Page 10 of Slow Simmer

“Loving the kitchen,” Carlo said with perfect honesty. “Amazing setup you have here. I’ve never seen better.”

“We’re blessed with space and the money to do it right, and Ms. Monteil’s expertise to tell us how,” Jace disclaimed, but he still looked pleased. “This is Nessa, my fiancée,” he indicated the short, stunning black woman at his side, her long hair in tightly woven braids reaching almost to her waist, a pretty aqua sundress setting off her glorious skin. “As soon as I mentioned sampling lots of desserts, she invited herself along.”

Carlo laughed, shaking Nessa’s hand as she offered it. “Well, I hope you won’t be disappointed.”

“I’m sure I won’t be,” she flashed dimples in her cheeks as she smiled back at him. “As long as there’s chocolate?”

“There’s chocolate,” he affirmed, and she chuckled, stepping back to allow Luke to introduce the other woman, a lovely brunette wearing what Carlo was pretty sure was a designer sheath dress and high heels.

“Olivia Stratten, the resort’s marketing manager,” Luke presented.

“So pleased to meet you!” Olivia pumped his hand, showing very white teeth in a broad smile. She was American, Carlo realised. “Really looking forward to using your celebrity status to enhance the resort. And to tasting your cooking, of course.”

“Of course.” Liking her at once, Carlo smiled back warmly. “Whatever I can do to assist. I’ll be making my announcement on my Youtube channel in a day or so, perhaps we can get together and you could help me script it?”

“I’d be delighted to.”

“Ahem,” Suzannah cleared her throat imperiously, gesturing everyone to their seats. Carlo was amused to see even Luke and Jace obeyed her directions, though less so to see that Edouard kept his seat beside Suzannah, even moving a little closer. The sommelier’s body language was decidedly proprietary, angled in towards Suzannah, regularly touching her arm and leaning in to murmur quietly in her ear… in French, which Carlo spoke perfectly, but he was sure not everyone at the table did.

Rude.

Well, two could play at that game.

“The first dish I have for you,” he said, taking the cover off a large silver domed dish on the next table over, “is a macaron with strawberries poached in balsamic glaze.”

There was more than one audible gasp at the table as he placed a small plate before each of them, the delicate pale pink macaron angled jauntily against a pair of strawberries, the dark balsamic glaze drizzled artistically over the arrangement.

“Damn, that almost looks too good to eat,” Nessa said in an awed tone, making Carlo chuckle.

“But indeed, you must eat. I promise, it tastes even better than it looks. Enjoy, and I will return shortly with another course for you.”

He gave them five minutes before returning with a second covered dish. Clearing the plates deftly, he served the second course, a macadamia and mango ice cream in a chocolate wafer shell.

Luke, Jace, Olivia and Nessa were vocal in their praise as the courses progressed. Olivia proclaimed his coffee cheesecake on a macadamia and pistachio crust with black cherry drizzle to be the best thing she’d ever tasted, and Nessa swooned over the rum-soaked chocolate cake with orange Chantilly cream.

Edouard’s nostrils were looking decidedly pinched as Nessa started discussing dessert wines with him. Eavesdropping, Carlo discovered Nessa was a professional bartender, and Edouard clearly wanted to dismiss her suggestions but didn’t dare, not with her billionaire fiancé sitting right beside her nodding along with every word.

Carlo fought back a grin as he set another plate in front of Suzannah, his signature dish. He’d spent years perfecting his lemon and mint souffle. She’d been remarkably poker-faced thus far, but surely, surely she couldn’t hold out against perfection?

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