CHEF'S DELIGHT

Chapter 2 – Luke Davies

"Hey, Luke, we'll be on air in 10 minutes. Get ready." Mike, my director, informed me. I nodded and straightened my apron. I have been doing the show for three years now, and my restaurant 'Chef's Delight' also opened the same year.

Now I am planning to open other branches across the state, and the only way to promote my restaurants is through this TV show, Luke's Kitchen.

I showcased my expertise every night and have gained a massive fan base and viewers. I am half french, which is why my specialties are pasta.

I started from humble beginnings. My mom raised me on her own after my father died when I was eight. I am the most elusive bachelor in the state, as tagged, and it is fine with me. 

It doesn't mean I'm not interested in women. I have women warming my bed every night, but I have no plans of committing to someone just yet. I want to enjoy my freedom, I am still 28 years old, and I have no intention of tying the knot soon.

No woman has caught my interest at this moment, and I have no plans of looking for one. If it's time, I will know. Mike gave me the cue, so I put my game face on. 

The show went smoothly, and after an hour, everyone was out of my house. I chose to do the show in my house to give it a homey feel.

I feel more comfortable cooking in my kitchen rather than in a make-believe kitchen at the studio.

I bought this penthouse a year after I first aired my show. My mom chose to stay back in France in our old house. She said she wanted to be closer to dad's memories and doesn't want to leave the home they built together.

I quickly took a shower after I cleaned my kitchen. I have to be at my restaurant in an hour. Although I have a chef and a sous chef, I still want to check on them from time to time.

If I don't have to shoot for my show, I am always at the restaurant, cooking or discovering new flavors and menus. Our restaurant is famous for its three best-selling pasta.

The first signature dish is the Pissaladière Pasta. It is like pizza with a nest of sweet, burnished onions overlaid with anchovies and olive studs, atop a focaccia-like dough. Salty like the sea, with a touch of sweetness. 

The second famous dish is the French Pistou Sauce Pasta. It is creamy and so fragrant that the patrons kept coming back for more. The French Pistou is a Provençal sauce made from garlic, fresh basil, and olive oil.

Our third best-selling pasta is the Creamy French Onion Pasta. It is a French onion soup that meets spaghetti carbonara. It's creamy, cheesy, and packed with sweet caramelized onion flavor. 

I researched different flavors to add to our list of signature dishes, but I keep our traditional French Pasta recipes.

Antoine, my chef, and friend from London help me a lot, especially when the show takes longer than necessary. When I decided to open a restaurant, he was the first person I contacted.

We met in London at a culinary school and have been friends ever since. He was so excited when I contacted him and flew to New York the next day.

He is three years older than me, divorced with one daughter. The call he received from me was the salvation he needed. His ex-wife left him and took their five years old daughter with her.

After the divorce, the court granted his request for visitation rights. When he decided to come to New York, he never missed a day of calling his daughter.

I reached the restaurant and parked in my parking space. As usual, there's a crowd outside waiting for their turn to get in. They didn't notice me yet, which is a good thing. 

I strolled towards the crowd and kept my head low so that they won't notice me. I was about to squeeze in when a woman came tumbling towards me. 

I caught her on time before she fell to the ground. Somebody pushed her out of the line that made her stepped back and lost balance. I held her by the waist, and she fell backward right to my chest.

She's wearing a tight red dress that accentuated her curvy figure and showed her long creamy legs. She felt so soft and smelled delicious.

I looked down at her the exact moment she looked up at me. I caught my breath, staring at the most beautiful and expressive deep set of hazel eyes.

I felt her stiffen, and her face turned red. She knows who I am, that's for sure. I am still holding her firmly to me when I felt her trying to separate her body from mine.

" Are you okay, Miss?" I asked her. I let her distance herself from me, but I am still holding her arms. I find it hard to let go of her, which is weird. I never felt this kind of emotion towards any woman I've met or dated.

Why do I feel so protective of her? I don't even know her. I have to admit, she's beautiful. Her red lips look so soft and inviting. How I wanted to taste that luscious lips.

" Ahm, yeah, thanks for catching me, Mr. Davies." She answered shyly. She is still blushing, and I find it cute and sexy at the same time.

" Are you trying to get in?" I asked her again.

" Try is the right word, but with this crowd, I'll probably starve before we can get a table." She laughed awkwardly and pointed at the crowd behind her.

" Oh, you're with someone?" I was disappointed with the possibility that she may be here with a guy.

" Yeah, I'm with my two best friends. I don't know where they are now, honestly. I got left behind when someone pushed me a while ago. Your restaurant is quite popular." She replied, and I can't help but grin when I heard her say she's with her best friends.

" Do you want to come in with me? It's the least I could do. You almost had an accident, and I feel responsible for that." I offered my hand to her. I saw her eyes grow wide, and she stared at me with shock.

" Can I? Are you sure? These people might get angry." She looked back at the crowd, who are still oblivious that I am around.

" Why not? I do own the restaurant, so I can do whatever I want. Come on, take my hand and keep your head low. We'll look for your friends once we're inside." I grabbed her hand and dragged her to the front.

When we reached the door, the waiter that's guarding the entrance saw me and opened the door right away. The crowd went wild when they realized it was me. 

I rushed inside, dragging the beautiful woman behind me. Once we're inside, I faced her and looked at her with worry.

" Are you okay? They didn't grab your hair, did they?' I joked, which made her giggle. God! I love that sound.

" Fortunately, you dragged me in faster than they can get their hands on me." She answered with a smile, and my heart skipped a beat. What is wrong with me? I am acting like a teenage fool staring at his crush.

" So, do you find your friends anywhere? Or should I ask a waiter to give you a table?" I asked her. She automatically scanned the place and grinned when she saw the two women sitting at the far end of the restaurant. 

The two waved her forward, but when they saw me, their mouths hanged open and looked from her to me with wide eyes. She waved back at them and turned to face me.

" Thank you again, Mr. Davies, for your help and for letting me in with no scratch." She gave her sweet smile again, and I felt like I won the lottery. God, this woman is dangerous. She can make me fall to my feet with just one smile. I have to keep my cool and up my guard.

" My pleasure, Miss?" I raised my brow, trying to fish for information from her. I need to know her name so that I can stalk her later. I need to learn more about her.

" Morgan. Stacy Morgan. It's a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Davies." She said.

" Please, call me Luke, and the pleasure is mine, Stacy. I hope I can see you again. Enjoy your lunch with your friends, and the drinks are on me." I kissed the back of her hand before leaving her there, blushing again. 

Stacy Morgan. Who are you? I will ask around about her. She is the first woman ever to make me feel jittery and excited at the same time. I had a massive boner ever since I felt her soft body to mine. I have to have her! The sooner, the better!