Chef Charming Read Online Free Page A

give
feedback to their classmates. John and Calvin’s Mexican rice dish was a big hit
with the class so far. Rori and Jessica were the only partners who had not
given a critique yet.
    “We’re next,” Jess whispered . “I’ll take it, if you want.”
    “Yes, please,” Rori’s heart
was pounding at the thought of having to spe ak
coherently under the ominous stare of Chef Marcus.
    “And, you, Miss Sinclair? ” Of course, Chef did not let her off the hook,
turning to her with his intense green-eyed stare. “Do you have anything to
add?”
    “It was yummy?” Rori
answered, eliciting laughs from the rest of the class.
    “Perhaps you could enlighten
us as to exactly what you considered ‘Yummy’ if it wouldn’t be too much
trouble,” Chef insisted. This woman infuriated him and fascinated him at the
same time. He was sure she knew he was not happy with her, yet she turned it
into a joke. It was going to be a long two weeks.
    Rori jumped as Jess pinched
her and whispered, “Behave!”
    “I liked how the dish was
rich and hearty without being too spicy,” Rori offered, her statement almost a
question.
    “Very good,” Chef moved back
to the center of the lab, almost dismissing her comment.
    “Tomorrow we will be further
exploring these regions through stews and other dishes,” Chef said, preparing
to dismiss class. “We will be reviewing knife skills and you will also have
your first quiz on the safety sheet and culinary terms. Please come prepared.”
    -------------------------
    She had not seen his
response to last night’s email until after the second class.
    Dear Miss Sinc lair:  Thank you for your apology, though it was
unnecessary. I hope you enjoy the class. ~Marcus
    She could not possibly read
into those few words the battle that had ranged within Marcus over his response . He literally had written and deleted over twenty
attempts. His first was along the lines of: I
think I am losing my mind. When you walk in the room, I turn in to an
unrecognizable monster. You are the bane of my existence but I can’t imagine
coming to class tomorrow and not having you there. Thankfully, he had not sent that one, but opted
instead for a safer, indifferent message.
    She was checking her mail in
the studio, having returned to finish
cleaning up. Jessica was going to get coffee with John and Calvin, their
neighbors in class. They promised to return to walk Rori back to the apartment.
    Rori was surprise d that he had even responded, but for some reason was
disappointed at the stoicism conveyed in it. She was not arrogant, but was not used to people disliking her. I guess I just rub him
the wrong way, she thought. Still not willing to let him continue in his total
dislike of her, she typed a quick response to his email:
    Deaf
Chef, I am enjoying the class and learning a lot . Thank you for letting me help with the rice tonight. I hope, too, that Chef Hampton doesn’t tell you any
ludicrous stories about me. He, Carla, and I had a crazy experience at one of
our Bible study outings last fall. My part in the antics is quite embarrassing
to recall but I’m sure Jake will make them sound worse than they really were.
~Aurora
    The new mail notice beeped
loudly . He must have been sitting at his
computer, because his response was almost immediate.
    Dear Miss Sinclair, I am glad you are not letting my bad
moods affect your learning experience. I will be sure to pick Jake’s brain
about your ‘antics’. And outside of class, it’s Marcus, not Chef. ~Just Marcus

Stewed
and Steamed
    Aurora was optimistic
heading into class the next evening .
Their secret emails gave her hope. She had not told anyone, not even Jess,
about the two brief computer conversations. It was almost as though they were
treasures she wanted to keep for her own.
    Before class, Jessica joined
Rori in the studio.
    “So Chef Charming is Jake
Hampton’s best friend,” Rori sighed. She was lazily painting a spare canvas,
wasting time before