Page 33 of Recipe for Romance

“Something funny?” he asked. Despite his clear irritation at whatever he was writing, his expression was soft when he looked at her. Her heart kicked in her chest as she realized she wanted to see that look for a long time to come.

Swallowing the lump of emotion in her throat, she shook her head. “Just thinking about next year’s Halloween costumes. I thought it would be fun if you went as Tinkerbell this time.”

Aiden laughed and shook his head. “I don’t think my legs will look nearly as good as yours did.” They stared at one another, tension building between them. A pipe clanged in the near distance, breaking the trance they’d found themselves in. Clearing his throat, Aiden tapped the journal with his pencil. “I’ll have to go check on their progress in the kitchen in a bit, but before then can I run a few ideas by you?”

“You want my opinion?” Nicole hadn’t ever really been asked her opinion on food except casually by friends. She doubted Aiden was asking her about whether she enjoyed pineapple on her pizza. Her chest filled with pride, not just in herself for being worthy enough in his mind, but in him as well. She’d heard stories of his single-mindedness, his determination to do things his way or no way at all. The fact that he was asking hermeantsomething. Nicole just hoped that she wouldn’t disappoint him. “I’m not sure I would really know what I was talking about.”

Aiden’s mouth ticked up in the corner. “Maybe not, but I care what you think.” He looked slightly confused and abashed by his confession, but before she could comment on it, he plowed ahead. Spinning his journal toward her, he pointed at a short list of dishes he would offer. “I don’t want to do a tasting menu, but I don’t want to have so many options that we forgo quality. I also wanted to focus not just on my family’s apples, but on other farm fresh food from the area as well. Take a look and let me know your thoughts.” He stared at her a long moment before shaking his head. “Uh, please.”

Nicole looked at the list, seeing dishes that were both familiar and foreign to her. Salad made with peaches, tomatoes, and burrata, sweet potato ravioli with sage cooked in browned butter, and red wine braised short ribs were all dishes she’d seen in one form or another. The other dishes may not have been as esteemed as the others, but they sounded even more appetizing.

Applewood smoked trout with spiced cranberry sauce, cider glazed chicken with potato, and roasted pork with apple and onion all sounded delicious and comforting, much like the chef who hoped to cook them. When her eyes came to the dessert menu, they passed over the chocolate mousse and cider donuts before nearly popping out of her head at the last item. It was possible that he’d always planned to do a tarte tatin, but something told her that wasn’t the case.

Nicole could feel him watching her, but she needed a moment before she could look back. “Why an apple tart? There are easier desserts.”

When she finally raised her head, Aiden’s gaze was affectionate. “Someone once told me it was the best thing she’d put in her mouth.” He smirked, shrugging a shoulder. “That’s not something you forget or ignore.”

The admission had embarrassed Nicole at the time, but seeing the satisfied look on his face as he looked at her erased that. Now, all she wanted to do was keep that look on his face for an entirely other reason. “Nor should you, although...” she trailed off. Slipping off her stool, Nicole went to him, treading her fingers into his hair and pulling him closer. “It’s the best thing I’ve had in my mouth...so far. As good as that tart is, I have the feeling it will soon be a very close second to something else.” She nibbled the lobe of his ear, as her free hand traveled up his thigh.

“Shit.” His voice was threaded with need. They were in the middle of a restaurant that was under construction, but she didn’t care, she needed him too badly. He slammed his journal shut and swept it and other papers into his bag. “Meet me at the car.” He pressed a firm kiss to her lips before walking, quickly and a bit crookedly, toward the kitchen where there were men still working.

Her body humming with anticipation, Nicole grinned as she walked outside and slipped into the car. When her phone buzzed with a text, her smile widened, thinking it was Aiden telling her to sit tight, but when she saw it was her dad asking how her training was going, her stomach sank.

The driver door opening pulled her attention away. Aiden smiled like a kid waiting for Christmas morning as he sat down. “Ready to go?”

Pushing aside any thought unrelated to Aiden and being with him, Nicole ditched her phone in her purse and grabbed his hand, lacing their fingers together. “More than ready.” She leaned against his shoulder, staring out at the passing landscape and thinking that they really should have that talk.

Chapter Seventeen

~Aiden~

The last week of Aiden’s life had been a mixed bag. He’d thought he was through the worst of his dealings with contractors, the constant renegotiating of costs and timetables until he was blue in the face, but the day before Thanksgiving he’d gottenanothercall about the staircase leading up to the second floor. It seemed that he had to approve each individual step before the contractor would consider that part of the project complete and move on, but once he had at least Aiden had a nearly finished restaurant on his hands.

The difference between when he’d first stepped foot in the place and now was like night and day. Gone were the charred walls and the smoky smell that permeated every inch of the restaurant, and in their place was the scent of fresh paint, beautiful hardwood floors, ivory walls, and a marble bar in the center of it all. The moment Nic had made the suggestion months ago, Aiden knew he was going to do it. It was a fantastic idea, though seeing it come to fruition without her being present felt wrong. She should have been there too, running her hand along the cool bar top, stepping behind it to get the best view of the entire restaurant. Instead, she was in LA and he was in a terrible mood.

It wasn’t Nic’s fault that he’d just assumed she would spend Thanksgiving with him and his family, telling her father where he could stick his invitation to come home. But no, she packed her bag, eager to show her father all the progress she’d made in the kitchen, and left. At least she’d allowed Aiden to drive her to the private airfield, kissing her goodbye with enough force and meaning that she would remember what she was leaving behind. Aiden had smiled when she’d wobbled her way onto the plane, a dazed smile on her face before she waved him off. The moment the aircraft took off, a hollow ache formed in his heart and had only grown in the days that followed. At least he’d had his family to distract him from his missing her.

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