Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
THE HOUSE WAS A BEEHIVE of activity when they returned from their walk on the beach.
Though things had gotten hot and heavy they hadn’t made love and Staci felt unnerved by that.
She was also feeling what she knew was the first flush of love.
She couldn’t help smiling every time she looked over at Remy as they sat in the living room with the other chefs.
Some of the contestants were already clearly working on a strategy by talking about their own skills and pointing out the weaknesses of others.
It wasn’t as if she didn’t expect it from them.
After all they were being taped all the time they were in the house and it was a television show so some tension was a good thing.
But she wasn’t interested in that side of the game.
She was more focused on winning by cooking and if she were being completely honest Remy.
“Next week will be interesting. Staci, you’re the one to watch. What do you think the next challenge will be?” Viv asked.
“Not sure. I’ve been as surprised as you guys so far,” she said.
Staci preferred to do all of her talking in the kitchen rather than speculating on what might be coming up. Whatever it was, the challenge would be to keep her cooking fresh. She glanced over at Remy. After eating the dinner he’d prepared tonight she knew he was probably her toughest competition.
“They change it up every season. I really want a mystery basket,” Dave said.
Conversation flowed around her as everyone discussed his or her favorite type of cooking. Christian, Quinn and Frances were all quiet no doubt dwelling on the fact that the next day they’d be cooking to stay in the competition.
Slowly, everyone got up to go to bed and she left after Remy did. There were too many people around for a private goodnight and Staci was okay with that. Since they were in the house now they weren’t a couple. Were they anywhere else?
But she knew that they were. At least in her eyes.
She wondered if her mother had felt this way with her father.
Staci had always wondered why her mom hadn’t seen the signs that her father wasn’t going to stay.
But the feelings swamping Staci now made her realize that love came whether it was wise to get involved or not.
Staci could only hope that she had chosen better than both her mother and grandmother. She was still feeling not exactly happy with her new feelings for Remy when Vivian walked in.
“I noticed you and Remy were getting cozy tonight,” Vivian said after she’d washed up and they were both sitting on their beds.
“Yes. I...he and I had a bet and he had to cook me dinner since I won the challenge.”
“Did you learn anything you can use from his cooking?” Vivian asked.
“I did. But that’s not why I did it.”
“It should be. Unless you’re not here to win. And given the way you are cooking I’m pretty sure that’s the only reason you are here.”
“You’re right, but I think...
Vivian shrugged. “I’m the last one to give another woman advice on a man but you should watch your back. Everyone here is playing an angle.”
“Even you?” Staci asked.
“Hell, yes.”
Was Remy still playing an angle? It would be easier for her to believe in that than to trust him. But it almost felt like it was too late to stop the feelings that were welling up inside of her. She didn’t want to be a fool again.
She needed to keep her distance. Starting tomorrow she’d back away. It was the only smart thing to do.
“What’s your angle?”
“Don’t give away my strengths,” Vivian said. “Not even to you, girlie!”
Staci smiled at her. “Come on, Viv. You can trust me.”
“Is that what Mr. Man said to you?” she asked. “I’m not trusting anyone. I like you but when it comes down to it, there can only be one winner and I’m going to be champion.”
Staci realized that what Vivian said was true.
But there was more to life than winning.
In five weeks the prize would be handed out and either way, win or lose, she was getting on with her new life.
She’d already started pulling out of the day-to-day running of Sweet Dreams so she could pursue new directions.
This show...her time here was supposed to help her decide where to go next. Would that be enough though?
Her new feelings for Remy could influence where she ended up but truly was she going to follow a man she’d met on a cooking show?
She knew she had to figure out her priorities.
She’d already decided to put some extra distance between them and as of this instant she understood that it wasn’t just a good strategy for the game but also for her life.
The only person she’d ever truly trusted had been her grandma and when Rosalyn had died Staci had been alone in the world. Her mother, albeit kind hearted, had never been emotionally stable enough for Staci to lean on and she had to remind herself that the only one she could count on was herself.
That didn’t mean she regretted anything with Remy. It simply meant that she was going to remember the truth behind every emotion. He was doing what was right for him. She had to do what was right for herself.
“Well, I hate to break it you, Viv, but I’m going to do my level best to beat you and if today is any indication I think I’m off to a good start.”
“You are, girlie, but the judges now expect a higher standard from you. You’ll have to keep cooking up to it.”
Staci wasn’t worried, even brokenhearted and alone she’d always been able to keep a clear head in the kitchen. This would be no different.
“We will see next week, won’t we?”
“Yes, we will,” Vivian said. She got under her covers and curled up on her side. “I hope I didn’t speak out of turn saying what I did about Remy. It’s just I don’t want to see a chef as good as you go home because of a man.”
She got under her covers too and reached over to turn out the lamp on her nightstand. She’d already thrown away one chance because of a man, she didn’t want to let it happen again.
“Me, either,” she said rolling over and punching her pillow but it didn’t relieve the frustration flowing through her.
She’d started to believe that Remy was different but listening to Vivian was like talking to herself.
She knew that men lied. It made sense that he’d be playing an angle.
They were competitors after all. But the man who’d held her tenderly and told her about his father and the constellation. ..that man she wanted to trust.
Promising herself she was smart enough not to make the same mistake twice. Promising herself that she’d be cautious where Remy was concerned. Promising herself that she’d weigh everything he said to her and not just trust him blindly.
Vivian slept restlessly and her dreams were tortured visions of the kitchen in Paris. Remy and Jean-Luc were both there watching her cook and then tasting her dishes and judging them to not be good enough.
And a part of her woke to the feeling that she was determined to prove that this time she was going to be the one who judged them. This time she’d walk away the winner. This time she wasn’t going to risk her heart so easily.
REMY HAD SUSPECTED THAT things wouldn’t be as easy as they’d seemed that night on the beach, but he hadn’t anticipated Staci ignoring him or how he’d react to it.
Frances had gone home and the next week of competition had pitted the men against the women in a restaurant challenge.
Each team had to choose a captain, plan a menu and then run a pop-up restaurant for one night.
The diners ate in both restaurants and voted on their favorite dishes.
Whichever team had the most votes would win the team challenge and whichever chef produced the favorite dish would win the individual prize.
The men had chosen Christian fresh off his win in the bottom three challenge to be the leader. The women had chosen Staci. Remy wasn’t surprised but he did wonder how the mantle of leader would sit with her.
He tried to steal some time alone with her but she was careful to keep her distance from him.
Perhaps he should be doing the same thing instead of trying to catch her attention.
He focused on his dish. Remembering everything he’d learned in the previous week and in a lifetime of cooking.
He created a dish to please his palate. Not being in charge of the team meant he could stand back and just cook.
Which turned out to be a good thing because there was a lot of testosterone in the kitchen.
He stayed clear of Conner and Quinn, who were in a battle to prove each was a bigger egomaniac than the other.
Christian did his best to lead but it was clear to Remy that the other man’s strength was really in the creation of the menu and the front of the house. He charmed every patron who entered their restaurant and it wasn’t long before Remy believed that they would win.
Until he heard the laughter and compliments coming from the women’s side. Just that was enough for Conner and Quinn to put their egos aside and start working together. No one wanted to lose this challenge.
“The judges are here,” Christian shouted, coming into the kitchen. “I’ve just seated them. Chefs, we need your very best!”
They all cooked and plated their food and there was no time to wait for feedback from the judges as other customers were waiting to be served, but they sent back the appetizer that Conner had prepared.
Which didn’t sit well with the other man.
It worried Remy since he knew the dish had been well prepared until he learned there was a shell in the seafood pate that Conner had created.
An error, Remy thought. That was something that Conner should have caught before the dish was sent to the floor.
But the other man had been too focused on other things...just as he Remy had been with Staci in the Quick Cook. The only way to win this, and that was still his objective, was to do as Staci was doing and put her from his mind.