line. The last thing I need is for Faye to get the wrong idea about Maggie and then change her mind about me and the show. I’m determined to make this happen.
“There’s no deal. Maggie’s temporary and completely impossible to train.”
“She’s a feisty one, that girl. I like her.”
Surely she’s fucking with me. “You like Maggie? Why?”
Faye chuckles. “You two are hilarious together. The energy in that kitchen was so hot today. Tell me you felt that—the chemistry.”
I squint to get a better look at the woman who has offered herself to me more times than I can count. When she stopped by the kitchen last month, I managed to see her to the door after dishing her up some leftovers from my lobster ravioli class. She’d wanted to stay. But I made a commitment to my dreams and I wasn’t about to sacrifice them by continuing to dabble in the pleasure of it all.
Now it’s my turn to chuckle because Faye must already be drunk. “That wasn’t chemistry you witnessed. That was Maggie and I expressing our intense dislike for one another.”
Faye bites her bottom lip and shakes her head. “Not buying it. And before you lie to me again, I minored in psychology. I know a bullshitter when I see one.”
I grab hold of the beer the bartender just slid in front of me and take a swig, slamming my lids together as I do. If I could only drown out the noise that has come into my life ever since Maggie Stevens appeared in it. I can’t seem to get rid of her, whether I’m physically near her or not.
I set down my beer and level my gaze at Faye. “Like I said, Maggie is a friend of a friend. She needed a job, and I needed someone to fill in while I find someone more permanent. Trust me when I tell you she’s temporary. As soon as she gets back on her feet, she’ll be out of there, and I’ll have someone more experienced.”
Faye doesn’t seem to be listening to what I’m saying. She looks to be on another train of thought completely. “Where did she come from? How do you know her?” Faye has a faraway look in her eyes that makes me squint to make sure I’m not losing my mind.
“Why?”
“Something about her just seems familiar.”
“Familiar how?”
Faye shrugs. “I swear I’ve seen her before, but I can’t place it.”
“She’s from Texas. We grew up in the same town, but I didn’t know her then. Her dad was my football coach, and now her sister is dating Zach.”
Faye’s face twists as she tries to connect all the dots. “Sounds a bit—”
“Complicated?” I answer for her. “It is, and it isn’t. But why are you so curious about her?”
Faye shakes her head like she’s trying to clear her thoughts. “Remember that hook I was looking for? Well, I think I figured it out. It’s something we haven’t talked about yet, and I can’t let go of it. What I saw up there today truly inspired me.”
“I’m listening.”
“What if we bring on a cohost? Someone who you could exchange conversation with, kind of like how you and Maggie were today? You mentioned how you didn’t want to talk directly to a camera. This solves that problem. Plus, it’s funny, catchy, sexy—perfect for the demo we’re aiming to please.”
I cringe. “I don’t know, Faye. I might teach classes of twenty at a time, but hosting a show with someone else doesn’t seem like something that would work. What if they can’t be counted on?”
“You have some trust issues, don’t you, Desmond Blake?” The way she’s searching me with her eyes sends warning flags to my brain.
“Oh no. You’re not digging into my psyche for show content. I want approval over every episode.”
“Desmond, I get it. This is your baby, your one true passion in life.” The way she dismisses all of the above like she’s heard it a million times grates on me hard. “Just look at my track record if you’re having any doubts. I would never make you look bad. That simply doesn’t benefit me.”
She rests a hand on my knee, and I have to stop myself from slipping it off and walking away.
“I hate to break this to you, Desmond, but as hot as you are, it’s just not original enough. Hot guy in an apron? Great. But it’s been done before. Our audience is smarter than that.”
“I didn’t agree to this to be some