Predestined Hearts

o say the least.

I took another bite of the clam chowder and closed my eyes. Each bite was more delicious than the last. Gael had done the honors of picking the food for the evening. “Is this a secret recipe, too?”

Gael winked at me as I reopened my eyes and awaited his response. “It is and you know the price to learn it.”

Shaking my head, I playfully responded, “Yes, I do. It’s a pretty steep price if I do say so myself.” We looked at each other while the heat continued to simmer between us and the connection grew. Breaking our silent flirting standoff before it got us into trouble, I asked, “What are you going to learn at the culinary school in France?”

“I’m working on perfecting my pastries. Chef François is one of the best. This is the first time he’s done a class and I had the honor of being one of ten selected to attend this two-week school he’s doing.” There was an easy confidence about Gael when he spoke.

Dabbing my lips with my napkin, I sat back in my chair. “That’s impressive. Congrats on getting in. I’m sure several chefs applied. Do you need any help with your house while you’re gone? I’d offer to help here also, but I can’t promise what kind of shape your restaurant would be in when you came home. With my culinary and waitressing skills, I’d scare away all the patrons.”

“I’m going to teach you how to cook.” A raised eyebrow from Gael challenged me to doubt him.

Raising my hands in surrender, I said, “Okay, if you’re strong enough for the challenge, I’m a willing student.”

“That’s the spirit.” Gael moved a covered dish that had been set aside to the middle of the table. “Right now, I think I have everything covered for the house. But, I’ll leave a key with you in case anything comes up. It’ll save my mom a drive if it’s something you’re able to do.”

Clearing the dishes and putting them on the cart that had wheeled in our food, Gael declined my offer to help. It was a different feeling being cared for and the center of someone’s attention.

“What do you have under the covered dish?” I asked.

The smile on Gael’s face widened. “It doesn’t go with the clam chowder, but I thought we could make an exception.”

He took the metal dome off the plate. On a white doily, several biscuits laid arranged in a perfect circular pyramid. A bowl of strawberry jam was to the right with a small spoon in it. “These biscuits and jam are recipes that have been in the family for generations. So there’s a chance they are the same ones Daniel took to Sophia.”

My eyes widened. “Gael, you’re amazing. I don’t know what to say.”

His face grew more solemn as he reached across the table. I grabbed his hand. “Say you’ll wait for me, Ashlin. Say, we’re exclusive. Say, you’re going to become mine when I get back. I have a feeling that Harris isn’t going to go away easily. I only want a chance.”

I got up and walked to Gael, needing the contact. He brought me onto his lap and I looked into the depths of his eyes. “I’ll wait for you. We’re exclusive. I’m going to become yours when you get back. It doesn’t matter what Harris tries. We’re finished. I wouldn’t get involved with someone else if there was anything remotely left to salvage between Harris and me.”

Seeing Gael not confident or laid back was different. He honestly seemed worried about the outcome of Harris. In the end, I couldn’t blame him and knew that was why he had put distance between us at his house. It was the right thing to do—all things considered. I leaned down and gently kissed him as the grip of his hands tightened around my waist.

As the kiss ended, Gael said, “I like that response.”

Two weeks was going to be agony, but if it showed Gael I was ready to move on, the separation would be worth it. Getting my breakup announced to the public was first on my agenda when I got home.

It neared eleven o’clock. We had stayed at the restaurant and talked for hours about anything and everything. The more I got to know Gael, the more I hoped this turned into something serious. Seeing the sparks between Gael and I showed me how long ago Harris and I had actually ended. Only pretenses and the outside world had kept our relationship going.

My fingers touched my lips where they still felt warm from Gael’s good-bye kiss as I leaned against the door. We had stood on the front steps for twenty minutes trying to walk away from each other, which resulted in many kisses meant to be the last until we saw each other again. A vibration in my pocket alerted me to a text.

Gael: I wish I was still on your front porch kissing you. It’s taking everything in me not to turn around.

Me: I still wish you were here, too. Chef François better be worth it.

Gael: I’m not sure he is at this point.

Me: You make me feel special.

Gael: Because you are special, Ashlin. Night.

Me: Night. Be careful. xx

Gael: I will. I love your kisses.

Gael wasn’t going to get but an hour or two of sleep. Flying in business class would let him catch up for his grueling two-week cooking jaunt he was about to undergo. Wanting my relationship with Harris to be over on all accounts, I marched with a new sense of determination to my laptop. Opening up the e-mail application, I pounded the keys with more fervor than was needed.

With Harris being single, and one of the most eligible bachelors, I imagined the PR team capitalizing on this opportunity.