A smile parted Tonya’s lips, the gesture bringing his gaze to linger on them. In that instant he wondered if she knew just how sexy she was. He had known a lot of women who did not hesitate to capitalize on their looks when in the company of men, but there was something about Tonya that indicated that wasn’t a part of her feminine repertoire when it came to interacting with a man. It was as if she were oblivious to her looks and undeniable sensuality.
“Perhaps it was lack of sleep that brought out the bear in you.” She extended her hand. “Let’s start again. Hello. I’m Tonya Martin.”
Gage ignored the proffered hand; instead he rested his hands on her shoulders and kissed her on both cheeks. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Tonya Martin. I’m Gage Toussaint.” He had registered Tonya’s intake of breath when he kissed her, hoping he had not overstepped the line. It was apparent he and Tonya would get to see quite a bit of each other now that she was working with his brother. “Now that we have the formalities out of the way, chef, can you please put up a pot of beef stock?”
The dimples in her cheeks winked at him when she smiled. “No problem, chef.”
He watched Tonya wash her hands, dry them, and then slip on a pair of disposable gloves, pretending interest in his stockpot with crushed crab claws and crawfish shells. She moved around the kitchen with a minimum of wasted motion as she heated a heavy stockpot over medium heat and added soup bones and oxtails until they were browned all over before she added two coarsely chopped carrots, and then several gallons of water. Once the pot came to a light boil, she lowered the flame to barely a simmer.
They worked well together. Now he knew why Eustace had sung her praises when she halved the time it would have taken him to cater the book club party. Gage opened the oven to check the water level in a pan of roast beef, adding more until it was at least two inches deep.
“Are you teaching today?” she asked after a long, comfortable silence.
Gage glanced up at the wall clock. “My first class isn’t until eleven. Right now I’m a permanent substitute for the orchestra teacher, who was the victim of a hit-and-run. I got the call late yesterday afternoon from the principal that Mr. Murdock was taken to the hospital and the prognosis is he won’t be able to return to work for at least four to five months.”
“That sounds serious.”
“It is. He has a spinal injury, along with two broken legs. Thankfully someone copied down the license plate of the driver before he drove away, so it’s just a matter of time before they catch the heartless bastard.”
“How many classes are you teaching?”
“Two, but then there’s after-school practice. This year the orchestra has qualified to compete for the state championship.”
“Do you ever give private lessons?”
He shook his head. “No. Most of the kids can’t afford private lessons. I’ll usually stay after practice to work with a student who may need extra help.”
“When do you sleep or even have time for a social life?” Tonya asked.
“Are you asking me if I’m involved with a woman?”
“No . . . of course not,” she said quickly. “I just asked if you take time out to have some fun.”
Gage sobered. If he was truly honest, then he would say he didn’t have an active social life, and he had not had one in a while. “Teaching and playing at Jazzes and helping Eustace with catering take up a lot my waking hours. And I haven’t been in a relationship for a while because I don’t have the time to make it work.”
“All work and no play makes for a dull boy.”
Picking up the pot of fish stock, he poured it through a strainer into another large pot and discarded the solids. “I’ve never thought of myself as dull. And to prove it, I’d like you to hang out with me one night when I’m not playing at Jazzes.”
Tonya gave a sidelong glance. “Are you asking me out on a date?”
He lifted a shoulder. “It really wouldn’t be a date, because I don’t want to be responsible for you cheating on your man.”
Several seconds went by. “I don’t have a man. But if you just want to hang out, then I’m okay with that.”
Gage successfully concealed a smile. There was something about Tonya he liked—a lot—and he instinctively knew hanging out with her would not only be fun, but also stimulating, because they both were chefs, had lived abroad, and when it came to marriage—been there, done that. In the past he had dated so many women who were so immature that he had begun to think maybe there was something wrong with him. He extended his hand. “Give me your cell and I’ll program my number.”
“It’s in my tote. I’ll give you my number, and you call me whenever you’re free.”
“Are you staying with Hannah and St. John?”
“No. I’m living in one of the guesthouses at DuPont House until the renovations are completed.”
Reaching into the back pocket of his jeans, Gage handed Tonya his cell phone, waiting until she tapped in the numbers. He studied the phone number, committing it to memory. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a two-one-two area code.”
“Do you miss New York?” she asked.
“Sometimes I do, but not enough to live there again. What about you? Do you think you’ll adjust to living down here?”
“I’m good as long as I don’t have to deal with snowstorms and below-freezing temperatures.”
“Maybe I should go back home and take the day off, now that you two seem to have everything under control here.”
Gage turned to find Eustace standing at the entrance to the kitchen. “That’s not happening, brother, because in a couple of hours I’m going home to change for myrealjob.”
Eustace strolled across the kitchen and gave Tonya a bear hug. “Welcome back.”
Going on tiptoe, she kissed his cheek. “Thank you. It’s good to be back, and I’m here to help out any way I can.”
Gage smiled as he watched the interchange between his brother and the woman who unknowingly had ensnared him in a web of longing he hadn’t felt in a very long time. He liked her because she was direct; she was nothing like some women he knew who were into playing head games. A few had set up scenarios in an attempt to make him jealous, but it always backfired. There was no way he was going to confront a man about the woman with whom he had been physically involved. But on the other hand, everything about Tonya appealed to him as a man, and the fact they shared a love of cooking was something he could not ignore. He wasn’t looking for a relationship, and he suspected neither was she, so that meant they could begin as friends and then see where that would take them.
