Page 14 of A Recipe for Romance

Kelsi swiped the notification away and refocused on her work. She had enough on her plate without worrying about what Amelia was up to. There would be time for that later.

For now, she had footage to edit and posts to schedule. She slid her phone back into her pocket and started gathering behind-the-scenes clips of the contestants. The challenge had gone off without a hitch, and everyone seemed to be in good spirits. But no matter how hard she tried to focus on work, her mind kept drifting back to Drew.

Why can’t I just treat this like any other day?she wondered, frustration bubbling inside her.

The problem was, it wasn’t just any other day. Every time she thought about the way Drew had opened up about his father, the way he had looked at her in the market—so raw, so exposed—it made her chest tighten. She had spent so long trying to prove herself in this world, trying to be taken seriously as a chef and not just the “content creator.” But with Drew, it was different. He saw her in a way that no one else did.

As the last contestant wrapped up their post-challenge interviews, Kelsi packed up her equipment, the weight of tomorrow’s dinner pressing down on her. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but she knew one thing for sure—whatever happened between her and Drew, it was going to change everything.

The studio had emptied out by the time Kelsi finished uploading the day’s footage. The echo of her footsteps filled the space as she made her way toward the exit, her mind still racing. She had spent so long building her brand, cultivating an audience, and clawing her way to where she was now. Letting Drew into that world—into her heart—felt like a risk she wasn’t sure she could afford to take.

Her phone buzzed again, and this time it was Drew.

Drew: "Looking forward to tomorrow. Dinner’s at 7. Can’t wait to see you."

A shiver ran down her spine.Can’t wait to see you.It was a simple message, but the weight of it pressed against her, stirring up a whirlwind of emotions. She typed back a quick response.

Kelsi: "Looking forward to it too. See you then."

She stared at the screen for a moment, her thumb hovering over the keyboard. She wanted to say more, to tell him how much his words at the market had meant to her, how much she had been thinking about him. But the words felt too heavy, too risky.

Instead, she slid her phone into her bag and made her way to the door. The streets outside were quiet, the sun dipping low on the horizon. Tomorrow was coming fast, and with it, the conversation she had been avoiding.

Chapter 10: Drew

The early morning lightfiltered through the kitchen windows, casting a soft glow on the chaos surrounding Drew. He stood at the center island, surrounded by an array of fresh ingredients, knives gleaming, and pots waiting to be put to use. Today’s challenge was designed to push the contestants to their creative limits—and as head judge, he needed to be ready for anything.

But no matter how hard he tried to focus, Drew’s thoughts kept drifting to the night before. The memory of Kelsi’s kiss, the way she’d fit so perfectly in his arms, and the unspoken promise they’d shared—it was both exhilarating and terrifying.

“Earth to Drew,” Zak’s voice cut through his reverie. “You with us, bro?”

Drew blinked, snapping back to the present. Zak stood next to him, eyebrows raised, clearly amused. “Yeah, sorry. Just... thinking about the challenge.”

“Uh-huh.” Zak’s smirk widened, mischief dancing in his eyes. “And this ‘challenge’ wouldn’t happen to have pink hair and a killer smile, would it?”

Heat crept up Drew’s neck. “Zak, I—”

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