Chapter Three
Chapter Three
Nikki
I’m not sure what it says about a person when a kitchen has always been your sanctuary, but it’s always been mine, and I love it. There’s nothing like the comfort of spices filling the air while you prepare a meal to feed your loved ones. It’s a place I can lose myself in the rhythm of chopping, mixing, tasting, and serving.
Today though, the kitchen feels more like a battlefield than a sanctuary. I’m preparing for the biggest competition of my life, and nothing less than perfection is acceptable. Every single slice of my knife, every single dash of seasoning I use, has to be just right. This isn’t only a competition for me, this is the moment I create my legacy.
There are still a couple of weeks until the festival begins, and that means the pressure’s on. Some might not stress so much on things like this, but I’ve always been driven, and I can’t help but strive for perfection. There are times I wish I could simply have fun with a task, and I can when no stakes are involved, but when it comes to competition I must win.
I’d be lying if I said I’m not afraid of Victor’s skill. He’s talented and gave me a run for my money last year. We might’ve both lost, but he’s as hungry as I am, and I know he’s doing exactly what I’m doing right now. This makes me need to put more time into my craft. I will win this.
After about six hours straight in the kitchen I’m making too many errors, and it’s long past time for a break. Though I’ve been cooking all day, I haven’t eaten much at all, and I don’t want to prepare something for myself. It’s time to take a walk to the Mermaid Café, my absolute favorite place in town. It’s not just the food, it’s the company, and I definitely need to get out of my own head right now.
I head out of my house and make my way down the street. It doesn’t take me long to arrive. As I push open the door to the café, the familiar jingle of the bell over the entrance makes me smile. The town’s favorite waitress, Amelia, gives me a big smile as she looks up from behind the counter.
“Nikki, you’re late.”
“I was flopping in the kitchen until I dragged myself out,” I tell her as I approach.
“You never flop, you’re simply a perfectionist,” she says with a laugh. “Do you want the usual?”
“You know I’m a creature of habit.” I take the soda she pours then make my way to my favorite booth next to the window. I love talking to the people inside while also being entertained by the shenanigans on the streets.
It doesn’t take more than sixty seconds before Sasha’s Aunt Eileen and her two best friends, Vivian and Martha, dance over to my booth, all three wearing big grins on their surprisingly youthful faces. No one knows their actual ages because it’s kept a top secret not even the CIA could crack, but we all know they’re forces of nature in our small town.
If there’s gossip here, these ladies will be the first to tell it, and there’s nothing they like better than matchmaking, even if those they’re trying to pair up don’t want to be in a relationship. Somehow, they always seem to get their way, though. The one guarantee with these women is that they’ve also got hearts of gold and are loved by every person in town.
Eileen is the main spokesperson for the trio, and therefore the first to talk. “We just saw the competitors for the cooking competition and hear you’re on a vengeance mission to claim victory.” Her eyes twinkle with a mix of warmth and mischief.
“I definitely want vengeance. I failed last year, and it won’t happen again. I’ve been working nonstop on new recipes to blow the judges minds.”
“You’re already perfect, darling,” Vivian says with twinkling eyes and a sharp wit that fools many because she looks like Mrs. Santa Claus. The woman’s a genius though and not easily fooled. “You’re the only one who finds flaws in your recipes.”
“The judges obviously did last year,” I tell her with a pout.
“Oh, those were foolish judges. Don’t you dare doubt yourself,” Vivian insists.
“It’s not that I doubt myself, but I know I’m up against stiff competition. It’s too bad for them, though, because there’s no way they want it as much as I do.”
Martha speaks next. “We think you might need a little something extra to guarantee a win.”
I look at her with confusion. “What are you talking about?” I know these women are always ten steps ahead of everyone and I can’t figure out what they’re talking about now. I don’t even try. They’ll eventually spit it out.
“We’re talking about a super special secret ingredient,” Martha says. “Something to really spice things up.”
“If there’s one thing I know well, it’s secret ingredients. I combine things others might not ever think of using together, so I can’t imagine what you might be suggesting.”
Eileen’s eyes gleam with amusement as she says, “The ultimate ingredient, darling... love.”
I laugh. “I always cook with love.”
“Not that sort of love,” Eileen says. “We’re talking about you and Victor working together instead of against each other. You’ve always competed, but imagine if you put your heads together instead of butting them against each other. Magic would happen.”
I choke on my drink, and Vivian moves forward and pats my back. “You ladies have always been eccentric, but seriously?” I finally gasp. “Victor and I are sworn enemies. We’re competing against each other. I’m here to win not enter some twisted game-show romance to amuse my neighbors.”
Amelia steps up to drop off my food. She hears everything in this restaurant. I swear the woman has superhuman hearing. “You have to admit, Nikki, that you and Victor certainly have some interesting history.”
I let out a sigh. I need to stop this before it gets out of hand. “We were enemies in school that sometimes got along for the good of the student body. Trust me, there’s no love lost between us,” I say, trying to sound casual, as if this conversation is boring me. These people can smell blood in the water, and if they think there’s any truth to the rumor of an untold romance between Victor and me, they won’t ever stop.
Vivian isn’t buying it. “There’s a very thin line between love and hate, my darling. We all know this.”
“It’s not thin enough,” I retort. Now they have me thinking about Victor again, which is what I’m sure they intended. It’s true, we’ve spent a lot of time trying to outdo one another, and I do know more than anyone else how thin that line is as I’ve found myself lost in his arms before. It was foolish then and it won’t happen again.
Before anyone else can reply, the door to the café swings open and in walks Sasha and Sia, laughing about something as they make their way inside. They spot me and laugh harder as they see me surrounded. I send them a pleading stare to save me. They shrug as if telling me there’s no saving anyone from the wicked trio. They’re right. They still move in my direction. Maybe they’ll take some of the heat off of me.
“How is everyone doing?” Sia asks as she slides into the booth next to me.
“We’re giving Nikki some advice on how to win the cooking competition,” Eileen says with full innocence that doesn’t fool a soul.
Sasha raises her eyebrow. “What advice would this be, Aunt Eileen?”
“By winning Victor’s heart and combining their spices,” Amelia chimes in.
Both Sasha and Sia burst into laughter as my cheeks heat up. I’m very aware everyone in the café is listening in on this conversation and greatly enjoying the show. They don’t enjoy it so much when they’re on the receiving end of all this motherly advice. “For the millionth time, Victor and I have nothing going on between us,” I say loudly enough for everyone in the café to hear. “We’ve always been rivals and always will be.”
Sia nudges me as she sends a wink. “There might be more than you’re letting on, Nik.”
I look at her in utter betrayal. Sasha chimes in next. “There’s nothing wrong with a little friendly competition. Things can get pretty hot in the kitchen.”
They were supposed to come over and help save me, not add to the gossip. I’m going to hurt both of them. I’m not enjoying this conversation at all. I should’ve stayed in my kitchen. At least my stove doesn’t harass me like this.
I’m about to lay into all of them when the door opens again. My heart sinks as I see who’s decided to join us. The air shifts and my heart lodges in my throat as my blood runs hot. I tell myself it’s in disgust, but I know it’s not true. Victor looks over at our group, our eyes meeting. I wish the man was hideous, but clearly he’s not.
The years have been good to Victor since high school. He’s taller, broader, and more confident than ever before. He wasn’t small or timid in school, but the Marines did things to him that honed his already beautiful body to perfection. Not only that, but there’s a new ease in the way he carries himself, a self-assurance that’s on steroids now. And the eyes that currently have me captured hold the same intensity as always, but now it feels like he can see straight into my soul.
He starts walking straight to our table and I try to prepare myself. We’ve always smiled in public and put on false niceties. It’s when we’re alone that I have to worry. I’m fine with all of these people surrounding me. I’m going to have to get used to him being back in our very small town. He stops, not taking his gaze from me, a slow smile spreading across his handsome features.
“Hello, Nik,” he says, his voice deep and smooth. “Rumor is you’re planning on giving me a run for my money again this year. I’ve developed some new moves, so it won’t be easy.”
I cross my arms and glare at him, ignoring how much my heart’s thundering. I forget anyone else is around us. Victor has always had this effect on me. “Go ahead and bring it, Victor. You’re going to need all the help you can get to achieve second place.”
His eyes twinkle as his grin widens. He places his hands on the table and leans in close to me, making my blood light on fire. “I’m not worried, darling. I’m used to watching you come in second to me.”
Eileen laughs, causing us to finally break eye contact. I take my first breath in what feels like hours. “You two should kiss and make up. Come on, give us a show.”
I shoot her a look that could melt steel, but Victor shocks me when he laughs, the deep sound washing through me, then looks at me again and winks.
“I’m game,” he says, making several people in the café clap as giggles surround us.
My heart skips several beats. “Not ever happening, Victor.” I don’t add the word again. Luckily he doesn’t bust me on this. We have kissed before, and damn, it was good.
“We’ll see, Nik,” he tells me, before winking again. Now I’m thinking about what an incredible kisser the man is. Nobody’s ever made me burn the way this man has... and the scary thing is I think he knows it.
He turns and walks away and several sighs let out at our table. I groan. This hasn’t helped the gossip mill at all. If anything, it’s set it on fire and will make my life a living hell.
Sia pats my shoulder, her voice full of amusement. “Looks like this will be the best summer festival ever.”
“I wouldn’t say best ever, but nothing’s going to stop me from winning,” I mutter, trying to drown out the whispers happening all around us. I wouldn’t be surprised if bets are being placed all over the café about Victor and me.
The competition between us is most certainly on, and it’s not just about the fantastic prize at the end. It’s about proving to myself and everyone here that I’m the best. I’m not letting him win, and I’m not letting the sexual tension between us stand in my way or distract me.
Still, as I sit here, surrounded by laughter and the comforting chaos of the Mermaid Café, I can’t help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, there’s more at stake in this year’s competition than I initially realized. The trio is right about one thing, sparks are flying, and the flames keep getting hotter.