Cherished (Steel Brothers Saga #17) - Helen Hardt Page 0,48
find kind of rubbery. But Dale…”
I turn to face her. “I said I’d try this, okay? I want to. But you can’t pepper me with questions all the time. Yes, I’ve been in love once. That’s all I’m going to say for the moment.”
She nods, her lips trembling slightly.
I expect her to fight me. To continue her interrogation.
But she stays quiet for a few minutes. I sauté the scallops and prawns in olive oil and garlic until they’re cooked through—only about ten minutes. Overcooking will ruin them and make them rubbery, which Ashley apparently doesn’t like. I actually agree with her on the squid, though I like the flavor.
I turn to the next burner to check on the linguine. It’s perfectly al dente, so I turn down the heat and then pour it through the colander sitting in the sink.
I plate the linguine quickly, topping each with a generous portion of the sautéed scallops and prawns and then a half cup of marinara. I garnish with a few fresh basil leaves.
A loaf of Ava’s fresh Italian bread already sits on the table, along with a bottle of Italian Barbera d’Alba.
“Have a seat,” I tell Ashley.
She complies, and I slide a plate of food in front of her.
“Smells heavenly.” She gestures toward the wine. “No Steel wine tonight?”
“I thought you might appreciate something different. We do make a great Italian blend, but there’s nothing quite like a Barbera d’Alba with tomato-based foods.”
“I agree.”
Not that I expected her to disagree. I’m right. I uncorked the bottle earlier to let it breathe. I pour a tasting portion into her goblet. “What do you think?”
She swirls it in her glass and smiles. “Is this a test?”
“Of course not. But I’m interested in your opinion.”
She sinks her nose into the glass. “Mmm. Dark cherry, violet, and”—she sniffs again—“our previous conversation about caraway and anise notwithstanding, I’m getting a touch of licorice.” She takes a sip and holds it in her mouth a few seconds before swallowing. “Not very tannic but a lovely acidity. I’m getting mostly the dark cherries again, with a little lavender and violet on the finish.”
I nod.
“How’d I do?” she asks.
“I told you. It wasn’t a test.”
“I know, but your opinion means a lot to me.”
“Okay.” I fill her glass and then my own. Then I take a taste. She’s right on target. I’m getting everything she said. I swallow. “I agree with you. The only thing I’ll add is a little vanilla on the finish. In fact…” I take another taste. “Make that bourbon vanilla.”
She takes another sip. “Yeah, it’s subtle, but it’s definitely there. I can’t believe I missed that.”
“I’ve been tasting wine a lot longer than you have. You may have the education, but there’s no substitute for actual experience.”
Oddly, she doesn’t argue the point. In fact, she nods.
“You’re right,” she says. “I’ve learned a ton at school, but it’s mostly theory. Sure, we’ve done some tastings in lab settings, but the real world is different.”
She doesn’t even know the truth she speaks. My real world—which she sees as one of riches and privilege—holds secrets I may never release.
I wash the thought from my mind. I made a promise to Ashley and a promise to myself. I’ll be with her during this internship. For two more months. I’ll hide the beast inside me as best I can. To be with her. To have her. To let my heart feel what it wants to feel.
If I start thinking about the dark secrets I hide, I won’t get very far with those promises.
I gesture toward her plate. “Dig in. I want to know what a coastal girl thinks of my attempt at seafood.”
“I already know I’ll love it.” She twirls linguine on her fork and then spears a piece of scallop before bringing the utensil to her mouth. Her eyes widen as she chews and swallows. “It’s wonderful. I’ve never tasted anything like it.”
My cheeks warm. I know I’m a great cook. Aunt Marj has sung my praises for years, and she’s a better chef than those in most of the finest restaurants. But to hear the praise from Ashley’s pink lips means more to me than my aunt’s most formidable compliment.
My lips nudge. I want to smile. Why am I holding back? I feel good, so I should smile. After all, I made that promise to Ashley and to myself. Yes, I need to hold back on emotion, but this is just a smile. What can it hurt?