up his barely eaten dinner and carries the plates into the back with him. As Caleb walks away, I return my attention to my dinner, and the wine pairing sitting in front of me.

  Over in the corner, a small group consisting of Nectar staff congregates. The sensation of being watched tingles across my exposed skin.

  “Does he have to go after her, too?” Max murmurs to himself in a low timber. I don’t think he intends for me to hear that, but I do.

  I glance up in time to see the hostess huff, “You both need to cut it out!”

  She storms off, stomping her feet all the way back to her post. Max laughs loudly as if someone told a good joke. Five gentlemen on the other side of the bar, regulars I’m assuming by their interactions with the staff, join in the merriment.

  Chapter 14

  Wes

  It’s been a long fucking night, especially with Calla not in the kitchen. I don’t have as much fun when she is off. At least not the past couple of nights that Trey and I have sent her to check out the other restaurants. Maybe pushing her out the door in hopes she’ll get laid isn’t the smartest idea I’ve ever had. Because every time I think of some other guy putting his hands on her, I just want to punch someone.

  Trey pushes the large wooden doors of Nectar open. “You ready for this?” Trey glances at me.

  “Why wouldn’t he be?” Nessa quips with her knowing smirk.

  Does everyone know I want Calla? Is it that obvious? I truly hope not, because if Calla knows how I feel, what does it mean that she keeps going out looking for someone to hook up with?

  I need a fucking drink.

  I follow Nessa and Adam into Nectar, with Trey and Forest bringing up the rear. From the bits of conversation I’ve heard from them, Forest hasn’t been sleeping much since coming back from his vacation. Not wanting to eavesdrop, I scan the dining room floor in search of Calla.

  The dining room is fairly empty, but by the way the staff busses tables, it hasn’t been slow for very long. I don’t spot Calla at any of the tables, so I start to fidget.

  Did she leave and not tell Nessa?

  “Welcome to Nectar. Will there be the five of you for dinner?” a pretty young hostess asks Nessa.

  The chick is all done up, and overly so. She reminds me of Zoe, and how she tries too hard to get attention. That has become one of the biggest issues we have.

  I catch this chick’s
eye and watch as she eye fucks me and my friends. Ugh, she’s one of those girls. I roll my eyes at her.

  “We’re meeting a friend,” Nessa says. “There she is.” Nessa grabs Adam and starts for the bar.

  Calla sets her empty wine glass on the bar just as a chef delivers dessert and takes the bar stool right next to her. The bartender removes the empty glass and leaves two drinks in its place. There is another wine glass, which looks sparkling, and another glass with an amber liquid, most likely whiskey.

  As both of the men hover around her, Nessa, Adam, and Trey sidle up to the bar, taking the open chairs next to Calla. I hang back with Forest, taking in the scene in front of me. The young hostess follows us, but stops a few feet away.

  “If he thinks I’m fucking him tonight after he’s been flirting with her, he better think again,” I hear her mumble.

  Brows furrowed, I glance at the woman then look back to the group in front of me.

  “She’s just a tad bitter,” Forest comments in his deep drawl.

  I chuckle. “Yes. I’d have to agree.”

  My chuckle startles Calla, and a huge grin flashes on her face when she glances over her shoulder. The bartender and the man to her right take notice of us as we close ranks around Calla. Looks of competition cross their faces quickly then disappear just as fast. Trey has a wicked grin on his face as he glances back at me.

  “Max, can I get one red wine for the Mrs. and four beers?” Adam requests of the bartender.

  So that’s the Max Adam talks about.

  Two beers are passed to me and Forest, and we both chin-nod our thanks.

  I tip the bottle against my mouth and take a long pull on the cold, hoppy beer.

  “Darlin’, you look like you're having fun. How is your night off so far?” Trey asks, stealing her fork and taking a bite of the food in front of Calla.

  She elbows him in the gut, and the fork drops.

  “Damn girl, your elbow hurts!”

  Chuckles ring out as the bartender places another fork next to Calla.

  “I had planned on letting you try what’s in that box,” she points to the box to her right with her fork. “But now, I’m not so sure.”

  “Screw that! Pass it over. I’m hungry!” Trey holds out his hands.

  “Why don’t I just have the kitchen make y’all some?” the man to Calla’s left speaks up.

  So he’s a chef? I wonder if he’s the owner as well?

  “I’m not going to say no to food. We were slammed, so none of us took a break to eat. And by the time we could eat, none of us wanted what we’d been cooking all night,” Trey informs Calla.

  “Why didn’t you call me? I would’ve come in to help.” She takes a bite of her dessert.

  “Calla, we were fine. Even if you had been there, it wouldn’t have helped much at all. We were just slammed. Besides, we wanted you to have another night off. If we had been short-staffed, we would have called you in. But we weren’t.” I wink at her and take another sip of my beer.

  Trey laughs again, this time at my attempt to make Calla feel comfortable about not working tonight.

  “So five plates? Anything y’all don’t eat?” the chef questions.

  “We’re all pretty easy,” Trey responds.

  “That’s what she said,” we all say in unison.

  The chef does a double-take at our response, but Max just grins.

  “I see you weren’t kidding about that Adam.” Max laughs.

  “I don’t kid about the crazy shit we do at Belladonna.” Adam clinks his bottle to ours.

  “Caleb, before you feed these asses, why don’t I introduce you? This jackass is Trey.” Calla points next to her. “Adam and Nessa are next to him. And these two are Wes and Forest.”

  “Nice to meet all of you. I’ll get some Drunken Mexican Shrimp and dessert started, if that’s okay for you?” Caleb offers, checking his watch as he slides off his stool. “Let me get the food started and begin closing down the kitchen.”

  “Thanks man,” I reply as Caleb walks away.

  “Darlin’ do you have a boyfriend yet?” Trey teases.

  “Seriously!” Calla reaches up and smacks Trey in the bicep.

  I chuckle and sip more of my beer. Max joins in our laughter as he cleans the bar and chats with Adam, all while mixing us a few more drinks. After Trey’s comment, Max glances from the kitchen to the hostess area and back to Calla, confirming my suspicions about Caleb and the hostess. Ever observant, Trey catches the looks and lightly taps my bottle with his.

  “Calla, do you have a tab? Max, give the lady another whiskey. And this time, give her a Yellow Spot. It’s her favorite.” I pull cash out of my back pocket and pass it to Trey. “In fact, will you make all of us one?”

  “Oh, she hasn’t told me that.” He takes the money and grabs six highball glasses.

  “I was being good.” She glances back at me.

  “Why? We sent you out and told you to have fun and let your hair down,” Adam interjects.

  “Why am I friends with you fuckers?” she mutters.

  “Because you couldn’t get rid of us,” Forest replies deadpan, but can't keep from laughing.

  As Max sits the last glass on the bar, the food arrives. It’s mostly finger foods. If I had to guess, Caleb has quickly pulled a few different items from the menu for us to try. It is a creative way to either showcase the food he really enjoys, new ideas he wants feedback on, or the foods Calla has tried.

  “This all looks great,” Trey announces.

  “Some of it’s customer favorites. The others are experiments. We’re trying to add to the menu,” Caleb says, taking Calla’s hand and kissing it. “I need to get back to the kitchen as we close down.”

  Chapter 15

  Calla

  Everyone stops talking after Caleb drops the food off and kisses my hand. It reminds me of the night I told them what Torance had done. Nothing good comes from my friends being this quiet, even when they are eating.

  “Max, what do we owe you for the food and drinks?” Adam pulls his wallet out.

  “Y’all are all paid up. The food is on the house.”

  “Tell Caleb thank you.” Trey places his glass on the bar.

  “Ready?” Nessa asks.

  “Y’all head down to the bar, and I’ll meet you there,” Trey tells Nessa before he steps away from the group. Adam, Nessa, and Forest head out the front door.

  Wes and I soon follow behind Trey when he’s ready to leave.

  Per usual, when I step out on the sidewalk, Trey and Wes surround me as we walk down 6th street toward the bar. They both glance at me a few times when strangers stare at me as they pass by. I never pay attention. Not when my protectors walk on either side of me. Most of the time, I figure the people are checking out the men with me.

  “This dress looks great on you,” Wes finally speaks up when we are more than halfway there.

  “It's the one you guys bought. By the way, what is Zoe going to think?”

  “I don’t give a flying fuck what she thinks.”

  Trey turns his head toward Wes, asking a silent question. Wes doesn’t respond, at least as far as I can tell.

  “Looked like it did its job at Nectar,” Trey adds, smirking. “Ow! What the fuck was that for?” Trey glances over my head.

  I blush, rolling my eyes. “I’m not so sure about that, but thanks.”

  Ignition is playing in the background as we’re let into the bar.

  “Found them.” Wes points in the direction of the dance floor where Adam, Nessa, Forest, and a few other staff are standing around a table.

  Wes heads to the bar, as Trey and I push our way toward the group. As we shove our way through the club, a guy I push against grabs my ass. I turn to see who it is, but there are too many people standing around for me to know which one I should yell at. Trey grabs my hand and pulls me through the crowd. Nessa finishes her drink and hands me and Trey ours. I take a sip and almost choke because of how strong the drink is.
<
br />   “Did you get me a triple or something? Fuck!”

  “I don’t think so, but I’m not sure what the waitress brought us,” Nessa replies, picking up another drink.

  Adam turns and takes the glass from my hand. “That one is not for you. Nessa, you gave her the wrong one, love.” He hands me another glass with amber liquid then scans me up and down.

  “Damn girl. You’re hot in that! I didn’t realize earlier. Can Nessa borrow it?” He wiggles his eyebrows.

  The group laughs as Nessa shakes her head.

  “She needs to be dancing in that dress.” Nessa eyes Adam and Trey.

  Adam takes my hand and guides me to the dance floor. We dance to John Mayer's Slow Dancing in a Burning Room. A few men notice me on the floor, and they approach, attempting to cut in. Adam glares at each one, causing them to move along.

  There are hoots and hollers all around the room. Adam’s mouth forms a tight smile as he twirls me around the floor.

  “Thanks for bringing me out here. I know you’d prefer dancing with Nessa. Why don’t we head back to the table?”

  “You know she’ll kill me if I don’t finish this dance with you. Calla, you know there’s no reason for you to doubt yourself. You’re gorgeous. Torrence was a fucking idiot.”

  “Thanks, Adam. But you know it's not that simple.”

  “I do.” He kisses the top of my head. “Come on. Let's get back to the table.” Adam spins me in the direction of the group as the song ends.

  Wes

  I join everyone at the table, with drinks in hand, and scan the room until my eyes land on Calla. She and Adam are leaving the dance floor. As she sidles up to our high-top, the topic of discussion among our friends and coworkers is her night on the town.

  “Y’all are a bunch of asses.” Calla shoulder-checks Forest.

  “Hey, we’re just happy you got out and might get some action,” Forest chuckles.

  Calla flips the table off.

  “Look who's talking. If anyone needs to get some action, it's you,” she retorts.