He stepped forward and shook the man’s hand so hard Chef Gusto’s head wobbled. “This is such an honor. I’m a huge fan of your show.”
“Thank you. When Ms. Morgan sent me an email explaining that you were a first responder, an officer on Easton Island, I was delighted to put you on my calendar to come here for a one-on-one cooking lesson.”
Morgan scooched past them. “I have the ingredients you asked me to pick up.” She began emptying the fridge—thawed chicken breasts, packs of pepperoni along with bags of mozzarella—and set them next to the spices and cans of crushed tomatoes.
After assembling the ingredients, she tiptoed out of the way while Wyatt and Gusto got down to business.
The chef moved quickly, explaining the process used to make his famous one-pan pizza chicken.
Wyatt, at first starstruck, jumped right in, working alongside the chef, mixing ingredients and preparing the meat.
Morgan, thrilled she’d picked out the perfect gift for her boyfriend, used her cell phone to videotape snippets of the cooking class.
While the meat cooked, Wyatt whipped up a bowl of antipasto salad, using Chef Gusto’s secret homemade blend of spices and seasonings.
Chester, on the prowl for wayward scraps of food, got in the way, nearly tripping Wyatt in his quest for treats.
“Time for a time-out, before someone gets hurt.” Morgan scooped him up and carried him to her bedroom. She fed him a handful of treats and promised to let him out when the cooking class finished.
Returning to the dining room, Morgan set the table using her mother’s Blue Danube dinnerware, pieces she brought out only for special occasions, along with Laura’s set of sterling silver.
It took a few adjustments before the place setting arrangement finally met her approval. Morgan poured Chinotto, a sour citrus Italian beverage, into her favorite crystal tumblers.
To set the mood, she turned her Alexa on to a playlist offering soft classical music. She dimmed the lights and lit the candles, just in time for Chef Gusto and Wyatt to bring in the food.
After the loaf of crusty bread, the one-pan pizza chicken and antipasto salad were placed on the table; the trio took their seats.
“Bon appétit.” Chef Gusto raised his glass and toasted them.
“Bon appétit.”
The trio dug into the savory meal. While they ate, the chef entertained them with anecdotes, both funny and disastrous, behind-the-scenes incidents that had taken place on the set.
In what seemed like the blink of an eye, the meal ended.
“I have dessert.” Morgan sprang from her chair and returned with a gourmet cheesecake tray offering a variety of pieces, including her favorite white chocolate raspberry.
They lingered over the decadent treat and ended the visit with Chef Gusto patiently posing for a round of photos. “It was a lovely meal. Thank you for booking this private cooking class. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting both of you.”
“Same here,” Wyatt said. “And I appreciate the tips you gave me.”
The chef tapped his forehead. “We each have our own special skills in the kitchen. You, my new friend, have a host of them.”
“Thank you again for helping me arrange the perfect gift.” Morgan bounced on the tips of her toes and gave him a quick hug.
“Donna dolce.” The chef’s cheeks turned a tinge of pink. “You have a very sweet girlfriend, Wyatt.”
“Who spoils me rotten.” Wyatt escorted him out and returned, a smile lighting his entire face. He swept Morgan up and twirled her around. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”
“Maybe a time or two.” Morgan leaned back until their eyes met. “Am I your Donna dolce?”
“Always and forever.”
A flicker of movement caught Morgan’s eye. Chester’s paw stuck out from beneath the bedroom door. “Whoops. I forgot all about Chester.” Darting to the door, she eased it open.
The pup trotted out, an annoyed frown on his face. He refused to look at Morgan. With his nose in the air, he walked past her and directly into the kitchen.
“Sorry, buddy. I forgot about you in the excitement.” Morgan dug a handful of his favorite treats from her pocket and fed them to him.
