“It’s no hardship after what you produced tonight.” He looked out across Flathead Lake and wondered where this friendship could possibly go and should he even try? Why did he think there could be anything between them other than being friends? The idea had snuck in when they were eating dinner. It’d been so long since a woman had sat at their dinner table and, if he was honest with himself, he liked it. But that didn’t mean a relationship was a good idea. She was from another world and he had commitments here. “Were you going to tell me you had the top cooking show on television?”
She stopped, looked out over Flathead Lake and pulled her sweater closer around her throat to ward off the chill that came blowing across the water. A frown nestled on her forehead and he had the urge to wipe it away, feeling as though it was his fault it was there.
“I thought you understood that. When those women noticed me at the café, you could tell, surely?” She turned toward him. “I never hid it from you, Jake, but then again, it’s not something I go shouting about. If people don’t recognize me, it’s not the end of the world. I actually prefer it that way some of the time. It can get very tiring being a celebrity, even though I love what I do.”
“No, you didn’t hide it but nor did you say exactly how famous you really are. I guess I was shocked when I found out the extent of your fame.” Seeing her in action on her show took it all to the next level.
Bella Moore was a household name and he’d only barely scratched the surface. It seemed everyone else knew more about her than he did. He was sure if he went looking he’d find more. Why did it matter anyway? They’d only just met. It wasn’t like they were dating or anything, not even in a casual relationship. So why did it feel as though they were setting out the ground rules for a long-term commitment? It didn’t make sense. Guess that was what he got for living like a monk these days. The first pretty girl to turn his head made him into a lovesick fool. He couldn’t believe how quickly she’d affected him.
“Please don’t make more of it than it is. It’s a job, plain and simple. It’s what I do. The same as you’re brilliant at what you do.” She knelt down, picked up a flat rock and attempted to skim it across the water past the frozen edge. She watched it bounce twice before it sank, gave a constrained laugh. “I was never any good at that. There were lots of things I was never good at. I can’t draw or design gorgeous jewelry like Dakota does. Mari is the organizer of the family with a flair for decorating and our youngest sister April has a way with words that leaves me breathless.” She sucked in the cool night air, gave him a wobbly smile. “But I can cook. I can take an ingredient and make it sing on a plate, Jake. It’s always been that way for me. Food talks to me in a way that nothing else ever did.”
He watched her, loath to interrupt the flow of words.
“My sisters and I are overachievers. Always have been from what I can remember. Mom said it started when we realized we had to share our world with other people. We wanted to stand out from the crowd and we did. There was never a time when we didn’t compete with each other. It’s our nature.” She picked up a stick of driftwood, started to shred it with her short competent fingernails. “It wasn’t competing to show the others up or anything, it was just how we were. And when Mari came into our lives again, it only added to the notion that we all had our little niche and mine was cooking.”
“But Mari is older than you. I’m not sure I follow.”
“Our father was married and separated before he met our mom. Mari’s mother was a loose cannon and when they divorced, she took off, never to be seen again. It was only when Mari married Rake she got in touch with us and we got to know her. But it always felt like she was one of us, you know?”
“So your thing was cooking. What made you enter the contest? That’s a big step for anyone to take.”
“That competitive streak raising its ugly little head to the next level. It wasn’t good enough anymore showing off to my family. I’d been working my way up in cafés and restaurants and wanted more. I needed to make a name for myself so I entered the contest and the rest, as they say, is history.” She tilted her head and looked at him, a smile hovering over her lips. “Is this going to affect our budding friendship Jake?”
“Friendship, not in the least. I guess I’m not used to having such famous friends though. Might take a bit of getting used to.”
She blushed and pulled the tie from her hair, twisted it up again and tied it at the nape of her neck. “And just so you know, I’m not looking for a romance as such.” Bella gave him a shy smile. “But I would like a friend while I’m here.”
“I guess I can do that.” He reached out for her hand and took it in his, wondering how good a friend she wanted and if he was going to be able to fit the bill. “I think it might be safe to go back to the house. The dishes should be done by now.” He tugged her back onto the road from the lakeshore and they walked hand in hand.
When they got to her car, she paused, pulled her hand from his. “I have one more thing.” From the trunk, Bella took a cooler bag.
“What’s in there?” After the fabulous dinner, Jake wondered what could possibly top what she’d already produced.
“Secret. Wait and see.” The grin she gave him sent shivers up his spine.
So sweet and unassuming. It was hard to twine the woman walking with him with the smooth professional chef he’d watched on television earlier. They might look similar but they were worlds apart. At least that was his gut impression.
“Coffee?” Jake noted the clean kitchen and patted Cory on the shoulder. “Thanks, Son.”
“Dad, I’m going to go kick some goals. Hey, wanna come outside, Bella?” He glanced at her hopefully.
“Sure, lead the way.” She dropped the bag on the table. “You can dish this up if you like. No prep needed bar a keen male.”
Woodsie watched them hurry outside. “The boy is totally smitten.”
“Yeah, I know. Can’t blame him, Dad. It’s not like we’ve had a female around here for ages and this one is kinda special.” He filled the coffee machine as his father opened the cooler bag.
“What the heck is this stuff?” Woodsie pulled out a plate wrapped in cling wrap.
Jake took it from him, surveyed it with a critical eye, poked at it for good measure. “I don’t know exactly. Looks like chocolate of some kind.” He lifted the cling wrap and sniffed it. “Smells good.”
Woodsie took it back, screwed up his face. “It’s got pink stuff all over it. Not sure that’s edible. Looks like flower petals to me. Surely it can’t be, can it?”
“I hardly think Bella would make something that wasn’t meant to be eaten. You’ve seen her food and know what she’s capable of. Put it on a tray and we’ll take it out on the front porch, drink our coffee and watch the stars come out. Bit of fresh air won’t kill us.”
*
“Nah, you’re doing it wrong. Watch me.” Cory took another ball and placed it in front of the goal, stepped back, blew into his hands and then took a kick. The ball landed in the top right corner of the net. “See. Do it on an angle and look to where you want it to land, not what you’re kicking. That’s how Adam taught me to do it.” He recovered the ball and brought it back to where Bella stood. “Have you met him yet? He’s going to marry your sister and stay in Cherry Lake and coach our soccer team.”
“I haven’t had the pleasure. They’re away for a couple of days but I’m looking forward to seeing Dakota and meeting Adam.”
“He’s cool. Said I’m good enough to play professional soccer when I get older if I keep up the practice.”
“I bet you are too.”
This motherless boy did something to her heartstrings. He seemed fine, well balanced, and happy with his father and grandfather but she could sense a little dark corner in his mind she recognized. She called it her needy corner. Bella was still waiting for it to be filled with something. She didn’t know what yet and she bet Cory didn’t know either and wouldn’t until he found it.
“Now try it again and focus, Bella.” He sounded stern but laughter danced in his eyes and her heartstrings tightened.
“Yes, sir!” She stepped up, lifted her foot and whacked the ball, stunned at how hard she managed to kick it.
“See! I told ya. You did it.” Cory fist pumped the air and he ran over to give her a hug. They whooped and did a combined foot shuffle that left her gasping for air in between the shouts of laughter. Cory was good for her. She was sure of it. No airs or graces, just plain old-fashioned fun. She’d missed it. Maybe it wasn’t so bad having to come to Cherry Lake after all.
Jake called to them from over the fence. “We have coffee and another of Bella’s creations here, Cory. That’s if you’re done with the ball skills lessons.”
At the promise of more to eat, he ignored the ball. “What is that stuff?” Cory wandered over to the table and chairs on the porch facing the lake and poked at the plate beside the coffee cups.
“That stuff is rose and pistachio bark with a sprinkling of black salt.” Bella picked up a large slab and broke it into smaller pieces, handed one to Cory. “Try it. Tell me what you think. I want to put it in the new cookbook I’m working on but I wasn’t too sure of the taste combinations.”
Cory took it, sniffed it and shrugged his shoulders. “Here goes nothing.” He threw it into his mouth and started chewing.
Bella watched his face as he got the flavors on his tongue. From skeptical to wow, his face changed as the different elements exploded. With a sigh of pleasure, he swallowed.
“It looked like it tasted good. Tell us what you think, Cory.” She glanced at Jake, saw the movement of his throat.
He stood with his hands waving, trying to find the words. “That is amazing. Kind of like, I don’t know how to explain it. Kinda like a garden in your mouth but not. The chocolate is a bit bitter but it makes the flower petals taste like, wow. Just wow. I didn’t think you could eat flowers. And then there’re the nuts. I didn’t know I even liked them. And the aftertaste of salt, really gives it a punch I wasn’t expecting.”
Bella hugged him, overwhelmed with his review. “I couldn’t ask for a better answer.” She ruffled his hair, squeezed his shoulders. Cory slung a casual arm around her, leaned into her warmth. “I think we’d all better have some before Cory steals the plate and hides it in his room.”
Chapter Eight
“I can’t let you pay for this, Bella. It’s too much.” Mari ran her fingers over the edge of the shiny new stove. It’d taken Russell only four days to get it arranged and delivered to Cherry Lake. It paid to have friends in high places who could pull strings to get something in a hurry.
“Don’t make such a fuss. I couldn’t let you pay for something I needed, could I? Besides, I can write it off on my taxes because, without it, I can’t do the work I need for the book. Talking of which, I really need to knuckle down before the photographer gets here. He’s making noises about coming out and making a start and I’m so not ready for him yet.”
“He’s really coming here to do it?”
“Yep.” She looked around the kitchen, happy now that it was arranged in a way that suited her and her cooking style. Mari hadn’t blinked at the changes she’d made. If anything, she’d looked relieved that someone had taken over and done the work. The cleaners Jake suggested had made the walls and fittings gleam again. It was almost like stepping into a new kitchen. “I should have asked you first but do you really mind if we do some photo shoots in here? It could be good for the hotel and the backdrop would be visually exciting for my book. These old buildings are very popular right now. Even the paint peeling off the walls would look great with something modern and pristine in front of it.”
“Sure. I’d love it. I can always put something on the website too if you don’t mind my taking advantage of your name.”
“Of course I don’t mind. Anything I can do to help, you know that.” She looked at the notes on her clipboard. “I wonder if I can get some local advice on some other stunning places we can use too, outside preferably. By the lake or in an orchard will look pretty amazing. I don’t want everything to be done inside apart from a few shoots.”
“I think that’s the kind of thing you want to ask Jake. He’s lived here forever and you two seem to be rather cozy lately. I heard you had coffee together, again!” Mari leaned her hip against a table and watched Bella’s face.
Bella did her best not to blush but hearing his name made a small wave of heat roll through her. “He’s nice. He’ll be over shortly to give me the final approval to use the kitchen again for the public. It’s a requirement, he assured me.”
“Uh-huh. I bet it is too. Jake’s very methodical when it comes to his job. Right, I have things to do. Let me know when you get the all clear to use the kitchen again. I can do up a poster to let people know we’re back in business.” Mari sauntered out and left Bella alone.
Bella ran her hands over the stove lovingly. It would be good to get stuck into the routine again. The last couple of days had her chomping at the bit. Cooking for Jake and his family wasn’t enough to keep her occupied. Her mind had wandered away from the jobs she should have been concentrating on and onto the man in question. Funny when she knew she couldn’t have something, she wanted it. Jake was out of bounds as anything more than a friend regardless of what she might think. He was easygoing, not impressed with her fame, nor did he want anything from her. It was a refreshing change. Maybe that was why she felt herself thinking of him more and more.
Bella gave herself a mental shake and concentrated on her recipes.
*
When Jake strolled into the kitchen just before lunch, Bella had spread her papers over two of the work counters, had a mixing bowl in front of her and flour dusted on her cheeks where she’d wiped at something on her face. She’d poked a pen in her hair and tendrils of the dark curls fell down the back of her neck.
“Hi.” He smiled when she looked up, focused on him, and grinned back.
“Hi. Sorry, I was miles away.” Bella dusted off her hands and wiped them on the tea towel jammed into the waistband of her jeans. “How are you?”
“Good. Looks like you’re all ready and waiting to go.” He nodded his head at the bowl in front of her when she stared vacantly at him. “Your cooking, I mean. Whatever’s in that bowl, you want to use the oven for, right?”
“Right, yes, I get it. Sorry.” She pinched a bit of the dough and tasted it, pulled a face.
“Not to your liking?” He stepped closer, rested a hand on the prep counter.
“I’m not sure. I won’t really know until I bake them.”
“Let me have a look and I can give you the all clear then.” Jake walked over to the stove, checked the fittings and tested the oven for his own benefit. “Seems like you have the oven under control. I checked the gas fittings on the way in. Mind if I poke around here for a minute, satisfy myself that everything is good to go so you can open?”
“Not at all. I’ll make you a coffee while you do. The installer did a safety check when he finished yesterday and left a certificate for you. It’s on the counter over there.”
“That’s good to know.” He picked it up and read it before putting it back down. He took the notebook from his pocket and copied down the certificate number for his records. “I’ll do an official clearance for you but it’s good to go as far as I’m concerned. You can start cooking again.”
“Great. I’ve missed having an industrial-sized oven.” She passed over a mug of coffee and opened a container sitting on the counter. “Here, try these. I made them this morning at the cottage.”
Jake smiled and took one. The cookie almost crumbled in his large hand. He tipped his head back and dropped it in his mouth.
“Yeah, sorry. They’re a bit crumbly aren’t they? I have to rethink the recipe.”
Jake washed the cookie down with his coffee. The flavor was superb but they didn’t hold up too well. “Very yummy, nonetheless. I think hanging around with you is going to
be hell for my diet. I try to stay fit.”
Bella looked at him, ran her eyes up and down his chest. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about. You seem to be in pretty good shape as far as I can see.”
A warmth ran through his veins. “And as a friend, you’d tell me if I needed to cut back on this kind of food, right?”
“I guess.” She dropped her head and Jake felt all kinds of guilt at the innuendoes in the conversation.
It was too forward of him, even if he felt more comfortable with Bella than any other female his friends had set him up with over the years. She had her own priorities and so did he. Cory.
“I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.”
“Yeah, but friends are honest, right? True friends anyway.”
“And that’s all we both want, isn’t it? Neither of us are in a position to deal with anything more at this stage.”
She shook her head even though he could see in her eyes that something wasn’t making sense.
“I’d better go. Thanks for the coffee and cookie.”
“Wait, Jake. Let me explain.” Bella moved around to stand next to him. “I have a few issues going on, ones that are making life kind of difficult for me right now and I didn’t mean it to affect what you and I might have.”
“You don’t have to explain to me.”
She heaved out a frustrated sigh. “Yes, I do. I don’t want you to think that I’m sending mixed signals or teasing you, heaven forbid. I’m not that kind of girl. You see, when I won Masterchef, suddenly I became very popular. Understandable I suppose but everyone wanted a piece of me. I had to second-guess everyone and that included what I thought were going to be personal dates. Not to be confused with sponsor dates which are another thing entirely.”
The Moore Sisters of Montana: The Complete Series Box Set: Books 1-4 Page 22
