Page 8 of Slow Simmer

“Those shows are designed for beginner cooks, and people who don’t have thetime or inclination,” he threw her own words back at her, “to spend an hour making a dessert. Of course I suggest they use time-saving ingredients. I also tell them in the video that it’s only a substitute and using fresh vanilla extracted from vanilla pods is best. I’m not there misleading them into thinking what they make using it will be as good as what you’d get at a gourmet restaurant. Nor would I serve it at my own restaurant. Everything I cook during filming gets devoured by friends and staff, people who don’t pay a penny for it.”

“Oh.” Suzannah’s mouth hung open and her face somehow reddened further.

“You’ve never done any TV work, have you?”

“No,” she admitted. He’d have known if she did. While he wouldn’t exactly say he’d stalked her, he’d definitely paid attention to her career. If she’d ever been on TV, he’d have known about it. Even when she worked for Gordon Ramsay, she’d avoided the cameras in the celebrity chef’s kitchens.

“The camera would love you,” Carlo suggested it gently. “Part of my agreement with the resort is that I can film episodes for my channel here and I’d love to have you feature…”

“Let’s see if I allow you to stay first,” she snarked, turning on her heel and stalking out, but not before he saw the flare of interest in her eyes. Her curiosity was piqued, he hoped. She really would be amazing on camera, her beauty and animation lighting up the screen, but her culinary skills would be the real ratings winner.

Smiling at her retreating back, Carlo picked up his mixing bowl and returned to work. He still had to impress her this afternoon, not to mention Luke and Jace, and he had a lot of work to get done first. The staff would be coming in to begin work on the lunch menu shortly and he really was going to have to tidy up a bit first. Still, that would only take a few minutes, and it was time for the macarons to go in the oven. Then he had two varieties of ice cream to make, figs to roast in maple syrup, strawberries to poach in balsamic vinegar, his speciality lemon and mint souffle to make…

The music had been silenced, but that didn’t stop Carlo. He burst into song again as he whirled around the kitchen.

* * *

Hidden from view behind the separating wall which divided the two kitchens, Suzannah found herself smiling. Carlo had always been unapologetic in his fondness for American pop songs. Somehow, she wasn’t in the least surprised to find him singing along to Ricky Martin as he cooked. Tempted to peek and see if he still danced along to the music, lean hips swaying to the beat, she sternly restrained herself. If he caught her peeking, he’d be even more insufferable.

Stiffening her spine, she walked out into the bright, humid morning. She hadn’t had enough sleep last night. Carlo had occupied her mind into the small hours despite her exhaustion, and her alarm had woken her far too soon. She was going back to bed for a few hours.

Even if the sound of his rich singing voice would probably be stuck in her head for days.

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