A Chef’s Kiss for Christmas (Christmas in the Cotswolds #2)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

C onsidering it had been two years since they’d broken up, Anna spent way too much time thinking about her ex-boyfriend.

He was on her mind yet again as she strode down the main street in Chipping Campden.

Christmas decorations had popped up the week before, and the golden glow from the twinkling lights illuminated the smattering of snow on the ground.

Warm air enveloped her as she entered her brother’s hotel. Her eyes feasted on yet more festive decorations, which hadn’t been there on her last visit. The Christmas tree in the lounge filled the room with the scent of pine, while strings of tinsel and fairy lights criss-crossed the ceiling.

Ivy smiled at her from behind the reception desk.

“How are you?” Anna asked, walking around to give her old friend a hug.

“Fine. Enjoying the calm before the storm.”

“How do you mean?”

“November,” she said, as though it was obvious. “It’s got a weird feel to it, hasn’t it? There’s not much going on, but I know December will be crazy, so I feel as though I’m waiting for chaos. ”

“I know what you mean. December will be busy enough for me, with more work than usual. I can’t imagine what it’s like for people with kids.”

“Poppy is already getting excited,” Ivy said, about her six-year-old daughter. “She’s started writing a letter to Santa.”

“It must be so wonderful to still believe in Santa.” Anna smiled, thinking of how simple and magical Christmas was when you were a kid. “I have the wreath for the front door,” she said, holding up the shopping bag with the decoration she’d made at her brother’s request.

“Leave it with me. I’ll put it up later.” Ivy took the bag, then gestured to the door, which led to the staff area. “Carla’s here, by the way.”

“I know. I messaged her earlier.” She’d told her sister to meet her here – she had a favour to ask and was sure it would be easier to persuade her in person. “Did she seem to be in a good mood?”

“The last time I saw her she was in the kitchen, arguing with Warren. It’s hard to say whether that means she’s in a good mood or bad. I think she enjoys antagonising him.”

“I think she does too.” At one time Anna had thought her sister had a crush on the hotel’s chef, but as her brother had pointed out, if Carla really had feelings for him, she’d have acted on them by now.

“Is Lewis around too?”

“In the office,” Ivy told her, and Anna headed that way.

Not so long ago, she wouldn’t have had to ask if Lewis was at the hotel. During daylight hours you’d never have found her brother anywhere else, but since his girlfriend, Erin, had moved in with him and he’d hired a general manager for the hotel, he took a lot more time off.

Halfway along the corridor, she reached the door to the office and gave a quick knock before opening it.

“Hi,” she said to Lewis, who was looking very relaxed, leaning back in his chair. She smiled automatically at the amusement in his eyes. “What are you smirking about?”

“These two idiots.” He tipped his head across the room.

Stepping further inside, Anna did a double take. Both her sister and Warren were lying on the floor with their legs up the wall.

“What are you doing?” she asked, closing the door behind her.

“Your sister’s being a weirdo, as usual,” Warren said, but didn’t open his eyes to look at Anna.

“Who said you could speak?” Carla snapped at him. “Concentrate on your breathing, or this will be entirely ineffective.”

“It’s ineffective anyway. I’m getting more annoyed, not less. Though maybe if you’d go away, all my anger would mysteriously vanish.” His voice dripped with mocking, as it usually did around Carla.

“We’re working on his anger management,” Carla said, twisting her head to look at Anna. “I’m teaching him ways to calm his nervous system.”

Anna drifted over to the two of them. Since Warren still had his eyes closed, she let her gaze linger on the hard line of his jaw, which was covered in stubble. His short brown hair was slightly mussed up in the way it often was – as though he’d been dragging his fingers through it.

When his lips twitched, she shifted her attention away, nervous that he’d catch her staring at him.

“You look ridiculous,” she said.

Warren still didn’t open his eyes. “What’s really ridiculous is the idea that when one of those idiots in the kitchen winds me up, I’ll lie down and put my legs up the wall instead of shouting at them.”

“He only burned some bacon,” Carla said. “There was no need to yell at him the way you did.”

Warren’s eyes shot open. “It was pancetta! And there was no need for him to burn it. Not if he’d been concentrating instead of sending his girlfriend pathetic messages.”

“Maybe you should have a rule about phone use in the kitche–” Carla didn’t finish her sentence before Warren interrupted her.

“There is a rule,” he boomed. “Liam broke the rule, which means food got burnt and he got shouted at. Which is a logical sequence of events, so I’m not sure what your problem is.”

“I just think there could be a more harmonious atmosphere in the kitchen. It’d be good for everyone.”

“Then maybe someone should have a word with Liam about concentrating on the job… oh, wait, I did that!” When he slid his legs down from the wall, Anna shifted out of his way, then went to sit on the couch while Warren slumped into the chair opposite Lewis.

“Is everything organised for the weekend?” Lewis asked him.

“Just about,” Warren replied. “Hopefully it will all run smoothly enough.”

“What’s happening at the weekend?” Carla asked, still lying on the floor.

“Nothing.” Warren shifted in his seat. “But I’m not working, so I need to make the menu idiot-proof.”

“His parents are visiting,” Lewis said, then cocked his head. “Is that why you’ve been in such a bad mood all week?”

“I haven’t been in a bad mood!”

Carla snorted.

“No more than normal,” Warren muttered.

“How come we’ve never met your parents?” Carla asked.

“Why would you have done?” Warren replied.

Carla moved her legs down the wall and sat up. “Have they never visited before?”

“Nope.”

Anna sat forward as curiosity niggled at her. “Are they staying here, in the hotel? ”

“No.”

“There’s still a room free if they want to stay,” Lewis said.

“No, thanks. They have other accommodation sorted.”

“Why?” Carla asked from her cross-legged position on the floor.

“They’re just staying somewhere else, that’s all.”

“You’ll bring them into the hotel, though?” Lewis asked. “I guess they’ll want to see where you work.”

“And meet your friends,” Carla added, eyes sparkling. “We could all have dinner together.”

Warren rubbed his brow. “Or we could not do that.”

“Don’t you get on with them or something?” Anna asked.

He shrugged. “We get on fine.”

Anna had so many questions. If she were brave like Carla, she’d just fire them at him and not care if it annoyed him. Since she was certain it would annoy him, and she absolutely wasn’t brave like her sister, she held her tongue.

“So that’s why you’re stressed?” Carla said, popping up and positioning herself behind Warren to massage his shoulders. He grimaced and swatted her away.

“I’m not stressed.”

Lewis rested his elbows on the desk. “I hope the Michelin people don’t visit while you’re away.”

“For goodness’ sake! We’re not getting a Michelin star. Why do you keep going on about this?” Warren attempted to shrug Carla off him. “The conversation is getting really boring.”

“It’s nice when you’re humble,” Carla told him, ruffling his hair before moving away from him. “We all think you’ll get a Michelin star, even if you don’t.”

“The review they gave you in the Michelin Guide was amazing,” Lewis said. “We’re definitely on their radar.”

“That doesn’t mean anything.”

“You’re a chef,” Anna said, confused by how defensive he always got when the subject came up. “Getting reviewed by Michelin is definitely a big deal.”

His features softened. “Yes, but it doesn’t mean we’ll get a star. Can we please change the subject?”

“Let’s talk about your parents again, then.” Carla plonked herself beside Anna on the couch. “Do you need a buffer?”

“A what?” Warren asked.

“Someone to come out with you and your parents, so it’s not so intense. I could pretend to be your girlfriend.”

“I don’t think that will be necessary, thanks.” His voice was firm, but Anna caught the uncertainty in his eyes, as if he were pondering the idea.

“What’s going on with you? ” Carla asked, slapping Anna’s thigh as she changed the subject again.

“Oh, I have news!” She’d decided to phrase her favour as an exciting opportunity and hope her sister wouldn’t catch on to her real motives.

“We’re invited to the Christmas ball at the Grange Hotel.

It’s free food and drinks, and we can stay over in the hotel for free, too.

” The perks of her best friend’s dad owning the hotel.

“ I’m invited?” Carla asked, eyes wide with excitement. Exactly the reaction Anna had hoped for. “I’ve always wanted to go. What am I going to wear?” She paused for breath. “Wait, when is it?”

“A week on Saturday. It’ll be so much fun.” It was an annual event that Anna had always enjoyed. At least until she and Hayden had broken up. It had lost its magic somewhat since then.

Carla’s eyes widened once again, but the excitement had been replaced by something else. Panic, or annoyance maybe. “I’m away. You know I’m away! Why on earth did you just get me all excited for nothing?”

“Where are you?”

“House sitting, remember! ”

“Oh.” It rang a vague bell. “The house isn’t that far away, is it? Can’t you still come?”

“It’s a bit of a trek. Also, I can’t leave the dogs alone all night. I wouldn’t even want to leave them for the evening, really. And I wouldn’t be able to drink or stay late, so it wouldn’t be that much fun.” She glared at Anna. “I can’t believe you made me get all excited.”

“Sorry,” Anna said, neglecting to mention that she was just as disappointed as her sister.

“How come I was invited?” Carla asked. “You always go with your old gang from school.”

“Yeah,” Anna said weakly. “But Frannie said I could bring someone if I wanted.”

“So I wasn’t specifically invited?” Carla pouted. “Hang on… is Hayden going?”

“I believe so,” Anna said, clocking Warren and Lewis following the conversation and wishing she’d had it in private.

Carla gave a knowing look. “I take it he’s bringing a date?” She didn’t wait for confirmation, but ploughed on with her theory. “So Frannie said you can bring someone because she’s worried about you feeling awkward around Hayden and whichever bimbo he’s with now.”

“She just said I could bring someone,” Anna murmured.

“She’ll have meant a guy. But I guess you already know that. You just invited me for moral support.”

“You are great at moral support,” Anna said.

“Of course I am. But you should take a guy. Imagine the look on Hayden’s face if you turn up with a hot guy!”

While she definitely enjoyed the idea, it was ridiculous. Mostly because of the slight obstacle of not having a guy to take with her.

Carla’s eyes flickered with mischief before her head turned slowly in Warren’s direction.

“No!” He gave a weird, strangled laugh. “Keep me out of your scheming.”

“Go on,” Carla whined. “Take her to the party. There’s free food and drinks, and Anna will look totally hot in her evening gown. I don’t see how you can say no. I’ll even sweet-talk your boss into giving you the night off. You’ll have a great time.”

Warren was already out of the chair, holding his hands up in a defensive gesture as he headed for the door. “I have to get back to work,” he said before darting out of the room.

With her cheeks burning, Anna dropped her head into her hands.

“You’re welcome!” Carla said cheerfully.

“For what?” Anna glared at her sister. “You totally embarrassed me.”

“It’s a great idea to take Warren. Hayden will go nuts when he sees you with him. And it’ll stop your friends from shooting you pitying looks all night.”

“They don’t do that,” Anna said, not sure why she was lying. It wasn’t as though she hadn’t already confided in her sister about how uncomfortable she felt when they were all out as a group.

Carla continued to grin. “I only wish I could be there to see Hayden’s face when you arrive with Warren.”

“Did you miss the part where Warren refused?” Lewis asked, swivelling contentedly in his chair.

“He refused because I asked.” Carla gave a dismissive flick of her hand. “He always says no when I ask him something, but Anna only has to look at him and the big grumpy oaf agrees to anything.”

“That’s not true,” Anna said firmly.

“What about the other week when I asked him to make me a sandwich, but the kitchen was already closed and he outright refused? Then you walked in and mentioned you were hungry and he was back in the kitchen like a shot. ”

“Maybe because I asked politely, instead of bossing him around like you do.”

“Exactly!” Carla said. “All you have to do is ask, and he’ll go to the party with you.”

“No.” Anna shook her head, but an image flicked into her head of walking into the party with Warren by her side. It certainly would put an end to all the pitying looks. And it would be nice not to have to be so self-conscious around Hayden and his latest girlfriend.

“You’re considering it, aren’t you?” Carla asked eagerly.

“No.” This time she shook her head more firmly. “Absolutely not.”

The room fell silent, and she could feel both of her siblings watching her. They could read her far too easily.

After a moment, she pressed a hand to her forehead. “Do you really think I could convince Warren to go with me?”

Carla nodded enthusiastically and emitted an excited squeal of delight.