Page 38 of The Unwilling Bride
Ollie shifts his weight. I feel my jaw tighten.
"Someone tell me the boy's name."
More silence. The kitchen feels like a held breath.
"Idris." Harper's voice cuts through, clear and steady. "Idris Shah. He's requested the chocolate fondant with the edible dinosaur. Pastry confirmed this morning."
I look at her. She meets my gaze without flinching.
That's the thing about Harper. She never flinches. Even seasoned chefs like Leo cower under my scrutiny. She straightens into it, like she's daring me to find fault.
It's infuriating.
It's also…arousing as fuck. Which is bloody inconvenient. I hold her gaze for a second longer, then jerk my chin.
"Who's plating it?"
"I am, Chef." She tips up her chin. "With a sparkler, pending parental approval."
Of course, she's thought three steps ahead, anticipated the question, and prepared the answer.
Damn her.
"Good." I force my gaze away. "Ollie, see me after the service."
I continue through the list. Three more VIPs. Two dietary restrictions. A table of food critics from some lifestyle magazine who think they can tell the difference between a proper jus and packet gravy.
When I'm done, I set down the tablet.
"Hands."
They extend them. I walk the line.
This is ritual. Ceremony. Yes, it’s about hygiene—checking for cuts, dirt under nails, signs of carelessness.
But mostly it's about focus. About reminding them that every detail matters.
I pause at Leo. A small nick on his index finger.
"Cut?"
"From this morning, Chef. It's just a nick."
"Glove it anyway. I won't have blood in my mise en place."
"Yes, Chef."
I continue. Past Leo. Past Mark.
Then I reach Harper.
She holds out her hands, palms up. Clean nails. No cuts. Steady as stone.
I look at them longer than I should.
Her hands are elegant. Strong but graceful. The hands of someone who's worked hard but hasn't been broken by it. Not yet.
I remember how they felt when I passed her a tin of saffron. Thebrief brush of her fingers against mine. Electric. Dangerous. I pulled away like I'd been burned. That happened a month ago. I still think about it.
