Recipe for Love

by Aurora Rey

  A recipe for love:

  One cup of homespun country farmer

  Two dollops of hotshot city chef

  A sprinkle of funky little restaurant

  Increase the heat until romance sizzles.

  Hannah Little doesn’t have much use for fancy chefs or fancy restaurants, but that’s exactly what Three Willows Farm needs to survive. When a local restaurant wants to feature her produce, she’s thrilled. But the contract means working with an egotistical, and (let’s face it) drop-dead-gorgeous head chef from New York City.

  Chef Drew Davis can’t wait to run her own kitchen. If taking a job at some trendy farm-to-table restaurant in the middle of nowheresville will get her there faster, she’s on board. She has no intention of staying though, and that means the feisty farmer who keeps trying to tell her how to do her job can’t be anything more than a pleasant distraction.

  Praise for Aurora Rey

  Lambda Literary Award Finalist

  Crescent City Confidential

  “This book blew my socks off…[Crescent City Confidential] ticks all the boxes I’ve started to expect from Aurora Rey. It is written very well and the characters are extremely well developed; I felt like I was getting to know new friends and my excitement grew with every finished chapter.”—Les Rêveur

  “This book will make you want to visit New Orleans if you have never been. I enjoy descriptive writing and Rey does a really wonderful job of creating the setting. You actually feel like you know the place.”—Amanda’s Reviews

  “Crescent City Confidential pulled me into the wonderful sights, sounds and smells of New Orleans. I was totally captivated by the city and the story of mystery writer Sam and her growing love for the place and for a certain lady…It was slow burning but romantic and sexy too. A mystery thrown into the mix really piqued my interest.”—Kitty Kat’s Book Review Blog

  “Crescent City Confidential is a sweet romance with a hint of thriller thrown in for good measure.”—The Lesbian Review

  Built to Last

  “Rey’s frothy contemporary romance brings two women together to restore an ancient farmhouse in Ithaca, NY…[T]he women totally click in bed, as well as when they’re poring over paint chips, and readers will enjoy finding out whether love conquers all.”—Publishers Weekly

  “Built to Last by Aurora Rey is a contemporary lesbian romance novel and a very sweet summer read. I love, love, love the way Ms Rey writes bedroom scenes, and I’m not talking about how she describes the furniture.”—The Lesbian Review

  Autumn’s Light

  “Aurora Rey is by far one of my favourite authors. She writes books that just get me…Her winning formula is butch women who fall for strong femmes. I just love it. Another triumph from the pen of Aurora Rey. 5 stars.”—Les Rêveur

  Spring’s Wake

  “Spring’s Wake has shot to number one in my age-gap romance favorites shelf.”—Les Rêveur

  “The Ptown setting was idyllic and the supporting cast of characters from the previous books made it feel welcoming and homey. The love story was slow and perfectly timed, with a fair amount of heat. I loved it and hope that this isn’t the last from this particular series.”—Kitty Kat’s Book Review Blog

  “The third standalone in Aurora Rey’s Cape End series, Spring’s Wake, features a feel-good romance that would make a perfect beach read. The Provincetown B&B setting is richly painted, feeling both indulgent and cozy.”—RT Book Reviews

  “Spring’s Wake by Aurora Rey is charming. This is the third story in Aurora Rey’s Cape End romance series and every book gets better. Her stories are never the same twice and yet each one has a uniquely her flavour. The character work is strong and I find it exciting to see what she comes up with next.”—The Lesbian Review

  Summer’s Cove

  “As expected in a small-town romance, Summer’s Cove evokes a sunny, light-hearted atmosphere that matches its beach setting…Emerson’s shy pursuit of Darcy is sure to endear readers to her, though some may be put off during the moments Darcy winds tightly to the point of rigidity. Darcy desires romance yet is unwilling to disrupt her son’s life to have it, and you feel for Emerson when she endeavors to show how there’s room in her heart for a family.”—RT Book Reviews

  “From the moment the characters met I was gripped and couldn’t wait for the moment that it all made sense to them both and they would finally go for it. Once again, Aurora Rey writes some of the steamiest sex scenes I have read whilst being able to keeping the romance going. I really think this could be one of my favorite series and can’t wait to see what comes next. Keep ’em coming, Aurora.”—Les Rêveur

  Winter’s Harbor

  “This is the story of Lia and Alex and the beautifully romantic and sexy tale of a winter in Provincetown, a seaside holiday haven. A collection of interesting characters, well-fleshed out, as well as a gorgeous setting make for a great read.”—Inked Rainbow Reads

  “Winter’s Harbor is a charming story. It is a sweet, gentle romance with just enough angst to keep you turning the pages.…I adore Rey’s characters, and the picture she paints of Provincetown was lovely.”—The Lesbian Review

  “One of my all time favourite Lesbian romance novels and probably the most reread book on my Kindle…Absolutely love this debut novel by Aurora Rey and couldn’t put the book down from the moment the main protagonists meet. Winter’s Harbor was written beautifully and it was full of heart. Unequivocally 5 stars.”—Les Rêveur

  Recipe for Love

  Brought to you by

  eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com

  eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

  Please respect the rights of the author and do not file share.

  Recipe for Love

  © 2019 By Aurora Rey. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-63555-368-0

  This Electronic Book is published by

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, New York 12185

  First Edition: April 2019

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editor: Ashley Tillman

  Production Design: Stacia Seaman

  Cover Design By Melody Pond

  By the Author

  Cape End Romances:

  Winter’s Harbor

  Summer’s Cove

  Spring’s Wake

  Autumn’s Light

  Built to Last

  Crescent City Confidential

  The Boss of Her: Office Romance Novellas

  (with Julie Cannon and M. Ullrich)

  Recipe for Love: A Farm-to-Table Romance

  Acknowledgments

  I got the idea for this book while riding my tractor around the front pasture of my little homestead out in the country. While I’m a novice gardener at best, I love digging in the dirt and eating things I managed to grow. I’m thankful to Andie for helping me build and maintain a life in the country I love. I’m also grateful to the small community farmers who do such hard and essential work, especially the folks at Indian Creek Farm, my favorite place to pick all things local and delicious.

  I remain so grateful to everyone at Bold Strokes. You are my people and I love you. Particular thanks to Radclyffe and Sandy Lowe, who have such a passion for the art and business of books. Also, to Ruth and Carsen for
wrangling all the important details, not to mention the writers. And Ash— I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again—you make me laugh and you make me a better writer. And more importantly, you make me a better person.

  Huge thanks to Tracy for being the best beta reader and writing buddy a girl could ask for. Thank you to my friends who listen to me whine, plot, and percolate as much as needed. And, of course, thank you to my readers. You make me feel like the luckiest girl on earth.

  For Daniel

  Chapter One

  Drew Davis really wanted this job.

  She surveyed the kitchen. Despite a seating capacity of only eighty, the restaurant, Fig, boasted a kitchen twice the size of any she’d worked in in the city. Between that and parking, upstate might actually have a couple of things going for it. She realized Nick, the owner, was talking again, so she pulled her attention back to him. No point in making plans until he hired her.

  “We’ve got some really great suppliers lined up already for the bar and the kitchen, so you wouldn’t have to worry about that at all.”

  “Sounds great.” She had mixed feelings about restaurants who took the farm-to-table concept a bit too literally, but knew better than to say so. Especially when she was angling to be the head chef of said restaurant.

  “Your résumé is solid and it helps that you’ve had some supervisory experience already.”

  “As sous chef, I ran the day-to-day in the kitchen.” As far as she was concerned, she’d already done the work of a head chef, just without the title. Well, title and power to call all the shots. She was ready to rectify that. And if taking a job in some Podunk place in the middle of the Finger Lakes shaved a couple years off the time it would take her to get there in the city, she’d take it. It shouldn’t take more than a year or two to make her mark and leverage the experience for a head chef gig back home.

  “But you weren’t given oversight of the menu.” The way Nick said it, she couldn’t tell if he’d meant it as a statement or a question.

  “That’s where I’m most looking forward to flexing my muscles.” That had to be a good answer either way.

  “I’m glad to hear it. To that end, I’d love to see your skills in action.”

  Drew nodded. She’d expected a request to prepare a dish on command. She tried not to smirk. “Name your parameters and I’m good to go.”

  Nick angled his head, narrowed his eyes slightly. “You’ve got all day, right?”

  Did he intend to have her prepare a whole meal by herself? “I do. And I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to prove I’m the chef for you.”

  “Okay.” He dragged the word out. “I’m going to send you on a little field trip.”

  Her confidence saved her any real worry. “Field trip?”

  “I’m going to have you visit two of our suppliers. It’ll give you a chance to meet them as well as source your ingredients. Based on what you procure, I’d like one complete entrée, with sides.”

  He was letting her shop for her own supplies? Could her day get any better? “Excellent. Are there any constraints on time or ingredients?”

  “No, I’d like to see you with complete creative oversight. You’ve seen our previous menu. No need to mimic the style, but I’d like to see something that would fit in the general price point. This isn’t your Iron Chef moment.”

  Drew smiled at the reference. That would have been fun, but she wasn’t in it for the extravagance. She wanted to make good food that ordinary people could afford and enjoy. “I’ve got a rental car, so all I need are addresses.”

  “Right here.” Nick pulled a card out of his pocket and handed it to her. In small, neat handwriting were the addresses for the Piggery and Three Willows Farm. He’d been planning this. Drew appreciated that about him.

  “Great.”

  “There’s no service on Mondays, so you’ll have the place to yourself.”

  Even better. “May I poke around to see what you have on hand?”

  He made a sweeping gesture. “Help yourself. I’m going to run home to meet my kids when they get off the bus, but I’ll be back. Don’t worry about locking up when you go.”

  Fascinating. “Okay. I’ll do that and be back in an hour.”

  He laughed. “Better give yourself two. Things are farther flung up here.”

  “Right. Well, then, I’ll see you soon.”

  He offered her a casual salute and then he was gone. Drew didn’t dawdle. She took a quick inventory of the pantry and cooler, then started a list of things she’d like to pick up. Hopefully, these places Nick had given her would have what she wanted. Deciding to start with the protein, she put the Piggery into her GPS first and off she went.

  An hour later, she had two of the most beautiful pork chops she’d ever seen, along with some thick-cut bacon and local maple syrup, sitting on the passenger seat next to her. Next up: Three Willows Farm. This was going to be fun.

  She had to admit the drive was lovely, complete with gently rolling hills and the first buds of spring popping from the trees. This farm probably wouldn’t have much exciting to show this early in the season, but she hoped they had some root vegetables held over and maybe a couple of greenhouses going. A quaint sign announced her arrival even before the GPS. She turned onto a narrow gravel drive, hitting a massive pothole before realizing she shouldn’t be going more than ten miles per hour. She made her way more slowly, avoiding the worst of the divots disguised as puddles. A few of the fields were freshly turned and the fencing looked neat and well-maintained.

  Drew crested a small hill. The driveway ended in a parking lot in front of a big red barn. It seriously looked like something out of a movie, or maybe a magazine about country living. She had a soft spot for the produce markets of Manhattan, but even she had to admit it didn’t get any fresher than this.

  There didn’t seem to be designated spots, or other customers, so she pulled her car close to a side door that was propped open. She was so focused on looking around that she missed the giant mud puddle and set her foot right into it. The tip of her Fluevog disappeared with a wet squishing sound. “Shit.”

  She stepped to the far side of the puddle with her other foot. Not that it was much better. The entire parking lot appeared to be a mixture of gravel and mud. And at the moment, the mud was winning.

  Drew gingerly walked the rest of the way to the door. She entered the barn and found herself in a cavernous, mostly empty room. Despite the size, it probably didn’t take up more than a quarter of the total floor plan. She imagined it served as a farm store in summer. Now it held empty bins and tables. There was no sign of life.

  She wondered if Nick had done this on purpose—a test of her fortitude for the rustic and rural. It made sense, even if she resented the hell out of it in the moment. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. This was all part of the master plan. She just needed to keep her eye on the prize. “Hello?”

  * * *

  Hannah covered the seed tray with a plastic dome and moved it to the rack. Few things thrilled her more than starting the first seeds of the season. It carried with it the promise of spring and sprouting things and everything she loved. Not that she didn’t appreciate the relatively lazy days of winter, but she didn’t become a farmer to be lazy. She moved to the next rack, removing a tray whose dome fogged with condensation. She set it on her worktable and gently removed the lid. Tiny green shoots pushed through the peat moss. Hannah smiled. She’d have enough arugula for a salad in a few short weeks.

  At the sound of a voice coming from the market side of the barn, she set the tray, uncovered, under a light. Daisy, who’d been sound asleep on her bed in the corner, perked up. “Coming.”

  She wiped her hands on her canvas apron. She rounded the wall that separated the two spaces and stopped short. Daisy, who’d followed her, stopped as well. Standing in the middle of the room was a woman she’d never seen before. Dressed in a suit, she looked completely out of place. It didn’t help that she was staring at
her shoes and muttering. Hannah cleared her throat. “May I help you?”

  The woman looked up and Hannah was pretty sure her mouth fell open. She was gorgeous. As in drop dead gorgeous. Flawless sepia skin and short black hair. Really, though, it was the eyes. She had the most exquisite gray eyes, framed by thick lashes.

  “Do you have some paper towels or something?”

  Hannah raised a brow, glad she’d not been caught staring. “Sure.”

  She went behind the register and pulled a roll from under the counter. She handed it to the mystery woman, who proceeded to pull off several and wipe her shoes. After what felt like a rather drawn-out process, she seemed to remember she wasn’t alone. She looked up and caught Hannah’s eye again. “Thanks.”

  Hannah glanced at the shoes. They looked expensive. As did the pants and shirt. Whoever this woman was, and wherever she came from, one thing was apparent—she was clearly out of her element. “Are you having car trouble? Are you lost?”

  “Oh, no.” The woman’s voice dripped exasperation. “I’m in the right place.”

  At that exact moment, she remembered the text from Nick earlier. He was doing a head chef interview and planned to send the candidate her way to forage for ingredients. She’d assumed it would be a man, and one dressed more appropriately for a visit to a working farm. “Are you Drew?”