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“What are you doing in my kitchen on your day off?” Kerim calls over the noise, smiling a little.
“I’m stealing some of your ice-cream.”
“It’ll cost you.”
I roll my eyes and take Nathan’s hand. “Come on, to the freezer.”
When I slide the large, heavy metal door open, Nathan blinks with astonishment. “This is huge. It puts our little freezer to shame.”
“Right?” I laugh and wrap my arms around myself. “See, we don’t serve ice-cream normally unless requested and even then it’s just the standard vanilla over there.” I point to the large tubs stacked in the corner. “We make those in bulk once a month.”
“It’s freezing in here. How can you stand it?”
“You get used to it,” I grin and push a large metal shelving unit on wheels to one side, revealing a narrower shelving unit as tall as me, hiding several tubs of homemade ice-cream. “This is Kerim’s secret stash. He makes the best ice-cream in the world.”
I notice a flicker of jealousy in Nathan’s eyes and nudge his arm with my own.
He really has a problem with Kerim.
“Choose your poison.” I pick up a tub of white chocolate and grab a bag of fudge pieces for melting. Nathan chooses the same and we quickly exit the freezer.
“My favourite.” Kerim snatches the tub away the second I exit the freezer and grins childishly. “Guys, it’s ice-cream time. Gwen’s paying.”
When they cheer collectively, the entire restaurant looks over to see what has made us all so happy.
“Paying?” Nathan whispers, but Kerim heard him.
“Not to worry, my friend. She only has to make the next batch of ice-cream and clean up the mess afterwards.”
“First person to touch Kerim’s ice-cream loses.” I add, giggling.
“Yes and she’s lost for the past… three months now?” Kerim grins and reaches out a hand to Nathan. “How are you? I am sorry for not being in contact; you know how time quickly flies.”
“I understand; I’m guilty of the same. Gwen has been keeping me up to date.” Nathan tucks me under his arm possessively. Kerim, thankfully seeming unaffected by the possessive display, opens the ice-cream, grabs a few small bowls and begins scooping the amazing frozen treat into each one. I pull away from the man I love and pop the bag of fudge into the microwave.
“Too me,” Kerim states, smiling easily.
“Me too,” I correct him after snorting at his jumbled response. When he realises, he hits my hand with the lid of the ice-cream.
“Your wife is a bully. Forever teasing me.”
Shrugging, I cross my arms over my chest and respond, “It’s vengeance for all of the yelling.”
“Yelling?” Nathan’s voice has darkened. I wince.
“It’s a kitchen, we yell. We have to; the pressure is crazy,” Patience puts in and I’m grateful for the help. “We all yell. Even Gwen.”
“Gwen yells?” Nathan doesn’t look as though he believes it. “I think I’ve only ever heard her yell twice in the entire time I’ve known her.”
“Ah,” Kerim chuckles. “She has more tolerance for you than me. That is all. This is good. But it makes sense; her passion is in this kitchen.” Why did he have to word it like that? “Passion sparks fire in a person, agree?”
Nathan nods but looks as though he wants to kill him. I sense his look isn’t missed by Kerim either, even though he doesn’t show any signs of noticing.
The microwave pings so I grab the fudge with a gloved hand and begin squirting it onto the ice cream in each bowl.
I love how quickly the top layer of ice cream begins to melt; it makes it taste so much more delicious. The contrast of the warm fudge on the cold, melting treat is divine.
“Oh my gosh,” I hum happily as the first bite melts in my mouth. “Literally there is no greater taste in the world than this ice-cream.”
Nathan seems reluctant to agree but I can see that it has even affected him in a similar way.
“I’ll throw in unlimited ice-cream and fudge if you consider my offer,” Kerim tells me quietly, stepping into our bubble. His sudden change in demeanour hasn’t gone unnoticed and I feel curious eyes on us.
“We’ll need to go over a few things but…” I glance at Nathan out of the corner of my eye and pray he doesn’t get upset over this. “I’m definitely interested. It’s an honour to work with you.”
Kerim beams from ear to ear. “In that case, I will pay the price for the ice-cream and consider this a victory celebration.” When he winks at me, I remain passive. Nathan looks about ready to kill and if Kerim has noticed, he isn’t letting on. “I must work. Enjoy your ice-cream. Take the tub if you like.”
“Chef,” Harold calls, waving him over.
“Duty calls.” Kerim grips my shoulders and squeezes before taking Nathan’s hand once more and promising, “I’ll be in touch.”
