Clay’s look was dubious. “You must have done it wrong, buddy. Otherwise she wouldn’t have run out of the restaurant fighting tears.”
Louis swore. “What did you do, Nate?”
“Something stupid.”
And he needed to fix it. He pulled out his cell phone and started to dial. He wanted her. More than wanted her. TS…Truly, was getting under his skin more than any women he’d ever known. He thought about her constantly. Finally admitting that to himself, to his friends, had only made it harder to resist her. And with Clay’s reaction and the comments Louis had made, he wondered why he was even trying.
At the very least, Truly deserved to know that the last thing he wanted, the last thing any of them wanted, was for her to go away.
What happened after that was up to her.
Chapter Four
Cue Twilight Zone music.
Truly wasn’t sure what was going on, but she couldn’t help but feel that something had changed. Maybe it was the setting. The large, rustic kitchen radiated warmth and family. She could see a family here. Baking cookies. Sitting at the large island in the middle of the room, talking and laughing over breakfast with friends.
They’d taken down all the youthful pictures and childish drawings that had papered the refrigerator for the video. But the sight had made a part of her yearn. Made her miss her own family, all the aunts and cousins and the swarm of children who grew up too quickly back home.
She’d been surprised this was Nate’s house. Oh, it still had all the best equipment, but, well, it was bright and friendly. Full of light and color. So different from how his restaurant had started out before the construction crews had begun demolishing.
It must be his sister’s influence.
That wasn’t the only thing that seemed strange tonight. The guys were different. Louis hadn’t been cracking dirty jokes, Clay hadn’t been asking her questions about her day, and Nate…she wasn’t looking at Nate, so she wasn’t sure. She couldn’t. Not after what they’d done. After what he’d said.
When she’d started recording all the men followed her instructions, and it was just as she’d imagined. They were so comfortable in front of the camera, so skilled and knowledgeable about their cooking, and their shirts were tight enough to accentuate their other gifts. She knew her instincts had been dead on. The camera loved them, and everyone who saw them would love them too.
Louis was the most talkative. While he pan seared his coconut encrusted tiger prawn medallions and flambéed the sauce that would go with it, he flirted with the camera, looking directly at Truly. She hoped her little handheld concealed her blush. He compared great food to great sex, the textures, the sensations. How spicy, savory and sweet all played a part. How the best taste experiences contained all three elements.
Clay was hesitant to start, but once he began to make the dessert his shoulders relaxed. Truly’s mouth watered as she watched him create a cappuccino soufflé with a chocolate raspberry truffle ganache. He seemed to forget the camera was there, and his smooth voice coated Truly like warmed honey. When he was done he licked his fingers in a way that had her thighs clenching together once more.
When it was time for Nate and the main course, she was surprised again. He expertly flipped the red snapper in the pan, adding herbs and spices, mixing the root vegetable slaw with quick hands and a skill that impressed her in spite of herself. He didn’t complain, didn’t hesitate. Instead he told a story of how the men of The Iron Horse had met. The three of them had been fighting amongst each other for the top slot in every class at the Institute. It didn’t take long for that competition to turn into friendship, and that friendship to culminate in a decision to celebrate their graduation with a bike ride up the West coast.
They’d sampled some of the best food there was to offer, met innovative and interesting chefs, and learned that they didn’t want to be limited by restrictive menus or owners who tried to control them. The idea for The Iron Horse was born on that trip. With their own restaurant they could chart their own course, meld their different styles and talents and make great food without worrying about stars or accolades.
Truly was enthralled. She understood some of his hesitance now. He didn’t want their love for the craft to turn sour. But he needed to understand that she didn’t want to change them. She just wanted to help them find a balance between their principles and starvation. She loved how unique they were. It was one of the reasons she knew they would be a huge sensation.
Clay’s gentle voice behind her made the camera jump. “Time to eat, TS. Turn that thing off, I’m starving.”
Louis chimed in. “Amen. Can’t let all this deliciousness go to waste, can we?”
Her nerves returned with a vengeance. She lowered the handheld and shifted uncomfortably, avoiding their gazes. “Actually, I think I got everything I need. I have to get back home to my computer and make magic. Not that this will need much editing. All three of you were wonderful.”
She jumped again when Nate thumped a large plate onto the island in front of her. “Truly. Eat.”
Damn it. They knew her name. Now it would begin. “Robert is in so much trouble.”
Louis rubbed her shoulders. “Don’t be mad at him, babe. We’re just irresistible. Or I should say, Jane is irresistible, and we’re just nosy. Take your pick. Aren’t you hungry? Don’t insult the chefs, now. Our egos are fragile.”
She sat with a huff on the stool they scooted in behind her. “That is patently untrue. Thank you. It does smell delicious.”
She popped one of Louis’s appetizers in her mouth, the crisp skin of the shrimp, the tender center and the sweet and spicy lime and passion fruit sauce reminding her instantly of her carnal shower fantasies. Food was powerful. Sensual. Louis had been right. She picked up another, her lids lowering as she let all her taste buds savor the flavor.
Her lashes fluttered up when she noticed the heavy silence in the room. She looked up, feeling the warm sauce coating her lower lip and licking at it with her tongue.
They were staring at her. All of them. She rubbed her chin. Was she covered in sauce? Did she have something in her teeth? “What?”
Clay was the first to speak. “We’re just glad you like it.”