Page 73 of Her Braun
She shrugged. "You would know more than I would. But I think they had some of each at the main table and a firefighter made a quip about the food being better than donuts. And then a policeman said something like 'We all know firefighters sleep until it's time to eat and eat until it's time to sleep.' So I'mguessing you kind of have to know how to cook good meals if you're a firefighter."
He nodded and grinned back at her. "If you don't cook good food there could be a mutiny on your hands."
Kay stared wide-eyed at him. "Thank goodness my position at the hospital doesn't count on me being a good cook. I would have been kicked out by now."
"I'm sure you cook fine."
She gave him a look that spoke volumes. "I can cook comfort food," she tilted her head and sighed. "Comfort meaning easy. And probably food you wouldn't enjoy."
"Meaning?"
Blushing, she lifted her chin toward the coffee pot that she kept on the counter.
"One of my favorites is ramen. I make it in that coffee pot right over there."
He had to swallow the laugh that threatened to come out. "I'm sorry, what?"
"Something I learned in college. Those six-for-a-dollar instant noodles in a package?"
"Yeah?"
She smiled. "I don't even know if they're considered actual food, but it's quick and filling. I'd cut up some veggies and toss it in. Some green onions. Napa cabbage. Some fish cake, but just a little, that stuff is expensive."
He stared at her, disbelieving. "What the hell is fish cake?"
She lowered her leg down and then leaned her forearms on the edge of the table. "It's not cake like birthday cake."
"God, I hope not."
Kay laughed and he basked in the joy of that sound.
"Fish cake is an Asian thing. The kind I like is pink on the outside, and white in the middle with a pink swirl. It's kind of like a fish cake sausage."
"Okay."
She laughed. "It tastes better than it sounds. All of that and some togarashi." She held up her hand for him to wait. "Shichimi Togarashi. It's a spice mix of Japanese peppers and other ingredients. It's a heat that makes the flavor of everything else... rise."
"Yeah?"
She hung her head and used her fork to pick up another bite. "I'm sure it sounds crazy."
"Actually. It sounds good. Maybe you'll make it for me someday."
Her eyes narrowed at him. "You're not kidding."
"No." He shook his head." Not at all. I want to try it."
Something sparkled in her eyes. "Okay. The next time you're not on shift so you're home for dinner. I'll make it."
With that said, she dug back into her food.
Gibson sat there, watching her, thinking about the words that she'd used.
"Home?"
She lifted her head to look at him. "Hmm?"
He grinned at her. "You said... the next time that I'm not on shift and home for dinner."
