Page 6 of Summer Savory

Chapter Four

Reese

Iknew it must rain eventually, even at a place as lovely as Mountain Ridge Resort, but it was still a shock when I watched the storm clouds gather in the distance. My grandfather used to say that you could smell rain, but I never really understood what he meant until I was an adult. I grew tired of listening to Reagan’s kids clamoring on about their displeasure at being forced out of the pool and into our cabin for the afternoon, especially since the sun was still shining, at least for the moment.

“I’m going for a walk,” I announced to the room, not really caring who was there. I was glad I already had on my shoes so that I didn’t have to stick around to hear the kids arguing about why I could go outside, but they couldn’t. Although, it may have been fun to hear how Reagan got herself out of that one. She’s always been a laid back parent and has tried to explain things to her kids. Much different from I would be, probably, and definitely different from the way our parents were. It was their way or no way. Part of the reason I both loved and hated them. I think I need their type of discipline, but I’d never admit it to them or to myself.

I missed them. That was another thing I’d never admitted aloud. I wondered what kind of relationship Nora had with her family. Funny how she could enter my mind at that moment. I suddenly craved an afternoon snack, and the pleasure of her company.

Making my way to the dining room, I needed to run the last few yards as the rain came down in droves. There was no one in the large dining hall, but I could hear talking and laughter from one of the smaller rooms that sat off to the side. As I got closer to the door, I heard her voice and quivered. I thought at first it was because the room was cold and I was still wet from the rain. One look at her made me realize the actual cause.

Her eyes found mine, and she smiled quickly, and then it went away almost as fast as it appeared. She didn’t want others to notice that she was happy to see me. Or was it because she didn’t want me to know it? Either way, it was adorable. She was standing in the front of a small crowd of about a dozen people, standing behind little tables dispersed throughout the room, and all were hanging on her every word. As I made my way to the empty table in the back, I did the same. I found a recipe card, a few bowls, a hot plate, along with various other cooking utensils and ingredients. I listened as she gave instructions on making the luscious dessert, which I knew must be decadent, because I’d never seen so much butter in one place in my life.

Twenty minutes later, our individual peach cobblers nestled in the ovens to bake for an hour. We followed her into the gleaming kitchen where I’d first met her. She stood beside the door while we all filed in, but her eyes dropped to the floor when I passed by her. I found it adorable that she was shy around me in front of other people.

We were apparently in the Q&A segment of the cooking class I’d inadvertently wandered in upon, and I thought of many questions I’d like to ask her, though none was appropriate for the occasion. Asking her if she’d prefer to ride my cock or sit on my face for the next hour would probably get me banned from the kitchen. Still, I wondered about those and many other things. I was glad to find a place to sit, as I was getting so hard just thinking about taking her to bed that it was becoming increasingly more difficult to stand with my dick pressed against the side inside of my running shorts. I was kicking myself for not choosing something else to wear, though I told myself I wasn’t expecting to see her. That was a damn lie. I knew when I left the cabin that I wanted to find her.

“If there aren’t any more questions, mill about the kitchen and dining areas for the next fifteen minutes, and then we’ll meet back at your workstations. The cobblers should be done by then, and we’ll taste our wares. My staff will remove the cobblers from the ovens and bring them back to the tables for us, along with the ice cream I made yesterday.”

She nodded her head in dismissal of the group, and the people did as she instructed. I searched her face and saw an expression I interpreted to be hope. She turned her eyes away from me, but I had no intention of allowing her shyness to prevent us from talking again. “I don’t think I knew there were two different flours. You introduced me to something called self-rising flour.”

“Oh, there are many more than just two. They’re just the tip of the iceberg. I stock at least ten regularly in my kitchen, plus I occasionally order other kinds, depending on what we’re making. My baker is quite particular about it.”

Smiling, I said, “Fascinating! As was learning about the different butters you use here at the resort.”

“No, it’s not! But I’m glad you joined the class, anyway. I didn’t see your name on the list, so it was a pleasant surprise.”

“I wasn’t on the list. I actually just happened upon your class. I was out for a walk, but I was hoping I’d find you.” A shadow crossed her face, and I wondered what she thought. Her eyes glanced past me and fell on someone standing off in the distance. I turned to look, but I saw no one. “Is something wrong?”

“No, I’m sorry. Nothing’s wrong. An employee of mine seems to be amused by something she shouldn’t be. I’ll talk to her later. I apologize. You said you were hoping to find me? What can I do for you, Mr. Marlowe?”

“You can start by calling me Reese. I thought we were past those kinds of formalities. After all, I’ve told you my deep, dark secrets.”

A nervous laugh left her throat, but she still couldn’t look me in the eye. “Sorry, Reese. I’m not used to calling guests by their first names.”

I took her hand in mine and brought it to my lips. That seemed to have become my habit with her. I didn’t mind. My lips burned to touch her skin. Fuck! My fingertips ached to run over her body. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could stand to be near her and not be inside her. I wanted her so much, and it was all I could think about. Her hand trembled when I kissed it, and I felt bolts of electricity pass between us. Her face showed me. She felt it, too. “Nora, I know that you’re busy in the kitchen most of the time, but I’d love to have dinner with you tonight. Can you break free?”

“I’ve never been a person who mixes business and pleasure, but I think I might make an exception for you. There’s something about you that makes me want to do things I’ve never done before. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not, but it’s exciting.”

An urge gripped me to take her right then and there, not giving a damn who saw or what they thought. She knew it, too. Her body language told me she wanted me as much as I wanted her. She smiled and said, “Meet me back here at 10:00 tonight. I should have most things wrapped up here by then. That’s not too late, is it?”

“Baby, I’d wait all night just to spend a few minutes with you. I’ll be here. But first, I want to try some of this peach cobbler, you say will be amazing.”

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