Page 6 of A Very Grumpy Chef

I walk toward the stairs, keeping my head down as I dig in my purse for my keys. When I make it to my front door without spotting him, I let out a sigh of relief.

I’m slipping the key into my front door when his opens behind me.

“Oh shit,” I whisper as I hear him step into the hallway.

I frantically twist the key in the lock as he approaches, praying he doesn’t see me or try to talk to me.

Unfortunately for me, he does.

Of course he does. I’m a size twenty-two. Impossible to miss.

“Hey,” he says from right behind me.

I peek over my shoulder at him and offer a weak smile.

He shifts on his feet. “I wanted to apologize for last night. I’m sorry for snapping at you yesterday.”

I get the door open and step into my apartment, gripping it like a lifeline. “Okay.”

He clears his throat, staring at me intently. I’m not sure what to do, so I swing the door shut, slamming it in his face. I press my eye to the peephole a second later, watching as he stands there for a moment, staring at my door with a strange look on his face. He almost looks… disappointed?

That can’t be right.

After a moment, he turns and heads downstairs. I watch him until he disappears from view before stepping away from the front door and going to the kitchen.

I wonder where he’s going as I grab a yogurt out of the fridge and sit down to eat.

Why do I care? It’s not like I’m ever going to be friends with the guy… or anything else.

Right?

4

Alec

I’m wandering up and down the aisles at the Wolf Valley Market the next day when I spot a familiar curvy figure. My eyes lock onto the blonde head of hair in the frozen aisle, and my heart races as I watch her scan the shelves.

I’ve never chased a woman in my life, but as soon as I see her, I do just that. I hurry her way, telling myself I’m simply approaching her to apologize again for our first meeting. But I can’t deny the way my body reacts to her, and I know it’s not just me wanting to make up for how I acted.

I’m attracted to her.

I’ve always been able to deal with my body’s needs. It doesn’t happen often, but when I’m in the mood, a quick rub of my hand has always been enough. Not anymore. I’m like a teenager, my hormones running wild, unable to control my urges every time I’m near this goddess.

She looks up as I stop next to her, and it’s obvious from the look on her face that she doesn’t want anything to do with me. That sucks because I have a lot of ideas for things I want to do with her.

“Hey, sorry, I never got your name before,” I say, extending my hand. “I’m Alec.”

She eyes my hand like she’s worried it’ll bite her. “Yeah, you were pretty busy yelling at me.”

“I’m sorry about that. I turn into a fucking asshole when I’m sleep-deprived. Still, that’s no excuse for how I treated you. I’m genuinely sorry.”

“Okay,” she says again, just like last night.

My hand is still extended, and I’m about to drop it when she sighs and slips hers into mine.

“Coco.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Coco.”