thriller movie. Marianne knew that anyone who pegged Zania as an airhead had a nasty surprise coming; she absolutely knew how to market herself. In all ways.
However, hinting to the actress that there was a chance of some woman-on-woman bonding that would allow Zania to prove just who was the “ultimate female among women” offered real possibilities for leveraging the star’s vote. It definitely looked as if she’d bought into Marianne’s careful seasoning of her performance with hints and suggestions.
Marianne’s own tastes however, were for the second guest judge; the professional chef.
Harold Merritt, with his Michelin-starred Chicago’s Merritt restaurant, was both very handsome and notoriously single. Win or lose, she’d make a point of chatting him up after the show. All that broad chest and short dark crew cut gave him a deliciously tough look; she could find many uses for him outside the kitchen, or in it—a little oil, two bodies, maybe some chocolate sauce…
A careful peek from behind the screen of the jet-black dyed bangs of her blond hair revealed Zania and Harold were staring hard at their monitors of the show’s live feed rather than gazing benignly over the competition kitchen floor. Their attention was right where Marianne wanted it. On her.
The head judge was a different problem.
Kate Stark—the number one slotted television chef on any network, not just the one she owned—also watched the monitor, but with a slightly amused smile that Marianne would pay a lot to understand. Kate with her direct blue eyes and straight brunette hair that brushed her shoulders and framed the well-defined cheekbones, and aquiline nose that made her one of the most attractive faces in television, cooking or not.
She was a notoriously deadpan judge, at least on this show, so that wry smile must mean something.
For good or ill, Marianne would not find the answer this side of the judge’s table.
The camera that was spying down her jacket still hadn’t wavered, so Marianne “accidentally” dribbled a large dollop of the orange-chocolate ganache onto the back of her hand. She licked it clean as if too hurried to wipe it away, making sure the camera could see the pleasure on her face at the success of her own work without losing the angle on her blouse.
Damn! It really was good. Marianne would win on taste alone. But she’d have to play the meal presentation very carefully, spiking the odds even further in her favor with both of the two guest judges.
The competition buzzer sounded as she shaved the last of the zest of a blood orange using a nutmeg rasp. Even as Marianne held up her hands to show she was done, the camera focused in on the cloud of orange dust still sprinkling down like the first snowflakes.
Her shiny dark green satin blouse made a perfect backdrop, which had “somehow” slipped out of another button. Somehow…because she’d enlarged the buttonhole last night to ensure that the button popped when she raised her arms.
Nailed it.
She had to close her eyes for a moment to steady herself.
Light-headed.
She needed to eat.
Her normal technique of shrugging it off didn’t work. Even lowering her arms and subtly bracing herself against the table didn’t help clear her head.
Her hands were shaking.
Her hands never shook.
Franco Lamar cursed.
The damned bitch wasn’t supposed to taste her own food, not that big teasing lick off the back of her hand anyway. A small taste and she’d have been fine. For a while. Long enough anyway.
Now he could see Marianne Rimaldi wavering from where he and his men lurked in the shadows of the television studio, far behind the judges’ table and well clear of any camera’s eye.
Bitch was really pissing him off.
He held his breath, keeping his men in place. He had a Plan B, but he hated when that happened. Especially because he didn’t have a Plan C.
One Chef is available at fine retailers everywhere.
Click this link now: Ghostrider
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About the Author
USA Today and Amazon #1 Bestseller M. L. “Matt” Buchman started writing on a flight south from Japan to ride his bicycle across the Australian Outback. Just part of a solo around-the-world trip that ultimately launched his writing career.
From the very beginning, his powerful female heroines insisted on putting character first, then a great adventure. He’s since written over 60 action-adventure thrillers and military romantic suspense novels. And just for the fun of it: 100 short stories, and a fast-growing pile of read-by-author audiobooks.
Booklist says: “3X Top 10 of the Year.” PW says: “Tom Clancy fans open to a strong female lead will clamor for more.” His fans say: “I want more now…of everything.” That his characters are even more insistent than his fans is a hoot.
As a 30-year project manager with a geophysics degree who has designed and built houses, flown and jumped out of planes, and solo-sailed a 50’ ketch, he is awed by what is possible. More at: www.mlbuchman.com.
Also by M. L. Buchman
* also in audio
Thrillers
Dead Chef
One Chef!
Two Chef!
Miranda Chase NTSB
Drone*
Thunderbolt*
Condor*
Ghostrider*
Romantic Suspense
Delta Force
Target Engaged*
Heart Strike*
Wild Justice*
Midnight Trust*
Firehawks
Main Flight
Pure Heat
Full Blaze
Hot Point*
Flash of Fire*
Wild Fire
Smokejumpers
Wildfire at Dawn
Wildfire at Larch Creek
Wildfire on the Skagit
The Night Stalkers
Main Flight
The Night Is Mine
I Own the Dawn
Wait Until Dark
Take Over at Midnight
Light Up the Night
Bring On the Dusk
By Break of Day
and the Navy
Christmas at Steel Beach
Christmas at Peleliu Cove
White House Holiday
Daniel’s Christmas*
Frank’s Independence Day*
Peter’s Christmas*
Zachary’s Christmas*
Roy’s Independence Day*
Damien’s Christmas*
5E
Target of the Heart
Target Lock on Love
Target of Mine
Target of One’s Own
Shadow Force: Psi (coming soon)
At the Slightest Sound*
At the Softest Word*
White House Protection Force
Off the Leash*
On Your Mark*
In the Weeds*
Contemporary Romance
Eagle Cove
Return to Eagle Cove
Recipe for Eagle Cove
Longing for Eagle Cove
Keepsake for Eagle Cove
Henderson’s Ranch
Nathan’s Big Sky*
Big Sky, Loyal Heart*
Love Abroad B&B
Heart of the Cotswolds: England
Path of Love: Cinque Terre, Italy
Where Dreams
Where Dreams are Born
Where Dreams Reside
Where Dreams Are of Christmas*
Where Dreams Unfold
Where Dreams Are Written
Science Fiction / Fantasy
Deities Anonymous
Cookbook from Hell: Reheated
Saviors 101
SF/F Titles
The Nara Reaction
Monk’s Maze
The Me and Elsie Chronicles
Non-Fiction
Strategies for Success
Managing Your Inner Artist / Writer
Estate Planning for Authors*
Character Voice
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Copyright 2020 Matthew Lieber Buchman
Published by Buchman Bookworks, Inc.
All rights reserved.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the author.
Receive a free book and discover more by this author at: www.mlbuchman.com
Cover images:
Hercules with flares © Senior Airman Julianne Show
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