Everyone clapped.
“Great recipe, Chef,” one of the girls from Minneapolis called out. “We’d offer you a bowl of ours, but I’m afraid we already ate it all.”
Chef Hawkeye laughed and raised his hands, palm forward. “Thanks, everyone. You had an outstanding teacher in Chef Sullivan here. I hope you all have a good time at the rest of the festival.”
The class filtered out, and Zach started stacking dishes. Dani had told him she’d hired someone to clean up after class, but he didn’t want to leave too big of a mess. On the other side of the room, Ava was doing the same thing. He heard a noise behind him and turned to see Paul also helping with cleanup.
“Sir, you don’t have to do that.” He lifted the dishes out of Paul’s hands. “We have someone coming in for dish duty.”
“No need to ‘sir’ me,” the chef said. “I’m simply paying you back for the tasting I just had. Actually, I also wanted to talk to you about something.” Paul glanced at Ava.
Ava looked between the two of them. “Right. I’ll see you later, Zach. We should go over that recipe for the competition.”
He was already looking forward to it. The room fell silent until the door closed behind her.
“Let me get straight to the point.” Chef Paul leaned on his elbow on the workbench he’d just cleaned. “I’m opening a new restaurant in Chicago and am vetting candidates for head chef. Your name came up as a possibility.”
Zach’s pulse pounded in his ears. Chef Paul Hawkeye’s restaurants were known to be overnight sensations. He’d hoped to work in one if only to climb his way up the ladder, but the possibility that he might jump straight to head chef boggled his mind. A dream come true. And ten minutes ago, he would have said a pipe dream.
“It was a coincidence that we are here together, but a good one. I’d planned on coming to Escargot next week, but this is even better.” Paul straightened up. “I have to say, I’m impressed so far.”
“I don’t know what to say.” Zach’s lips felt frozen. Head chef in a brand new restaurant? A chance to set up his own kitchen and train employees without yelling at them all the time? Yes, please. “How can you be impressed when my cooking has been subpar?”
“That dessert wasn’t subpar. This”—Paul waved his hand toward the rest of the room—“wasn’t subpar. But you should know that being a great chef isn’t just about your cooking. It’s about your attitude. I’ve been watching you. You’re a team player. You’re usually good with people, and you have a command of the kitchen. These aren’t things that can be taught.”
Zach took in a deep breath. His chest filled with a warm sensation. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
Paul’s phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out. He tapped at it for a moment, the silence stretching thin between them. “Okay.” He looked up from his cell and directly at Zach. “I’ve got to run. Nothing is set in stone yet, but I’ll make some calls, talk to some people.”
Did Zach want to stay in Chicago? He stacked the last of the bowls in the sink. If it meant working for Paul Hawkeye, how could he pass up the opportunity? Plus, Ava lived in Chicago. She was even buying a home there. He’d enjoy the chance to get to know her better. His thoughts buzzed, and he didn’t trust himself to speak.
Zach walked with Paul to the door of the kitchen.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Paul paused just outside the door. “You don’t mind if I call Chef Louie at Escargot, do you? He and I went to culinary school together a long, long time ago. We used to get into so much trouble.”
Zach hesitated, but Paul didn’t wait for a response.
“I just want to get Chef Louie’s opinion on how you work under pressure. I always like to talk to someone who has firsthand experience working with my chefs before I make big decisions.” Paul chuckled. “Though there’s been plenty of pressure this week already.” He reached out to shake Zach’s hand. “I owe Louie a call anyway.”
Great. The birth of a dream and the death of one all in the span of five minutes. Because if Paul Hawkeye was friends with Chef Louie and trusted his words, there was no way Zach would be landing that job.
Chapter Ten
What Zach really needed was a plan. He paced the length of Ollie’s apartment and back again. From the chair in the corner to the two front windows overlooking Main Street, he could walk ten steps.
After his dismal second-place showing at the competition, he needed to win Anne Green over. The upcoming charity competition wouldn’t be enough. He needed face time.
Just in case the possibility of working with Paul Hawkeye fell through. Which it definitely would after Paul had a chance to speak with his good buddy Louie Andrews.
He’d have to track down Anne and plead his case in person.
He opened his phone and thumbed in a message to Dani.
Zach
Are you at the Grand?
Dani
