I sighed. “But it does matter. I love it there. And I’m sad that I’m leaving—not sad that I’m leaving to go to Alivia’s, but sad that I won’t be at Charred anymore. That restaurant has done so much for me. I mean, who would have even thought I would get the line cook position? Certainly not me.”
“You’re about to be executive chef of Alivia’s. I promise you won’t miss Charred. And if you do, we’ll go back and visit. But instead of eating in the back kitchen, you’ll be sitting at a table.”
“That’s a plan I can get behind.” I rubbed my stomach. “Speaking of eating, I’m starving.”
“I love when you say that.”
I laughed and got up from the couch, holding out my hand to him. “Come on. Let’s go make something naughty.”
“Naughty?”
“Yesss.”
“I can’t wait to see what you have in mind.”
I led him into the kitchen, and when I left him at the island, where the present sat, I grabbed a few things from the pantry.
“What’s this?” he asked.
I could feel his eyes on me as I reached for a glass dish in the cabinet and brought that over to the island, along with the other food items in my hands.
“It’s just a little something I got you.”
“You’re not allowed to buy me things.” He eyed me down.
Which only made me laugh. “Yeah? Tough.”
I ripped open the bag of graham crackers and layered those on the bottom of the dish, followed by slivers of chocolate, and topped those with oversize marshmallows.
When he hadn’t touched the wrapping paper, I said, “I wanted to celebrate your last shift at Charred. You’re impossible to shop for, by the way, but I think I found something that’s so you.” I nodded toward the box. “Open it.”
He let out a loud breath and tore off the paper and the lid, and he lifted the gift out of the tissue paper inside.
“Alivia …”
I put the dish in the microwave and rushed over to him. “It’s so perfect, isn’t it?”
He held the chef’s whites against his chest to see how it would look. Embroidered in the top-right corner was the logo we’d had designed for Alivia’s, and in the left corner was his name and title.
“It’s perfect, except for one thing.” He folded the top and set it back in the box.
“What’s that?”
“I’m not the co-executive chef of Alivia’s. I’m just?—”
“My everything. That’s what you are.” My hands went to my hips. “And being the boss, I get to decide what your title is,and that’s what I picked, and I don’t want to hear another word from you.” I laughed.
There were suddenly hands on my ass, and he was lifting me and setting me on the island. “This mouth has been a little extra spicy tonight.” He kissed me.
And when I pulled away, I tapped him. “You deserve it.”
His forehead went to mine. “I love the chef’s whites. Thank you. And you’re right, they are perfect, even with that fucking title.”
“I got myself the matching one, so we’re going to be twinsies.”
He chuckled. “I like that.”
I set my arms on his shoulders. “You’re also going to love the dessert I’m cooking up. It’s not fancy—don’t set your expectations high—but it’s going to fulfill everything you’re craving.”
