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And that’s what we do. For the next thirty minutes, we watch and then follow instructions, each working with one of the cooks. I’m with Chef Reyes, while Callum works with a guy who seems scared of his own shadow. It’s quite amusing, really.
“Good job, Miss Rubens. You’re a natural in the kitchen.” We finished prepping the vegetables, bringing them over to the large paellera where Callum was busily browning the rabbit and chicken, all the seafood set aside for now.
At the chef’s praise, I smile. “My abuela taught me everything I know. Best cook in the area she lived in while alive.”
“Really? Que parte de España?” he asks, his Spanish accent becoming thicker, smile widening. “I’m from Valencia myself.”
“Fornell’s in Menorca.”
“What a small world.”
“It is.” We stop near the hot pan, placing the tray down with all our diced vegetables. “You ready to get out of my way, Mr. Jameson? You’re taking too long.”
“Brat.” One by one, he pulls out the meat and places it in a large glass dish while handing over a metal spoon the likes of which I’ve seen before. My paternal grandmother had a few and never used anything else while cooking. This was her all-in-one kitchen multi-tool. “Now I’m hungry. Hurry up and feed me, woman.”
His playfulness makes me laugh while the other two men hide their chuckles behind a sip of wine. We’ve gone through a few bottles now and I’m a tiny bit tipsy, but I’ve never had so much fun.
No pretenses. No pushiness.
And while the chef instructs, I take over the cooking and put the rest of the dish together with Callum at my side. Handing me items. Giving me a sip or three from his own glass. By the time we finish, I am relaxed, hungry, and more than ready to be alone with him.
11
“I’m sorry if I ruined the rest of your plans,” she says from beside me, head resting on my shoulder as I drive back to her place after having spent the rest of the afternoon sitting out on the large balcony at R’s eating and drinking. Just being while watching the sun rise to its highest peak and then begin to set.
And while it’s still somewhat early, only a little past seven, we’re heading back to her home for something she likes to call Netflix and only chill. She’s bloody adorable.
Aliana likes to pretend she’s not as affected by me as I am her, a lie she’s feeding herself to not feel so out of control, but the truth is there’s no denying that she’s my perfect catastrophe while I’m hers.
Something brought us together, and I’m no longer questioning my sanity. Not after the last twenty-four hours in her presence. She calms the demon within me. He’s a playful beast for her.
“To be honest, I much prefer your idea.” At my words, she sighs and nods. There are so many questions floating around that beautiful head. So many doubts, but I plan to shut them all down. This is right. We are right. “Anything you want to watch in particular? Any sweets or nibbles we need to pick up?”
“Sweets or nibbles?” Her lips quirk. She’s loving the accent, the differences in her English to mine. “You mean junk food?”
“Aye.”
“You’re Irish now? Or a pirate?”
The road is empty near her home, and I press the brake before attacking, digging my fingers into her sides. Loud giggles fill the inside of my rental, her hands trying to fight me off and failing. “You love taking the piss, love? You think yourself a comedian now?”
“Oh God,” she yells out, trying to push me back, but I don’t stop. Those two words cause me to throb, fucking jerk behind the zipper of my trousers while she’s unaware of the cruel punishment she’s submitted me to. I want her crying out beneath me, to hear her beg God for mercy while I give her none. “Please....please!”
“Apologize, love.”
“No!” My fingers dig in deeper, especially when I discover that right above her hips makes her squeal. I focus on that area until tears run down her flushed cheeks and the word sorry becomes a mantra. “No more.”
“Then don’t be cheeky.” Her warm eyes narrow at my wink, but she settles back when I put the car in drive and continue toward her house. “And to answer your question, I use it from time to time. When the family votes, aye means yes.”
“Gotcha.” Still out of breath, Aliana reaches over and flicks my ear hard. “You’re still a jerk for that, by the way.”
“My apologies.” I’m anything but.
“Not good enough.” Arms crossed over her chest, I look over to catch her lips pursed in thought. Fuck, I want to bite them. “You’ll need to make it up to me.”
I swallow hard, forcing my eyes back to the road. “Name it, and it’s yours.” It takes her all of two seconds to snort then fight to contain her amusement. “How painful is this going to be, Miss Rubens? Can I buy my way out?”
“No, and excruciating.”
