What Love Tastes Like

by Zuri Day

  As for kids, Tiffany meant what she’d said about them. If and when she gave birth, she didn’t want a nanny raising her child. Tiffany loved her grandmother to death, but all of Gladys Matthews’s love couldn’t stop her from feeling like she’d been an afterthought in her parents’ lives. Grand understood Tiffany’s anger, but had told her that things could have been worse—that Tiffany could have been born and left to someone who didn’t love her as much as Grand did.

  “That fish should be about ready,” Tiffany said with authority.

  “Hmph, like I haven’t cooked fish for the last fifty years. You just make sure those twice-baked potatoes don’t taste like they’ve been cooked three times!”

  “Ha! All right, Grand.”

  “All right now.”

  The uncomfortable energy of the past successfully defused, Tiffany and Grand enjoyed their dinner of pecan-crusted baked halibut, potatoes, asparagus tips, and Grand’s homemade yeast rolls (which Tiffany had yet to master). While eating this main course, the conversation centered on Grand’s Monday-night bingo circle (where she’d recently won five hundred dollars); her neighbor’s new, noisy Chihuahua (who didn’t always get his poop scooped); and the Neelys, Grand’s favorite cooks on the Food Network.

  “If I was a little younger,” Grand concluded, “I’d give Gina some competition for that tall sip of tea!”

  As they topped off dinner with Grand’s fresh-from-the-oven strawberry-rhubarb pie and Tiffany’s homemade vanilla ice cream, the conversation returned once more to Tiffany’s love interest.

  “So Mr. Put-The-Pep-In-Your-Step. He good-lookin’?”

  Tiffany thought of Chef Wang, and almost laughed. Chef wasn’t unattractive, but neither would he win People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive. Nick could. “Honestly, I don’t have time for a relationship. I’m focusing on my career right now.”

  Grand’s fork clattered to the saucer as her head jerked up. “What do you mean, you don’t have time? You’re not getting any younger, child. You’d better make time. A career can’t visit you on your deathbed. Family can.”

  “I don’t plan on dying anytime soon, Grand. I’m not even thirty.”

  “The years can fly away before you know they’re gone. While you’re turning up the heat on the stove at your workplace, don’t forget to light the home fires, that’s all.” Grand picked up her fork and chewed thoughtfully on a bite of pie. “What about that fella that had you slicing and dicing when you were here before? What happened to him?”

  “Didn’t work out.”

  “What happened?”

  “Oh, Grand,” Tiffany sighed. “It’s a long story.”

  “Don’t seem like y’all lasted a month—can’t be too long.”

  Tiffany laughed. “Can’t put one by you, huh, Grand?”

  Grand winked. “You’d have to get up mighty early.”

  “First of all, there’s no new fella,” Tiffany said, deciding on the spot that Grand’s counsel might not be a bad idea. “There’s just this one guy I’ve been dating off and on. He owns the hotel where I work. I met him before I started working there and after getting hired, decided not to mix business with pleasure.”

  Tiffany continued eating her dessert, wondering whether her grandmother’s reaction would mirror how her mother had felt—that interoffice dating was a bad idea.

  “This here man, what’s his name?”

  “Nick. Nick Rollins.”

  “This here Nick Rollins, what kind of man is he?”

  Tiffany thought for a moment. “A lot like Daddy…”

  “How?”

  “Focused, take-charge, all about business.”

  “Couldn’t have been all about business else you two would not have met.”

  “True.”

  “Your father’s not all bad, Tiffany. Keith has some good qualities. Nothing wrong with being focused and take-charge. You want a man to be able to handle his business.”

  “Right.”

  “And you say he owns the hotel?”

  “Well, not only him. He’s one of a group of partners who do.”

  “That sounds like a good quality right there. So what other good qualities does your Nick possess?”

  “He’s not my Nick, Grand.”

  Grand simply grunted.

  As they continued eating, Tiffany remembered how Nick had come to her rescue in Rome, helped her get hired at the hotel, loved her passionately, and arranged the massage after the restaurant’s opening night. “He’s kind,” she said at last. “And thoughtful. Made me feel protected when I was with him. But it couldn’t last. I could never come second to a man’s career.”

  “The way a man is coming second to yours right now?”

  It was Tiffany’s turn to jerk her head in Grand’s direction.

  “That’s what you just told me, right? That you didn’t have time for a relationship because you were focused on a career right now?

  “Sometimes, Tiffany, living life is a lot like cooking. You might have several burners going at the same time, something in the oven and a slab on the grill. But if you keep your wits about you, and pay attention to what you’re doing, nothing has to overcook, dry out or burn. A cook worth her salt can whip up a three, four, five course dinner and never lose her smile. Course, a meal always tastes better when it’s shared with somebody else.” Grand nodded at Tiffany’s empty saucer. “You want another slice?”

  Tiffany shook her head.

  “And one more thing,” Grand said, as she walked over to place Tiffany’s empty saucer on top of hers. “Don’t ever think nobody else’s cooking is better than yours. Don’t matter if their kitchen is bigger, or their pots are shinier. A man will eat beans mixed with love before he’ll chew steak seasoned with spite.”

  Tiffany watched her grandmother sashay into the kitchen. Her heart swelled with love for the slight, feisty woman who even now was the wind beneath her wings. She’s right, Tiffany admitted. The parts of Nick’s personality that at times she detested weren’t necessarily bad traits. They were undoubtedly the qualities that had made him a millionaire. As for his good qualities, Tiffany had purposely put those out of her mind. It made the thought of not being with him romantically hurt less, but did nothing to quench her desire.

  She thought of Grand’s beans and steak analogy, and concluded her grandmother had said a mouthful without even knowing it. The word spite definitely described Angelica’s actions when she and Nick had dined at Taste. She saw me watching them, read my reaction, and purposely rubbed the fact that they were dining together in my face.

  “But I cook with love,” Tiffany whispered, repeating Grand’s words. For the first time in weeks, Tiffany admitted that when it came to Nick Rollins…she wanted another taste.

  Tiffany wasn’t the only person remembering what they’d once tasted. So was Bastion Price. “You ever hear from Angelica?” he asked Nick, after they’d wrapped up discussion on their latest business venture—a megadeal involving a string of high-tech nightclubs in China.

  Nick nodded. “Unfortunately. She’s pretty much stopped calling, but the e-mails continue.”

  “You know, I don’t know what I was thinking, taking up with Angelica when you two broke up. Granted, she’s a gorgeous woman…smart…but Jill didn’t deserve my infidelity. I just wish it hadn’t taken her illness to get me to realize that.”

  Nick thoughtfully sipped a cup of decaf coffee. “Like you said, she’s an attractive woman who made it obvious to you that she was interested. Stronger men than you have been felled by a woman’s wiles.”

  “You still don’t hold it against me that I went out with her? I mean, you guys were an item a long time.”

  “Believe me. You did me a favor.” Nick put his cup down as a thought occurred to him. “When did you break things off with her?”

  Bastion told him.

  Right before her surprise visit that Monday. The pieces of the puzzle were falling in place.

  “Why, if you don’t mind me asking?”<
br />
  “The timing suggests that Angelica began pursuing me again after getting the boot from you.”

  “She never stopped loving you, Nick. She told me that.”

  “Doesn’t matter, I’ve moved on.”

  “Doesn’t sound like she has.”

  “She will. Women like Angelica don’t stay alone for long.”

  Angelica sat at home, wrapped in a bathrobe, calmly sipping a flute of sparkling champagne. She’d needed it after returning home from yet another unsuccessful date. There’d been nothing about Stan Koespesky, whom her friend had raved about, that impressed her. Not his looks, dress, or conversation, especially his going on and on about how successful he was. She’d learned from experience that that was a telltale sign of someone who wanted to be a player but wasn’t there yet. When men were at the top of their game, like Nick and Bastion, they didn’t have to talk about it. Men like them just walked into a room and their success showed. Had it not been for the news Stan shared just before she ended their date, the evening would have been a total loss.

  “Angelica, I sure hope we can go out again,” Stan said as they sipped after-dinner drinks. “I’m going places, and you’re the type of woman I need beside me.”

  “I don’t know, Stan. I’ve been with some pretty powerful men in my life. You might say I’m a bit spoiled.”

  “I know about you and Nick Rollins,” Stan replied calmly. “I also know that where he is right now is probably as far as he’ll go.”

  He’d spoken this with authority. Angelica was intrigued. “Why on earth would you say that?”

  “Because,” Stan said, moving closer and lowering his voice. “I’ve just been hired by a very astute businessman who’s working on a huge deal.”

  “How huge?”

  “Millions.”

  “How many million?” In the circles Angelica traveled, huge was relative. Nick was worth about ten, twenty million, and she guessed Bastion, with the family’s old money, was worth around thirty or more. So just hearing the word “million” didn’t move Angelica. She said as much to Stan.

  “What I’m sharing with you is in confidence, because I like you, Angelica. You’re intelligent, beautiful, and you’re not afraid to ask for what you want. This deal is with a group of businessmen from China. It is an innovative concept in nightclubs—combining high-tech, top-of-the-line video games with great food, top-shelf drinks, and A-list entertainers. The kids in that country are going to go wild!”

  Angelica asked more questions, and Stan patiently explained the venture to her. “I have to admit, it sounds fabulous,” she said when he’d finished. “But I still don’t understand what this has to do with Nick.”

  “The competition in getting this partnership with the men from China is now down to two groups. Nick is with the team of partners who are going to lose.”

  Angelica pulled on a silk nightgown and walked over to her laptop. It’s time to do a little homework, she thought as she turned it on and waited for it to fire up. She’d agreed to give Stan a second date not because she was interested in him, but because she wanted to meet the genius boss he’d bragged about. “Okay, Mr. Keith Bronson,” she said aloud, while typing his name into a search engine, “let’s see what your next love interest can find out about you.”

  26

  Today was a big day for Tiffany. Her mother, the one and only Janice Matthews, had accepted an invitation from her daughter to eat lunch at Taste. Aside from having heard rave reviews about the city’s newest restaurant, Janice had determined going there was the only way she’d get to see her always-working only child. She and a colleague were due to arrive at Hotel Le Sol around two—when the crush of the midweek lunch crowd would be slowing down. Tiffany wanted to make sure her mom and friend received superior, unhurried service. Chef Wang had agreed to let her prepare their lunches personally. While she now felt comfortable in the kitchen for the most part, today she was a nervous wreck.

  “Need my help with anything?” Roger asked.

  “Not right now, Roger, but if you can personally prep the vegetables later, that would be great.”

  Tiffany and Roger had become good friends as part of their trial-by-fire experiences. Roger prepped and was also a line cook whose work was fast yet methodical. He cared about the food he put on the customer’s plate. Shortly after the restaurant opened, a catastrophe happened. Tiffany was cooking for an important group of clients on a tight schedule, an intricate lobster dish. She’d been so focused on getting the lobster to just the right consistency that the delicate cream sauce, made with a variety of freshly chopped herbs and shaved cheese, scorched. Roger had taken over a prep station, his blade moving so fast over a new group of herbs that one could hardly see it. He’d helped her prepare another batch of sauce in under fifteen minutes, which was still a record in the kitchen. They were friends from that day on.

  When Janice and her associate, Barb, arrived, Tiffany made sure they were seated at Amber’s station. Amber was an excellent waitress with a bubbly personality. On top of that she was very efficient, an important quality to a daughter who wanted the lunch to be perfect.

  And it was. Tiffany sent out a complimentary scallop appetizer, followed by fragrant green salads. Janice’s salmon and spinach fettuccini was just the right blend of textures and colors, complemented by a chilled Riesling. Barb ordered swordfish à la Siciliana, a hearty steak topped with an almost sinful tomato sauce mixture of raisins, onions, garlic, olives, pine nuts, and capers. Just before Amber was to offer them the dessert menu, Tiffany walked to their table.

  “Hey, Mom,” she said, leaning down to give her a hug.

  “Hello, Tiffany.”

  After Janice introduced Tiffany to her friend and business associate, Tiffany continued. “I hope you’ve enjoyed your dining experience at Taste.” She said this casually, playfully, but her heart was in her chest. Until now, she hadn’t really realized how important her mother’s approval was. Her parents had never validated her choice of career, but if her mother saw just how good she was at the job she loved—Tiffany reasoned—then maybe she and her dad would come to support her career choice.

  “I was just telling your mother that this was the best piece of fish I’ve ever put in my mouth. And you’d better believe I’ve eaten a piece or two in my lifetime.” Plus-size Barb put her hand on an ample stomach to underscore the point. “This was excellent, Tiffany. And you cooked it?”

  “Yes, I prepared the entire meal for you ladies, including the pasta and the sauces, which were made fresh, from scratch.”

  “You made the fettuccini?” Janice asked.

  Tiffany nodded.

  “And that exquisite Alfredo sauce?”

  Tiffany smiled broadly. “Yes, I did.”

  “Well, I must say, Tiffany, I’m impressed. That pasta was delicious, girl, and the smoked salmon nestled in that sauce…” Janice didn’t finish the sentence, just put her hands to her mouth and shook her head.

  “I’m sure your mother is very proud of you, Tiffany. She says you hope to own your own restaurant someday.”

  Tiffany’s eyes widened in surprise. In an unguarded moment, she’d shared this dream with her mother. Her dream of cooking for others was the last thing she thought Janice would share with anyone, particularly someone in her world of technology. That Janice shared this information in a positive way meant the world to Tiffany.

  “Yes, I’d love to operate a small, five-star restaurant with an eclectic menu of healthy yet tasteful food choices. The experience I’m receiving here is invaluable.”

  The three ladies continued to share small talk as dessert was served. Fortunately, at three o’clock, Tiffany could afford to take the break. Her mother was in the middle of telling Tiffany that her father was planning another business trip to LA when she became distracted and her words died….

  Before Tiffany could turn to see what had so completely snatched her mother’s attention, Nick was at her side, giving her shoulder a light squeeze. “Hey,
chef,” he said softly, his warm gaze belying the formal greeting. “Ladies,” he said to Janice and Barb.

  “Nick, uh, hi.” Nick’s unexpected presence had surprised her; the physical contact made her uncomfortable.

  “Why, hello!” Barb flirted, not even trying to hide her attraction.

  Janice’s expression was a question mark as she looked from Tiffany to Nick.

  “Mom, Barb, this is Nick Rollins. He, um…”

  “I help run the place,” Nick continued smoothly, shaking first Janice’s hand and then Barb’s. “And for you,” he said to Janice, “a huge thank you is in order.”

  “What do you have to thank me for?”

  “This is a very special woman that you brought into the world.” Nick squeezed Tiffany’s shoulder again. “And I’m sure you now know…a fabulous chef.”

  “Now I definitely know,” Janice said, beaming with pride.

  “I was on my way to speak with Chef Wang, but saw you ladies and had to stop. I immediately recognized the resemblance between you and Tiffany and now know where she got her good looks.”

  Janice’s eyes raised in surprise as her skin warmed in appreciation. “She takes after both me and her dad.”

  “And that’s a very good thing. It’s been a pleasure. And please, accept the meal you’ve just experienced as my gift. But don’t leave out dessert. The choices are sinful and not to be missed.” Nick gave Tiffany’s arm a final squeeze, winked at her mother, and was gone.

  “Is that the man you met in Italy, Tiffany?”

  Tiffany groaned inwardly. Here comes the rebuke. “Yes, Mom, but…”

  “The boss you told me about on the phone, and are obviously still dating?”

  “Mom, it’s not what…”

  “I think I know exactly what it is, and regarding those detrimental interoffice liaisons that I told you about? I take back everything that I have ever said. So, he’s the general manager? And a handsome, courteous one to boot? Yes, darlin’, you just handle your business and tell your mother to mind her own.”