Page 92 of Whisking It All

“Chef, your restaurant, Lemon and Thyme, has been a fixture in Aster Bay for the last several years, and before that you were the Executive Chef at another popular local spot. But, Tessa,” Wendy began, turning that sharp eye her way, and it wasn’t lost on Tessa that Wendy had referred to Jamie as ‘Chef’ but was using Tessa’s first name instead. “You’re a newcomer. Your bakery only just opened a month ago.”

“Sugar Grapes is a pop-up bakery at Nuthatch Vineyards, bringing back a beloved Aster Bay fixture for the holidays,” Tessa said, her smile tight as she recited the line Gavin had written for her about the bakery.

“Bringing back?” Gene asked.

“Tessa’s from Aster Bay originally,” Jamie said, all charm and ease. “Sugar Grapes was her grandmother’s bakery until Mrs. Hart retired some years back while Tessa was working in Las Vegas under a James Beard Award-winning pastry chef. There was no one better to take over Sugar Grapes or to co-chair this festival. As the chair of our Merchant’s Association likes to say, Aster Bay is in Tessa’s blood.”

Tessa’s heart pounded as she listened to Jamie list off her qualifications and claim her for the town, pride in his voice. She hadn’t realized how badly she’d wanted to be claimed, not just by Jamie but by Aster Bay. To really be one of them.

“Well, now I’m even more excited to taste your food,” Gene said, stepping closer.

Jamie demonstrated dropping the agnolotti into the boiling water. As he placed a baked lobster tail in the center of the white plate and surrounded it with a ring of al dente pumpkin agnolotti, he talked about the theory behind offering package vacations to Aster Bay as part of the festival, the goal of attracting a younger crowd and showcasing that Aster Bay was more than just a beach town. He added fried sage leaves and pine nuts with meticulous precision and spooned a swirl of his chardonnay brown butter over the top as he described the popularity of their girls’ weekend package. With a quick wipe of the rim of the plate—not that it needed it; the plate was pristine—Jamie spun the plate to face Gene and Wendy and held out a fork to each of them.

After a pause to let the camera capture the full effect of the plated dish, they each took a bite, Gene raving about the delicacy of the pasta dough and sweet pumpkin filling and Wendy marveling at the tender cook on the lobster.

He made it look so easy, to plate and chat and smile and charm them all without missing a beat. Nerves bubbled up within Tessa as the hosts stepped towards her and she felt the cameras shift to focus on her food. Being charming wasn’t as easy for her, and she certainly didn’t present pristine plates the way Jamie did. What if her food looked childish compared to his? What if the candied ginger crystals didn’t look like gemstones as she’d intended and they just looked like a child’s craft project? What if this was just like Vegas all over again, and the food that she’d poured her heart and soul into was just a new embarrassment for the people who had trusted her? What if—

Jamie’s hand settled low on her back and all her racing thoughts calmed. She could do this.

“Tessa, tell us about this beach bonfire. I understand that was your idea,” Gene said kindly as his eyes roved the confections on her station.

“I like to think it was a team effort,” she said with a smile, reaching for the Swiss roll to slice off another piece, careful not to press too hard so she maintained the swirl in the middle. “Jamie and I went for a walk, and we realized that one of Aster Bay’s most beloved natural assets—the beach—is underutilized in the off-season. But what if it didn’t need to be?”

The more she talked, the easier it became. Jamie’s hand fell away from her back as she moved about her station, but she still felt him there beside her, a silent presence firmly in her corner, ready to support her if she needed and happy to step back and let her shine. The realization sent warmth tingling through her and, combined with the adrenaline of being on camera, converged in a throbbing ache between her legs.

I love him.

The thought should have been more surprising. She’d certainly never had that thought about anyone else before. But it didn’t feel surprising—it felt inevitable.

She couldn’t wait until they were alone so she could tell him.

“I understand you’ve gotten the local university involved,” Wendy said.

Right. Still interviewing.

“That’s right, Wendy. Our good friend is a professor there and he helped us connect with the art department. There will be ten visual arts majors constructing a giant gingerbread house out of sand as the centerpiece of our beach bonfire.” She piped a swirl of buttercream on top of the Swiss roll slice and drizzled it with cranberry coulis. “We’ll have mulled wine and red wine hot chocolate and make s’mores by the bonfire. It might be chilly, but how often do you get to have a wintertime beach bonfire?”

She dropped a trio of candied cranberries on top of the plate and dusted it with the finely diced candied ginger before sliding the plate across the workstation to the hosts.

Gene didn’t need to be invited. He grabbed a fork and dug into the decadent cake, groaning as he ate it. “That is the best cake I’ve ever eaten,” he said.

“It is quite nice,” Wendy agreed, sliding her fork through the cranberry coulis that had pooled on the edge of the plate.

“These are just two of the dishes we’ll be serving at the opening dinner for the festival next week. And there will be tastings, demonstrations, and workshops all weekend,” Jamie said as a producer off-camera swirled their finger in the air in a signal to wrap it up.

“Tickets are still available, but we do expect to sell out,” Tessa chimed in, taking half a step closer to Jamie.

“Trust me, folks,” Gene said into the camera, “you don’t want to miss your chance to taste this food. You better believe I’ll be buying a ticket.”

Wendy rattled off the website where people could purchase tickets and thanked them for coming, then handed off the segment to the local weatherman who stood across the set in front of a giant green screen.

And then it was done. The cameras turned away and PAs rushed in to clear their workstations and usher Jamie and Tessa off set.

Once off camera, she slumped against the wall, leaning her head back and closing her eyes. Her feet ached and, now that the adrenaline had worn off, she was tired, but she couldn’t keep the smile from her face. They’d just killed it, and she knew it.

And she loved him. God, she loved him so much.

Jamie rested his hands on her hips and stepped close enough that she could breathe him in, the clean scent of cedar and soap enveloping her. He leaned close, pressing his lips to her ear, and growled, “You were incredible. Tell me, princess, you wearing any panties under your skirt today?”

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