couple times, but both times lost out to more experienced chefs.
“They’re looking for innovative recipes,” Anna continued. “The winner gets five thousand dollars and the chance to work with their catering team for one year.”
“That would be a great opportunity.” Stacie kept her tone casual. “Who’s doing the judging?”
Anna leaned back and grabbed a newspaper clipping from the counter. She took a sip of coffee and glanced down. “Abbie and Marc Tolliver.”
Stacie groaned. Anyone else and she might have stood a chance. But with those two she was dead in the water.
Lauren glanced up from her coffee. “Is that a problem?”
“Big problem.” While Stacie didn’t want to be negative, she had to be realistic. “I entered a recipe in the Best of Denver competition a couple years back. Marc and Abbie were the final-round judges. They didn’t like my entry at all.”
While their criticism of the dish had some validity, and she’d learned from their comments, her recipe style hadn’t changed much since then.
“That doesn’t mean they won’t like the one you submit this time,” Anna said with a touching loyalty.
“Perhaps Stacie’s passion has changed.” Lauren took a sip of coffee and cast Stacie a pointed glance. “From recipes to men. Or more specifically, to one certain cowboy.”
“My passion hasn’t changed,” Stacie said firmly, her gaze shifting from one roommate to the other. “Working for Jivebread would be a dream come true. Whatever is happening between Josh and me…well, it isn’t anything permanent. If I got that job I’d be outta here in a heartbeat.”
Anna opened her mouth for a brief second, but instead of responding, she busied herself filling the bowls with oatmeal and placing them on the table.
“Seth mentioned he was helping Josh today.” Lauren tilted her head. “Did he see you before you left?”
Oh, he’d seen her all right. Stacie didn’t need to close her eyes to remember Seth’s startled expression.
“Our paths crossed,” Stacie drawled. “I think he was as surprised to see me as I was to see him.”
“So, he knows you spent the night,” Lauren said.
Stacie laughed, though right now she was finding it hard to see the humor in the situation. “Let’s just say I have no doubt he knows exactly what’s going on between Josh and me.”
Anna dropped into the seat opposite Stacie. “What is going on between you and Josh?”
“Chemistry, Anna, chemistry,” Lauren interjected before Stacie could answer. “Mixed with common values, it’s a potent combination.”
“Yeah, but I thought Stacie didn’t like cowboys,” Anna said, her eyes clearly puzzled.
“I didn’t,” Stacie said, starting to understand how a trapped animal felt, “I mean, I don’t.”
Lauren lifted a perfectly tweezed brow. “You don’t like him, yet you slept with him?”
“I don’t like the lifestyle,” Stacie clarified. “But I like Josh.”
“You know he was married before.” Anna’s expression gave nothing away.
Stacie focused her attention on sprinkling raisins over her oatmeal. “He told me.”
Anna pushed her bowl aside and leaned forward, resting her forearms on the table. “Did he tell you Kristin was a city girl who made it clear to everyone in this town that being with Josh wasn’t enough of a reason to stay? He didn’t go out socially—even with the guys—for almost a year after she left.”
There was a warning in Anna’s tone that came through loud and clear. But it was the censure that raised Stacie’s hackles.
“Say what you mean, Anna.” Stacie held on to her rising temper with both hands.
“I don’t want to see him hurt, Stace,” Anna said, her eyes filled with concern. “I know he’s hot. And a person would have to be blind not to see the sparks that fly whenever you’re together. But he’s also vulnerable.”
And I’m not?
“I like him,” Stacie said. “And he likes me.”
Lauren added an extra dollop of
“They’re looking for innovative recipes,” Anna continued. “The winner gets five thousand dollars and the chance to work with their catering team for one year.”
“That would be a great opportunity.” Stacie kept her tone casual. “Who’s doing the judging?”
Anna leaned back and grabbed a newspaper clipping from the counter. She took a sip of coffee and glanced down. “Abbie and Marc Tolliver.”
Stacie groaned. Anyone else and she might have stood a chance. But with those two she was dead in the water.
Lauren glanced up from her coffee. “Is that a problem?”
“Big problem.” While Stacie didn’t want to be negative, she had to be realistic. “I entered a recipe in the Best of Denver competition a couple years back. Marc and Abbie were the final-round judges. They didn’t like my entry at all.”
While their criticism of the dish had some validity, and she’d learned from their comments, her recipe style hadn’t changed much since then.
“That doesn’t mean they won’t like the one you submit this time,” Anna said with a touching loyalty.
“Perhaps Stacie’s passion has changed.” Lauren took a sip of coffee and cast Stacie a pointed glance. “From recipes to men. Or more specifically, to one certain cowboy.”
“My passion hasn’t changed,” Stacie said firmly, her gaze shifting from one roommate to the other. “Working for Jivebread would be a dream come true. Whatever is happening between Josh and me…well, it isn’t anything permanent. If I got that job I’d be outta here in a heartbeat.”
Anna opened her mouth for a brief second, but instead of responding, she busied herself filling the bowls with oatmeal and placing them on the table.
“Seth mentioned he was helping Josh today.” Lauren tilted her head. “Did he see you before you left?”
Oh, he’d seen her all right. Stacie didn’t need to close her eyes to remember Seth’s startled expression.
“Our paths crossed,” Stacie drawled. “I think he was as surprised to see me as I was to see him.”
“So, he knows you spent the night,” Lauren said.
Stacie laughed, though right now she was finding it hard to see the humor in the situation. “Let’s just say I have no doubt he knows exactly what’s going on between Josh and me.”
Anna dropped into the seat opposite Stacie. “What is going on between you and Josh?”
“Chemistry, Anna, chemistry,” Lauren interjected before Stacie could answer. “Mixed with common values, it’s a potent combination.”
“Yeah, but I thought Stacie didn’t like cowboys,” Anna said, her eyes clearly puzzled.
“I didn’t,” Stacie said, starting to understand how a trapped animal felt, “I mean, I don’t.”
Lauren lifted a perfectly tweezed brow. “You don’t like him, yet you slept with him?”
“I don’t like the lifestyle,” Stacie clarified. “But I like Josh.”
“You know he was married before.” Anna’s expression gave nothing away.
Stacie focused her attention on sprinkling raisins over her oatmeal. “He told me.”
Anna pushed her bowl aside and leaned forward, resting her forearms on the table. “Did he tell you Kristin was a city girl who made it clear to everyone in this town that being with Josh wasn’t enough of a reason to stay? He didn’t go out socially—even with the guys—for almost a year after she left.”
There was a warning in Anna’s tone that came through loud and clear. But it was the censure that raised Stacie’s hackles.
“Say what you mean, Anna.” Stacie held on to her rising temper with both hands.
“I don’t want to see him hurt, Stace,” Anna said, her eyes filled with concern. “I know he’s hot. And a person would have to be blind not to see the sparks that fly whenever you’re together. But he’s also vulnerable.”
And I’m not?
“I like him,” Stacie said. “And he likes me.”
Lauren added an extra dollop of
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