Kitchen Affairs
Kitchen Affairs
Brooke Cumberland
Copyright
Copyright © 2013 Brooke Cumberland
The Riverside Trilogy
Cover image © Pressmaster
/Bigstock.com
Cover design by Brooke Cumberland
All rights reserved. No parts of the book may be used or reproduced in any matter without written permission from the author.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, establishments, organizations, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously to give a sense of authenticity. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
AISN: B00BU7LDHQ
DEDICATION
To all the stay-at-home moms who make it look easy. And even more so, to the single moms that do it alone.
It is not until you become a MOTHER that your judgment slowly turns to compassion and understanding.
–Erma Bombeck
Table of Contents
EXCERPT OF PROLOGUE FOR KITCHEN SCANDALS
’ve put up with take out, piles of dishes and laundry, and tons of Starbucks runs while I buried my head into writing my debut novel. A huge thank you to my mom & dad, who are my biggest fans. You always encouraged me to do what I love and to be who I am.
I love you all so much!
Most importantly, to God, who has given me the strength and faith to cherish every moment and to live for each and every day.
CHAPTER ONE
AS I REACHED FOR A POT, I heard an unfamiliar voice behind me. "Are you married?"
I quickly turned around startled at the question and raised my eyes up to
the
Mr. Drake Stagliano. His dark eyes and hair matched his deep, dark tone.
Wow… just wow.
"No," I replied in a little more than a whisper.
Rather an odd question for someone I've never met.
His eyes looked through me as if I was transparent.
He nodded his chin toward my left ring finger recognizing my engagement ring from Liam. I have
n’t taken if off since the day he proposed and even though we were no longer getting married, I still wore it as a reminder of the love we once shared.
I stared at him waiting to see if he furthered his actions, but he stayed quiet with his hands in his pockets anxiously awaiting my response. "I was engaged a long time ago," was all I managed to say. I turned back around grabbing the pot and utensils I needed in order to finish my cooking assignment.
"Why do you still wear it?" he asked intrigued, keeping his eyes on me as I moved through the kitchen.
"As a reminder," I said seriously. "And to keep danger away," I smirked as I walked back to my counter.
"Danger, huh?" he raised his eyebrows while following me.
“Keeps men away,” I grinned.
"Usually," I continued, rolling my eyes. He wasn’t the first man since Liam to hit on me.
Typical.
"That's quite misleading, Miss Woods. Why not wear it on your right hand then?" he asked with a serious look.
“Molly,” I corrected. “I haven’t taken it off since - ” My mind flashed to the moment Liam bent down on his knee, his palms sweaty and clammy, asking me to marry him. Of course, I cried and agreed to immediately. We were expecting our first child together, four months along already but I was only eighteen years old. We were young and in love and just starting our family. It was everything I had dreamed it would be.
Until, he died.
" - the day it was put on," I managed to finish.
"What happened?" he asked eagerly with attentive eyes. I could tell he was trying to be sympathetic.
This was the last place I wanted to talk about Liam. Being in the kitchen was my comfort place where it kept my mind free of pain. I consumed myself with cooking and creating new ideas. I loved cooking in high school, and after I had Stella I immediately started looking into culinary schools. I wanted to be a chef and make food appealing and desiring. Being in the kitchen was one place where my mind felt free.
"I have to get back to my work if you do
n’t mind, Mr. Stagliano. I'm quite busy today," I remarked without making eye contact. He was making me nervous as I stammered over my words. Drake is the hotel and restaurant manager and oversaw the Riverside where I currently intern. Today was the first day of my last semester, and the homestretch to graduation was in four months.
I moved to Chicago almost thre
e years ago when Stella was one. Chicago offered the best culinary schools. Kendall College accepted me and granted me a scholarship. Apart from interning three times a week, I also attend classes twice a week. My best friend, Michael moved here with me to help with Stella while he focused on his writing career.
On campus,
we worked in professional grade kitchens learning different techniques about the science of food. In our last semester, we were given a choice of where to intern in gaining more experience than just at school. Riverside was one of the options this year, and since I hoped to work there someday, I applied for the internship program.
"
Sure sorry to impose," he grinned with a bright smile and nodded. "Have a pleasant day." My face reddened as he walked away from me. I'd done my research before accepting the internship and knew of the Stagliano family quite well. I also knew Drake was a ladies man and extremely powerful.
And mostly, he’s incredibly intimidating. And hot.
I dropped the pot on the floor like the klutz I am
as I watched him walk away, appreciating his rock hard body. His perfect dark hair and perfect-framed jawline sunk you in as his face hypnotized you. His six foot-three frame was pure perfection; yet, I wondered if the inside had any faults.
Probably not.
I shook my head trying to refocus as I was drooling over Drake.
Mr. Cooper gave us an easy assignment for lesson one, which I sincerely appreciated given it was the first day. I needed to create a new sauce for a dish the restaurant developed: Shrimp Pesto Fettuccini.
For the next three hours, I
concentrated on my project. We had to follow the standard recipe but add in our own ingredients to taste. Mr. Cooper wanted to see our creative and tasteful sides. Pleased with my new creation, I packed up and headed to the freezer. I placed the containers of my sauce on the shelf towards the back when I heard the door slam shut. I jumped and quickly turned around afraid that I'm now locked in when I see him strangely standing there staring at me
. Awkward.
"Hello…" I said vaguely hoping he let me slip past him.
Why is he even in the kitchen? Doesn’t he deal with finances and business stuff? Better yet, why is he in the freezer?
Oh god, Molly stop staring!
"Miss Woods, p
leasant seeing you here." He stood tall with his hands in his pockets as if he owned the place.
Well, technically he does.
I shot him a confused look.
Well, I'm the one working in the kitchen after all.
"Molly," I corrected him
once again
. "Excuse me," I urged hoping he would move out of my way. He didn’t budge, so I edged myself toward the front, but he only moved closer allowing me the opportunity to inhale his scent.
Sweet Jesus
, he smells good.
"I was wondering if you have dinner with me tonight?" he asked, making no easy way to read him.
This is an odd request. What does he want? Why would he be asking an intern to dinner? Does he have better fish to seek?
I'm drowning in my thoughts as I
realized I haven’t answered him yet. "Sorry I can't," I managed to say as I aimed for the door.
He took another step closer to me giving me absolutely no way to dodge him. "What a shame. Another time then." He stepped aside allowing me to grab the door open. I smiled vaguely at him and walked out wondering what the hell that was about.
I unlocked the door to my apartment and saw Michael and Stella playing a game of twister. She’s laughing, and Michael is losing terribly to a four-year-old. "Hello!" I called as I placed my purse and keys on the kitchen island.
Nothing beats coming home to my sweet little girl
.
"Momm
y!" She ran and hugged me. I felt so blessed to have such a remarkable daughter. She’s been through so much in her short little life. She doesn’t have a dad, but Michael did a terrific job of making up for that. I don’t know what I'd do without him.
"What's going on here,
baby girl?" I grabbed her in for a close hug and kissed her.
"Uncle Michael is losing!" Stella grinned as she stuck her tongue out; clearly proud she
’s beating him.
Gosh, I love her spunkiness.
"
That’s wonderful darling. What have you guys been up to? How was school?" I asked, trying to get the details of her day.
Stella attends a private school while I’m away at school
. She’s exceptionally smart, which I have Liam to thank for that. Liam was in his third year of studying psychology before he died. I used to edit his papers for him while he studied and ended up learning more about psychology than the average person wanted to know. Although I teased Liam for studying psychology, I truly admired his hard work and dedication. He was striving to become an addictions counselor, ironically being from a home where his mother abused drugs and his dad was too ignorant to notice. He wanted to make helping people a career. Secretly, I think he just wanted to make up for not being able to save his mother before it was too late.
"Great Mom! I drew a picture for you!" She ran to the refrigerator where her picture was hanging so neatly. She
brought it over to me and beamed with pride.
It was moments like the
se where I truly wished Liam were around. As she grew older and developed her own little personality, I noticed characteristic traits of Liam. She would do ridiculous facial expressions that were identical to him, and I would scoop her up and kiss her senseless at the reminder of him.