Jessica Hart - Here Comes The Bride

He opened the package of chops and started salting them. “You know how it is when you’re young. You don’t appreciate how happy you are until those times are gone.”

“You’re right. I didn’t particularly love to weed, but, when I look back on it now, those times with Daddy were priceless.” She took the board of onions over to him.

He darted her an intense look. “Are you sure you’re not a professional cook? You did those just right.” He poured them into the hot oil to soften them up.

That was how his compliment made her feel. Soft and eager for the attention he showered on her. So far it had been a magical day. But reality would hit as soon as his girlfriend arrived.

She needed to get here before Reese forgot Alex had been entertaining her for the sole purpose of making her cut-off day from the studio bearable.

With deft movements, he placed the chops in the skillet and browned them on both sides. Then he washed the kos lettuce. With the leaves still wet, he placed them on top of the meat and added fresh dill before covering the pan.

While it simmered, he prepared a green salad, and a side dish of rice with a tomato sauce made of a dozen ingredients.

When the lamb was ready, he poured in the egg mixture. “Now for the most important ingredient.”

He knew she was mesmerized by everything he said and did.

“What is it?”

“A few teaspoons of Mavrodaphne wine. It smells and tastes like the sugar-sweet plums and black raisins growing around my grandparents’ villa. We’re about ready to sit down to a meal I promise you will enjoy.”

“Then I’d better hurry and set the table.”

She put out three place mats and her aunt’s best china and silver. Alex had searched until he’d found an imported dry white wine from Crete. No doubt it went superbly with the meal he’d planned, so she placed three wineglasses next to their water glasses.

They worked in harmony getting everything ready to put on the table. Faint from hunger, she could have eaten the whole ball of crusty bread he called Psomi.

Reese had placed him at the head of the table. She flicked him a glance after he’d seated her. “I feel honored the master chef is dining with me, too.”

“I’m the one who’s honored.” He poured wine into both their glasses.

“Alex-we really shouldn’t start until your girlfriend gets here.”

“Yes, we should,” he came back forcefully. “This meal is ready to be eaten. To wait would ruin it. Try the lamb before you taste anything else, even your wine. That way you’ll detect its unique flavor. I want your opinion.”

She looked at him with pleading. “Is this another test to decide if you’ll be offering this dish to customers?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t really mean that.”

The glimmer in his eyes unsettled her. “You’re my first customer. It may be one of my favorite dishes, but if you find it an acquired taste, I need to know immediately.”

She lowered her head. “I don’t think I want the responsibility.”

“Now you’re sounding like Carly. I thought she’d gone away.”

“I’m afraid there’s more Carly in me than you realize.”

“You mean the one who asked Fabio to marry you?”

“No. That part was totally out of character thanks to Stan and his writing staff.”

“But you have to admit it got her what she wanted in the end.”

“True.”

“Come on. Live dangerously and take a bite,” he said in a husky tone.

One taste before swallowing and Reese said, “You don’t need me or anyone to tell you how delicious this is. The flavor and texture are out of this world.”

He gave her a smile she’d never seen before, as if her opinion truly mattered to him. For a moment she caught a glimpse of the little boy he once was who would have been so anxious to please his grandparents.

“Now drink a little wine, then try the rice.”

Prepared to do anything for him, she obeyed his command.

“The sauce-it’s pure ambrosia, as my aunt would say. That was her favorite word for food too good to be true. Wouldn’t you know it has a Greek origin?”

“That’s right. Food for the gods.”

“Yours tastes like that, Alex. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to enjoy it the way I want.”

He threw back his head and laughed while she proceeded to eat everything in sight.

“You eat too fast,” he observed when she finally put down her fork with a sigh of contentment.

“I couldn’t help it. It was your fault. Oh, Alex-I don’t care if you believe me or not. That was the best meal I’ve ever eaten in my life. You know what I think?”

One black brow quirked.

“When people call in for reservations, you should tell them not to eat or drink anything at least six hours before arriving. That way they’ll feel just like I do.”

“And how is that?”

“Like there’s not one thing wrong with my world right this minute. Did I ever tell you about this book I read called The Cook?”

“I’m sure I would have remembered if you had,” he teased.

She flushed. “That goes without saying, doesn’t it?” After a pause, “It was a mystery. This wealthy, dysfunctional family advertised for a cook. There was a feisty grandfather, an ambitious father, a twenty-four-year-old slaggard son, and a twenty-year-old selfish daughter all living under the same roof.”

“Nice.”

She chuckled. “The cook was after the family money. He got to know each member very well, and catered to their needs by fixing them the kind of food they adored.

“One by one he had them eating out of his hand, so to speak. They’d do anything for him. It got to the point where they couldn’t live without him. He solved their problems, suggested what they should or should not do, the friends they should keep, the friends they should get rid of.

“In time he ran the whole house and eventually controlled the purse strings. Everyone trusted him. In the end the old man left everything to him in his will.

“When the other family members found out, they tried to contest it, but it was too late. The cook booted everyone out of the house and lived happily ever after.”

Alex finished his wine without taking his eyes off her. “That’s quite a story. Are you assuming I have ulterior motives for feeding your fancy?”

WHAT an odd question.

“Of course not, Alex. I was using it as an illustration to compliment you. Obviously the author understood the effect of the perfect meal on the senses and made a fascinating tale out of it.”

He wiped the corner of his mouth with his napkin. “With adulation like that, am I to presume you’re ready for dessert? It was my grandfather’s favorite.”

“Not yet!” Reese cried. “I couldn’t. There’s no room. Maybe when your girlfriend gets here.”

“I expected her before now. It appears she’s not coming after all.”

“Because of me?”

He nodded slowly.

“But that’s absurd, Alex!”

“Not really. The truth is, she’s a lot like Carly, too timid and hesitant to fight for what she wants. I’m afraid our relationship is over.”

Aghast, Reese pushed herself away from the table and stood up. “If she’s jealous of me, she shouldn’t be. I’d be happy to call her and tell her that nothing has ever gone on between us.”

“She doesn’t see it that way,” Alex explained. “You’d never convince her otherwise. Frankly, neither does anyone else who knows you or me.”

Her heart thudded sickeningly. “It doesn’t matter what other people think. It’s human nature to gossip. But I wouldn’t hurt your girlfriend for anything in the world. We should never have spent this day together, Alex. It’s only made matters worse for you.” Her voice shook.

“You’re wrong. The break had to come. Today was the right time to call it quits.”

She clung to the chair back. “But earlier you told me it was very serious between you two.”

“It was. However there’s a big difference between serious, and doing something about it.”

“Like what?”

“Like getting married.”

“You don’t want to marry her?”

“No.”

“I thought she was going to help you run the restaurant.”

“I thought so, too, but obviously things have changed.”

Reese started clearing the table. At the doorway to the kitchen she paused. “How long have you known her?”

“As long as I’ve known you.”

“If you didn’t want to marry her, why have you stayed in the relationship?”

“We’d both made a commitment and didn’t want to go back on it.”

“A-are you devastated that it’s over?” she stammered.

“Not at all. If you want to know the truth, I’m relieved. Which brings me to the question I’ve been wanting to ask you since you ran into my truck.”

At the mention of the accident, her pulse rate picked up speed. “Just a minute while I put these plates in the dishwasher.”

“I’ll finish clearing.”

The moment he got to his feet, she darted into the kitchen and started loading. With several trips he’d brought everything in from the dining room. He put the remaining food in the fridge. Soon she’d started the machine.

In the act of wiping off the counter, she turned her head toward him. “What did you want to ask me?”

He studied her features for a moment. “Since you have a week before your school starts, how would you like to spend it with me?”

She blinked. “You mean like help you pick out things for your restaurant?”

“We could do that. I could help you find someone to rent this condo. If you need a mover to transport some things to La Jolla, I’m your man. I’ve got a truck and am ready to go.”

“Aren’t you being a little impetuous? Your girlfriend must be shattered to think things are over between you.”

“If she is, someone else is already waiting in the wings.”

Reese stared at him. “Are you implying she was unfaithful to you?”

“No.”

“Then maybe if you gave it a little more time-”

He shook his head. “It’s finished, Reese. I’m ready to move on. You and I have both severed ties with the studio. Something tells me you are as much at a loose end as I am right now.”

His comment was so patently true, there was no point in denying it.

She drew in a deep breath. “I’m going to be honest with you about something, Alex.”

He’d propped himself against the counter. “What’s that?”

“I don’t think we should see each other again after tonight.”

“Give me a reason.”

She folded the dishcloth. “Because it’s not a good idea.”

“That’s not specific enough.”

“For one thing, you’re just coming out of a relationship.”

“Meaning what?”

“Meaning you’re feeling vulnerable and…lonely.”

“So I’ve turned to you because you’re the most handy female around, is that what you think?” He smoothed a strand of her hair off her forehead. It caused her to tremble.

“It’s true.”

“What’s so bad about two lonely, vulnerable people seeking each other out? We’ve been friends for a long time.”

In a panic, she backed away from him. “That’s the whole point. We’re friends. Nothing more.”

“Would you like it to be more?”

“Stop using Fabio’s lines!”

“Is that what I’m doing?”

Heat suffused her face. “Except for the part about him feeling alone because he left the monastery, it’s his script verbatim.”

“Like I said. I related to Fabio in a lot of ways. The part was perfect for me. Sometimes it’s hard to separate fantasy from reality.”

She folded her arms. “Well, in our case you’re going to have to. If Alex Kieris and Reese Bringhurst were meant to have had an off-screen love affair, it would have happened long before now.

“The fact that you waited until breaking up with your girlfriend before turning to me proves that what you felt for her was what you should feel if you’re really in love.

“I don’t want to be a woman you’ve decided to spend time with because you can’t have the one you really wanted. A year’s a long time to devote to one person, Alex. You can’t tell me you didn’t have hopes of marrying her when you first met her.”

He cocked his head. “You’re right. She changed my world.”

“You see?” Reese cried. “That’s what I’m talking about. Even if it didn’t work out in the end, you felt that way about her when you first met.”

“That’s true.”

“Thank you for being honest about that at least.”

“I wouldn’t be anything else with you.”

“Then you understand where I’m coming from.”

“I think I do. You’re a lot like your aunt Lilian.”

Reese jerked her head toward him. “Did she tell you about her husband?”

He nodded. “She also confided that after she’d been widowed, there were several men who’d been friends with her a long time before they proposed to her. Two of them were costars on the show like you and me. But she didn’t say yes to any of them because the fire wasn’t there from the start.”