Page 13 of A Recipe for Romance

Kelsi’s eyes widened, her surprise evident. “And now?”

Drew swallowed, feeling more exposed than he had in years. “Now, I’m starting to think maybe the best way to honor him would be to take what he taught me and make it my own. To keep creating, like he always encouraged me to do.”

Kelsi’s soft smile warmed him from the inside out. “I think that sounds perfect.”

They stood there, a breath between them, the air heavy with unspoken words. Drew’s pulse quickened, his gaze drifting down to her lips. He hesitated, battling the surge of desire that rose inside him. This was wrong. This was dangerous. But Kelsi’s eyes softened, her lips parting just slightly as she met his gaze.

Drew’s heart slammed against his chest as he stepped closer, his hand brushing her arm lightly. She didn’t pull away. His breath caught in his throat, his resolve slipping with every second. Before he could stop himself, he leaned in, capturing her lips in a soft, hesitant kiss.

For a heartbeat, the world around them vanished. There was only her—the warmth of her lips, the softness of her touch as her hand slid to his chest. The kiss deepened, slow and deliberate, a confession neither of them had the words for.

When they finally pulled apart, Drew’s chest heaved, his mind reeling. They stood there in silence, the weight of what had just happened settling between them. He knew this changed everything.

But as Kelsi looked up at him, her eyes wide and searching, Drew realized something else—whatever came next, he didn’t regret it.

Chapter 9: Kelsi

The quiet hum of thestudio replaced the vibrant energy of the market as Kelsi adjusted her camera gear, the images of the day playing on a loop in her mind. Drew’s voice echoed in her thoughts—soft and almost hesitant when he spoke about his father. She couldn’t shake the vulnerability she had seen in his eyes, a crack in the otherwise impenetrable armor he wore so well. It lingered with her, pulling at her in ways she hadn’t expected.

She refocused her lens, trying to shift her thoughts back to work. It was supposed to be a simple day—just another challenge, another shoot—but Drew had made it so much more. There was something unspoken between them, something she wasn’t sure how to handle.

“You good, Kelsi?” Zak’s voice broke through her reverie.

Kelsi blinked, shaking herself back to the present. “Yeah, I’m fine,” she replied, forcing a smile. “Just a long day.”

Zak shot her a knowing look, the kind that said he could see right through her. “Long day, huh? Funny how long days usually involve Chef Carlson,” he teased, winking.

Heat crept up Kelsi’s neck. “It’s not like that,” she said quickly, a little too quickly.

Zak chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, whatever you say. But if you need me to cover for you at dinner tomorrow night, just let me know.”

Kelsi laughed nervously, her mind flashing back to the text message Drew had sent her:Dinner tomorrow? We need to talk.

Talk. The word hung over her like a storm cloud. She knew what Drew wanted to talk about—there was no avoiding it anymore. But was she ready for that conversation? The easy, professional distance they had maintained was crumbling, and she wasn’t sure if she was prepared for what might come next.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, half expecting another message from Drew, but instead, it was a notification from Amelia’s social media account. Kelsi’s heart skipped a beat. Amelia had been quiet lately, too quiet. She had an unsettling knack for appearing at the worst possible moments.

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