Fae-ted to the Bear - Harmony Raines Page 0,30

turned around to face him, her eyes misted with tears. “And I want the same for you.”

“We’re quite the dysfunctional pair, aren’t we?” He brushed a stray strand of hair back from her face. “Good luck.”

“Have a good morning, Karros. I’ll see you later.” She backed away from him before swinging around and hurrying to the car.

As she drove to town, she focused on letting go of all the tension in her body. She could do this, she had the experience and the expertise. Sure, she might make mistakes, but nothing too serious. It was breakfast.

“Only breakfast.”

Wishing Moon Bay was quiet as she drove along the beachfront and then turned toward the hotel. She could have taken a quicker route and avoided the ocean front but the view of the early morning rays sparkling off the waves as the sun rose above the mountains was worth it.

She loved the fae realm, but this town was just as beautiful in so many ways.

Perhaps her love for the town was enhanced by her feelings for a certain bear shifter. Caleb had touched her life and her heart. Even though they’d only met yesterday, she hated the idea of losing him, of him not being a part of her life.

Parking the car outside the hotel, she checked her reflection in the rearview mirror and smoothed her hair back over her head before pulling her ponytail tighter. Time to go inside.

She opened the car door and got out, breathing in the cold morning air as she turned her face to the sun. Its weak rays held the promise of a beautiful day. By the time the breakfast shift was over, the air would be warm and the light bright.

Elise loved this time of day when there was so much promise in the air.

She leaned into the car and grabbed her purse before heading around the side of the hotel to the door leading into the kitchen. Or maybe she was expected to go through the reception area. Straightening her back, she kept her composure, her ponytail swinging as she reached the kitchen door, which stood open.

“Ah, you’re here.” Ivan was mixing a big bowl of batter. “I wondered if you might have changed your mind.”

“Why would I?” Elise asked.

“I thought you might have had second thoughts about working with a dragon shifter.” His eyes glinted as he went back to stirring the batter.

“I’m here to prove that dragon shifters and fae can get along.” She looked around. “Is there somewhere I can put my purse?”

“Sure, if you go through that door there, there are a bunch of lockers. Pick one and put your stuff in there.” He watched her as she obeyed his instructions, while also whisking the batter smooth.

Elise put her belongings in a locker and closed the door. Before she went back into the kitchen, she washed her hands thoroughly. Good hygiene was as important as good food, one of her cooking teachers had told her.

“I’m ready. What do you want me to do?” Elise noted there were a couple of servers who were drifting in and out of the kitchen through the door that connected to the dining area of the restaurant. They were busy preparing the tables for breakfast, placing pitchers of orange juice on a long buffet table, along with butter and various jams and honey.

They were also taking a good deal of notice of Elise.

“Can you make a fresh pot of coffee?” Ivan asked.

“Coffee?” She nodded as she spotted the coffee pot on the counter. “Sure.”

Coffee wasn’t exactly what she’d expected to make on her first day. However, one of the other rules she’d learned was that if you wanted to make a good impression, you did as the chef told you. No arguments.

Chefs could be temperamental at times, their kitchen was their domain.

A dragon’s domain. At least it beat being in a dragon’s lair.

“Coffee.” She held up the refilled coffee pot. “Do you want a cup?”

“Yes, please.” Ivan put a ladle into the batter mixture and lifted it, letting the liquid pour off with a grunt of satisfaction. “Can you cook the pancakes?”

“Sure.” She handed him a cup of coffee, which he sniffed before taking a sip.

“This is good.” Ivan eyed her over the rim of the cup. “You know I only hired you because of Caleb.”

She nodded. “I do. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to work really hard. I’ll prove to you I’m worthy.”

“You’d better. This is my kitchen and I have a reputation I