Page 5 of Stolen Kiss

“Come on sappy, let’s get drunk.”

Heidi pulled her door shut, automatically locking it and they walked hand in hand, swinging their arms to the pub.

Chapter Three

Jason

“Why are you both in my kitchen?” Jason asked, giving Archer and Erica a set of raised eyebrows. He was tasting the tomato sauce he was perfecting for his chicken curry. Not too spicey and not too mild. He’d been grinding seeds in his mortar and pestle all morning, getting the right balance, and now the sauce was bubbling away.

“I enjoy watching you work,” Erica said.

His eyes narrowed on the blatant lie. Well, he thought it was a lie only because neither of them came to the kitchens at Edward Hall while he cooked. He’d cooked in their kitchen plenty of times, but he hadn’t noticed she watched.

“Nope, not buying it,” he said, tossing the spoon into the sink of soapy water.

Archer gave Erica a universal nod that said,just tell him. She inhaled long and slow and then hoisted her arse up onto the long metal bench that ran parallel to where Jason was standing behind his bench. He leaned a hip against the metal and folded his arms, dropping his chin to wait.

“We have our first booking,” Erica said. She exaggerated her grin like she was terrified, but putting on a brave face.

“Why do you both look like long-tailed cats in a room filled with mousetraps?” Jason said, coming around the bench to stand opposite them. Archer had joined Erica sitting on the metal table. He made a mental note to wash down the table when they’d gone. He ran a clean and spotless kitchen.

“It’s a biggy. And if we pull it off, it will project this place into the stratosphere,” she said, waving her hands in a theatre style move, looking up to the ceiling. Jason was waiting for the Jazz hands to finish, but she dropped her hands into her lap and then shuffled closer to Archer.

“Please don’t tell me it’s an actor,” Jason said.

“Okay, but she is an actor,” Erica said.

“The client is the bride? That fills me with doom,” Jason said. “Can’t we start small, like a local who wants plain food and will not kick up a fuss?”

“She’s not a diva or a bridezilla, I promise,” Erica said.

“Oscars,” Jason clipped.

“What?” Archer and Erica said.

“How many Oscars?”

“Not many,” Erica said, and ploughed on. “She’s a good friend of mine and has fallen madly in love. She knows everyone and has a deal with the biggest fashion magazine in the world. Which means exclusivity and no press.”

“All that tells me is that perfection will be expected. Our first gig cannot be an Oscar-winning actress.”

“Multiple,” Archer chipped in.

“Not at all helpful, brother,” Jason said.

“Well, technically, your first gig here was an Oscar-winning actress,” Archer said, looking at his wife and holding her hand.

“Yeah, but you’re Erica, and not an unknown entity,” Jason argued.

“If we put on the best wedding, we can then the feature alone in the magazine will ensure years of bookings,” Archer said.

“It’s the, if we don’t manage the best wedding bit, I’m concerned about,” Jason replied.

“We’ll find other clients,” Archer said.

“No pressure then. To make the perfect cake, perfect wedding breakfast, the perfect every fucking thing.”

“Jason, relax. It’s going to be fine,” Erica said, using her soothing voice, and he felt soothed instantly.

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