And He Cooks Too (23 page)

“Uh, Reese?”

Reese came out of her thoughts to find Trudy studying her. “Sorry. What did you want to talk about?”

Trudy pulled her eyes away from Reese and began to examine the room’s few furnishings. Finally, in a speculative tone, she asked, “How did today’s interview go?”

The interview? Had Trudy been listening in? Heard the line Reese had fed the reporter when he’d inadvertently asked the one question she wanted to avoid: did she want her own show someday? She’d tap-danced around that one, trying to find something truthful to say without telling the reporter her real thoughts.

“Reese?” Trudy now stood a few feet in front of her. Though her brow was wrinkled in concern, something else flashed in the eyes behind the blue specs. Impatience?

She swung away from Trudy and grabbed the brush from her dressing table, pulling it through her hair. “The interview…went fine. That’s what Jasper, Nick and I were just dissecting.”

“Did you get a chance to mention the rest of the crew? Like we talked about?”

Reese drew a blank. “I, uh—” She’d totally forgotten about Trudy.

“You didn’t, did you?” Trudy’s question was an accusation.

There was no easy way around this. “It didn’t come up, and we got off on other topics, and—”

“And you forgot about us. The little people. The very same people who took you under their wing not so long ago and showed you the ropes so you’d look good enough to go before the camera when your big chance came along.”

Not exactly how she would describe the support she’d received from Trudy, but the venom in Trudy’s voice concerned her more. “I’m sorry. I haven’t learned enough about giving interviews to steer them around to—”

“Never mind.” Trudy spun around and slammed the door behind her.

Trudy’s words continued to bother her. Was she so blinded by her sudden stardom that she’d deliberately sidestepped recognizing Trudy and the rest of the crew? Was this the kind of success she’d set as her life goal?

****

Reese didn’t like the way things had ended with Trudy, and she was unable to shake the feeling that there was more behind Trudy’s words than just her need for acknowledgement. Trudy hadn’t exactly threatened her, but there’d been this undertone of potential retribution if she continued to overlook “the little people.”

In her restaurant experience, Reese had learned that you didn’t let small flare-ups fester long, or they could grow into larger problems. She didn’t need Trudy’s penchant for gossip undermining her. Especially since Trudy had found Nick in her dressing room several times in the last few weeks.

She attempted to dismiss her concerns while she prepared for her next interview, scheduled for the following day
. FoodNation
would be the first Internet blog she’d talked to. Fortunately, it was to be an in-person interview. She wasn’t sure she was up to responding online to questions yet.

But thoughts of Trudy kept interfering with her train of thought. Finally, she went in search of the other production assistant. Trudy wasn’t at her desk—surprise—nor was she anywhere in the studio. She finally caught up with Trudy in what served as the break room. To her surprise, Leonie was also there, Leonie who rarely showed herself anywhere other than her own office or the studio. Even more surprising, Leonie had joined Trudy at a small table, and they were deep in conversation.

As soon as both women spotted her, they broke apart, appearing somewhat embarrassed.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Reese approached their table. “Trudy, we have some unfinished business. I’d like to talk to you as soon as,” she glanced at Leonie, “you and Leonie are finished.”

Leonie rose and through a faux smile, said, “We’re done. For now.” She glanced at Trudy. “I’ll catch up with you later, dear.”

“Uh, okay.”

She listened to the other woman’s footfalls as they gradually disappeared down the back hallway, waiting for her to be completely out of earshot. She turned back to Trudy. “I want to apologize for earlier.”

“Forgetting to mention my name to the reporter?”

“That too, but mainly the way I told you about it. My mind was on something else at the time, which is no excuse, but it came out sounding like the oversight was no big deal.”

“Oh.”

“I was so engrossed in responding to their questions in the best light for the show, I lost track of my intent to mention the rest of the crew.”

“I see.”

“Are we okay?”

Trudy shrugged but didn’t really look at her. “Yeah, I guess. But you’ll try to mention me next time?”

“I’m, uh, supposed to meet with this woman from an Internet blog tomorrow.
FoodNation
. Ever heard of it?”

“No. Should I?”

“I hadn’t when I got the request. So I looked it up on the Internet and apparently it’s getting quite a bit of buzz.”

“Yeah?”

“I’ll make it a point to bring up you and the rest of the crew.”

“Really?”

“These folks don’t always print exactly what you want. So I can only try.”

“That’s all I ask.”

Reese pivoted to leave.

“Wait!” Trudy’s expression had changed into expectation. “We, uh, haven’t had much time for my cooking lessons the last few weeks. Could we get back to those? Today?”

She sounded so hopeful, Reese almost gave in before she remembered the long list of items she and Nick still had to discuss for the next episode. “I can’t today. Or tomorrow either. I’ve got that interview then. Maybe the next day?” Just two days’ wait. Surely that would pacify Trudy?

“Uh, sure,” Trudy said in a low voice. “Whenever you can work me in.”

As Reese hurried back to her dressing room, Trudy’s words, more her tone, stayed with her. She’d really tried to make amends with Trudy, but she couldn’t afford to cater to the younger woman’s whims. She had that interview to prepare for. Their plan to solidify her as co-host by boosting the show’s profile was working, but they hadn’t succeeded yet.

Intent on fleshing out what she’d say to the editor of the widely-read blog, she didn’t see Nick waiting for her outside her dressing room until the last minute. He swooped her up in his arms, crutches and all, and immediately began nibbling her neck.

“Nick!” she whispered, her body immediately coming alive at his touch. “Not out here. Anyone could see us.”

“Like most of the crew doesn’t already suspect what’s going on.”

She leaned out of his embrace long enough to grab for the door handle. Putting a finger to her lips, she said, “Shh. Let’s take this inside.”

He raised a wicked brow. “Good idea. We’ve got a lot to
discuss
.”

She giggled, her, for Pete’s sake, knowing full well their
discussion
would be conducted horizontally. The thought of making love with Nick still knocked the breath from her. Fretting about the interview could wait. Discussions with Nick took precedence.

****

The next day, Trudy knocked once on Nick’s dressing room door and immediately entered. God, she was getting presumptuous. He made a mental note to lock the door every time he and Reese snuck in a few minutes alone.

“Your aunt wants to see you.”

“Yeah? You now her personal assistant? I thought Deborah got that honor.”

The PA appeared to stiffen slightly. “I was visiting with your aunt, and when we finished, she asked if I’d stop by here. That’s all.”

Since when did Trudy visit with Leonie?

“Thanks. I’ll pop by her office in a little while.”

“Uh, she said right away.”

Of course she did. Leonie’s clock was the world’s clock. “Fine.”

He took his time getting to Leonie’s office. “I received your summons. What’s up?”

She glanced up from her antique Georgian desk and motioned for him to take a seat. She tapped her forefinger against her chin. “What’s up? From what I’ve observed, I’d say it’s your libido.”

Damn. Had the rumors about him and Reese already gotten to her? They’d really tried to be discreet. But then, Leonie had spies everywhere. That probably explained Trudy’s involvement. “Remember my ankle? With our strenuous taping schedule, I don’t have energy for much else. Including sparring sessions with you.”

“Sparring? I hardly think so, dear. I saw you and that…woman having at it in the hall. Where anyone could have seen you.”

Damn. Reese had warned him.

“Your attraction to the ladies is no secret, Nick. I’ve put up with your dabbling because it’s part of your charm. You can’t help yourself when a good-looking new woman shows up, not that I’d ascribe such a description to that Dunbar woman.”

“Chef Dunbar, you mean.” He couldn’t stop himself from stirring the pot.

“Whatever. This time, you’re playing with fire. For the indefinite future, a short one, I hope, she is your co-host. You cannot afford to mix business with pleasure with this one.”

A few weeks back, he would’ve agreed, then done exactly the opposite to spite her. But that onion had already been peeled. And even though there was no use denying the charge, since Leonie had seen them, he didn’t want to give her any more ammunition against Reese.

“Well? What do you have to say for yourself?”

Had she forgotten he was a grown man? She was treating him like the young boy she used to discipline. He wasn’t going to let her get to him as he returned an extravagant shrug. “Thanks for the warning?”

She drew in her breath. “That flippant attitude is going to get not just you but all of us in trouble.”

“C’mon, Leonie. The melodrama is a little much.”

“Not if some interviewer gets wind of it.”

“So, you have been following the media’s coverage of the show. Might have been nice if you’d congratulated us for the recognition.”

“I didn’t say I was impressed. How long before some enterprising reporter digs a little deeper into Dunbar’s career? After all, why would a supposedly up and coming chef become a production assistant on a cooking show, albeit an excellent boutique offering.”

Was she telling him something? Did she know that Reese had quit her restaurant job because she’d been beaten out of a promotion? “She told me she thought television experience would make her more marketable.”

“Is that why she’s handling her own publicity? That’s usually my job, you know.”

“How many interviews have you set up for us since we adopted the new format?”

Her hand went for her necklace. “How does one play up the fact that their host has been sidelined? And that a rank amateur has been brought in to help him limp through.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she had the grace to add, “Sorry. That wasn’t to be taken literally.”

Yeah, right. “Bringing on a co-host and playing up my sprained ankle are exactly what we needed to advertise. It’s real life. A making-lemonade-from-lemons kind of approach. And it seems to be affecting our ratings.”

Her thumb continued to rub her pendant. “Yes, well. Those were on the rise anyhow.”

There was no way to convince her otherwise, although she was dead wrong. Exit time.

“That all? I have an appointment.”

“Another interview?”

“With an Internet blog. Not quite your style.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Really? Which one?”

Like she even knew such electronic media existed. “
FoodNation
.”

“You’re right. I’ve never heard of it. I don’t know why we’re wasting our time with it.”

“Viewers are relying more and more on the Internet for their news these days.”

“If you say so. Who’s the interviewer?”

Her sudden interest alarmed him. Should he play dumb? Nah, she could just as easily go online and find a name on her own. “A woman by the name of Melinda DuPre.”

“Nor have I heard of her,” she said, examining her nails. She waved a hand. “Go then. Mustn’t keep the woman waiting.”

In the hall, he thought he heard movement behind him. By the time he could get himself turned around to check, all he saw was a woman’s shoe going through the door to Leonie’s office. Was that Trudy’s foot? He couldn’t be sure.

****

“Why don’t we make ourselves comfortable here at the kitchen counter, Ms. DuPre, since this is where our show is shot.” Reese preferred to meet here on the set or at local eateries rather than her dressing room. She was more in her element here. And there were a lot more photo ops. “It might be easier for your note taking.”

Melinda DuPre couldn’t be more than twenty-three at the most. Younger media types seemed to be flocking to the cyber world where they had a better chance of making a name for themselves sooner than the more traditional media route. Dressed in tight-fitting jeans and an unbuttoned brown jacket, she presented a casual, slightly less than professional appearance.

“I’d like to perambulate a bit, get a feel for your surroundings.”

Perambulate
? Was she serious? “Sure. It’s okay to take pictures, although we’d prefer they be taken head-on rather than back views of the sets.” That always got them. As soon as she deliberately turned around, they’d capture an
illegal
shot, thinking they’d snagged a real scoop. It didn’t matter to Jasper. Maybe it would have to Leonie, if she paid any attention to their press.

Opening the refrigerator, DuPre asked, “This is all real food in here?”

“Just the basics. Things with a fairly long shelf life, like condiments: ketchup, pickles, mustard. They’re mostly props, although we do use them on occasion.”

“So you don’t actually prepare the food shown in each episode in here?”

Reese closed the refrigerator door as DuPre drifted over to the cabinets. “We do a little of both. Usually, we’ll have the final product ready in advance so we don’t have to wait for bake or set-up time. Nick or I demonstrate how it all goes together.”

DuPre swung around to face her, offered a smile. “In other words, pretty much the same as most other cooking shows.”

Did she mean that in a good way or a bad way? Or was she just commenting to show off her presumed knowledge of cooking shows to back up her credentials?