Cooking Up Love by Cynthia Hickey Page A

her duty to have a serious discussion with the other girl about her wayward actions.
    The afternoon’s peacefulness shattered, Tabby headed to the kitchen to fix a light lunch. She nodded at the round, pleasant-faced woman who filled in for the rest of the kitchen staff on Sundays, and stepped into the coolness of the pantry.
    Maybe she could eat a couple of slices of buttered toast. Something that wouldn’t upset her stomach. Surely she could make toast. She hated asking the cook to make her something other than what the customers were eating. After all, the woman had more than enough work. While Tabby ate, she would try to figure out a way to keep her roommate from sabotaging her job.
    She took the butter and headed out to the kitchen for bread. She took two slices from the mound on the counter then eyed the large stove.
    “Need any help?” Adam snuck up behind her.
    She gasped and whirled. “Don’t do that. You scared five years off my life. I’m making toast, if you must know.”
    “Don’t do a lot of cooking, do you?” He grinned and leaned against the counter, crossing his feet at the ankles.
    “Of course I do.”
    “Then why not use the oven over there?”
    Tabby stomped her foot. “Oh, you.” Must he play with her so?
    “I’ll do that for you, miss.” The cook ambled up and took the bread from Tabby. “I don’t like novices working with my stove, and it is Mr. Foster’s day off.”
    “Thank you, but I don’t want to bother you.”
    “Nonsense. Won’t take me but a minute.”
    Tabby stepped back, needing space between herself and Adam. The scent of his shaving cream teased her senses and made her head whirl. Or maybe that was her cold. Nevertheless, she backed away.
    “I’m glad you’re feeling better.” Adam stepped closer.
    “Just tired.” Tabby reached for a glass, anything to keep occupied. If she stared into his face, she would drown, not only in the flecks of gold in his blue eyes, but in the dimple in his right cheek as well. She didn’t want to fall for him. They could be nothing but friends. A fine gentleman like him would want nothing to do with a girl who came from a family like Tabitha’s. Nothing serious, anyway. “And hungry. I’ve not had breakfast.”
    “Neither have I. Maybe we should eat together.”
    Tabby closed her eyes and sighed. “It isn’t allowed, and you know it.”
    “Where’s the harm in two people sharing a corner of a big kitchen?” His eyes twinkled.
    After Miss O’Connor’s surprising confession that Tabby was one of her best girls, she didn’t want anyone to jeopardize her future, not even Adam. Somehow she needed to squelch her growing attraction for him. After all, the man seemed to disregard the rules at every turn when it came to talking with her. Even if Tabby weren’t bound by the restrictions of being a Harvey Girl, she doubted she would have much to do with a man who had such little regard for his employer’s wishes. No, a man like that was too much like Pa. And Pa had spent more nights in jail than at home, it seemed.
    That wasn’t fair, she chided herself. Adam didn’t seem to be anything like Pa. The man just hovered over Tabby like a ray of sunshine, and she needed to put a stop to that real quick.
    “I’ll have my breakfast in my room,” Tabby said, accepting her plate from the cook. “I should squeeze in a nap so I’m fit for work tomorrow.”
    “You aren’t better?” He tried to touch her forehead.
    “Adam, really.” Tabby slapped his hand away. Must he be so forward? “I will see you tomorrow.” With her nose in the air, she stormed past him. She’d been looking forward to a quiet afternoon in the garden, too. That man! Handsome or not, she didn’t want him, or anyone else, to baby her so.
    * * *
    Adam’s stomach dropped when Tabby said she needed to lie down. Should she be out of bed? Should he find Miss O’Connor? He ran his hands through his hair. What if Tabby were to fall ill and die as his wife had