The Keeneston Roses Read Online Free Page B

cookbook and suddenly everyone thinks they can be a chef.”
    “Julia Child just graduated from culinary school,” Violet shot back. “Women have been the primary chefs in households since the beginning of time. Where did you learn how to cook? I bet it wasn’t from your father.”
    Nichols smiled at her and then laughed. “You’re right. My father couldn’t boil water. It doesn’t matter, though; women are just not meant to run restaurants. They don’t have the intelligence or the finesse to know how to make these complex plates.”
    “Chef, I’ll make a bet with you. Give me two hours, and I’ll make a dish that will prove you wrong. When I do, you will write me a letter of recommendation and give me the names of all the culinary schools that admit women.”
    “You’re a plucky thing, aren’t you?”
    “I am. I’m also determined.”
    Nichols looked into her eyes, and Violet stared him down. “Fine. Two hours, starting now,” Nichols said as he looked at his watch. “Gentlemen, clear the kitchen. I’ll get the rest. You may go home now.”
    Clearly thinking she was here to neck with the chef, the men cheered as they left. Violet didn’t let it bother her. She headed straight for the pantry and collected the nineteen items she needed to make her dish.
    Just because she was from a small town didn’t mean she didn’t know how to cook. There were such things as books, and she had gotten a French cookbook for her birthday. While Violet preferred home-cooked comfort foods like her mother’s fried chicken, she knew in order to be taken seriously she needed to cook like the French. And as she sprinkled flour on the beef, she knew without a doubt she would do everything she could to make her dream a reality.
     
    Lily rolled her head to the side to allow Frank better access to kiss her. His lips started at her earlobe and followed a path down her neck and over her collarbone. Her sister had been gone for almost two hours, but Violet had told her to give her until one in the morning, and that was just fine with Lily.
    Frank’s hand started to slide up her stomach and hesitantly cupped her breast. When she moaned, Frank caressed them more ardently. So this is what she had been missing. No wonder some women were fast—it felt divine.
    “Lily, I want you so badly.”
    “I want you, too.”
    “Really?” Frank asked with surprise as he pulled back.
    “Really.”
    Frank kissed her quickly. “Oh, Lily. I love you. I think I have since you threw dirt at me for spying on you when I was six years old.”
    “Well, you deserved it,” Lily giggled. “And I love you, too. So much, Frank. Say we’ll be together forever.”
    “Forever, darling. I hate that I have to leave next week. But tomorrow is the Christmas party. I can’t wait to share the evening with you. It’s going to be magical.”
    “I can’t wait. I love you so much, Frank.”
     
    Violet smiled as she set the beautiful beef bourguignon in front of Chef Nichols. She waited patiently as he turned the plate around in order to inspect it from all angles before cutting into it. He examined the coloring, sniffed it, and finally put it on his tongue and wrapped his lips around the fork. Violet held her breath and watched as his eyes widened in surprise.
    “Miss Rose, I am stunned. This is fabulous.”
    “Thank you. Will you consider writing me a letter of recommendation then?”
    “I’ll do better than that. If you expect to enroll in culinary school, you need to prove your worth. It’s hard being a woman in a profession dominated by men. This is our busiest season. You manage to work all of next week and not only will I write you a letter of recommendation, I’ll call admissions and personally talk to them about you.”
    Violet couldn’t contain her gasp. “Really? Thank you so much, Chef!”
    “Don’t thank me yet. You’ll have to earn your recommendation. I’ll see you here Monday at four. Expect to be here until eleven that