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He liked what they had. He knew there could be more—he just had to convince Grace of that.
34
JOY OF COOKING
“How was the first day of the clinic?” Lincoln asked Grace when she walked into Egan’s condo at one.
They’d come over last night after she was done working and relaxed. This morning she got up and drove to one of the Bond family hotel restaurants. She’d told him they were letting her use the facilities for the mornings.
“It was great,” she said. “There are only eight students for the clinic and we were out of the way. Part of the clinic is helping with prep to show the students what it was like to work in a restaurant kitchen so it helped the staff out too.”
“I can see it on your face how much fun you had.”
“I forgot what it’s like to do this,” she said. “It’s like I’ve got this whole month to experience the joy of cooking again. Actually more than the month.”
“How’s that?” he asked.
He was sitting on the balcony looking at the view of the harbor in the distance. Egan had a sweet place here. It was not like his rented home on the island, but it was nicer than anything he could afford.
Lincoln could buy the place he rented, but he knew that Mitchell would never sell it to him. In exchange for living there cheaper than they would rent to anyone else, he did all the lawn work and snow removal. He did repairs inside too.
They knew he wouldn’t contact them for anything so they’d send someone over to check out the house once a year. The big things like windows and roofs, even the appliances.
He’d gotten lectured when he’d replaced the washer and dryer one year and was told it wasn’t his responsibility. He laughed at Mitchell and said it was already done.
“I’ve always found enjoyment in my job, even when I’m running around issuing orders and stressed. On my time off, I cook for pleasure, but it’s really just cooking for me or finding new recipes. But since I’ve been dating you, there is another excitement in it for me. Or another enjoyment.”
He grinned and reached his hand for hers. She was standing behind him and he’d had his head turned.
She moved closer and put her hands on his shoulder and started to run them around his muscles in a soft caress.
“What enjoyment is that?”
“Trying to make you happy,” she said. “I’ve always wanted people to enjoy my food. But with you, I want more. I guess I never thought of it before or that it could be different. I was told it’s my love language, feeding people. I used to laugh at that.”
“I love when you feed me,” he said. “I’d eat anything you give me, but it feels good to hear you say what you are.”
Sometimes he wondered if he was the one feeling more than he should.
That she held more back, but he realized it was him that was holding back and he wished he could just break that cycle. But the whole issue of Lara was stuck like a block of ice inside him and he could not get it to budge. And what would Grace think of him if he told her?
“I know you would eat anything. I’m thrilled that you are eating less fast food.”
“Because you keep me well stocked,” he said.
He almost always had some kind of food he could bring to work or heat up. She made a lot when they were together to give him leftovers.
Days she went to work late, she was up earlier and cooking something for him and Egan that she’d drop off, then go about her day.
Things his mother used to do.
He never thought he’d want to end up with someone like his mother. Nor did he think Grace was really like his mother, but there were caring nurturing parts that were.
“That is what I’m trying to say. I found that I enjoyed the competition. Next week for the premier we will see how I look on TV. If they showed me in a good light or made me out to be a villain.”
She was laughing when he pulled her around to sit on his lap. “I don’t think you did or said anything that could showcase you that way. Do you think they want to turn anyone into that?”
“I’m not sure. Other than Destiny behind the scenes, no one was really bad. Some more competitive than others. There were joking comments made, but I believe they don’t want any resort to get a bad name.”
