He was still at the Gold Rush. The only reason he’d lasted there so long was because he was good at his job. Not only good, but fast. She wondered if anyone from the Manor was here for the competition. She hadn’t seen any of them, but they might have checked in earlier.
“I plan to win this thing, Hunt,” Kyle said, a pretty blonde woman checking her phone beside him. “I want to open a bar and grill focusing on my signature steakburger. People at the Gold Rush tell me they prefer mine to yours at the Maverick Manor. And for less than a third of the price.”
Well whoop-de-do. “I wish you luck,” she said. “See you inside.” She took Xander’s arm, and they headed to the Sagebrush Ballroom. Please let me be stationed far away from him, she said in a little prayer.
“My brothers and I had steakburgers the other day at the Gold Rush,” Xander said. “And I happened to hear a waitress yelling at someone named Kyle to watch his language, so I know he was there. The steakburger didn’t come close to yours.”
“I knew I liked you,” she said with a grin.
She’d almost said I knew I loved you. Almost. Thank the universe she’d caught herself.
They entered the Sagebrush Ballroom and got on another line, this one much shorter. There were hundreds of chairs, most full, set up at a good distance from several rows of tables where ten people stood making something on what looked like hot plates. Three more people with clipboards were walking among the tables, taking bites of something, then jotting something down on their clipboards.
Oh gosh. This had to be the elimination round. Hot-plate cooking? And what were they making? From the smell of it, could be grilled cheese.
She watched a different man with a clipboard and headphones hand the woman in front of her a number, then direct her to take a seat. Then it was Lily’s turn.
“You’re number two hundred forty-six,” the man said to Lily. He wore a name tag that read Hal. “You can take a seat and wait for the grouping with your number to be called.”
Lily’s eyes practically bugged out. “Did you say two hundred forty-six? That’s a lot of entrants.”
“Tell me about it,” he said. “Our judges’ stomachs are getting seriously full. But the deadline to register here at the hotel just passed, so there shouldn’t be too many more of you. Good luck,” he added before gesturing for her and Xander to take seats.
“Suddenly I’m not as sure of myself,” Lily whispered to Xander. “There could be three hundred people entering, who all think they have what it takes to win.”
“Yes, but only you truly do,” Xander said, slinging that strong, comforting arm over her shoulder again.
She smiled and shook her head. “I’m glad you’re here,” she whispered.
“You’ve got this.”
Lately, Lily felt like she could do anything. But when Xander was by her side, she knew she could.
“Numbers two forty through two fifty, please appear in a line at the first table. Chefs only—no assistants.”
“Gulp. I’m on my own,” she said, standing up.
“Like I said, you’ve got this.” He kissed her hand and she almost gasped. “For good luck,” he added.
She wouldn’t mind a real good-luck kiss—on the lips—but she’d settle for the hand. For now, she thought with a devilish smile.
She hurried up to the table with the nine others on their way. Ugh again! Kyle Kendrick was right in front of her. Of all the times to arrive, she had to pick the same time he had?
“Hope your grilled cheese doesn’t burn,” he said, barely turning around.
“Oh, yours, too,” she said, rolling her eyes.
Interestingly, while the line formed, staff were scrubbing at the hot plates to get rid of any former cooking residue. At least she wouldn’t be dealing with a burned-on mess from her predecessor.
The ten of them were directed to enter the rows of tables and to stand behind the hot plate with their number beside it. Kyle was two forty and the first in his row. Lily was first in her row at the table adjacent.
The man with the clipboard appeared. “Welcome to the elimination round! I’m Hal and your emcee for the competition. Because we have so many entrants, this seemed the best way to narrow down the field to the top ten chefs. Good luck to all of you!”
Lily eyed Xander, who had moved to the front row, close to where she stood. She smiled at him, and he flashed her a thumbs-up.
“You will each make the perfect grilled cheese with the simplest of ingredients,” Hal continued. “White bread. American cheese and half a cup of butter. A staffer will now hand out your ingredients.”
Next to the hot plate was a butter knife, a plastic spatula and a salad-type plate. A young woman handed Lily a small tray containing two slices of bread, the butter and two slices of yellow American cheese.
Once the ten hopefuls had their ingredients, the man with the clipboard continued. “You have fifteen minutes to make the perfect grilled cheese, which will then be voted on by our three judges. Ready, set, turn on your hot plates!”
Lily pressed the little red on button. She could feel the hot plate warming up.
Hal looked at his watch. “Three, two, one, and begin!”
Lily dropped some butter on the hot plate, then slathered both sides of the bread, every speck, with the remaining butter. Because she couldn’t control the temperature of the hot plate the way she could a burner at home, she decided to put one slice of cheese on each piece of bread and start that way. Once the cheese started melting, she flipped one onto the other, gave a gentle press with the spatula, then flipped, then flipped again. When the outside of the bread was golden brown and the cheese looking perfectly gooey, she turned off the hot plate and slid the grilled cheese onto the plate.
“One minute remaining!” the man with the clipboard said.
Lily flipped the sandwich over on the plate, then cut it, hoping she’d timed it right and the cheese was sufficiently gooey in the center. Yes—looked like it was!
She glanced over at Xander, who was at nodding at her with a smile. Looks Lily Hunt good, he mouthed, and she grinned.
A judge began on each section of the table. A blonde woman cut a piece of Lily’s sandwich, her expression giving nothing away. She took another bite, then jotted down something on her clipboard. The two other judges did the same.
Their group was then dismissed.
Lily rushed over to Xander. “I have no idea how I did. Hot plate grilled cheese isn’t exactly my specialty.”
“Probably why they chose that method—because the best chefs will know how to make an incredible grilled cheese with very limited resources. And I’m sure yours will be among the top ten.”
She dropped down on the chair beside him, watching the next group go. The smell of burning cheese soon filled the air, but the good AC system and fans took care of it. The poor chef responsible started to cry, then shut off her hot plate and stormed off.
“Well, that’s one less cook to worry about,” Xander whispered. “And who knows how many others stalked off before the results were announced.”
Lily fidgeted in her seat for the next half hour, till it was over and Hal announced that the judges would have their results within minutes.
“Gulp,” Lily said, grabbing Xander’s hand and squeezing it.
He kissed her cheek and she felt so comforted that she just leaned her head against his shoulder.
“Okay, entrants!” Hal called out. “Thank you all for coming and making your grilled cheese for us! We know that all of you are great chefs, but alas, only ten can move on to the next round. And so, in no particular order, here are the names of our final ten contestants!”
Lily squeezed Xander’s hand harder.
Hal had named eight chefs so far—five women and three men, including that horrid Kyle Kendrick, who’d let out a “Yeah, baby!”
Please, please, please, she prayed silently. Pleeeeeze!
“Our ninth contestant is Lily Hunt.”
Lily’s mouth dropped open just as Xander pulled her into a hug.
“You did it!” he said, kissing the top of her head. “You rock!”
She barely heard the name of the tenth contestant. All she knew was that Xander’s arms were around her and she’d made it into the next round.
Right now, life couldn’t get better.
* * *
“I’m sorry, but I only see a reservation for Lily Hunt,” the woman at the hotel reception desk said. “A single. There’s no reservation for Xander Crawford—and we’re booked for the competition. There’s a hotel two miles away you could try.”
Two miles away from Lily? No, Xander thought.
“Surely you have one extra room somewhere in the hotel for a hardworking rancher assisting the best chef in Montana,” Xander said, turning on the charm. He could when it was necessary.
“Northwest, but thank you,” Lily said.
Xander put his arm around her shoulder. “All of Montana. The country, probably.”
The woman behind the reception desk had an “aww” look on her face, but it didn’t seem to help the cause. “Sorry. As I said, we’re booked solid. There’s just one reservation for your party.”
Lily frowned. “But I was told we’d have two single rooms. Adjoining.”
“I’m sorry, miss. There’s nothing I can do.”
“I can check into the other hotel,” Xander told Lily. “No biggie.”
Lily shook her head. “No way. We’ll bunk together.”
“You sure?” he asked. Innocently. As if he hadn’t been hoping she’d say exactly that. Sharing a room with Lily tonight? Just what he wanted.
Sometimes a guy needed time to think while the object of his confusion was right there.
“Of course.” She leaned toward the woman behind the desk. “Please tell me the bed is at least a full size and not a twin?”
“It’s a full,” she assured her with a smile.
Xander nodded at Lily. “Well, there you go. Room for us both.” Except Xander was six foot two and a hundred eighty pounds. He hadn’t slept in a full-size bed since middle school.
Once they were registered—and Xander insisted on handing over his credit card—they went to the elevator. Lily was quiet on the ride up, probably a little uncomfortable about sharing a room after all that had happened between them—and not happened—so he held both their bags and let her have her thoughts.
“You’re sure you’re okay with sharing a room?” he asked as he led the way to a door marked 521. “I can be back and forth in a flash. Two miles is nothing.”
The truth? Two miles was forever when it came to being near Lily. He could barely stand being away from her back home.
“It’s fine,” she said. “We’re...whatever we are. I can handle one night. You’ll just stay far on your side of the bed.”
“Scout’s honor,” he said, holding up the three-fingered symbol.
Unless neither of them would be able to resist the other and a twin bed would have suited just fine, he thought.
The room was tiny. Barely enough space for the bed, which sure looked small, a dresser with a TV over it, a desk and chair in the corner, and a small bathroom but a jetted tub. He’d definitely take advantage of that.
While Lily unpacked her bag, he opened up the curtains. They did have a view of the mountains. Way off in the distance, but they were majestic and beautiful. He could stare at mountain peaks all day.
“So, what should we do tonight?” she asked. “There’s a restaurant in the hotel or we could go explore Kalispell. There are some great restaurants.”
“Let’s explore,” he said.
She smiled. “Just give me five minutes to change.”
He was wearing a button-down shirt and his nice jeans, so thought he’d just stay in that. He went over to the full-length mirror on the wall by the bathroom and gave his hair a tousle, smoothed his shirt and then went back over to the window to look at the mountains of Glacier National Park.
“All ready,” Lily said, coming out of the bathroom.
He turned toward her and gaped. Holy cannoli.
Humina, humina, humina.
She wore a sleeveless black minidress with a V-neck, a delicate gold necklace dangling in just the hint of cleavage. Sexy did not begin to describe how she looked. Her gorgeous red hair was sleek past her shoulders, and her slightly shimmery red lips beckoned him close.
All of a sudden he realized he was standing a foot in front of her. Staring.
“You surprise me constantly,” he whispered. “There are so many facets to you and I love them all.”
“Do you?” she whispered back.
He’d tripped a bit on the word love once it had left his mouth. But he’d meant it and nodded. “You’re amazing, Lily Hunt.”
She smiled and now it was her eyes that were shimmering. “You always know what to say. It’s what I love about you.”
“Well, I don’t say what I don’t mean.”
She squeezed his hand and then headed for the door as if she needed to escape this conversation, and he understood why. He was confusing. He was confusing her. And he hated that about himself. His words, his actions very clearly said something about how he felt about Lily. But he seemed to be ruled by a very stubborn brain that had called a halt to letting him really feel all that she engendered in him.
They left the hotel and drove to downtown Kalispell, a very different town than Rust Creek Falls. Home barely had five hundred residents. Kalispell around twenty thousand. The streets were bustling with tourists and residents, heading into the many shops and restaurants.
Xander parked in a public lot, and they started toward the main drag. “Thai?” he suggested, pointing across the street. “Italian? Japanese?”
“You know what I’m dying for? Barbecue. Or chili. Something that sticks to your ribs.”
“Say no more. My brother Hunter told me about a new American place that has both. Montana Hots, it’s called.” He did a search on his phone. “Just four blocks up.”
She smiled and wrapped her arm around his. “Gorgeous night. It’s fun getting out of Rust Creek Falls, though I love it there. All these people and the different shops and eateries. Sure is exciting.”
“I agree,” he said, opening the door to Montana Hots. The place was pretty big so there wasn’t a wait. They decided on a table outside with huge planters of flowers creating a barrier to the next restaurant.
Lily ordered Grandma Cheyenne’s Blue-Ribbon Chili. Xander went for the ribs, which came with way too many sides, but he never passed up garlic mashed potatoes and coleslaw.
“I wonder if one day I’ll have a place like this,” she said once the waitress left. “I always thought I’d have a restaurant of my own. But I’ll tell ya, when my client, Mr. Parster, said I should be cooking for the town as a personal chef, something just lit up inside me like a firecracker. I instantly knew that’s what I want to do right now. Have my own business, cook to order, develop a clientele. Maybe five years down the road, I’ll seriously think about a restaurant.”
The waitress returned with their drinks, two spiked lemonades.
“You can definitely count on seven hungry Crawfords being on that client list,” he said. “So if I want a rib eye steak and roast potatoes delivered to my home, all I have to do is text you?”
“Yup. I’ll do meals on call, but I’m also planning a meal kit business. I provide the ingredients, all wrapped up, and cooking instructions, so there’s no shopping or measuring necessary. An easy-to-make meal for two or four or six. I’ll have a rotating menu. I’ll also have a menu for all dietary plans. Gluten free, vegan, vegetarian, low-carb, you name it. Lily’s Home Cookin’. That’s what I’m naming my busine
ss.”
“Lily’s Home Cookin’. I could have that every day. And most likely will.”
She held up her lemonade with a smile, and he clinked their glasses.
Suddenly he pictured himself sitting at a table in a house, their house, about to gobble up whatever incredible dish his Best Chef in Montana had dreamed up.
Their house.
Sometimes, when he thought of him and Lily that way, in a fantasy way, he didn’t get all tied up in knots over the reality. Sometimes, it just felt right.
Their entrées were served, his ribs incredible and Lily’s chili, which she held up to his mouth in a big spoonful, equally delicious. They talked about their own grandmas’ chili, though in Xander’s case, it was Grandpa’s chili that everyone in the family lined up for when they got together. They talked about her hopes for Lily’s Home Cookin’, and then Lily said something that had him practically choking on his garlic mashed potatoes.
“I think in about six months, once my business is in a good groove, I’ll be able to focus on my personal life. I’ve really ignored it for far too long.”
He paused, his fork hovering in midair. “Your personal life? What do you mean?”
“Well, my love life. I might be young, Xander, but I’m an old soul. I think, anyway. I’m ready to settle down. Find my guy. The man I’m meant to be with forever.”
He swallowed, the dry lump going down hard.
“I may even ask Viv Dalton to set me up.” She smiled and took a spoonful of her chili, then tore off some corn bread.
How could she eat at a time like this?
When she was talking about finding a husband. Another man. Not him.
He was not ready to let her go.
But he wasn’t ready for anything else, either.
Cripes.
Luckily, she changed the subject to corn bread and how her dad always made it on Sundays. “Even when we all realized I was a really good cook, he still insisted on making the Sunday corn bread the way my mom used to. I love that.”
Rust Creek Falls Cinderella Page 15