“Come on, Matty, I ain’t got all night.Angie will be expecting me home soon,” Sal says.
Matthew obliges, taking off his blazer and holding it open for me.“Sorry about him,” he whispers.“Are you sure you’re okay with this?”His fingers lightly brush my shoulders as I slide my arms into the warm fabric, the scent of his cologne enveloping me.
“Of course,” I nod, smiling.
He turns back to Sal and swipes the apron from his hand.“You need to stop.You’re making Amy uncomfortable.”
Sal holds up his hands in surrender, a wide grin on his face.“Okay, okay.I get it.Your girl is shy.”He winks at me before turning the knob on the flat grill.
Matthew rolls his eyes as he slips on the apron and, with a quick turn of his wrists, rolls up his shirt sleeves.“Could you please?”he asks, presenting me his back.
I step closer.The warmth of his body radiates towards me.My hands go around his waist, the soft fabric of his shirt barely concealing the hard muscles of his back.He stills, his breath catching.For a moment, I just stand there.
“Yes, chef.”My voice catches slightly as I finally tie his apron in a neat bow.
He turns back, a brilliant smile lighting up his face, and I feel myself melting on the spot.
Wrapped in the warmth of his blazer, his heady cologne filling my senses, I watch Sal place evenly sized balls of meat on the workstation.Matthew expertly flattens them into patties.The thwack of the meat hitting the counter punctuates the quiet.
There’s a whole other side to Matthew Warren…
And it’s on full display right here, in a faded apron.
“This recipe has been in Sal’s family for generations,” Matthew says.
“Sí, it’s true.The secret is in our spice mix,” Sal is quick to confirm.“MyabuelitaJuana got it from herabuelaRosa, and Rosa from herabuelabefore her, may God rest their souls.”
“Wow, sounds like these are going to be very special burgers,” I reply.
“Just wait till you try it,” Matthew promises.
“I’ll be seeing you here more often, I’m certain of that.”Sal’s infectious laughter fills the small space.
Matthew’s shoulders shake with a laugh, and a smile pulls at my own lips.
Matthew moves the patties to the grill.They land with a sizzle, and it’s not long before the delicious scent fills the air and makes my stomach rumble.
“Be a dear and pass the fries?”Sal points to the fridge on my left.
I pull the clear bag of freshly cut fries out and hand it to him.
“Play nice,” Matthew says from the grill.“Amy is not dressed for the kitchen.”
Sal nods as he empties a portion of the bag into a metal frying basket.“Your Amy is dressed for a fancy night out,” he agrees, dipping the fries into the hot oil.“But trust me.”He winks.“My burger and fries beat anything you can order at those snazzy restaurants.”
“I don’t doubt it one bit.”I giggle.Matthew shakes his head, chuckling as he flips the patties.
“I like you.”Sal points at me, and my giggles soften into a shy smile.
After taking back his apron from Matthew, Sal hands us each an open cardboard box.Inside, nestled beside a mound of golden-brown, thick-cut fries, sits a burger that looks impossibly perfect.The sesame-seed bun glistens, and the thick patty, charred around the edges, peeks out from under a layer of melted cheese and crisp lettuce.
“Well, you two enjoy,” Sal says, following us out.“It’s a beautiful night.”
“Thank you so much for this,” I tell him.Wisps of steam curl upwards, carrying the scent of grilled meat and secret spices.“I’m very excited to try it.”
“My pleasure, my pleasure,” he replies, lightly patting my shoulder.“Very nice to meet you.”
“And you,” I return with a smile.
