CHAPTER TEN
‘THERE’S A NEW recipe I want to try. Care to join me?’
Ruby looked up as Michel approached the counter she’d been working at for the last two hours.
Her mood had vacillated between anger and hurt, undecided on which emotion had the upper hand. Certainly, the piece of meat she’d been hammering was plenty tenderised.
She set it to one side, went to the sink to wash her hands, and rested her hip against the granite trim. ‘As long as it’s nothing Sicilian. I’ve had my fill of Sicilians for the foreseeable future.’
Michel cast her a curious glance, then gave a sly smile. ‘No, what I’m thinking of is unapologetically French.’
She wiped her hand on her apron. ‘Then count me in.’
‘Excellent! It’s a sauce au chocolat with a twist. You’re making croquembouche for monsieur’s dinner party in New York, oui?’
‘Yes.’ Although right now the thought of monsieur himself sautéed in a hot sizzling pan sounded equally satisfying.
‘Bien, I thought instead of the caramel you could try using chillies.’
‘Chilli chocolate? I love the idea. I always convince myself the heat burns away half the calories.’
He gave a very Gallic shrug. ‘In my opinion, you do not need to worry about calories, ’moiselle.’
The compliment took her by surprise. ‘Umm, thanks, Michel.’
He shrugged again and started grabbing ingredients off the shelves. They worked in harmony, measuring, chopping, straining until the scent of the rich chocolate sauce bubbling away in the pan filled the kitchen.
On a whim, she asked, ‘Do you have any fresh vanilla pods? I want to try something.’
He nodded. Opening his spice cabinet, he grabbed the one long pod and handed it to her. Ruby cut it open and scraped out the innards. Then, slicing a few strips, she dropped them into the sauce. ‘Let that infuse for a few minutes, and we’ll try it.’
He rubbed his hands together with a childlike glee that made her laugh. After two minutes he grabbed a clean spoon and scooped a drop of the sauce. ‘As the last ingredient was your idea, you sample it first.’ He blew on it and held it to her lips.
She tasted it, shut her eyes to better feel the flavours exploding on her tongue. The decadent taste made her groan long and deeply.
‘Ruby.’
Her name was a crack of thunder that had her spinning round.
Narciso stood in the doorway, the look on his face as dark and stormy as the tension thickening the air. For several seconds, everyone remained frozen.
Then silver eyes flicked to the Frenchman. ‘Leave.’
Michel’s eyes widened at the stark dismissal. Narciso took a single step forward to allow the chef to sidle past before he slammed the door shut behind him.
The sound of the lock turning made her nerves scream.
Slowly, Narciso walked towards her. With his every step she willed her feet to move in the other direction, away from the imposing body and icy fury bearing down on her. But she remained frozen.