Read Online Dining with Joy by Rachel Hauck - Free Book Online Page B

for him to slide into the booth across from her. “I hope this is not a bad time.”
    â€œNo, not a bad time. We’re in a bit of a lull. What can I do for you?” Had he seen her before? Maybe. In town? At the cook-off ? In the café?
    â€œI like a man who gets to the point. I’ll do the same.” Allison pulled a form from the attaché sitting next to her in the booth. Sharp angles outlined her features, and the glint behind her dark eyes inspired the word intense . “I’d like you to join the Dining with Joy show.”
    Luke tightened his jaw as he settled against the back of the booth, the leatherette seat cool to the touch. “Why would I want to join Joy’s show? Better yet, why do you want me to join the show? Because I beat Wenda?”
    â€œBeating Wenda is always a good thing, no doubt about that. And you have a good presence and stellar culinary skills. But until that kiss, you were just another hunky man in a chef coat.”
    â€œNever imagined a kiss could become a part of my résumé.”
    â€œIt’s a bit unusual, yes.”
    And private. Luke shifted forward, unsure if he wanted the intimacy of a kiss to be on the bargaining table. He was a chef, not a Hollywood actor. “I’m not sure what you’re after, Allison.”
    â€œWe posted a clip of you and Joy on YouTube Saturday night. Within twenty-four hours the clip was viewed a hundred thousand times. Unique hits. Not return viewers.” Allison let the stat of a hundred thousand views hang in the air without further explanation. “But we weren’t the only ones who posted a clip. Of those posted by fans, and I’m guessing most of those were uploaded by the frat boys, the kissing scene earned another twenty-five thousand hits. By the time I got in the car to come see you, those numbers tripled. And it’s only Monday.”
    â€œWhat a sad, sad world.”
    â€œSad? Luke, this is amazing. The magic between you two was palpable. Everyone in the audience Saturday was mesmerized. The men wanted to be you. The women wanted to be Joy. The comments on YouTube tell the same story. You’re the new Brad and Angelina, a throwback to Bogie and Bacall, Hepburn and Tracy.”
    â€œListen, I hate to burst your bubble, Allison, but I just met Joy a few weeks ago. The kiss was spontaneous, in the moment. We couldn’t recreate it if you paid us a million dollars.”
    â€œI’m offering you a show and the chance to try. I’m betting the spark I saw on Saturday is the tip of a volcano.”
    Luke speared the table with his elbow and ran his hand over his head. A volcano? He hated relationship drama. Besides, this was nuts. A woman offering him a cooking show because of a kiss.
    He glanced up as Mercy Bea set two jars of iced tea and a basket of Bubba’s buttery biscuits on the table. “Listen, Allison, I’m a trained chef. Can you hire me because I’m technically qualified?” Luke lifted his tea for a small, cooling sip. Without breaking into full-on prayer, he tried to discern the moment, sense what God might be saying.
    â€œIf you weren’t a skilled chef, Luke, I wouldn’t be sitting here. If you were just a dynamic kisser, I wouldn’t be sitting here. It’s the combination of your skill and chemistry with Joy that brings me to the table.” She raised her tea glass. “Luke, I don’t need a chef for the show. I have Joy. She’s my star. My talent. But what I need is spark, magic, the wow factor. That’s where you come in.”
    â€œHow do you know we won’t go the other way? Hate each other. From a kiss to a punch in the nose.”
    â€œAs long as it’s passionate, I don’t care. Wow me. Wow the viewers.” Allison turned over the paper she held in her hand and set it on the table. “You’re Luke Earl Redmond, named after your grandfather, Earl Redmond. Your parents are Earl