Page 17 of A Recipe for Romance

Drew paused, considering his words carefully. "It's... well, it's inspired by you, actually."

Kelsi looked up, surprise evident on her face. "Me?"

Drew nodded, feeling heat creep up his neck. "Your approach to food – it's so different from what I'm used to. But it's made me see things in a new way. This dish is an attempt to bridge our two worlds."

A soft smile spread across Kelsi's face, warming Drew from the inside out. "Drew, that's... that's really sweet."

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the rest of the world seemed to fade away. Drew found himself leaning in, drawn by an irresistible force. Kelsi's breath hitched, her eyes flicking to his lips.

The sharp beep of the oven timer shattered the moment.

Drew stepped back, clearing his throat. "I, uh, I should check on that."

As he turned to the oven, he caught sight of Kelsi's flushed cheeks and slightly dazed expression. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks: he was falling for her, hard and fast.

"You know," Kelsi said, her voice soft, "I never thought I'd be here. In a kitchen like this, cooking with someone like you."

Drew turned back to her, intrigued. "What do you mean?"

Kelsi shrugged, her eyes on the vegetables she was chopping. "I guess I've always felt like an outsider in this world. The girl with the camera, not a 'real' chef. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just fooling everyone, myself included."

Her vulnerability struck a chord in Drew. He set down the dish he was holding and moved closer to her. "Kelsi, look at me."

She raised her eyes to meet his, and the insecurity he saw there made his heart ache.

"You are not fooling anyone," he said firmly. "Your passion for food, your creativity – it's real. And it's inspiring. You've made me see cooking in a whole new way."

Kelsi's eyes widened. "Really?"

Drew nodded, feeling a weight lift as he opened up. "I've been struggling, Kelsi. For years. I lost my passion, my drive. But working with you, seeing your enthusiasm – it's brought something back to life in me."

A moment of understanding passed between them, deep and profound. Kelsi reached out, gently squeezing Drew's hand. "Thank you for sharing that with me," she said softly. "I guess we're both works in progress, huh?"

Drew chuckled, feeling lighter than he had in years. "I guess we are."

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of cooking, tasting, and conversation. As they sat down to enjoy their creation, Drew couldn't help but marvel at how natural it felt, having Kelsi in his space, collaborating with him.

"This is incredible," Kelsi said, taking another bite. "I never would have thought to pair these flavors, but it works so well."

Drew smiled, a warmth spreading through his chest. "That's the beauty of collaboration. We push each other to try new things."

Kelsi nodded, her expression turning serious. "Drew, about what happened at the gala..."

He tensed, bracing himself for her anger or disappointment. But instead, Kelsi reached across the table, placing her hand over his.

"I understand why you did it," she said softly. "And while it hurt, I can see how much you've grown since then. How much we've both grown."

Drew turned his hand, intertwining their fingers. "Kelsi, I..."

The words caught in his throat. How could he express everything he was feeling? The gratitude for her forgiveness, the awe at her talent and passion, the depth of his growing feelings for her?

In the end, he settled for a simple truth. "You've changed everything for me. My cooking, my outlook... everything."

Kelsi's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "You've changed things for me too, Drew. More than you know."

As they sat there, hands linked across the table, surrounded by the remnants of their shared creation, Drew felt a sense of rightness settle over him. But with it came a flicker of fear. How would this affect their professional lives? Could they navigate the competitive world of culinary TV while exploring these feelings?

The evening was drawing to a close, but Drew found himself reluctant to let it end. As they stood at the door, the air between them charged with unspoken words and suppressed desire, he made a decision.

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