“Will there be gravy?”Special K asks.
Evander tugs at his shirtsleeves.“Be polite, Kevin.Emma will think we’re classless country bumpkins.”
“Apologies.”Special K lowers his eyes, recenters himself, and looks at me.“Please say there’s gravy.Thank you.”
“Look, guys.I didn’t make enough for a dinner party.”
“It’s okay,” Declan says.“We don’t need a party.”
“Just the meat,” Special K says.
I see their expectant faces and know I can’t deny them.But I’ve seen these men at the dinner table.It’s a freak of nature how much they can shovel down.And there just isn’t enough to go around.“This is the dinner I’ve planned for when Finn gets home.I didn’t plan for guests.”
“So, no gravy?”
I sigh again.Declan’s got the plates in his hands.Evander looks at me with sad-puppy eyes.Special K appears dejected.
In this moment, I can see them all as boys.Yes, they’re huge, hard-core, determined men, but they still know how to put aside the seriousness and act like idiots.I think that’s one of the things I like most about the brothers.
I throw up my hands.“All right, fine.You can have a taste.But that’s all.Sit at the counter while Jasmine and I make the gravy.”
“There’s gravy,” Special K whispers.
Jasmine whisks while I add salt, pepper, cornstarch, and water into the drippings.I have my back turned to the brothers, but I hear a lot of heavy breathing.I skim a spoon over the gravy and give Jasmine a taste.“What do you think?”
She smacks her lips.“Perfect!”
“Hand me your plates.”Three plates are thrust at me from the other side of the island.“Remember, this is just a taste.”
I serve up a sliver of pot roast and a sampling of the vegetables, everything covered in gravy.Jasmine places a slice of sourdough and a pat of butter on the edge of each plate.And then my assistant chef and I lean back against the sink and watch as our work is devoured.Special K seems to be having a religious experience.Declan hums as he eats.
Jasmine glances up at me and smiles.She may have just started her cooking journey, but she’s already figured out the mystery—making others happy makes the cook happy.
“Why didn’t you tell us you could cook like this, Emma?”Evander sounds like he’s cross-examining me.I know that tone of voice.
I shrug.
“This is amazing,” Declan doesn’t look up from his plate.“Did you study with a chef or something?Do you do this professionally?”
“No.Just years of working in food service, mostly as a waitress.”
Declan raises his gaze to me, shocked.“Okay, well then you are a natural genius.What’s the word for that?”
“Guru,” Special K says, sopping up every last drop of gravy with his bread.
“Savant, that’s the word,” Declan says.
Evander pushes his plate aside.“We’ll be coming over every day.Just tell us what time.We’re flexible.”
“Emma.”Special K looks up at me with an intense expression.“I’ll pay you to cook for me.I’ll triple what Finn’s paying you.I’m serious.What else can you cook?If this is the only thing, that’s fine, because I could eat this every day for the rest of my life.But I’m open to anything else you got.You don’t want to work for Finn, anyway.”
I’ve never heard Special K string together that many words.
The front door opens and I hear Finn take off his boots.He wanders into the kitchen to find his three brothers turned on their stools to face him.Declan has gravy on his chin.
“Oh,hell, no.”Finn points to the door.“Out!”
CHAPTER 59
