Page 27 of Promise Me Ever After
I lost myself in chopping and preparing the ingredients, not to mention finding all the utensils, saucepans and trays I needed. Georgie wasn’t wrong when she said she didn’t cook. Unlike our kitchen at home, there appeared to be a lack of what I would consider the right tools for the job. But I wasn’t about to make a big deal of it. I wanted to enjoy the evening, eat, drink, talk and whatever else might come up.
When Georgie came back into the kitchen, I was in the middle of preparing the vegetables for the main course. The chocolate and raspberry cake was already cooking, the delicious aroma filling the kitchen.
“Wow, it smells amazing.” Georgie’s nose twitched. No longer clad in a dressing gown, a simple dark green flowered tea dress clung to her curves, the scoop neck giving me even more chance to revel at the sight of the glorious curve of her tits. She wore ballet flats in a contrasting forest green to her dress and her hair was piled up in a messy bun. “Can I do anything to help?”
I almost dropped the knife.She looked amazing.
“Do you want a glass of champagne?” I gestured to the fridge. “There’s a bottle waiting to be opened.”
She hesitated. “Do you care about things being in the correct glasses?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, um, I don’t have posh champagne flutes.” Georgie went to one of the cupboards I’d already explored on the search for plates. She hooked out two tumblers. “Assuming there’s wine, we’ll have to have these.”
I let out a laugh. “Seriously, whatever works. This isn’t the restaurant or Ealynn Marina Hotel. I’ll go along with whatever you’ve got.”
A smile tipped the corners of her mouth. “Good to know.”
I carried on prepping while she wrestled with the cork and poured out tumblers of insanely expensive fizz.
She raised her glass to me. “Cheers, and thanks, Alex. This is already the best meal I’ve eaten in ages.”
“You haven’t tasted it yet.” I winked.
Georgie perched on the table, her legs swinging as she sipped her champagne. “What are we having?”
“Scallops, duck and chocolate.” I shot her choices back at her. “Just like you asked for.”
She made a face. “Yes, I know that. But what are you doing with them? You know, tell me like you would in the restaurant when you’ve done something for the specials board.”
I put down the knife, making sure that everything was on track and I could take a moment. “Okay, so first up there are seared scallops with pea puree and pea shoots. We’ll pair this with a Spanish Albarino, a dry white wine with hints of citrus and peach.” Georgie nodded and I went on. “Then pan-fried duck with roasted root vegetables, red cabbage and a port reduction. Oh, and Pinot Noir of course. And finally, there’s a chocolate and raspberry cake with a sweet ruby port.” My own mouth watered as I explained what we’d be having.
“Sounds delicious. Is this the sort of thing you enjoy cooking? It’s different to Anna’s Kitchen where you’re making steak and burgers,” Georgie asked.
“Most of these dishes have made it onto the specials board at some point or another.” I turned my attention back to the prep. “So, in a way, you could say yes.”
“My sister would have loved to have you cater her wedding. She couldn’t say enough good things about your menu at the Favours event the other night.”
I laughed. “Mmm, not sure mass catering’s really my bag. I mean, it was fun for one night, but the work involved.” I blew out a breath. “When’s your sister getting married?”
“At the start of December. I’m running out of time and patience organising her hen night, what with her wanting to do something different every time we talk about it.” She rolled her eyes. “Ealynn Sands doesn’t exactly have much to offer.”
“Hey, my sister works in Blossom. I bet she could organise something for you.” Mentally, I kicked myself for bringing up Amber, one of the town’s biggest gossips. The moment I asked her to help out a ‘friend’, she’d read far more into it than there actually was.
“I think Darcy already has her on board. She’s organised wedding make-up through the salon.”
That figured. Amber had always looked at ways to increase opportunities for Blossom.
“And Darcy owns Itsy Bitsys, right?” The boutique was another favourite of both Amber and Mum. I’d bought many a gift voucher for birthdays and Christmases from there.
Georgie nodded. “Yep. I’m going to be helping out there for a bit until the wedding.”
“As well as working in the restaurant?”
“Mmmhmm and trying to make this place my own.” She waved her tumbler around the room.
I couldn’t deny the place needed updating. My search for plates and saucepans had shown just how little stuff Georgie owned.
