Page 39 of Sensuous

She glances up at them and grimaces. “Oh, God. If he told her to make haggis, she’s not going to make it. That was her big fear when she heard she was paired with him.”

I can’t help but laugh at the thought of him forcing her to prepare haggis. I couldn’t do it. I’m sure I could follow the recipe, but I don’t think I’d be able to keep my breakfast down.

“Poor thing. I hope it’s not that.”

Maria pops up from out of nowhere and marches over to where Kat and I stand talking. Arms folded across her chest, she looks upset. Maybe she saw the haggis.

“This is supposed to be a time for cooking, not getting chummy. You two look like you’re having too much fun over here. What are you making, Kat?”

“Chicken bourguignon,” she answers as she turns to look for something in the refrigerator.

As if someone turned the light off inside her, now she looks as miserable as she always has around me. I know it’s an act for the producers, but damn, it’s jarring after we were having such a good time.

“Sounds interesting. Alex, why did you choose that?”

“Because we didn’t have any bourbon,” I say flatly.

The answer doesn’t make sense because she wasn’t here for all the discussion we had, but it’s all I feel like giving her. Maria shakes her head in confusion, looking first at me and then at Kat. Neither of us offer anything more to help her understand, and I hope she’ll move on to another couple of contestants.

But she doesn’t. Instead, she watches Kat work for nearly a minute and then asks, “Have you ever made this dish before? You seem to know what you’re doing.”

As if on cue, Kat scowls and then looks over at me. “He was kind enough to write every detail down. It’s on the paper over there.”

The sound of her utter unhappiness makes a few contestants stop what they’re doing and look over toward us. I know she’s acting, but damn, it feels very real.

Maria studies the sheet of paper with the recipe I wrote and then looks up at me. “You wrote this entire recipe from memory. That’s impressive, Alex.”

I smile and open my mouth to thank her for the compliment, but before I can, Kat grumbles, “So the golden boy canremember a few things for a recipe. Are we supposed to give him a prize now? When is he posing for his statue?”

The producer’s eyes open wide at my partner’s snide attack on me. She wanted conflict and drama. Well, now she’s got it.

I should say something, but I’m not as good at acting my part as Kat is. Maria gives me one last glance before walking away, leaving us to the assignment they gave us.

Turning away to make it look like I’m not talking to her, I murmur, “Damn, that was a little harsh.”

Kat lets out a little chuckle and says under her breath, “I promise I’ll be much nicer at dinner.”

With a sly smile, I nod and return to pretending that working with her is pure misery. That it’s not is the biggest surprise of this entire show for me.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Kat

Standingin front of Alex’s door, I try to calm my nerves so I’m not a total mess. I feel as nervous as I did the last time I was here. I just have to remember that turned out great, and this will too.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath in. I’m going to be fine. So he’s perfect and gorgeous and everything I find appealing in a man? That doesn’t mean he couldn’t like someone like me.

Yes, it does. I’m a trainwreck when it comes to interpersonal relationships. It starts with my father and only gets worse from there.

Stop it, Katerina! You’re a beautiful woman. At least people say that. You can do this. He’s stunning, but that’s a good thing. Would you rather he be hideously ugly and horrible like the Elephant Man with a bad attitude?

Another deep breath and I’m ready to knock on the door and get this night going. I look down my body at the black dress Sadie commanded me to wear because it fits in all the right ways and in all the right places and shows no fuzzies orlint. The area near my ankle where I cut myself shaving isn’t bleeding anymore, thankfully. Nothing like showing up at a man’s apartment with blood rolling down your foot.

I knock once and then again, just in case he didn’t hear the first one, and while I wait for him to answer the door, a beautiful woman walks down the hallway toward me wearing a black dress similar to mine. Blond with great cheekbones and a mouth that’s so perfect I can’t imagine she was born like that, she smiles at me as she passes, but I notice she glances at the door like she knows the person who lives inside.

“Hi,” I say, feeling suddenly uncomfortable.

She nods and gives me a tiny hello before continuing on her way. Does she know Alex? Is she an ex of his? She’s gorgeous enough to be one of his exes. How many does he have? Do they all look like this beautiful woman who I now notice has legs that go on for miles?

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