“Is everything okay?”
It takes me a moment, but I finally nod. “Everything is . . . perfect.”
I sidestep and pull out her chair, then sit across from her. I don’t even know why I do this, but I put my forearm on the table and leave my hand there, palm up, in hopes she’ll hold my hand. She sees it and smiles, and then it’s like time stood still or moved slower than a snail’s paces. Maddy gently places her hand in mine and squeezes.
“I wanted to thank you for being so amenable to my schedule,” she starts. “Since I opened the restaurant . . . well, you know.”
“I can’t say that I’m sorry you haven’t been dating. When I came in last night, that was my biggest fear, to find out you were married or had a boyfriend.”
Maddy blushes again but this time I reach across the table and slowly drag my fingers down her soft cheek. She leans into my touch, sending a shiver down my spine. “I’m so happy I saw the listing in our alumni magazine about your restaurant, Madeline.”
“Me too,” she whispers while staring straight into my eyes. I can’t tear myself away. I don’t want to. Even when our food comes, I’m still matching her gaze and our hands are still connected. This is the most alive I have felt in a long time.
I don’t know who parts first, but we finally turn our attention toward dinner. She’s made us miso-glazed lobster tails and sesame bok choy.
“You remembered,” I say to her as I survey the plate.
“It’s kind of hard to forget when you asked me to find a way to make you a lobster sandwich every time, I saw you. I’m sure it’s not as fresh as what you can get on the coast, but I have a decent vendor here who pays top dollar for overnight shipments. I was pretty lucky when I called him after breakfast.”
“So, this wasn’t the special?”
Maddy shakes her head slowly. “Just ours.”
Her thoughtfulness brings a smile to my face. Before I can dig in, I ask her, “Tomorrow, I know you have a booth at the Taste of Chicago, but I was wondering if you’d like to walk around with me, sample some foods? I understand if you’re busy.”
She smiles and shrugs her shoulders slightly, making me believe she can’t or won’t be able to. “I’d be delighted to join you.”
“It’s a date,” I reply.
“A date.”
“Without a doubt, Maddy. Tomorrow and every day after. I’m going to woo you.” I wink and dig into my lobster.
5
Madeline
“Dinner was amazing, Maddy. Thank you for tonight.”
“You’re welcome. Now you get to work it off.” His eyes widen and I laugh. “Not in that way.” Even though the thought has crossed my mind to work off dinner in a more physical capacity. I nod down at the dirty dishes on our table. “You’re going to help me wash the dishes.”
Adam gives me that smirk of his. “Well, damn.” Then he winks. “Just kidding. Although I do remember our first night together. It was supposed to be a one-night stand, but it didn’t exactly work out like that.”
I snort and grab my plate. “Those were my wild days.”
Adam nods. “Same. I’d give anything to go back to that time.”
So would I, but within reason. Adam walks with me to the kitchen. “I’m past the reckless stage, but I would like to feel carefree again. Everything was new and fun back then. Now, I have my restaurant and responsibilities. I can’t mess that up.”
We set our dishes in the sink and he gets the soapy water ready. “I understand.” He starts on the dishes, but then stops and glances around at the kitchen. “Don’t you have to get ready for the Taste of Chicago tomorrow?” Now it’s my turn to smirk. I walk over to one of my refrigerators and open the door so he can see inside. There are stacks of hand-pressed mini hamburger patties, along with bowls of my Green Mountain salad, and tiny plastic bowls filled with Camryn’s homemade peach cobbler and chocolate mousse. His eyes widen. “Wow. You are prepared.”
“Been working on it all day in between customers,” I reply.
“What all are you making?”
I shut the refrigerator doors. “Well, for tomorrow we’re going to have mini hamburger and crab sliders, green mountain salad, the balsamic glazed pork chops you had the other night, and for dessert, we’re having Camryn’s homemade peach cobbler and chocolate mousse.” I glance over at the clock and groan. “We’re all meeting here at five in the morning.”
Adam cringes. “Yikes. Then, I won’t keep you long.” He finishes up the dishes and sets them on the drying rack. “What about the pulled pork contest? Are you still going to enter?”
With a big smile, I march over to another one of my refrigerators and open the door. I have all of my pork butts covered with aluminum foil, but they’re all in there, seasoned up and ready to go. “I am,” I say, waving my hand at all the meat. “Noah and I are going to start cooking it tomorrow.”