by Janice Sims
Elise never knew what to expect. One night they’d go to a musical or a Broadway show; another day they’d go for drinks and a long scenic drive, or play squash at one of the indoor gyms. Yesterday, they’d attended a live taping of The Rachael Ray Show and meeting the celebrity chef had been the highlight of Elise’s week.
Each date was an adventure, something new, different and exciting, and her appreciation for Giovanni had grown since their first kiss. He brought out the best in her, made her smile and laugh out loud, and Elise cherished every moment they spent together. A great listener, he always seemed interested in what she had to say, which made her feel comfortable with him.
It was hard to believe there was a time when they’d disliked each other, because these days they were inseparable. When they weren’t hanging out, they were texting, and his messages about their lovemaking always put Elise in an amorous mood—like right now. Giovanni was caressing her shoulders, but she wished he was caressing her breasts instead.
“Welcome to Espresso & Confections.” A server appeared and placed two champagne flutes on the table. “The chocolate tasting with Ms. Schumacher will begin at seven o’clock sharp, so please enjoy a complimentary glass of Bollinger while you wait.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Giovanni joked with a grin. “Keep them coming.”
Elise felt like royalty, sitting on the plush velvet chair laced in gold, sipping from a crystal glass, and she resisted the urge to pinch herself. Life was wonderful, better than it had been in years. She had Giovanni, supportive friends, good health and the best job in the world. The hours were long, the pressure was high, but Elise enjoyed working at Vencedores and wanted to be the executive chef of the award-winning restaurant for many years to come.
“This time next week, you’ll be in Buenos Aires with your family for Christmas,” she pointed out, crossing her legs under the table. “Are you excited?”
“Yeah. I’m looking forward to seeing my sisters and getting some sun, because I’m sick of the cold.” Giovanni tasted his champagne. “What have you decided? Are you going to Charlotte for the holidays or staying here?”
“I’m not sure what I’m doing yet, but I still have a few days to decide.”
“Come with me to Argentina for Christmas and celebrate the holiday in style.”
“You know I can’t. During dinner, you mentioned that your parents, Rosario and her husband, and several other relatives are traveling with you to Buenos Aires on the Castillo private plane on Friday, and I don’t want to be the odd one out,” she said, toying with the gemstone pendant on her silver chain.
“Elise, you won’t be, and my family would be thrilled if you spent Christmas Day with us, especially Rosario. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but my sister adores you. She thinks you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to the polo club.”
“Smart woman! I knew there was a reason I liked her.” Leaning into him, Elise snuggled against his shoulder and entwined her fingers with his. “You’ve planned a lot of incredible dates for us, but this chocolate tasting event is my favorite so far.”
“How do you know that for sure? It hasn’t even started yet.”
“I know, but I’m a huge Johanna Schumacher fan and I’m so excited I could scream!”
“Please don’t. It’s a serious-looking crowd in here, and I don’t want us to get kicked out.”
“Really? I’m surprised. I figured you’d rather go home to bed.”
“Damn right I would, because there’s nothing better than making love to you.” Giovanni kissed her forehead and affectionately squeezed her hands. “I love that you know me so well.”
And I love your smile, your humility, your thoughtfulness and your tender caress.
“We’ve been so busy today, I forgot to tell you that I got tickets to John Legend’s ‘A Legendary Christmas at Madison Square Garden’ on New Year’s Eve.”
Elise squealed. Realizing everyone in the room was staring at her, she clamped her lips together to trap the noise inside her mouth. Beaming with joy, she threw her arms around his neck and held him tight. Before Elise could stop herself, she was kissing him. Passionately. Giovanni made her feel special, and his thoughtfulness never ceased to amaze her. She had an insatiable appetite for him, and even though they were in a popular bakery, she couldn’t keep her hands off of him.
Electricity crackled in the air and the scent of their desire filled the room. Elise couldn’t believe she was French-kissing Giovanni in public, but she couldn’t stop, desperately wanted to convey everything that was in her heart through her kiss. He made her want to dance around the room, and if she wasn’t afraid of someone capturing the moment with their cell phone and posting it online, Elise would have burst into song.
“I take it you’re pleased,” he said with a boyish grin.
“Very pleased. I wanted to see the concert last year, but Sariah couldn’t get us tickets.”
“The concert starts at eight o’clock, but let’s leave the Hamptons by four so we can grab dinner before the show starts. There are lots of restaurants near the arena to choose from.”
Elise wore an apologetic smile. “I cook with Sariah’s brother on Wednesdays, remember? We’re usually done by five, but I’ll try to finish earlier so we’re not late for the concert.”
The sound of boisterous laughter drew her gaze to the table behind them. The young, fashionably dressed females were making eyes at Giovanni, but he didn’t seem to notice them.
“Elise, you work too much.”
“Tell me something I don’t know,” she said with a shrug and a laugh.
His frown deepened. “Baby, I’m serious. When you’re not at the restaurant, you’re teaching cooking classes, testing out new recipes at home or baking care packages for friends. You’re pushing yourself too hard and I’m worried about your jam-packed schedule.”
A searing pain gripped her heart. Dropping her gaze to her lap, she swallowed hard to alleviate the lump in her throat, and wrung her hands. Elise loved the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, welcomed the chaos. If she filled every minute of the day with work and activities, she wouldn’t have to think about her loss, the sadness that consumed her every time she remembered her amazing parents. “What?” she argued, feeling the need to defend herself. “I like to keep busy. Why is that a problem? Everyone has their vice, and mine is cooking.”
“Have you ever heard the expression all work and no play makes Elise a dull girl?”
A smirk curled her lips. “No, because you just made it up!”
They laughed. Elise tried to change the subject by asking him about his upcoming trip to Argentina, but Giovanni interrupted her.
“A wise, insightful woman from Charlotte recently reminded me that no minute or breath is promised, and to make the most of each day. She admonished me to cherish the people I love, to do what brings me joy and to embrace every adventure.”
Hearing Giovanni repeat her mother’s favorite quote made her heart smile and, for a split second, she wondered if he could be “the one.” It was an outrageous thought, considering they’d only known each other for a few weeks, but she couldn’t fight her feelings.
In many ways, Giovanni reminded her of her dad, and she’d always wanted to marry someone with integrity, morals and an unwavering commitment to their family. In all the years her parents had been married, she’d never seen her father lose his cool, or heard him yell at her mom, and she wanted a loving, respectful relationship like the one her parents had had.
“Elise, you mean the world to me, and I want a future with you,” Giovanni whispered against her lips, cupping her chin in his hand. “But I can’t cherish you if you run yourself ragged, so promise me you’ll slow down in the new year.”
His confession took her by surprise. It was one of the nicest things anyone had ever said to her, and his words brought tears to her e
yes. His opinion mattered to her, and she didn’t want to ever disappoint him, but Elise didn’t want to change her schedule. She was afraid of having too much time on her hands and worried about being alone with her thoughts. Struggling to free the truth from her mouth, she wiped at her eyes with an index finger.
Taking a moment to collect her thoughts, she finished her champagne. Someone in the room cackled, a cell phone played country music and a server dropped her empty tray.
“I work a lot so I won’t think about my parents,” she confessed, willing herself not to cry. “Because when I do, I fall apart.”
“Elise, you lost your parents, and you have every right to mourn their loss. Do whatever you need to do to feel better, and whenever you need a shoulder to cry on, call me and I’ll be there.”
Elise had no words, and when Giovanni kissed her lips, she smiled through her tears.
* * *
“I’m the founder of Espresso & Confections and head chocolatier, Johanna Schumacher, and I promise you this will be a memorable event. Before we start, let’s discuss the ground rules...”
Giovanni glanced at Elise, realized she was taking notes on her Christmas-themed napkin and draped an arm around the back of her chair. Blocking out the noises in the room, he listened intently to the frizzy-haired brunette. She spoke with a thick German accent, and he wished there were subtitles on the projector because he struggled to understand her. It didn’t matter; Elise was his focus, not learning about where chocolate was grown, produced and processed. Elise had been a great support system for him since his last doctor’s appointment, and when he’d learned about the chocolate tasting session at Espresso & Confections, he’d immediately signed them up. Giovanni wanted Elise to know how much he appreciated her, and he’d do anything to please her, including sitting through a ninety-minute class about chocolate.
Squinting, Giovanni crossed his legs at the ankles. He guessed Ms. Schumacher was in her fifties, but she had the fashion sense of Nicki Minaj, and even though she was wearing a crisp white smock over her printed sweater dress, the color of her outfit hurt his eyes.
“Sampling high-quality chocolate is an experience like no other, so I highly recommend you put away your phones, clear your mind of every stress and focus on this unique, wonderful moment,” she continued, her eyes bright with excitement. “To start, my staff are bringing you a serving tray with three of our most popular flavors at Espresso & Confections, a bowl of apple wedges and a cup of water to cleanse your palate.”
Giovanni choked down a laugh. The chocolatier spoke in a theatrical voice that made him think of his high school drama teacher, and she gestured wildly with her hands, as if fending off a swarm of killer bees.
“Now, let’s begin.” Ms. Schumacher raised an index finger in the air. “First, you must look at the chocolate. Is it smooth? Does it have a radiant sheen? Next, you must smell the chocolate. What is the aroma? Does it engage the senses? Are you aroused?”
I’m always aroused when I’m with Elise!
Giovanni’s gaze strayed to Elise and a grin claimed his mouth. He’d never met a more vivacious, energetic woman. It didn’t matter how tired or how busy Elise was, she always found time to brighten someone else’s day. She didn’t know anything about horses, but she helped him with his chores in the barn every week, and every morning she left pastries and hot apple cider in the staff room for employees to enjoy.
“This is the most important step,” Johanna announced. “Place the chocolate carefully on your tongue, close your eyes and wait for that rich, scrumptious morsel to melt.”
Giovanni leaned forward in his seat. He watched Elise smell a piece of thin, dark chocolate, then put it in her mouth. His erection throbbed inside his pants. He had an insatiable appetite for Elise; he wanted her every second of every day and was addicted to her moist, lush lips. When they were apart, he thought of ways to please her, and enjoyed planning dates that encompassed all of her favorite things.
Though he was having doubts about their trip to the mountains. Maybe they should stay home and rest. Elise needed a break, and he liked the idea of pampering her for seventy-two hours. Since the night they’d made love at his estate, they’d seen each other every night, which was a challenge with her extreme workload. Besides his father, he’d never met anyone who worked as hard as Elise did, and Giovanni worried she was pushing herself beyond her limits.
She was an all-out go-getter, with a fierce drive to succeed, and he was awed by her ambition. Elise was feminine and sexy, but she wasn’t afraid to kick butt if she had to, and often did. Giovanni wanted to protect her and take care of her, even though he knew she could handle herself. He’d shared his concerns with Elise about her full schedule, and she’d promised to cut back, but Giovanni had to see it to believe it.
“Remember to cleanse your palate with an apple wedge and water,” Ms. Schumacher instructed through her headset, circling the room. “Take the time to savor and enjoy every bite, because there’s nothing better than gourmet chocolate.”
Glancing around the room, Giovanni spotted his neurologist at one of the tables to his right and waved. “Dr. Kaddouri, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at home reading medical reports?” he joked with a grin.
Dr. Kaddouri gestured to the rail-thin woman beside him. “I wish, but my wife, Reyna, loves this bakery, and threatened me with bodily harm if I didn’t bring her to this chocolate tasting class. What’s your excuse?”
“I wanted to impress my girlfriend, and I think it worked.”
“I was right. You are a smart young man who makes good choices.”
Ms. Schumacher returned to her post, clapped her hands and called for quiet.
“Happy holidays, son, and all the best in the new year,” Dr. Kaddouri said.
“Likewise, Dr. Kaddouri. Enjoy the rest of the class.”
Giovanni turned his attention back to Elise. She’s my girlfriend, my everything, and I’m tired of sneaking around with her. I want the world to know she’s my lady.
He hated keeping secrets from his family, especially Rosario. Yesterday, during their executive lunch meeting, he’d almost told her about his relationship with Elise, but he’d stopped himself from blurting out the truth. They’d agreed to keep their relationship under wraps until they knew what they wanted, but Giovanni didn’t need more time to figure things out. He wanted Elise and only Elise, and he wanted the world to know that they were a committed couple.
A text from Esteban popped up on Giovanni’s phone. He held his cell phone under the table to read his cousin’s message. Esteban wanted to have dinner at the polo club tomorrow night, but Giovanni had a special surprise for Elise after she finished her shift at the restaurant and he didn’t want to cancel their plans.
“Oh, my, this sea-salt-flavored chocolate is everything,” she gushed, resting a hand on her chest, as if overcome with emotion. “You have to try it. It’s a bite of heaven.”
Elise waved a square under his nose and then pushed it past his lips. Chewing slowly, he inclined his head then nodded. “It’s good, but I’d rather lick you.”
His gaze closed in on her mouth and she anticipated his next move because she braced her hands against his chest and spoke in a stern no-nonsense voice.
“And you will, after the tasting class, so slow your roll, baby.”
His erection stabbed his zipper, as if begging to be released, and desire singed his skin. Giovanni understood why they couldn’t sneak away for a quickie, but her words didn’t cool the fire burning within him, they intensified it.
When they returned to his SUV at the end of the night, Giovanni pulled Elise inside and made love to her until he was spent.
Chapter 16
The fancy light fixtures in the women’s washroom at the Hamptons Polo Club were harsh and unforgiving, and as Elise washed her hands in the sink, she gawked at her reflection in the mirror. Stunned by
her appearance, she noticed the dark circles under her eyes and her weary disposition. She’d been at Vencedores for twelve hours—preparing meals, training the new staff, doing purchase orders and socializing with patrons—and fatigue showed on her face.
That’s what I get for staying up late with Giovanni, she thought, remembering their romantic date twenty-four hours earlier. I’m exhausted now, but it was totally worth it!
Last night, she’d invited him over for dinner and after their delicious Mexican meal and flavored rum, they’d stretched out on the living room couch to relax. But instead of watching their favorite telenovela on TV, they’d made love then cuddled in each other’s arms. They’d talked about the Christmas holidays, his upcoming trip to Argentina and their future as a couple. His honesty had taken her by surprise. He’d confessed that he was tired of them sneaking around and wanted to tell his family they were dating.
Panic had seized her heart, filling her with dread. Elise was afraid of what Rosario’s reaction would be to the news, and had asked Giovanni to wait until the new year. His body had tensed and silence had descended upon the room. Elise must have dozed off, because when she woke up, sunshine was streaming through the windows and she had twenty minutes to get to the polo club for her shift. A quick shower, a kiss for Giovanni, and she was out the front door of her condo, dashing down the snow-covered steps.
Peering at her reflection in the mirror, Elise considered her future. Until meeting Giovanni, she’d never considered settling down in the Hamptons permanently. Her plan had always been to work for a few years, gain experience, then return to Charlotte and open a Creole restaurant. But now that her parents were gone, her desire to return to her hometown had waned. Giovanni was the most romantic man on the face of the planet—an old-school gentleman who put her on a pedestal—and Elise adored him. She’d never expected to find love at the Hamptons Polo Club, but she’d fallen hard for Giovanni and couldn’t imagine her life without him.
