Page 29 of The Grump

Scarlett was right next to me. “I love Isabeau’s jambalaya. I can’t make one that even comes close to it.”

“Now I’m even more curious to try it. So, how come you moved to New Orleans?” I asked her.

“I wasn’t happy with things in Seattle anymore, and I needed the change. Plus, I was obsessed with New Orleans as a kid. And as an adult, it didn’t go away,” Scarlett said. She was a beautiful woman, and very kind too. I’d liked her from the first time I saw her when I made the delivery at the restaurant.

“It actually continued when I started watchingThe Originals.”

I instantly grinned. “You’re a vampire girl?”

She nodded with a wide smile. “Through and through.”

“So am I. Though I only watchedThe Vampire Diaries.The Originalsbeing filmed here sort of felt spooky and too close to home.”

I’d heard great things about the spinoff, though, and maybe at some point I would watch it.

“I’m a Damon Salvatore fan,” I told her.

She wiggled her eyebrows. “Klaus Mikaelson girl here.”

“What’s going on?” Xander asked. “Who are Damon and Klaus?”

“These superhot guys,” I explained.

Xander looked at us with a frown, especially at Scarlett.

“Yeah, they’re superhot,” she agreed.

“What?” he barked.

“Pity they’re fictional, though.” I managed to keep a straight face, but Scarlett burst out laughing.

I gave Xander a short explanation about the TV show. “Ha ha, very funny,” he deadpanned once I’d finished.

“Oh, it was. You should’ve seen your expression.” He’d seemed... almost jealous. I initially assumed he was upset because Scarlett was his brother’s fiancée, but what if there was more to it?

Come on, find out if the guy is taken and put your mind at ease.

An idea popped into my head. “So, out of everyone, just you and Chad are a couple, right?” I asked Scarlett.

She gave me a knowing smile. “Julian also has a fiancée, Georgie. She’s adorable, but they couldn’t make it tonight. The other guys aren’t taken.”

I gave her a noncommittal shrug and then proceeded to fill my plate with jambalaya. I could tell just by looking at it that it was superior to anything I’d had before. Filling a spoon, I brought it to my nose to smell. The texture was richer, but the flavors were familiar.

I shoved the spoonful into my mouth before stepping aside to make space for others, and oh my God, I was in heaven. I closed my eyes, focusing on the taste. This wasn’t just the best jambalaya, it was the best food I’d ever had. It was creamy but not heavy. The mix of shrimp and meat was simply amazing.

I opened my eyes, which was when I noticed Xander watching me with a smile. I’d thought he was still at the buffet. When had he come up to me? I seemed to be aware of him no matter where he was in the room, but apparently the jambalaya had required all my attention.

“I take it, it’s to your liking.”

“Yes! I have to figure out the recipe.”

He scoffed. “Good luck with that. She won’t even show it to family.”

“This is the highlight of the evening.”

“No, the eggnog is.”

“There’s eggnog?” I asked.

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