Chapter Two
The kitchen was a riot, and Jennika moved from station to station as she kept an eye on the plates going out.One of the guys on the line looked and gave a jerk of his head.She moved into position and worked on getting the beef to the perfect doneness.
She moved swiftly and didn’t get scorched as the food was prepared, and it went out to the wedding.Three hundred ten guests were being served tonight.Everything was the best preparation and ingredients.The groom had been specific.The special sauce that had been provided was amazing, and everyone got a small cup to play with.
When Tony came back to the line, his hands gleaming with moisture and smelling of lemon, she eased off, and he took over.They were on the last fifty meals, and they had to be just as precise as the first ten.
Jennika kept moving like a pregnant tiger until Sable said, “Take five, chef.”
The kitchen barked, “Take five, chef!”
She laughed, went to the small sitting area that doubled as a tasting room, and put her feet up.She sat, set a timer, and rubbed her belly.She closed her eyes and breathed deeply.They made her do this three times a shift, and it honestly helped.
Her little speech at the beginning of the event had been stressful.There were a lot of dark elves in the group, and her eyes deliberately blurred them so there wasn’t going to be any eye contact.
Once she was back in the kitchen, she could breathe again.Being trotted out to bow or take the accolades for her team was part of the job with events.Not everyone acknowledged them, but the hotel paid exceedingly well, so that didn’t matter.They also split tips for events like this.The bar got their tips, and the kitchen and serving staff got theirs.
At the end of service, just the desserts were on a buffet, and the deli platters were in the refrigerators and set to go out.She was talking final logistics with Ivy when a huge shadow entered the kitchen.
Ivy turned and smiled.“I am sorry, sir, the kitchen area is off limits.”
“I need to speak to the chef.”
Jennika was still looking at the tablet and said, “Is it a dietary issue?We weren’t given any specific allergens on the list.”
She turned to look at him and froze, fighting the urge to cover her belly.“You.”
He inclined his head.“Me.”
Ivy looked at both of them with wide eyes and waved her hand over the seven and a half feet of dark alpha in the room.“Him?”
“He looked shorter on his back,” Jennika murmured.
The man grinned.“I am Xiroth.Your name?”
“Jennika.”
He smiled.“I am pleased to meet you, Jennika.May we speak?”
“Um.In the gardens.I am still on shift for an hour.”
Ivy said calmly, “Have her sit with her feet up.Her ankles are a bit puffy.”
Xiroth nodded.“I will.”
“Stand down, Sable.”She didn’t need to look, but a quick glance showed Sable had four knives held in each of her hands.
At the comment, Sable returned to the standard two arms and put the knives away.
