The Rebel by J. R. Ward

Author:J. R. Ward [Ward, J. R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN
Published: 2005-11-27T23:00:00+00:00

SEVERAL DAYS LATER, FRANKIE surveyed the dining room from the mahogany hostess stand at the door. It was Friday at eight o’clock and they had fifteen out of twenty tables filled. The surging volleys of talk cut through the classical music playing from the stereo.

Word about Nate had gotten out around town and the locals were coming to sample the new chef’s food. People she hadn’t seen except for when she was doing errands in the square were coming back to eat at White Caps. As she looked at all the filled seats, she had to remind herself not to get excited, not to find the lifeline she was looking for in what might only be a one-time tryout for the patrons, not a trend.

But there were plenty of new things for them to try. Nate had completely reinvigorated the menu. It was all nouvelle cuisine now and the words were in French with English translations he’d written out for her. She’d typed the text up on the computer, bought some heavy, creamy paper usually used for resumes and printed out new inserts for the leather-bound menu folios they’d been using for twenty years.

As a couple came through the door, Frankie smiled, unsheathed two menus, and led the way across the room. Generally, Joy played hostess because she was better at it. Looked better, too. But Grand-Em wasn’t doing well tonight so Frankie was picking up the slack as well as busing tables. The two college girls she’d hired as waitresses were working out well, but if business kept up, they might need even more help.

Although this time she’d try to hire a guy. Because watching Rachel and Theresa drool over Nate was wearing thin and the girls had only been around for a week. God, the constant giggling and jiggling was driving Frankie nuts.

Although she was not jealous. Or being possessive. Really.

She was on the way back to the hostess stand when a woman reached out and waxed poetic about the chicken she was eating. As the guest insisted her compliments be sent along to the chef, Frankie smiled, nodded and thought that short of slipping Nate a note, she wasn’t sure how she was going to do that.

Nate had given her just what she’d asked for. He hadn’t looked at her or spoken more than three words to her since he’d left her on the mountain. His inventory reports were on her desk in the morning and he was always busy at the stove whenever she came through the kitchen. When she’d given him his paycheck and tried to thank him for all his hard work, he’d nodded curtly and walked out on her.

Typhoid Mary had gotten more attention from a man.

This was really not what she wanted. They needed to have a good professional relationship and the silent treatment was making work uncomfortable. She also couldn’t really understand the total cold shoulder and wondered if maybe she’d hurt his feelings a little. But that seemed like a really arrogant assumption.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.