Page 47 of A Table for Two
As she added some of the buttery and sweet olive oil to a skillet to sauté some yellow squash, a smile curved her lips. Last night’s date with Gabriel had been one she’d never forget. No man had ever cooked for her, and she knew the Wagyu beef had cost him a pretty penny, but he appeared to not mind. In fact, it was just the opposite. He’d gone out of his way to make sure to provide her with a spectacular meal. And the kisses they’d shared both before and after the movie had been out-of-this-world good. She only wished she’d met him before her ex soured her on relationships.
Serenity added the squash, sprinkled Himalayan pink salt and cracked black pepper, gave it a toss, and hurried to answer her ringing phone.
She smiled when she saw Gabriel’s name on the display. “Well, hello, neighbor. Are you calling to invite me over for another delicious meal?” She went back to the stove to stir the vegetables.
Gabriel’s warm chuckle came through the line. “Good afternoon to you, too. And not this time. Something came up at home, so I’ll be headed to Atlanta tonight.”
She paused stirring the squash. Her smile faded, and her heart rate kicked up. Not that it should have, since they weren’t involved in anything serious. “How long will you be gone?”
“Probably about a week.”
“Oh, okay. When you get back, it’ll be my turn to cook. Maybe we can have brunch—waffles from scratch with my homemade vanilla maple syrup, or biscuits with some of my famous strawberry jam.”
He groaned. “You’re killing me, you know that?”
“Hey, just trying to give you an incentive to come back.” The words left her mouth before she could stop them, and she wished she could go back and slap a hand over her mouth. It didn’t help that Gabriel remained silent for what seemed like forever.
Finally, he said, “I’ll be looking forward to it.”
“I’m sure you have a million things to do before you leave, so…um…have a safe flight.” Serenity figured she should get off the phone before she said something else she shouldn’t.
“A few things. I’ll call you.”
“Sounds good.” They spoke a minute longer, then disconnected. She banged her palm lightly against her forehead. “Great, Serenity. Now the man probably thinks you’re trying to push for something more serious.” She’d gotten way too comfortable with Gabriel over the past several weeks, and she found it harder and harder to keep her guard up. She finished the squash, then set the pan aside so it could cool before she added it to her containers.
Two hours later, with her meals and laundry done, Serenity poured herself a glass of iced tea, picked up her cell, and went to sit on the deck. Leaning back on the lounger, she inhaled deeply and let the breath out slowly. Thoughts of Gabriel immediately came to mind, and no matter how hard she tried to keep them at bay, they kept coming. If she were in the market for a long-term relationship, he’d definitely top the list of what she’d want in a man. He was intelligent, considerate, easy on the eyes, and the best kisser, hands down, that she’d ever had.
She was so lost in her reflections, it took her a moment to realize her phone was ringing. She snatched it up. “Hey, Natasha.”
“Hey, girl. Are you busy?”
“Nope. Just chilling. Why?”
“Good. I’ll be over in ten minutes to getallthe details of last night’s date.”
Serenity let out a little laugh. “There’s not that much to tell, so—” She heard a beep and glanced at the phone. “I know she didn’t hang up on me,” she muttered, staring at the black screen. Shaking her head, she went back inside.
Natasha rang the doorbell in half the time. She hugged Serenity and breezed past her toward the kitchen. “Okay, spill it.”
“You know you ain’t right hanging up on people,” Serenity said, pulling out a small tray filled with cheese, grapes, and strawberries and a bowl of chicken salad from the refrigerator and placing them on the bar. She added baguette slices, poured a glass of tea for her friend, and topped her own glass off, then slid onto the stool next to Natasha.
“Hey, I knew you’d probably give me some excuse or say it was nothing, and I know better.” Natasha topped a piece of bread with the chicken salad and bit into it. She groaned. “You make the best chicken salad. I would’ve never thought to add the dried cranberries, but it gives it just a hint of sweet that’s so, so good.” Serenity reached for a slice of cheese, and Natasha waved her hand away. “Talk first, eat second. I want to be able to understandeveryword.”
Serenity rolled her eyes. “Whatever, girl.” She ate the cheese and bread, making a show of chewing slowly. Natasha eyed her, and Serenity laughed. “Okay, okay,” she said after swallowing and taking a sip of tea. “Dinner was amazing. He grilled steaks, made foil-packet herbed potatoes and a salad. That steak was the best I’ve ever eaten.”
“So not only can the man cook, but he grills, too?”
She nodded. “Gabriel bought Wagyu rib eyes.”
Natasha choked on her drink. “Wait a minute. Are you telling me that a man who you’re datingloosely—if that’s what you want to call it—cooked you one of the most expensive grades of steaks and expected nothing in return?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” Serenity helped herself to the chicken salad. “And then we ate the peach cobbler and homemade ice cream I made while watchingThe Shawshank Redemption.” Natasha stared at her so long, Serenity shifted in her seat. “What?”
“You like Gabriel, do you?”
“Of course I do. I wouldn’t be hanging out with him if I didn’t.” And those feelings were becoming muddier by the day.
“Is he still planning to leave at the end of next month?”
