"But—" I start, but he gives me a do-not-argue stare.
I'm completely floored at everyone's support. "Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to us," I say.
"Yeah, we do," Rainn says. "And don't think you're off the hook. We expect a free five-course meal when you win that show. We even have a kitchen and a function room right here. Right, boss?"
"After I bleach my eyes, yes," Tanner mutters under his breath, but with the bar music turned off, I can hear him, and so can everyone else.
There's a round of cheers while I'm sure I evaporate from how hot I feel.
Sky takes my hand and leads me behind the bar, stopping only when he realizes he has no clue where the exit is.
I lead him out of the bar through the loading bay door and around the building to the main road.
"By the way, you're driving. I walked here."
"How were you planning on getting home?" he asks, looking a little worried, but then he finds his answer. He pinches my butt, and I squeak. "Am I that sure of a thing?"
"You mean, was Isureyou were going to turn up? No. Am Isureyou're dying to get your tongue all over my ass? Hell yeah."
"You cocky bastard. Just wait until I get you in my bed."
"Promises, promises."
24
Skyler
"Skyler, how do you feel?" Yolanda, the show's presenter, asks.
"Have you ever seen a cow give birth?"
She stares at me with a horrified face, and I chuckle.
"It's a long process, and there isn't much you can do about it other than controlling the mother's environment, make sure she's not stressed, and that she's comfortable. When it finally happens, it's the most wonderful thing. It's mother nature at its best.""Are you," she coughs, "are you comparing the opening of your restaurant to a cow giving birth?"
"Like I said. It's magical. You should see it one day. But to answer your question, the reason you're talking to me right now rather than standing in the kitchen with the camera crew is because that's where the magic happens. We created a good menu filled with locally sourced foods, and right now, Judson and the team of cooks are all working hard to get it ready for our first diners."
"Well, I wish you both all the luck this week."
"Thank you."
The cameraman gives us a sign that he's no longer recording, and I let out a sigh.
"You did well. The viewers are going to love you both," she says.
"Thanks…um, I better go check on Jud."
She gives the cameraman a nod to follow her outside.
The boards in front of the restaurant were taken down yesterday to reveal the wooden plaque with the name of the restaurant. We're calling ours Maple Sky, which Jud insisted on.
He says it's the perfect name both for my brand and for the restaurant. I want the world to know there's something of Jud in it, too, but he keeps on saying this is my business.
I've parkedthatconversation until after the show because we're both too stressed to talk about the fact that we've been basically seeing each other every day, sleeping together at night, and doing all the things that make this very much a relationship.
I check in with the waiters, who are all busy making the final adjustments and adding the fresh flowers that were delivered this morning to the tables.
With everything ready at the front, I go see my man in the kitchen.
