Page 83 of Perfect Pairing
Five going on fifteen.
In truth, Hansen’s question wasn’t too far off base, because I’d been having similar internal struggles about coming here all day. But we’d been invited, and I’d happily take any opportunity to be near Brie, even if it meant spending an evening under the watchful gaze of her entire family.
I supposed I shouldn’t be feeling too honored, though. After all, the Delatous welcomed the entire staff into their home for Thanksgiving. The winery truly was a family business, and they treated their employees as an extension of that. As their head chef, it was only natural I be included.
At last, a shadow appeared on the other side of the fogged glass door, and it opened to reveal none other than Brie.
The cold had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that all the air vacated my lungs in an instant.
I rarely ever saw her with her hair down or in anything but leggings, an oversized tee, and her signature sage-green apron. Tonight, her long, chocolatey strands hung in waves down her back, one side pulled away from her face with a comb fashioned to look like a butterfly wing. As usual, she wore no makeup, save something shiny on her lips, making them look even more plump and luscious than normal.
I willed my cock to stand down.
Her emerald sweater matched the exact shade of her eyes, and her dark denim pants hugged every curve of her lower body, reminding me of what those legs looked like naked and wrapped around my waist.
Fuck, I needed to get it together.
“Welcome, Wendt family!” she said happily, her gaze lingering on mine as she stepped to the side. “Come on in.”
My dad offered her a warm greeting as he crossed the threshold, and Hansen hurried inside after shouting, “Hi, Baker Brie!” and making a beeline toward all the voices deeper in the house. When he reached what I presumed was the kitchen, happy exclamations rang out from the Delatou women at the sight of my little man.
Unfortunately, he had more swag in his pinky than his father did in his entire body.
But I wasn’t worried about charming the entire family—not when I only had eyes for the girl standing a few feet away from me.
I had every intention of moving right past her and followingmy son and father, but the moment that delectable scent of hers filled my senses, my body acted on its own. I leaned in close, inhaling deeply as I pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her cheek.
When I pulled back, I said, “Hey, honey.”
“Hey, Chef,” Brie choked out, and I chuckled. “Thanks for coming.”
“You know I can’t say no to your mom,” I reminded her. “And I definitely wasn’t missing out on the chance to enjoy one of Brie Delatou’s world famous desserts.”
A blush crept into her cheeks, and she ducked her head. “I’m definitely not world famous.”
Brazenly, I tucked a finger under her chin and lifted it so she met my gaze. “You are to me.”
She averted her gaze but couldn’t hold back the grin that bloomed on her mouth.
God, fuck dessert. I wanted to eatherinstead.
Clearing my throat and willing my cock not to thicken with that thought—with memories of our one perfect night—I moved out of the way so Brie could shut the door behind me.
I’d been up here a few times in the past couple years for summer holiday gatherings—mainly the Fourth of July—but I’d never been inside the Delatous’ sprawling estate. High on a hill, it overlooked the point of Old Mission Peninsula and the waters of Lake Michigan where they fed into Grand Traverse Bay. Even in the darkness of the late fall evening, the moon glinted on the waves, their distant crashing against the shore calming my frayed nerves.
We reached the entryway to the kitchen, and Brie moved into the room, weaving through her sisters in the direction of theoven, which she pulled open to check on whatever baked inside. Awkwardly, I stood on the threshold, watching the Delatou women circle around each other easily, random snippets of conversations that would never make sense to me in a million years floating my way.
At last, Lena looked up and found me watching them, a warm smile stretching across her mouth.
“Ezra!” She hurried toward me to give me a hug then held me at arm’s length when she pulled away. “It’s so good to see you. Thank you for joining us. I couldn’t bear the thought of the three of you celebrating all alone today.”
“I really appreciate the invitation,” I told her earnestly. Iwantedto be here, wanted to be in Brie’s orbit, to ingratiate myself with her family.
To make her family mine one day, and vice versa.
“We’re happy to have you,” she assured me.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” I asked, gesturing to the kitchen behind her.
