I’ve fallen hopelessly in love with you,’ he said.
That shut her up. She tried to swallow or respond or any of that stuff but all that came out was a puff of air.
The camera men were closing in. She could feel them. They could smell blood in the water, so to speak and wanted to know what was going on.
‘Don’t give this to me. Fight for it. I want you to. I’ll be crushed if you don’t.’ Then he patted her rear once with affectionate familiarity and rushed off.
She dropped everything she held in the huge stainless steel sink and started to race around the kitchen to grab the ingredients she really wanted. For the dish she truly wanted to make.
She sautéed some shrimp and alligator in butter, folding in some cream cheese and sweet corn and Cajun spice just before the alligator and shrimp were cooked through. She left the creamy concoction to marry as she made some quick tortilla and pressed them out expertly. Then she cooked them through and rolled the decadent filling in her homemade tortillas.
‘Three minutes, Chefs!’ Kat yelled.
Plating. She had to do it fast. Despite shaking hands and worrying for Cole, who on every glance she stole of him appeared calm and present and pretty much Zen, she managed to garnish and plate perfectly. A sprinkling of spice and some shredded red cabbage for texture should they want it and she raised her hands and stepped back just as time was called.
Cole also had his under-arrest-hand-position in place and he looked over at her, grinning, flushed and very happy.
It made her heart leap to see him that way. No matter what the outcome Jill would be happy. If she won, she’d be thrilled. If she lost it meant he won, and she’d still be thrilled. This was truly a win-win situation or her.
The realisation that she’d be just as happy, if not more, if he won was a tiny bit scary to her. But she let the fear travel through her and just keep going. It would be fine. She just had to make it through the end of this show. And then she’d be OK.
She barely heard:
‘Chef Roberts, we love that you went old school. Breaded and fried ’gator with fried green tomatoes and Southern greens. Your seasoning was spot on and the plate over all made the mystery ingredient shine. The sides were impeccably done but in no way overshadowed the alligator meat. Good job.’
‘Chef Calvert, we thought your different take on what to do with ’gator meat was brilliant. You took a delicate, often difficult meat and elevated it to something sublime. The shrimp managed to play perfectly off the main ingredient, enhancing it without taking the star position. Overall, a perfect fancy dish done with a down-home ingredient. Good job.’
And then they were shooed into the pantry to wait.
Since there were only two, only Don the camera man was sent to tape. She watched Cole slip him something and say, ‘Half hour, technical difficulties.’
‘No problem, man. I’ll grab a beer.’
She really did owe Don a thanks. Some day.
Cole grabbed her arm and hurriedly tugged her down the hallway to the restroom. Thank God they kept it spotless because she felt guilty that they kept messing it up.
He pushed her to the counter right away this time and made quick work of their buttons. Her tee was shoved up under her chin and his mouth was on her nipple, her collar bone, her throat in an instant. He kissed her everywhere murmuring, ‘Good job, good job, good job …’
‘No, you good job, Chef,’ she said pushing her hand down into his pants and wrapping her fingers around his hard length.
He sighed into her mouth and she kissed him harder. This was the best part of the finale. It was over and they were here.
He got her bare and tugged her jeans down, putting his mouth to her pussy for just a minute or two, licking and probing with his hot tongue so she begged him with a million words – and none of them seemed to make sense beyond please.
His fingers tested her, thrust deep and curled to that most
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