Yes, Chef (Sizzle & Burn Book 1) Page 10

  This. This is why Snow didn’t want to pick up the phone. Charlie’s mother was a good woman but she tended to over-involve herself in his and Snow’s relationship. The older woman liked Snow and thought she was good for Charlie. Under other circumstances that would’ve been a good thing. But right now, when Snow was trying to get rid of him, pressure from his mother was the last thing she needed or wanted.

  Snow inhaled deeply. “Marlene, it wasn’t a little tiff. Charlie and I broke up.”

  “Oh, I know about that.” Marlene chuckled. “And it’s okay. Everybody needs a break once in a while. Charlie is a bit eccentric…”

  Eccentric? Is that what they were calling Charlie’s childish behavior now?

  Marlene continued, “… but you two are a perfect match and you always find a way to come back together.”

  “Not this time.”

  “You always say that,” the older woman said dismissively. “Look, why don’t we meet up tomorrow after church and discuss this over a nice cup of tea?”

  “I’m sorry I’m working tomorrow too.” Snow didn’t add that even if she wasn’t working she still wouldn’t be interested in discussing hers and Charlie’s breakup.

  “But it’s Sunday,” Marlene protested.

  “I work on Sundays too.”

  “I see.” The woman’s disapproval was as clear as daylight. “Well, why don’t we talk on Monday and come up with a good time to meet?”

  Snow offered a non-committal, “Mm.”

  “Good.” Marlene cheerfully added, “Maybe we can talk about the wedding. You’re not getting any younger and you and Charlie should start your family soon.”

  This time Snow didn’t answer. After a few more minutes of gushing about this phantom wedding that Snow and Charlie were supposedly having, Marlene ended the call. Snow kissed her teeth and tossed her phone on the bed. As if she wasn’t having enough problems with her stalker-ex; now she had to deal with his mother too? It was almost enough to make her forget about Greyson. Almost.

  At exactly eight, Greyson sent her a text message saying that he was outside the gate. Immediately, her pulse started a rapid beat. How would she act when she saw him? How would he act when he saw her? Should she start by apologizing? Oh, this was so nerve-racking.

  She found Greyson waiting in his SUV. The moment he spotted her, he smiled. Just like that her nervousness disappeared and she found herself smiling in response.

  He got out of the vehicle to meet her. “Good morning.”

  “Morning,” she returned. As if it was the most natural thing in the world, he closed the distance between them, grasped her upper arms then lowered his head. Their lips met in a soft brief kiss.

  He smiled against her lips before pulling apart from her. “Mm. You taste good.”

  “So do you.” She asked, “Did you have a good night’s sleep?”

  “So so.” He guided her to the passenger side of the car and opened the door for her. “I was too worried about you.”

  Snow waited until he was in the car with her to ask, “You were worried about me? Why?”

  “Last night,” he said simply.

  “Oh!” Heat flushed up her face as the memories came swiftly rushing in closely followed by embarrassment.

  She thought he was going to confront her about trying to seduce him but instead he turned to face her with a concerned expression. “Do you need me to talk to Charlie?”

  “What? No way.” Her mortification forgotten, she shook her head vigorously. “You don’t know Charlie. You talking to him only make things worse.”

  “He’ll keep harassing you if we don’t deal with this.”

  That ‘we’ was enough to send warmth rushing through her. It made her feel like her problems weren’t hers to deal with alone anymore. Smiling, she reached for Greyson’s hand. “Don’t worry about it. I can deal with it.”

  “Are you sure?”

  She nodded. “I’m sure.”

  He studied her for a long moment before exhaling. “Buckle up.”

  Soon, they were on their way to work. As usual, the conversation between them came easily, as if they’d been carpooling since forever. Greyson tuned his radio to his favorite morning show and soon the two of them were debating the show’s topic of the day. They arrived at the restaurant sooner than Snow expected – or wanted.

  She was unbuckling her seatbelt when Greyson asked, “What are you doing on Monday?”

  “Monday?” That was her day off. Usually, she slept in or did something with April, but they hadn’t made any plans yet. “Nothing much. Why?”

  “You promised me a second date.” There was a distinct challenge in his gaze. “I’d like to collect.”

  She had to give it to the guy - he was smooth. Her lips twitched in a reluctant smile. “Well, a promise is a debt. And I always pay my debts.”

  And with that their next date was set.

  As it turned out, that morning drive with Greyson was the most relaxing time of Snow’s day. The rest of her Saturday was busy, busy, busy. It seemed like all of Santa Barbara’s couples had decided that today was a good day to date and Tellers was the place to do it. The tables remained fully booked the whole day, and Snow spent most of that time on her feet being blasted by the heat from the stoves and ovens and being inundated with the smell of food. By the time they closed the kitchen later that day, she ready to ask Greyson for a raise.

  She was so tired that the moment she got into his car, she fell asleep. The next thing she knew, he was shaking her awake because they were at her place. After a brief kiss and sleepy goodbye, she stumbled into her apartment. She didn’t make it past the sofa. With a relieved sigh and closed eyes, she flopped onto it and promptly fell asleep.

  Sunday lunch service was just as busy – but this time it was families. Fortunately, it was a half day so as soon as lunch service ended they closed the kitchen. If Greyson had asked her to spend the afternoon with him, she would’ve jumped on it, but she heard he and Roman talking about going to their family home for dinner. Bummer! As if on cue, Yvonne called to remind her that she was expected to attend her own family dinner. Ugh!

  After a brief visit to the salon, Snow headed home. At around five p.m., the cab dropped her off at her parents’ luxurious, two-story, log home. The moment she stepped through the doors of the mansion, her brother came barreling towards her. “Snowy.”

  “Hi, Jamie.” She lifted him then tossed him up in the air earning herself several delighted giggles. Yvonne emerged from the kitchen soon after to greet Snow then send her upstairs to change. After dumping her purse in her room and changing into more casual clothes, Snow came back downstairs to help her stepmother with dinner.

  Sometime after six, James Harrison, the senior, got home. Even now when they were at odds, Snow still found her father extraordinary. Though he didn’t quite match Greyson’s height, James was a tall man. The dark-skinned man had graying hair that was styled in a low buzz cut, a build that was a bit too slender and brown piercing eyes that seemed to see right through anyone. The most striking thing about his appearance was its distinctly self-controlled and dignified quality, as if nothing could ruffle him.

  Even his greeting when she came to meet him at the door was subdued and controlled. “Hello, Snow.”

  “Hi, Dad,” she returned. Other fathers and daughters hugged when they saw each other for the first time in a month, and once upon a time James and Snow had been that kind of father and daughter. But no more. Their last hug was nine years ago, a week before he’d married Yvonne.

  Cradling Jamie in his arms, he asked, “How have you been?”

  “Fine.” She didn’t add anything more, didn’t regal him with stories about work or trail behind him telling him about everything that was going on in her life. And he didn’t ask.

  Instead he showered Jamie with his attention, asking the little boy how pre-school had been and what he’d learnt. When Yvonne turned up, he greeted her with a kiss and questions about how her day had bee
n. It would’ve been a lie to say that Snow wasn’t jealous. Sometimes – okay, many times – it felt like she was an outsider in this family. Which is why she didn’t like coming for Sunday dinners. All they did was remind her how distant she and her father had become.

  They settled in for dinner at around seven. As usual the atmosphere between Snow and James was a tense tiptoeing between topics. If it wasn’t for Yvonne and Jamie’s constant chatter, the dinner would’ve been quite awkward.

  “Snow, do you remember Leonora Hall?” James asked during one of the quiet moments.

  “Yeah.” Snow nodded as she cut into her steak. “She was in my class.”

  “She just got a job at John Hopkins.” James watched Snow carefully as he added, “Apparently, she’ll be joining a cancer research team there.”

  “Really? Good for her.” Snow bit into her steak. “I should call and congratulate her.”

  “You were smarter than her,” James mumbled as he vigorously cut into his steak.

  Here we go again, Snow internally groaned. Coming from someone else the words would’ve been a compliment, but from James they were a warning shot before he launched into battle. Hoping to dissuade him before he started in on her, Snow turned to Yvonne. “How’s the fundraiser for the children’s wing going? Is Mrs. Quinn still giving you trouble?”

  But James wasn’t that easily dissuaded. Before Yvonne could answer Snow, he cut in with a stiff, “That could have been you. That could still be you. Didn’t you tell me that you were interested in the oncology department?”

  “That was six years ago, Dad.” Snow didn’t look up from her meal as she added, “I’ve since moved on.”

  “To what?” Her father responded with a brief humorless laugh. “That useless little hobby?”

  Snow carefully put her fork down as her temper rose several notches. Why was it so difficult for her father to finish one meal without taking a dig at her career? She about to tell off him off when Yvonne cut in with a timely, “James, we’re at the dinner table. Let’s not start an argument.”

  James scowled at Snow, looking like he had a few more things to say to her. In the end all he did was grunt then continue eating. Yvonne drew Snow into a conversation about the latest fundraiser that she was participating in. However, even as she smiled and contributed to the conversation, Snow was still smarting over her father’s words. What was so bad about being a chef? It paid well and made her happy – wasn’t that what all parents wanted in a career for their kids? Not James. The way he acted one would’ve thought that Snow had decided to become a stripper or something.

  Greyson was unlucky enough to call her while she was still brooding over her father’s words and he immediately picked up on her annoyance. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong.” Snow opened the dining-room’s sliding door and stepped out to the patio before closing the door behind her. Trying to change the topic, she asked, “How was your family dinner?”

  “It was fine.” Proving that he wasn’t easily distracted, Greyson insisted, “Something’s wrong. I can hear it in your voice.” He prodded, “Tell me.”

  All the dating books said that it was a bad idea to bother a potential boyfriend with your problems, yet something about Greyson made Snow want to share everything about herself. Settling on a wicker chair, she confessed, “It’s my dad.”

  Within minutes she was telling Greyson about her problems with her father – about how James still refused to accept that she’d given up medical school to be a chef. “He still thinks that it’s just a rebellious phase I’m going through.”

  “It’s been four years. Shouldn’t he have gotten used to it by now?”

  “I know, right?” Snow exclaimed. “He keeps referring to cooking as my ‘useless little hobby’ and reminding me that he’s still holding my spot at the hospital.”

  “Can he do that?” Greyson sounded surprised. “Hold a spot for you?”

  “Yup! He’s the Chief of Surgery at Third Rise Memorial and is friends with administrators in many other hospitals. He can do that.” She sighed. “I wish he’d realize that I’m done with medicine and use that influence on someone who wants it…” and on she went.

  She didn’t realize how long they’d been talking until Yvonne lightly knocked on the door to gain her attention. Apparently the rest of the family were on their way to bed and she was just stopping by to say goodnight. Once Yvonne left, Snow checked the time only to find that it was almost eleven.

  She gasped into the phone. “Greyson, I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I’ve been talking for this long. Why didn’t you tell me to stop?”

  He laughed. “You had a lot on your mind and I like to hear you talk.”

  “You’re just saying that to be nice.” She settled back comfortably in her seat. “Your turn now. How was your family dinner?”

  “Just the usual. Nowhere near as dramatic as yours.”

  “Are you still at your aunt’s and uncle’s?”

  “No, I’m back at my place.” He paused before adding. “The drive here was pretty lonely today.”

  Her lips quirked in a smile. “Is that your way of saying you missed me?”

  He answered her question with a question of his own. “Did you miss me?”

  It had been such a long time since she’d flirted with someone that the giddy excitement that filled her felt a little strange. She said, “I asked first.”

  “Mm… maybe,” he hedged, a hint of amusement in his voice. “Your turn. Did you miss me today?”

  “Mm… maybe,” she mimicked drawing a laugh from him.

  “I can’t wait for our date tomorrow.” The sexy, husky rasp in his voice as he said the words sent heat racing all through her and lighting up all her nerves. She squeezed her thighs reflexively to quell the sudden pressure in her core.

  She actually had to clear her throat before asking, “How should I dress? Formal or casual?”

  “Dress light,” he answered, “and carry a swimsuit.”

  “We’re going swimming?”

  “Something close.” Concern tinged his voice as he commented, “You don’t sound too happy about it.”

  “It’s nothing like that.” She loved swimming but she’d just had her hair done today. However, a swim with Greyson sounded too good to miss. Her hair would just have to live with it. “I was just wondering if I’ve got any swimsuits here. I think all of mine are at my place.”

  “I can buy you something tomorrow,” Greyson offered.

  “No, don’t worry about it.” She was about to insist that she’d purchase her own swimsuit when a sudden memory hit her. “I just remembered that I have to pass by my apartment tomorrow morning anyway. The locksmith is dropping by.”

  “You’re changing your locks?”

  “Yup.” She didn’t explain further mostly because it had to do with Charlie. She didn’t want him dropping in at her place unannounced anymore but she knew that asking him back for her key would start another argument. Changing the locks on her door was much easier. To Greyson, she asked, “What time did you want to leave?”

  “Is ten a.m. okay?” he asked. “I can pick you up from your place.”

  “Ten is good.” She teased, “I hope there’ll be no singing involved during the date though.”

  He chuckled. “You’ll never let me live that down, will you?”

  “No, I’m not.” She laughed. “If it wasn’t for me our first date would’ve ended in disaster.”

  “Wait. Wait. Wait. Are you trying to take credit for our date being great?”

  “Yes. And if you want tomorrow’s date to be great too you should tell me what we’re doing so I can pimp it for you.”

  “No way. I think I’ve got it covered this time.”

  “You think?” Snow uttered a fake gasp of horror. “I can feel it in my bones. You’re bringing a choir along this time, aren’t you?”

  “Keep teasing me and I might,” he threatened.

  “Okay, okay. I’m sorry,” sh
e quickly retreated with a laugh.

  Their back and forth banter went on for quite some time. Snow couldn’t remember most of what they spoke about, but there was no forgetting the warmth she felt as they talked or how hard it was to end the conversation. One thing was clear; for the first time in a very long time she was happy.

  CHAPTER 10

  Greyson dreamt about Snow. It was a vivid, captivating fantasy that overwhelmed him with desire and need. In his dream, she was in his bed, in his arms. She was naked and her kisses were as demanding and passionate as her embrace. In his dreams, her sexy raspy voice was the music in his ears, whispering about all the things she wanted to do to him, and her touch was tender enough to draw the very soul from his body and leave him aching.

  He woke in the middle of the night with a raging hard-on that wouldn’t go down until he’d quelled it with an ice-cold shower. Long after his shower, he lay in the dark pining after Snow and wondering what it was about her that had him so intrigued. How had she managed to get so deep under his skin? She was wedged in so deeply that she was now the star in his dreams, the only woman who got his heart racing, the woman who made his body prickle each time he so much as thought of her.

  He wondered if she was thinking of him too, if she was dreaming about him too and wishing that he was in her bed. Greyson rolled over in bed and punched the pillow. If he kept this up, he’d never be able to sleep and he’d end up being sleepy on their date tomorrow. No, that wouldn’t do. He needed to be fully awake tomorrow, especially if he wanted to figure out what it was about her that held him so effortlessly in her grip.

  Somehow he managed to drift back into sleep. When he woke again, it was eight thirty. Greyson had never thought that he was a vain man but he caught himself glancing at the mirror several times to make sure that Snow would like what she saw when they finally met. Her place was a fifteen-minute drive away from his so he set off from his place at nine-thirty. As soon as he drove into her complex he called to let her know that he was outside.

  “Come in for a few minutes,” she answered. “I’m still finishing up with the locksmith.”