Nick and I are both chefs and, to be honest, when I first met him he was my boss! We worked together for a whole year in a newly opened restaurant, and kept it strictly professional. I did love that Nick approached me with respect as a female chef, had an incredible work ethic, and maintained the highest morals and standards in the kitchen. The first year of working with Nick as my sous chef and hot side expediter were some of the most formative services of my early professional cooking career. After my last late-night shift of a particularly grueling work week, I decided to have a beer with some of our coworkers while Nick, who worked open-to-close, went home to get some rest. As most late-night drink-fueled conversations tend to stray and sometimes to serious life matters, we ended up discussing our individual desires for children (or lack thereof). Upon admitting that I wanted at least one, a certain coworker and good friend of Nick's let slip - "I bet Nick would be willing to give you a few!" Not exactly subtle wing-manning, but I guess I'm a simple woman - because it worked. I suddenly realized that I did have a bit of a budding attraction for Nick, but had suppressed my feelings for the sake of professionalism. I made the mistake of admitting this to Nick's friend. Word of our mutual attraction must have traveled fast, as the next day - my first of two days off - I got a text from Nick. "Any chance you're off tomorrow and interested in getting some dinner?" (Of course he wrote my schedule and had a pretty good idea already that I didn't work, and I found that attempt at a pickup pretty endearing.) Needless to say, we had a lovely first date at Kentucky Native Cafe. We made sure that the relationship was really turning into something and then decided that we needed to tell the owner of the restaurant that we had started dating. We were both terrified to lose our jobs because we had put literal blood, sweat, and tears into that kitchen together. Nick was ready and willing to sacrifice his job, though, for the sake of our love and the chance for me to continue to grow my career - which I have to say is one of the most romantic things anyone has ever done for me to this day! Thankfully neither of us were let go, Nick went on to open another restaurant for the same owner, and now, eight years later, we both still work for her (love you, Ouita!). We figure that if we can exist together in the pressure-cooker that is a kitchen for the first two years of our relationship - we can handle just about anything life throws our way!