Page 25 of A Little Bit Uncertain

Carrying the bag into the kitchen, I unloaded it when she called out from the front room, “There’s a bottle of nice wine in there that I can open. I mean, nice for me, probably not nice for you.”

“Easy to please, remember?” I called back and inspected the bottle. I wasn’t a wine snob, but I knew my way around it. This particular Frascati was a perfect pairing for a dish like carbonara. She had done her research, and my mouth was already watering.

She entered the kitchen, put her hair up in a ponytail, and made her way to the sink to wash her hands. “I’m sorry things are a little chaotic in here. I didn’t expect company. And I’m not sure what you’re expecting. You don’t have to like, cook, or anything. You can just keep me company and the wine glasses full.”

Was she brushing me off, or did she not like someone helping her in the kitchen? I imagine that could go either way with Audra. I got to work finding the wine opener and some glasses. Her kitchen wasn’t big, so as I was moving around gathering what I needed to, she accidentally tripped over my foot. I reached out around her waist to grab her and pulled her back up into my body, while she braced her hand on my chest. It was a more intimate moment that I expected it to be.

“Thank you for not letting me fall,” she said softly, looking up at me.

“I’m sorry I’m so clumsy in your kitchen—I’m a little distracted.” I left the rest of the sentence unsaid, but didn’t break her gaze.

Pulling away, she cleared her throat. “Okay, I want to remind you that I’ve never made this before. I’ve been watching videos and gathering tips, but if it is bad, I apologize in advance.”

I shook off the sexually charged moment. “You have got to be kidding me, right? You’re trying a new recipe that is famously difficult to do, especially on the first try. I’m impressed you’re even attempting this; I sure wouldn’t. I won’t even try to distract you during the parts you need to pay extra attention to.”

She smiled in relief. “Okay. I was actually thinking I made a mistake inviting you because all the recipes say you have to give it your full attention.”

“I’ll keep the glasses filled, dishes cleared, and provide moral support no matter the outcome. Deal?”

“Deal.” She smiled at me and clinked her glass to mine. “Here we go.”

“Here we go, Chef King,” I said back to her.