Page 56 of The Village Inn of Secret Dream

‘We’ll just give his mum a call and then you’re on,’ said Del, tugging Brad over to a far corner as he brought out his phone. ‘She’s going to be made up that you’ve got a job at last. Especially one working for Todd Kennedy’s son.’

‘Who?’ asked Brad.

Del rolled his eyes. ‘Youth of today,’ he muttered before turning back to his nephew. ‘He was a famous guitarist, lad.’

Brad shrugged his shoulders. ‘I only listen to rap.’

‘Of course you do,’ said Del, blowing out a long sigh.

Pete and Belle walked back to the bar in silence before he turned to look at her with raised eyebrows.

‘What have I done?’ he asked.

‘You’ve given someone a helping hand,’ she told him. ‘I don’t think you’ll regret it.’

She hoped he didn’t hear the hesitation in her voice.

‘Hmmm,’ said Pete. ‘Well, I guess time will tell.’

‘Just give him a chance,’ she urged him. ‘He looks like he needs it. And we all need a chance now and then.’

She glanced over to where Brad was muttering down the phone presumably to his mother.

As she looked back, she found Pete studying her with his green eyes.

‘What?’ she asked.

‘You’re a good person,’ he said softly, reaching out to brush a stray lock of hair out of her eyes.

She caught her breath as his fingers briefly touched her face. Her skin felt as if it were on fire.

Then he abruptly let go as Del and Brad headed over to the bar for their celebratory drinks.

And Belle was left even more bewildered than ever before by Pete.

31

There remained one last test for Brad, the new commis chef, to overcome. Unfortunately it was quite a big one, thought Belle as she introduced the young man to Andre.

Andre gave Brad a narrow-eyed stare as he looked him up and down, although it was mainly up as he was so short and Brad was quite tall.

‘Hands,’ he snapped.

Brad looked bewildered and glanced at Belle for help with wide eyes.

‘Show me your hands,’ said Andre, rolling his eyes. ‘I need to check them for cleanliness. I won’t have bad hygiene in my kitchen.’

Brad clenched his hands briefly by his side as if he was going to throw a punch at Andre. And who could blame him, thought Belle. Having only met him twice, the new chef had brought on her own daydreams of accidentally dropping a large saucepan over his head. She was hopeful that his credentials were true and that he really was a talented chef. But his people skills left an awful lot to be desired.

Finally Brad held out his hands for inspection. Andre leaned forward to study them closely before straightening up with a nod of approval.

‘Well, that at least is acceptable,’ he replied. ‘But your clothing is not.’

Brad was wearing jeans and a green sweatshirt. ‘I don’t wear this when I’m cooking,’ he said, his tone sullen. ‘I have my own chef’s jacket and trousers, of course.’

Andre’s eyebrows rose slightly, as if almost impressed. ‘I’m glad to hear it,’ he replied. ‘Now, let’s see if you are worthy of the title of being my commis chef.’

Belle felt her nostrils flare in irritation. ‘We have already employed Brad and he will be here for a three-month trial, just like you,’ she snapped.