Cooking Up Love Read Online Free PDF Page B

brandishing a wooden spoon like a weapon. “What is it?”
    “A mouse.” Tabby pointed behind a small table with wheels. Goose bumps crawled up her spine.
    Adam laughed. “You’re afraid of a little four-legged creature?”
    “Don’t jest. Kill it!” She tucked her legs under her long skirt.
    “What is going on in here?” Mr. Hastings stormed into the kitchen, eyebrows raised and hands on his hips. “Miss McClelland! Get off the counter this instant.”
    “But, Mr. Hastings, there’s a—” She clamped her lips together at Adam’s fierce shake of his head and hid her trembling hands in the folds of her apron.
    “A what?” He snapped his fingers, motioning for her to get down.
    Tabby gulped and slid off the counter. “A mouse, sir.”
    “Impossible.” His took a deep breath. “Mice are not allowed in Mr. Harvey’s restaurant. I will be letting Miss O’Connor know of your shameful behavior. Of that there is no doubt.”
    Lump in her throat, Tabby’s shoulders slumped. Averting her eyes from Adam and the young man already at work cleaning up her mess, she lifted her skirts and carefully made her way back to the dining room.
    “The water, Miss McClelland.” Miss O’Connor scowled.
    Oh! That’s why she had gone into the kitchen. She turned and dashed back for the wheeled cart with pitchers of fresh water. She slipped on the spilled sauce, windmilled her arms, continued her slide past the cart and came to a crashing halt against Adam’s chest. His strong hands steadied her. Goodness.
    “Are you all right, Tabby?”
    She was anything but. Especially with his arms around her, which was entirely inappropriate and could get them both reprimanded no matter how innocent. Still avoiding his gaze, she rested her forehead against his solid chest, just for a moment while she caught her breath, then nodded.
    Willing her heartbeat to return to normal, she guided the cart into the dining room. What could Adam possibly be thinking of her ridiculous behavior? Other than his laugh, and her insane response, she hadn’t looked his way again. But it had felt good to have him hold her. She shoved away the foolish thoughts. She was a Harvey Girl. Work came first.
    She rolled the cart to where the other waitresses stood, and waited while each took a pitcher. This day might be her first, and last, once Mr. Hastings had a chance to talk to Miss O’Connor. She prayed she was wrong.
    Needing to think of a way to redeem herself, she gave a faint smile and took up her position next to Mary at their table.
    “What happened in there? Was that a mouse I saw?” Mary glanced toward the door. “Mr. Hastings came from the kitchen perfectly livid.”
    Tabby squared her shoulders. “We’ll talk later.”
    “There’s a spot of hollandaise on your shoe.” Mrs. O’Connor stopped next to her. “Clean it at the first opportunity. We do not condone slovenly appearances.”
    Tabby groaned as her smile faded. The head waitress condoned very little, and now Tabby had another strike against her. Her hopes of adventure in the West were dying by the minute. If she lost her job, she would have no funds available for a trip to anywhere.
    Mary waited for the head waitress to move on. “Don’t worry. You’ll be fine. Families are the easiest to please. Much better than a society lady on her own who tends to be demanding. No one will notice your shoe.”
    “I pray so.” Tabby stepped forward. “Welcome to Harvey’s. My name is Tabitha and I will be serving you today.”
    “Thank you.” The woman sat. The look on her face seemed apologetic. “My brood does tend to be rowdy, and I’m at my wit’s end.” She waved a hand. “It will be nice to have someone else deal with them for half an hour.”
    Tabby feigned a smile. She turned from the woman to Mary with wide eyes and a silent plea for help. Mary nodded toward the table where plates of crisp salad sat in front of each customer. She’d been so flustered with the mouse she hadn’t