Page 6 of Fall Surprises
"I'll be down early," she replied, already glancing at her phone. "We should review the menu plans then, if that works for you."
"It's your show." I nodded, heading for the door. "Enjoy the tart by the way. The pears came from a farm just outside town."
She glanced at the small honey-roasted pear tart waiting on the tray. "Is that dessert?"
"Yeah," I said, suddenly a bit self-conscious. "Just a simple pear tart."
"You really do source everything locally, don't you?" she asked, her voice holding genuine curiosity.
"When you've worked with the best ingredients shipped from all over the world, you realize the best things are often growing in your own backyard," I said, surprised by my own candor. "Goodnight, Ms. Maxwell."
"Sam," she corrected, echoing my earlier request for informality. "If we're going to be working closely together this week, we might as well use first names."
"Goodnight then, Sam," I said, the syllable feeling oddly intimate on my tongue.
"Goodnight, Gus. And... thank you for dinner."
Back in my kitchen, I busied myself with cleanup, trying to focus on the tasks at hand rather than the memory of Sam with her hair down, or the soft moan she'd made tasting my soup. It had been too long since I'd had a woman in my bed—that was all this was. Simple physical attraction mixed with the peculiar intensity that came from clashing with someone who matched your own stubbornness. The last complication I needed was acontrol freak with a mouth that looked surprisingly kissable when not issuing demands.
I didn't need to understand her. I just needed to survive the next week without strangling her or doing something even more stupid.
Tomorrow we'd go over the menus. Tomorrow she'd probably be back to her lists and demands and criticisms. Tomorrow I'd remember why working with her was impossible.
As I shut down the kitchen for the night and headed out to my truck, I knew I was in trouble. It was one thing to be annoyed by a woman. It was another thing entirely to be attracted to her. And the way my body had reacted to that small moan she'd made—that was a complication I definitely didn't need.
I'd come to Wintervale to heal, not to fall into bed with someone who'd leave in a week. Even if I couldn't stop picturing what other sounds she might make with the right encouragement. Even if my dreams that night were filled with long brown hair and soft moans that had nothing to do with soup.
Chapter Three
Sam
Iwoke at five-thirty Wednesday morning, my internal alarm refusing to let me sleep past dawn even when my body begged for rest. The honey-roasted pear tart from last night sat half-eaten on my nightstand—I'd devoured it after Gus left, each bite a revelation that made me question every dessert I'd ever praised at other events.
By six-forty-five, I was dressed in dark jeans, ankle boots, and a cream cashmere sweater—my version of casual that still maintained professional polish. I'd left my hair down after blow-drying it, telling myself it had nothing to do with the way Gus's eyes had tracked over me last night.
My phone buzzed with a text from Emma:How's Montana? Have you charmed the difficult chef yet?
I typed back:Working on it. He's complicated.
Her response was immediate:Complicated how? Hot complicated or annoying complicated?
Both. Mostly annoying. Focus, Em.
I grabbed my tablet and headed downstairs, rehearsing my approach. Professional. Collaborative. Simple.
The kitchen was already alive when I arrived at seven. Fresh coffee mingled with the scent of frying potatoes and browning butter. My stomach growled.
Gus stood at the stove, his back to me, working three pans at once. He'd pulled his dark hair back with a rubber band,revealing the strong line of his neck. His chef's coat stretched across his shoulders as he reached for the salt.
I looked away quickly.
"Good morning," I called, keeping my voice light.
He didn't turn, didn't pause. "Morning. Give me ten minutes. I'm in the middle of service."
I blinked at the dismissal. "I can wait. I'll just make some coffee."
"Pot's fresh. Mugs in the cabinet above."
