And He Cooks Too Read Online Free Page A

of your rules too?”
    The wrinkle on the man’s square-set face rose a half inch. “Rules?”
    “I seem to have gotten off to a poor start with the executive producer by leaving these berries alone for half a minute.”
    He motioned for her to follow him to a less occupied part of the set, all the while shaking his head. “I’m Jasper Walters. Call me Jasper. I’m so sorry.”
    “Sorry?”
    “I should have been here to welcome you. Of all mornings to get tied up in traffic. Having your own driver is not the perk it’s supposed to be. The guy’s more interested in auditioning for Broadway than getting me here on time.”
    “You’re the one who hired me?” She lifted a brow, as if to suggest she was in on their little secret.
    But Jasper played it straight, extending his hand. “That’s right. Sorry we weren’t able to meet until now. And that you had to deal with Leonie before I got here to run interference.”
    “I can handle her.”
    The furrow on his forehead reappeared. “I, uh, am sure you can. But,” he momentarily glanced away, “you are aware that you’ve been hired as a production assistant?”
    “Yes.”
    “That’s not a chef.”
    She knew that. What was he getting at?
    “That means you follow orders. You don’t give them, like you did as a chef.”
    “Oh.” She knew that coming in. Nick Coltrane had gone out of his way to establish that point during their phone call. She’d just been denying that part of the job as long as she could.
    Jasper eyed her, his mouth turned down. “Is that going to be a problem?”
    She cocked her head. “Probably.” She summoned a tepid smile. “But I’ll get over it. I’ll remind myself what it was like as a student at the culinary institute where the instructors were minor gods.”
    He smiled too. “Up that a bit for Leonie. She thinks she’s a major god.”
    “Don’t worry. I’ve got her number.”
    “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
    She chuckled. “No, really. I’m here to gain TV experience.” And convince that woman she wants me on her catering team. “If that means biting my tongue, so be it.” As long as it’s only for a few months.
    “She’s actually an old friend of mine. But she’s also what you’d call…extremely focused. Creating an empire for that nephew of hers.”
    “Nephew?”
    “Nick. Nick Coltrane, our star, the host.”
    What had he said? “The executive producer is the host’s aunt?”
    Jasper pressed his lips together and nodded.
    “Oh.” She swallowed. Then she swallowed again. Shouldn’t have quit her research on Nick Coltrane and this show quite so soon. Nick Coltrane wanted her to be part of the show, but no one, i.e., his aunt, was to know he hired her. Nor was Leonie McCutcheon to know she was a chef, though that was the only way she could approach the woman about catering. This was getting way too complicated just to be able to put “television experience” on her resume. What had she gotten herself into?
    Jasper continued to explain, “Nick’s a big reason why this show has managed to stay on the air this long, despite his aunt’s interference,”
    Interference? That didn’t sound good either.
    “Get rid of those berries,” Jasper directed. “Consider today your orientation. Before taping gets underway, I’ll introduce you to the crew and explain how this crazy production gets put together.”
    He gave the prep kitchen short shrift and spent the rest of the “tour” showing her the technical side of the production. When do I get to see my kitchen? That’s all I care about.
    As they approached the corner of a back corridor, they heard what sounded like whimpering. “I can’t put up with that woman much longer, Nick.”
    Jasper pulled up, holding out an arm to stop Reese.
    Nick ? Nick Coltrane? Finally.
    “Sure, you can, Deb. She doesn’t mean half her threats.”
    Deb? Short for Deborah, Leonie’s lackey?
    “Her threats don’t scare you,” Deb responded, “because you’ve got