“Don’t sell yourself short. It’s really good. Obviously, there’s tomato and spinach, but what cheese is this? Gouda?” he asks, taking a critical look at what’s on his fork.
“Asiago,” I answer. “One of my favorite dishes is grilled tomatoes with spinach and Cheddar, but I thought I’d try something different with this recipe. I really like the nutty flavor in the cheese and thought it would really complement the tomato.”
“You did well. I love it.”
“Thanks,” I reply, beaming with excitement and a little pride.
“You know, your grilled tomato idea might make a great burger topping,” he says, seeming very intrigued with the food in front of his face.
“Really?” My excitement turns to shock.
“Yeah. I’ve used fresh tomatoes, but not grilled ones. And adding the zesty spinach and cheese to the vegetables, not the meat, would definitely be an interesting concept,” he states, taking another bite of his food. “I’d have to try it on the hamburger, but I think you’re on to something here.”
I can’t stop smiling as I take a bite of my food and chew. It feels good to have inspired Jasper to possibly create a whole new burger for the restaurant. What makes me grin even more is watching him dissect his food, analyzing each flavor, and studying it with a critical eye. He doesn’t actually say much during the meal, but that’s okay. I can tell he’s in chef mode, his brain working overtime to invent.
“What?” he asks, catching me staring.
“Nothing. I’m just watching you work,” I tell him, finishing up my potatoes and feeling completely stuffed.
He drops his napkin, his eyes looking contrite. “I’m sorry. I tend to get lost in my own head sometimes.”
“No, don’t apologize. I do the same thing when I’m in the zone in the kitchen,” I reply. “It’s fun to watch you go through the creative process, especially on something I might have inadvertently suggested.”
He grins widely, his eyes dancing with mischief. “Pretty proud of yourself, aren’t you?” he asks, teasing.
I shrug. “I am. I think I deserve more accolades.”
Jasper barks out a laugh, setting his napkin down beside his empty plate. “Like a prize?” Something naughty flashes in his eyes and causes my entire body to heat with desire.
“Hey, maybe Jasper can help you tomorrow night,” Dustin says, either completely oblivious to the sexual tension suddenly surrounding us or is ignoring it.
“What’s tomorrow night?” Jasper asks, glancing between us.
“Nothing,” I reply, but it’s drowned out by my brother continuing.
“Every year, we bake Lyndee’s birthday cake together, but now I won’t be there.”
“It’s no big deal,” I insist, feeling eyes boring into me from across the table.
“When’s your birthday?” he asks, seeming a little surprised by this revelation.
“Oh, uh…”
“Two days.”
My brother’s a traitor.
Jasper’s shocked eyes land on mine. “Your birthday’s in two days? On Christmas Eve?”
“It’s no big deal,” I insist, standing to collect the dirty dishes.
“It is,” Jasper argues, grabbing the pot of potatoes and following behind me. “I’ll help you.”
“That’s not necessary,” I insist, shoving the dishes somewhat haphazardly into the dishwasher.
He stands directly beside me, the familiar scent of grease infiltrating my nose and reminding me of how close he is. “I want to. What if I meet you at the bakery after I get off work? I can bring dinner, maybe those burgers you inspired.”
A smile cracks across my lips. This feels like a date. Is this a date? “Umm, okay.”
He grins widely, one of those breathtakingly gorgeous smiles that makes my internal muscles clench. “Excellent. I can’t wait to watch you in your element this time,” he says before heading over to grab more dishes.
Later that night, I’m brushing my teeth for bed, when I hear a noise on the opposite side of the bathroom door. I spit out the toothpaste and rinse my mouth before pressing my ear against the wood.
Last time I opened this door, I found Jasper practically naked, wearing only a pair of gym shorts and his body covered with sweat. A part of me wants to open this door and see what awaits me tonight. Is he running again, or will he be working with the free weights I saw along the back wall?
I consider opening the door to find out, but something stops me. What happened last night, was that a one-time thing? He hasn’t so much as made a move on me tonight, so was it just sex to scratch a certain itch? He admitted before he uses sex to help him sleep.
But then there’s the fact that we…snuggled. I was prepared to go back to my room, yet he crawled into his bed and pulled me against his warm body.
So what does that mean?
And am I going to get the answers standing here, listening to him work out?
No. As nice as the view would be, it would only cloud the water, because something tells me if I go in there, it won’t be to talk.
Unless you consider screaming his name in ecstasy as talking.
No?
Sighing, I flip off the light and return to the guest room, making sure the door is closed securely behind me.
I go ahead and lock it too. I’m just not sure if it’s to keep him out or me in.
***
“I’ll see you later tonight,” Dustin says, waving from the door as he and Dana head out to have dinner.
When the young woman arrived at the bakery, she was all smiles and dressed in a festive holiday sweater with embroidered Christmas lights around the neck. Dustin loved it, wearing his own holiday-themed tie with the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who. They walked together across the street for dinner and agreed that she would drive him back to Jasper’s after they ate, so they could visit more.
Just after six, there’s a knock on the back door. I pull it open without looking through the peephole, already knowing who it is. Smiling, I open the door. “Come on in.” As he brushes by me, I catch a whiff of the deliciousness in the bag he’s carrying. “That smells amazing.”
“I’m excited to try it,” he beams, setting the bags down on the large metal island. “I was able to secure Asiago cheese from my distributor today, but I also made one with Cheddar so we could taste the difference and see which one we like best.”
I can’t help but grin at the way he includes me, as if I’m part of the decision-making process and not just a mouth he’s feeding. “Sounds good,” I tell him as he slides the first large Styrofoam container my way.
“By the way,” he says, opening up the food and transferring two juicy burgers onto paper plates. He cuts them both in half, placing one of each on the two plates. “I saw Dustin and Dana before I left. I went over and said hello. She seems nice.” He adds a handful of fries to each plate before sliding one my way.
“She’s very nice, like her sister. A little younger than he is, but only by two years. She’s a speech therapist for the county health department. She works at the schools mostly but has also been to the hospital and mental health center. She’s the first speech therapist we’ve had in almost two decades,” I tell, recalling all the details Daisy shared yesterday after her sister had left the bakery.