Frosting
1 pound semisweet chocolate, chopped and melted
2 cups sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon salt
Blend together until smooth and creamy. Frost the top of one round, place the other round over the top, and frost the entire cake. Refrigerate for no less than 1 hour before serving. Serve with a dollop of whipped Corey—err, cream.
Corey Edwards gave an internal groan when he saw her walk into the kitchen. Sure, she was adorable. He’d give her that. Petite in height, she came right up to the top of his shoulder when she stood next to him. And forget that short blond hair that framed her angelic face or that curvaceous figure of hers that would make any guy drool. But not this guy. Nuh-uh, not this guy! He was too smart to fall for that. She wasn’t fooling him with that appealing smile that curved just at the right angles and made her caramel-colored eyes sparkle. No. It wasn’t happening. He didn’t care how many times she batted those long, thick lashes; he would not be drawn into her world. Not this time. She was a woman, and women couldn’t be trusted.
Corey scrubbed a hand over his face trying to ignore the fact that Gabi was even in the room. “Yeah, how’s that going for you, bud?” his subconscious mind asked. “No,” he mentally shouted. Even being remotely interested in her was not an option. He’d already been involved with one pretty little thing and look where that got him. In a very deep hole that he was having a hard time getting out of.
Sure, Victoria Brenner had the same kind of cuteness this broad did, and it had been way too easy to fall in love with her. The New York Times had even labeled them a power couple. He shook his head. Their friends were envious. She had a budding career in journalism; he had a restaurant on the rise in the heart of Manhattan. Corey swallowed hard, the bitter pain still chiseling away inside his chest as he remembered the day he closed the doors at Le Petit Chateau and walked away. It had been the hardest thing he’d ever had to do—to walk away from a dream. It had been Victoria’s restaurant review and her gossip behind his back that had slowly destroyed what he’d painstakingly built. He still couldn’t believe she could do something so mean, but she had done it to get even with him because he’d broken it off with her. She’d been pushing the marriage card a little too hard for his taste. Corey shook his head, unable to understand. At the time he’d asked her to be patient and she seemed fine with it, but she must have spoken to her friends or someone, because she started placing demands on him and that’s when he’d decided she wasn’t the right woman for him after all. After growing up with demanding parents, he wasn’t looking for a wife like his mother.
And that’s what had brought him to New Hope. He liked the name, and it did give him new hope that he could rebuild his dream without the influences of New York City or anyone who knew him. But now it was this broad who had put the kibosh on him buying the place from the Carters. The fact that she’d be his boss was really sticking in his craw. Yeah, just what he needed, another woman making demands on him. He released a heavy sigh, annoyed that he’d done a two-step trying to get the Carters to float a loan for him. He’d been banking on them helping him get back on his feet, but they’d sold the place without so much as a warning. He could feel the tension building in his shoulders. He raised them up and down a few times trying to alleviate the tightness. In fairness, he couldn’t really fault the Carters for refusing. Having a bankruptcy on his credit record didn’t make him a good credit risk. Gabi’s voice cut into his thoughts, causing him to glance her way as she conversed with Leslie. Resentment filled him.
No. Getting close or trusting another woman was not in the cards for him—not anymore.
Joey leaned over. “Pretty little thing, isn’t she?”
“Yeah? You really think so?”
“Are you blind?”
“No, just weary of cute little things who walk in and out of your life. If she’s who you’re after, watch before you leap.”
“I didn’t say anything about being after her, man!” Joey shot back. “I said she was a pretty thing, and having someone who appears to be enthusiastic is just what this place needs. Fresh eyes and someone who’s excited about having her own place will promote harmony in the kitchen,” he mumbled. “We’ve never had that with Nell or John.” Joey grinned as he cut the fat off a large roast. “Yeah, I’m looking forward to having a new boss.”
“I guess you have a point there, but I don’t like working for women. Fortunately, I dealt very little with Nell, except when she had a bug up her patootie.”
“Yeah, well, I guess you’re about to get used to it if you want to keep your job.”
Gabi groaned from exhaustion as she eased her aching body into bed. Despite the ache filling her body, the excitement still bubbled inside her over having a productive day. She gave a deep sigh of satisfaction and allowed the tension to release into the mattress as she stared at the ceiling and recapped the day. The filtered light peeking through the small opening between the drapes reflected on the ceiling and seemed to dance to the beat of her heart. She smiled to herself, remembering the childhood games she and her sister would play when they were too excited to sleep. She rolled over into a more comfortable position. She’d forgotten what hard work felt like. But this was a different kind of tired, one that said fulfillment was back on the rise in her life.
Her mind switched to Leslie. Teaching a member of her staff in her restaurant was quite different than teaching at the Kitchen Widget. She released a giggle and repeated the words again, her restaurant. She never thought she would say that. Fortunately, Nell had offered to hold the loan, although she had asked her not to divulge it to anyone. Gabi assumed it had something to do with Corey, but she wasn’t sure. It was obvious he carried around a great deal of baggage, but she hoped she could change that in time. Unless they could find some common ground on which to work, she’d have to let him go. Although, having eye candy around would make the day less daunting as she got back into the swing of things. And right now, she didn’t want to fire him or anyone else, because she needed every one of them to help her keep this business on its feet.
Corey’s Angry Man Spiced Chicken with Cranberry Bourbon Sauce
2 teaspoons olive oil
4 six-ounce boneless chicken breasts
Spice Rub
¼ cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 tablespoons garam masala
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
Sauce
3 cups whole cranberries
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
1 piece lemon zest, left whole
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon dry mustard
3 tablespoons bourbon
Prepare the spice rub by placing all the ingredients into a large plastic bag. Having a cute female boss is like rubbing spice into that open wound of yours. Rub more and feel the burn.
Remove all the fat and sinew from the chicken breasts and place on a cutting board. Using a mallet, place a plastic bag over the head. No, not her head, the mallet’s head, dummy! But feel free to picture your ex’s face as you pound the chicken breasts to a 1/2-inch thickness using the flat side of the mallet. Add chicken breasts to the spice bag one at a time to coat each piece with the seasoning.
In a large frying pan, melt the butter and oil and place the breasts into the pan, but avoid crowding. If only your new boss knew a thing or two about not overcrowding a kitchen. Cover and keep warm in a closed microwave oven.
Measure out 3 cups cranberries and add to a 3-quart saucepan, add the brown sugar, water, and lemon zest. Bring to a boil and allow it to simmer for 5 minutes to thicken. Remove from the heat and remove the piece of zest, then stir in the 2 tablespoons of the bourbon. Take the third tablespoon for yourself to take the edge off. Serves 4. Ladle the sauce over the top of the chicken.
&n
bsp; Gabi awoke when she heard kids running down the hall and the subsequent stern voice of a parent telling them to be quiet. She grabbed her pillow and buried her head under it to block out the noise. After a few minutes, she glanced at the clock and decided it was time to get up. Time had really marched on. She was at the end of her first month in New Hope, and found herself getting back into the swing of things rather nicely. Her comfort with being back in the hustle-bustle again had been just like riding a bike—she hadn’t forgotten. She checked the clock and rushed to take a fast shower and dress to begin her day.
Entering the kitchen an hour later, she waved to Steven, who was busy chopping garnishes for the day’s grill menu. Corey never even looked up as he pulled the movable rack of trays closer to his workstation and unloaded the square, stainless steel canisters filled with garnishes. Leslie had not yet arrived.
“How is everyone this morning?” Gabi asked.
“Too busy to talk,” Corey snapped and dismissed her with a turn of his head. “Grab those butternut squash for me, Joey, will you?”
Anger seeped inside Gabi’s chest, but she decided he wasn’t going to ruin her day, and she continued talking to Joey, who was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Being angry was exactly what Corey wanted, and she wasn’t about to fall into that trap.
“I’m not too busy to talk,” Leslie said, walking up behind her. “It’s a beautiful morning outside, and I’m ready to greet the day with a head full of ideas.”
“Super, Les!” She stopped in front of Corey’s station. “Where would you like me to work today?”
“Stick with Leslie.”
“Okay. That’s fine.” She turned to Leslie, who was hanging her coat on the rack. “I need to meet with Nell in a few minutes, but I’ll be right there as soon as I’m done.”
“Okay,” she said. “Shall I start making the syrup for the sorbet for tonight?”
“Good idea.”
Corey gave both of them a dirty look and continued walking in the opposite direction. Gabi wanted to say something to him but decided talking to Nell first was probably a better idea. Walking through the double doors, she found Nell engrossed in a conversation with a guest at the inn. Nell spotted Gabi and called her over.
“Mr. and Mrs. Boyd, I’d like you to meet Gabi Johnson, the new owner of Carters’.” Gabi extended her hand.
“Very pleased to meet you. I hope your accommodations are satisfactory,” Gabi said.
“Oh,” Mrs. Boyd said, flinging her hand in the air, “we’ve been coming here for years. Accommodations are always good… but we sure hope you’re not going to make too many changes. We’d hate to stop coming here.”
Despite the angst sailing through her, Gabi understood frequent guests, especially those who were older and had been coming to the place for years, would not like change. She respected that.
The woman turned to her husband. “Are you ready, Roy?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“We’re meeting our son for breakfast.”
“Have a good day,” Gabi said. As she watched them exit the building, she turned to Nell. “We need to talk.”
“Okay. You look troubled.”
“I am… it’s Corey.”
“Hmm, I worried that might be a problem.”
“Okay, so let’s talk about it,” Gabi said, gesturing toward the dining room.
“Want some coffee?” Nell asked. Gabi nodded. Nell filled two cups and walked them over to the table.
“What do you know about him?” Nell asked, sitting down. “Anything?”
“No. I told you I actually met him my first full day in New Hope, at Cupcakes.”
“So you did know him?”
“No. Met is a relative term. I have to be honest. When I saw him walk into Cupcakes, his good looks did catch my attention, and I guess I was gawking. I don’t know,” she grinned. “That’s when he practically chopped my head off. I figured he was in a bad mood and let it go, never expecting to see him again.” Gabi snorted. “Imagine my surprise when you introduced him as the sous-chef.”
“Which explains that surprised look on your face when I introduced you to the staff. Yeah, he can be a little flippant, but sometimes you have to bite your tongue. He’s a good worker and that’s why I’ve kept him. I did worry he’d be resentful of the new owner,” she said, lowering her voice. “I worry I led him on a bit when it came to him purchasing the inn. I did originally tell him no, then he convinced me to think about it, but John and I ultimately decided it would be a bad decision because… well, I don’t want to get into personal information with you, but let’s just say, he’s too much of a risk.” Nell sipped her coffee. “Anyway,” she continued, “I’ve been meaning to tell you how impressed we were with your parents. They must have a lot of faith in you to put their house up as collateral. Oh, and my attorney thinks we’re going to be closing sooner, rather than later.”
Gabi’s stomach clenched at the thought. “Thanks for the heads-up. And yes, I’m very lucky to have such wonderful parents. And it’s important to me to never let them down.”
Gabi pushed on the double doors and entered the kitchen. Corey stood behind his station chopping garnishes. He never looked up, but she could see the sourpuss look on his face. It appeared she had a bigger challenge than she thought.
Gabi dragged herself through the motel lobby and shuffled down the hall to the elevator, rode it up to her floor and meandered down the hall to her room. Using the key card, she unlocked the door and flopped down on the bed to regroup before calling her parents. Ten minutes later, with nervous anxiety tightening in her stomach, she keyed in her parents’ phone number. She was happy, yet the anticipation of getting her dad’s approval meant everything to her. She heard his voice.
“Hey, Dad, how are you guys doing?”
“I wondered when you’d be calling. What’s going on?”
“It’s been very busy.”
“That’s a good sign, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. Did Mr. Rosenfarb call today?”
“No. Why?”
“Nell told me we’d probably be closing soon.”
“It’s never too late to back out if you’re not sure. Are you?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
“Okay, then that’s good enough for me.”
“I promise, I won’t let you and Mom down.”
“I know you won’t. Okay, I’ll talk to Rosenfarb tomorrow and I’ll get a definite date.”
“Thanks, Dad. I love you.”
“I love you too, sweetie. Here’s your mom.”
Walking into the kitchen this morning, Gabi felt completely different, knowing things were in the final stages and she was going to close the deal soon. She turned when Corey barreled into the kitchen and mumbled an aloof “Good morning.” Unable to tolerate his expression, she decided today was the day to break down his exterior armor and ask some pointed questions.
“Are you always this depressed?”
“Who said I was depressed? I’m just not a talker in the mornings.”
“You’re not much of a talker anytime during the day.” She looked around the kitchen to make sure they were alone. “Look, it’s just the two of us in here. What’s really going on? What did I do to make you dislike me so much?”
“I don’t dislike you. I just don’t like working with women.”
She jerked her head back. “Is that a fact!” she retorted abruptly.
“Sorry,” he said, “but that’s the way I feel. Women don’t belong in a restaurant kitchen.”
“Whoa! That was a sexist comment.”
“Perhaps… but you asked.”
“That’s an old-school mentality. This isn’t Julia Child’s era. For you to perpetuate that mentality is pathetic.” She eyed him quizzically. “Or is there something else that’s causing you to believe such archaic gibberish?”
“This is a pointless conversation,” he said. “We all need to get to work.”
An
noyed by his attitude, she shook her head at the absurdity and walked to her station to begin prepping for the day’s desserts.
Corey’s Poker Face Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
1 stick butter
3 pounds butternut squash, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
3 tablespoons brown sugar
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
4 ounces butter
2 stalks celery, diced
2 carrots, cubed
1 medium onion, chopped
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups chicken stock
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup heavy cream
½ cup sunflower seeds, toasted
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Cut the squash lengthwise, being careful not to slice your finger. Blood is not an ingredient in this soup. Remove the seeds and hairy stuff inside the squash and discard both, along with any ideas you have about your cute boss, especially if she buys the place right out from under you. This latest event is one more confirmation that you can’t trust women. Not Nell, not this broad, none of them. And you’re too steamed right now to try to charm this one into your way of thinking about letting you continue to run the show. But you might try softening your expression from a poker face to a smile. You still haven’t learned you get more flies with honey!
Now peel the skin from the squash and cut it into bite-size pieces. Place on a large sheet pan.
Using a saucepan, melt the butter until foamy. Add the brown sugar and vinegar and blend until thoroughly mixed. It’s a good reminder about how mixed up you are when it comes to most things. Pour contents over the top of squash and toss to coat evenly. Place in preheated oven for 45 minutes, tossing halfway through and roasting until caramelized.
Catering to Love Page 5