Page 38 of The Paris Roommates: Dean
She shrugged, drawing her badass persona around her like a shield. “I wasn’t sure you had enough food. Plus, you wanted to impress the girl.”
He leaned down for his shopping bag. “Which you did. You blew her away. In fact, Jacqueline thinks Nanine’s is guaranteed a Michelin star after trying what you made this morning.”
“Wait, this morning?” Kyle turned to their friend. “But you don’t ever get up before eleven.”
She shot Dean a look before lifting a shoulder. “Some things are important enough to change our schedules over.”
Dean drew out the anemones the florist had assured him would be a great non-rose gift for a friend. He watched her eyes widen as he pressed them into her hand. She rocked back, but he wasn’t going to be denied. He grabbed her shoulders and hugged her. God, it was awkward. She was all stiff, and he patted her back at the end. “Thanks, Madison.”
“You’re welcome, but the flowers and the hug weren’t necessary,” she said, pushing back and ruffling the florist paper with unsure hands.
“I thought they were,” Dean said, holding his ground. “I wish you could have seen her reaction to your lobster salad. She went crazy for it. Like culinary professional madhouse. Right, Pierre?”
“Absolutely,” the parrot shared with a whistle. “Michelin star ready.”
“I think I’m in shock,” Brooke said while Sawyer nodded. “Madison, that is the sweetest—”
“Enough!” She raised a definitive hand. “I made something. Big deal. I’m a chef. It’s what I do.”
“If you say so…” Sawyer replied slowly. “But I’m calling bullshit.”
“Me too.” Kyle tapped his foot. “Do you still have some of this lobster salad?”
She shot him a suspicious look. “You hungry all of a sudden?”
He strode to the cooler after grabbing a fork from the silverware holder on the counter. “No, I want to try this salad that a sommelier coming from a Michelin restaurant just told us would garner Nanine’s a star. Anyone else?”
The others grabbed their own forks and rushed to the cooler.
A chorus of moans emerged along with the cold air moments later. Dean gave Madison a knowing look. She and Sawyer had more in common than he’d thought, and from now on, he was going to do his best to help them both see their awesomeness.
“Hey!” she yelled, stalking toward the cooler. “Close the door. I don’t want things to start sweating.”
“Holy shit, Madison!” Kyle emerged, still chewing, so unlike him. “Why isn’t this on the new menu?”
She blew out an aggravated breath. “Because I just made it up, Kyle.”
“You. Just. Made. This. Up.” He made the sound of something blowing up. “We have to put this on the menu.”
“I agree!” Brooke was also talking with her mouth full. “I don’t want to stop eating this.”
“Me either,” Sawyer added as he wiped his mouth, “and I’m not a huge fan of lobster. They mate for life, you know.”
“You guys are going a little crazy here.” Madison was clutching her flowers now. “It’s a simple recipe. Nothing big.”
“The best recipes are the simplest,” Jean Luc said, emerging from the fridge with a grinning Thea, who forked another piece of lobster meat in her mouth and moaned. “Or so my mother told me. And now my beautiful fiancée.”
Thea beamed. Madison frowned. “But we have the menu set. With bread accompaniments.”
“Thea.” Kyle swung around. “What bread would you pair with this lobster salad?”
She worried her mouth before replying, “I’d go with a subtle rye, slightly toasted.”
“But this lobster salad isn’t a French classic!” she exclaimed.“This is Nanine’s.”
“I’m going to get her,” Brooke called, hurrying out of the kitchen.
That was good, because Dean had been about to grab her himself. Clearly, she needed to get in on this.
