Seasoned by Love

g "Just Kidding! I blinked and suddenly just no

pastry experiment. I'd been testing brown butter shortbread with cardamom glaze, and

okies when Kiki,about sipping her second i

g down the counters. I went

hear him

den shift in

" she sai

oked

suit that looked vacuum-sealed to his frame. His shoes were silent. His jaw, freshly shaven. His tie, thin

night," he said. "Con

risply. "Unde

eyes flicke

y didn'

e in one hand and a towel over my shoulder. Hair wrapped. Apron tied. Shi

. More like... observation wi

he

a wardrob

ked. "

d flour-smudged sneakers aren't exactly appr

t,

ed. "Sir, ar

both c

andle the schedule. And take

ppi

ering the cloth. "I

already w

and control followed him out

. "Did... he just say

yself. "What's wro

e Christmas had come early. "But

sed a

ontinued, "he's pla

allo

ght be the first chef to surviv

made my hands shake more

i and I were at the entry

and finally washed the flour off my wris

cutting it close. His call is in fou

ve he wants me

continent breakfast," she replie

d off the last stair-then suddenly, my f

swung f

st lik

fe

ully. Not

h a very uncool thud. My hair wrap came s

"Oh my God-

her voic

i

hallway entrance, one hand casually in his coat

at him fro

sitting up and adjusting

d an eye

he's fine," she reported

ip ached a little, bu

me again-not rudely

a little caref

o pass an obstacle cour

dn't

htly. Like I'd sc

id to both of us.

alked off again, coa

to me. "He definit

ot talk a

raining manual. 'Survi

d brushed o

ed toward the car,

his eyes when

attraction

indifference a

s som

sure I was re