“What do you recommend?”
“Everything’s great. The lasagna is my favorite. She uses a special spice blend in the sausage that I’ve been trying to duplicate for about a decade. I haven’t been successful yet.”
“Are you a chef?”
“Not technically. I’ve taken a few classes, but it’s still mostly a hobby.”
“Ah. I love good food. I think we’re going to get along just fine.” He signaled to the server. “We’ll both have the lasagna. I’ll have an iced tea.” He nodded to me.
“Two,” I said.
“Two lasagnas, two iced teas. Got it.”
Dominic turned to me. “If you’re not a chef, what do you do?”
What did I do indeed? I was a live-in cook and nanny for my brother. That didn’t sound very interesting. Not that I was embarrassed, but this was a first date.
God. A first date.
How long had it been since I’d had a first date?
“Have you heard of Steel Acres Ranch?”
He shook his head.
“I own a quarter of it.”
“Steel. Marjorie Steel.”
“That’s the name.”
“Tell me about your ranch.”
“It’s my brothers’ ranch, really. They do all the work. I’m a silent partner. What I actually want to do is study at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.”
“What’s stopping you?”
/> What wasn’t stopping me? “Family obligations. For now.”
“What type of obligations?”
I took a sip of water and then cleared my throat. “I’m sorry, but we just met. I don’t feel comfortable…”
“Telling me your family history?”
“Something like that.”
“No problem. What do you want to know about me? I’m an open book.”
“Where are you from?”
He laughed. “A tiny town in Iowa called Horse Fork. I’m not even kidding.”
“Well, Snow Creek isn’t exactly a thriving metropolis.”
“That’s why I’m here. I spent the last several years in California, but I like the small-town life. I like a place where everyone knows everyone and you feel safe leaving your doors unlocked.”
“How did you learn about Snow Creek?”