“You sound like such an old man right now.”
“Says the woman playing 80s hits.”
“It’s the best.”
Nate arranged the leeks, fennel, and chicken next to the chopping board and started prepping his ingredients, chopping everything into small squares, and throwing it in the pot.
“Where did you learn this recipe, anyway?” Jess asked. “Have you memorised it?”
“I used to get really bored on set as a teen—there was a lot of waiting around—and the cook let me help if I’d finished all my schoolwork. Fennel and chicken soup was one of her favourites.”
“Such a normal teenager.” Jess smirked. “Not playing video games or skateboarding. Cooking soup on a film set.”
He pulled a face. “Us film kids aren’t known for our ‘normalness’.”
“Can’t argue with that. You’re definitely not normal.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment, but because you meant it to be an insult, you can help,” Nate said, smiling and handing her a bunch of thyme and a bowl. He held his hands over hers and showed her how to separate the stalks from the leaves. At the touch of their hands, his voice caught in his throat. “I…ah, yeah. Like that.”
Leaning over her, he could smell her lavender shampoo, tempting him to kiss the top of her head. He hesitated, his lips tingling, before stepping back to the bench.
The song shifted to Cyndi Lauper and Nate focused on the vegetables softening in the pot, giving way more attention to his stirring than needed.
“Where are you staying tonight?” Jess asked, still carefully running her fingers down the thyme stalks.
He hadn’t thought that far ahead. His expensive bed-and-breakfast had only been available for a few days, and he’d been hoping by then Tom would have something sorted for him, but with the disrupted day checking on everyone, he’d forgotten all about it.
“I don’t know, actually.”
Jess shrugged. “I mean, like Tom said, the cottage is meant for two people. If he’s thinking of shuffling the cast around, I think I’d rather have you than someone else. Better the devil you know and all that.”
He paused in his stirring. Did he want to share the cottage with Jess? It was only a few weeks, and they did get along. It was better than paying exorbitant prices somewhere else or sharing a bunk with a snorer.
“As long as you’re happy with the pull-out couch. I’m not a saint,” she added.
Nate laughed. “Yeah, I think I can manage that.”
“And—” she cleared her throat, as if it was hard to say. “Just friends, okay?”
His heart sank, but he knew it was best for both of them. Anything more and they’d likely both get hurt when he left for London. His heart might not survive a holiday fling after what he’d already been through.
“Good idea. Just friends.”
18
FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS,Nate and Jess kept busy delivering food and checking on the crew. Jess tried to hide the sparks she felt working alongside Nate under a cover of professionalism, but the more time they spent together, laughing and chatting, the more she liked him.
Before long, most of the crew had recovered and filming could resume.
Back on set, Jess took her lunch break, and was greeted by Monica, the set cook, with a warm hug. “Darling girl! I hear your soups were amazing. I might need to steal your recipe.”
“Great to see you feeling better, Monica,” Jess said, noticing the cook’s eyes looked brighter and full of clarity. The confusion and dehydration that had sent her to the hospital, gone. “It was Nate’s recipe, actually, and I don’t think he gives up his secrets easily,” Jess said. “But I’m sure he will for you.”
Nate slid up behind her in the lunch line and Monica winked. “The handsome Doctor cooks? Who would’ve guessed you’re a real doctor?! Smart, sexy, and good in the kitchen.” Monica tipped her head conspiratorially at Jess and lowered her voice. “He’s a catch.”
Having spent the past few days with Nate, Jess had to agree. It felt weirdly good to spend so much time with him. Easy. Butshe’d managed so far to keep her crush on Nate to herself. The guy had recently come out of a serious relationship and, anyway, she’d made a commitment to herself, and to her best friend Poppy, that she’d steer clear of men for the near future. A chaos free, man free life. Did it have to be so hard? She leant into her stubborn side, determined to stick to her plans.
“With you two around, I should probably be worried about my job.” Monica laughed, handing them each a plate piled high with lasagna.
