Page 29 of The Kitchen Contract

“How do you think it’s going?” he asks quietly. I can tell he wants his question to seem casual, but I know how much he wanted this party to be a success, for his siblings to be impressed. I glance around the circle and answer truthfully. “Everyone seems to be enjoying the food.”

“They haven’t said much,” Alex replies a bit impatiently.

“Believe it or not, that’s a good thing.” I bite back a smile at his confused expression. “The sad truth is, more often than not you only get feedback when something goes wrong. If the burgers were burnt or the salads were too salty, you’d definitely hear about it. But if everything is good? People just enjoy their meal and move on. It’s the opposite of ‘the squeaky wheel gets the grease.’”

He huffs. “Well, I worked hard on this. You’d think I could get just one little pat on the back out of it.”

I smile. “Nobody realizes how much effort goes into making anything—not just cooking—look effortless. But give it time. The cake is a show-stopper, so if they don’t say anything after dessert, then we’ll know they have damaged tastebuds and there was nothing you could do.”

Alex laughs. “Good plan.”

“At least you can rest assured that I think everything tastes great. And girls like guys who can cook for them, so this is a skill that will pay in dividends.”

He looks at me with a smile. “Girls like that, huh?”

Maybe I should have been more specific and said I like a man who can cook for me. But I’m trying not to be too obvious here.

I drop my eyes and focus on my food until I think of a question. “Why did you call me Nora-Sue earlier? Where did the Sue come from?”

“I wanted to call you by your middle name, but I realized I don’t know it, so I substituted the first name that popped into my head.”

“And that name was Sue?”

He shrugs. “I must have seen it somewhere recently.”

“Well, I don’t like it. This is my official veto on that nickname.”

He gives me a thumbs up. “Got it. That one’s out. So, what is it?”

“What is what?” I frown in confusion.

“Your middle name.”

“Oh! It’s Rose.”

“Eleanora Rose Beckham.” He says it slowly as if tasting each syllable separately. A tiny shiver slides up my backbone despite the heat as I hear my name falling from his lips. “It’s a good name. Very classy.”

“Thanks. I didn’t like it when I was a kid. I thought it sounded like a grandma name.”

“You don’t look like any grandma I’ve ever met.” The words hang in the air between us, shimmering like a mirage. Heat shoots through me, and I can’t drag my eyes away from his. Are my feeble attempts at capturing his attention paying off already?

Then Olivia appears beside us and the moment is broken.

“Uncle Alex? I ate all of my burger and Mom said to ask you if there is dessert.”

“There absolutely is dessert. You think I should go get it?”

“Yes, please!” She clasps her hands together eagerly, and her twin braids bob as she nods enthusiastically.

“Okay, kiddo, I’ll bring it out.”

“Thanks!” Olivia says before dashing back to her seat between Maddy and Annie.

Alex wiggles his eyebrows at me. “The moment of truth.”

19

ALEX

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