Page 18 of A Recipe for Romance

"Kelsi," he said, his voice low and earnest. "I'd like to do this again. Not just cooking, but... spending time together. If you want to, that is."

Kelsi's smile was radiant. "I'd like that very much, Drew."

As she left, the warmth of her smile lingering in his mind, Drew knew that this was just the beginning of something extraordinary. He had a lot to learn, about cooking and about love, but with Kelsi as his partner, he was eager for every lesson.

Yet as he closed the door, a nagging thought crept in. How would they balance this budding relationship with the demands of their careers? The culinary world could be cutthroat, and he knew better than most how quickly fortunes could change.

Drew shook his head, pushing the worries aside for now. Tomorrow would bring its own challenges. For tonight, he would savor the memory of Kelsi's smile, the taste of their shared creation, and the promise of what was to come.

Chapter 12: Kelsi

The early morning lightfiltered through the kitchen windows, casting a warm glow over the organized chaos before Drew. His hands moved with practiced precision, slicing vegetables and seasoning meat, but his thoughts were miles away. Today wasn’t just any day. Today, he and Kelsi would have “the talk”—the one that would decide how they navigated their relationship amid the intensity of the show. The weight of it pressed on him, a mixture of anticipation and anxiety.

A soft knock on the door snapped him from his reverie. He wiped his hands on a towel, his heart racing as he crossed the kitchen to open it.

Kelsi stood there, a tentative smile on her lips, holding a small bag in one hand. "Morning, Chef," she greeted lightly. "Brought us some fuel. Thought we might need it for the day."

Drew couldn’t help but smile, the tension in his chest easing slightly at the sight of her. "You're a lifesaver," he said, stepping aside to let her in. "Coffee’s already on if you want some."

Kelsi set the bag down on the kitchen island and inhaled the comforting scent of brewing coffee. The quiet domesticity of the moment didn’t escape Drew. It felt right, her being here, sharing the calm before the storm. But the unspoken tension in the room quickly reminded him that this wasn’t just another morning.

Kelsi broke the silence first. "So," she began, taking a breath, "I guess we should talk about us. About how we’re going to handle things moving forward."

Drew nodded, leaning against the counter. "Yeah, you’re right. It’s getting complicated." He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Amelia’s circling, the media’s getting nosier, and we can’t keep pretending nothing’s happening between us."

Kelsi’s eyes softened, and for a moment, the vulnerability in them tightened something deep in his chest. "Drew, I need to know," she said carefully. "Is this—arewe—worth it? Because if we’re doing this, I need you to be all in. No doubts, no second-guessing."

Her words hit him square in the gut. He stepped forward, taking her hand gently, and met her gaze with a fierce honesty he’d kept locked away for too long. "Kelsi, you’ve brought something back into my life that I didn’t even realize was missing. You’ve reignited my love for cooking, for... everything. So yes, you’re worth it. You’re wortheverything."

Her eyes glistened, and she squeezed his hand, a smile breaking through. "Okay then," she said, her voice steady. "How do we make this work?"

For the next hour, they worked through their options. They talked about telling the producers after the finale, going public when the time was right, or keeping their relationship discreet for now. Each suggestion came with risks, but the more they talked, the clearer their path became.

"What about your career?" Drew asked, voicing a concern that had gnawed at him for days. "If word gets out, it could hurt your brand. You’ve built something amazing, Kelsi. I don’t want to be the reason you lose any of it."

Kelsi smiled softly, shaking her head. "Drew, my followers value authenticity. They care about the story behind the food—and this," she gestured between them, "is part of my story now. Sure, some people won’t get it. But the ones who matter will."

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