Page 46 of A Table for Two
“That sad story about only being able to cook a few things. This steak is better than any of the ones I’ve eaten at those high-end restaurants. It literally melted in my mouth.” She propped her elbows on the table and rested her head in her hands. “Okay, spill it. I want to know how you did it.”
Gabriel laughed so hard, his side ached. “That is the best compliment I’ve ever been given.” He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss. “There’s no secret really, other than starting with a quality cut of meat.” He’d been more than a little surprised to find the Wagyu rib eyes at a small meat market tucked away right off Main Street. The highly marbled meat gave it its tender, butter-soft richness, and as Serenity said, melt-in-your-mouth goodness. That alone made it worth the expensive cost.
She ate another bite. “I’ve bought prime cuts from the market, and theyneverturn out like this.”
“That’s because I bought them from Palmer’s Butcher Shop.”
“And? I’ve purchased steaks there, too.”
“Wagyu.”
Her mouth formed the perfect O. “Ooo-kay. So, how are the potatoes?” Serenity gave him a winning smile and wiggled her eyebrows.
Chuckling, he forked up a portion of the potatoes. They had always turned out well before, but this time they were over-the-top good. “All I know is I can’t wait for my order to get here.” He’d purchased two more of the buttery and sweet and one each of the others.
“Told you.” She popped a piece in her mouth. “The citrus-flavored ones are so good on seafood or for making vinaigrettes.”
As Gabriel listened, he made a mental shopping list. He’d be purchasing seafood as soon as his package arrived. They finished the meal in companionable silence, interspersed with quiet conversation as smooth R & B music floated through concealed speakers. After they finished their meals, he asked her the question that had been bugging him since he found out she’d been in town only six years. “Was it hard to make the transition from a big city to small-town living?” Although he enjoyed the fresh air and being able to run at nearby lakes, he didn’t think he would ever be able to stay indefinitely. He thrived on the fast-paced Atlanta lifestyle.
Serenity ran her hand idly up and down the stem of her wineglass and gave him a wistful smile. “I’ll concede that it took some getting used to, but at that time in my life I needed the change, and it turned out to be the best decision.” She shrugged. “It’s strange, but I don’t think I could imagine living anywhere else. The slower pace allows me to catch my breath and indulge in more self-care. Before, I rarely made time to take care of myself. Now I make it a priority.”
He studied her for a lengthy moment. Admittedly, she did always seem to have a calmness about her—aside from the two instances when they butted heads, for which he’d been partly responsible. Still, he had a hard time picturing himself growing old in a place like this. He could envision visiting more, however, because, despite the circumstances that brought him to town, he wanted to continue seeing her. As friends. The heated kisses they’d previously shared surfaced in his mind. Okay, maybe friends with a few benefits.
“Andrea said you were a city boy through and through, so I’m sure this pace isn’t as relaxing for you.”
A soft smile tilted the corner of his mouth. “She’s right. This is the longest I’ve stayed, and it hasn’t been too bad.” Gabriel saluted her with his glass and drained the remainder of his wine. “Meeting you has helped.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet. Thank you.” Serenity paused and raised an eyebrow. “You’re not saying that just because you want more brownies?”
He opened his mouth, then closed it. “I…no.”
“Mm-hmm, I bet.”
“I won’t lie and say those brownies aren’t addictive, but I enjoy hanging out with you.”
“Same here,” she said softly. She cleared her throat. “Since we’ve had time to let that fantastic meal settle, are you ready for dessert?”
“Do you even have to ask?” He rose from the table and collected their plates. Serenity stood, grabbed the glasses, and followed him inside. “You can just place them in the sink. I’ll take care of everything later. Right now I want to know what’s in the bag.”
Serenity shook her head as she slid the container out of the bag and opened the top.
“Peach cobbler!”Without another word, Gabriel reached into a drawer, grabbed a spoon, and dug out a big scoop. The second it hit his mouth, he moaned. He didn’t know which he liked more, this or the brownies. “I’m going to have to up my workout regimen around you with all these amazing desserts.” They filled their bowls with the cobbler, added the ice cream from the freezer, and then took them back outside. He’d probably gotten far more than he should’ve, but he couldn’t resist. “And this ice cream is better than at Splendid Scoops.”
“More flattery?”
“Moretruth. I never lie about food.”
She picked up the piece of crust that had fallen and ate it. “It is one of the best I’ve made recently.”
She licked the bits of sugar and cinnamon off her lips, and the sight prompted Gabriel to swoop down and finish the job. The kiss that he’d meant to be light turned hot and intense in a nanosecond. He cradled her face in his palms as his tongue stroked hers. He trailed kisses along her jaw and throat, then moved back to her mouth. At length, he lifted his head. “Come on. Let’s go start the movie.”
“I’ve been waiting all week to see it,” Serenity said, doing a little shimmy out of the kitchen. “My favorite part is when the warden tore down that poster. The look on his face was priceless.”
“That it was,” he agreed, chuckling. After getting comfortable on the spacious lounger and starting the movie, they shared a smile and turned their attention to the screen. Gabriel thought about the woman curled next to him. Every moment of the evening, from the conversation and food to the kiss and relaxed domesticity they shared, had been incredible. A wave of contentment so strong washed over Gabriel that it scared the hell out of him. He was getting in too deep. In that instant, he decided a quick trip home might be a good idea. Sure, he knew he was running from his feelings, but hopefully, the short reprieve would help him regain the distance he needed to keep from falling further for Serenity. Or at least he hoped it would.
***
Sunday afternoon, Serenity removed the roasted chicken breasts from the oven and set them aside to cool. She’d made it a practice to meal prep when she worked at the hospital because of her long hours, and even though she now had a consistent daily schedule, the habit remained. Besides, it gave her more time during the week to relax when she came home.
