‘Tonight, I’m trying out a selection of entrées for you,’ she said, happily receiving the wine he offered her. She wiped her hands on the towel beside her and took off her apron, folding it and placing it on the counter. ‘Two of them are similar to other dishes I’ve made before, but the others are new flavours inspired by coming home. It’s been a while since I’ve had access to such fresh, beautiful seafood, and I really wanted to pay homage to the produce we have available here.’
She surveyed each plate and moved them closer to Harrison, who was frowning at the bottle of wine.
‘Now I’m thinking about it, I should have asked the chef which wine was most appropriate. Is Pinot Noir suitable for what we’re eating? I won’t be offended if you tell me to put it away.’
‘I’m sure it will be perfect,’ Charlotte said, holding up her glass. ‘To being in Oslo.’
Harrison held his glass up high in reply. ‘To being in Oslo,’ he repeated. ‘A place that I never considered travelling to before, yet one I find I’m falling more and more in love with each day. And it would be remiss not to toast the hotel’spotentialnew chef.’
‘Well, let’s see about that, but I’m really pleased you’re enjoying it here so much. I loved London for so many reasons, but I still think Oslo is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Has anyone given you a proper tour? Taken you to see any of the fjords or the lovely little villages?’
Harrison shook his head, looking guilty. ‘I’ve seen nothing more than the city, although I have found myself walking down to the water often, watching the boats go out, and just last week I went for a walk to see the Royal Palace. It’s always fascinated me that it’s so close to the city.’
‘The most beautiful thing about this city is that it’s surrounded by nature. The forest is almost at our fingertips, or at least that’s how it always felt when I was sitting in class at school and staring out the window, waiting for the day to end. You’ll have to let me show you around, if I don’t scare you away with my food tonight, that is.’
They both took another sip of wine. ‘It would be nice to be shown around by a local, so I might just take you up on that.’
Charlotte was surprised how comfortable she felt being alone with Harrison, especially given how many times she’dquestioned why on earth she’d offered to cook for him so soon. ‘You know, I thought we’d just stand here and do a tasting, but shall we sit? I feel like I’ve been on my feet for hours. It’d be nice to relax for a bit.’
‘Excellent idea. I’ll carry the wine.’
Charlotte ferried the first two plates through to the dining area, glancing at Harrison as he deftly put down the two glasses and the bottle he was carrying.
‘I’ll bring the rest, you just?—’
Unbeknown to Charlotte, he was right behind her, and when she spun round she almost went head-first into him. But she appreciated the help, and within seconds they were sitting with six plates between them—a private dining feast for two.
‘I was thinking,’ she said, as she gestured towards the plate he was to try from first, ‘that I could suggest a chef’s table in the kitchen if I take the job. There’s enough space, and it would be a special experience for a couple or even a group of four each night. What do you think?’
‘Would they order, or would the chef choose their meal?’ he asked.
‘Hmm, I think the chef would choose. Perhaps a tasting plate so they get to try a selection of dishes, or whatever’s the special that night. I’d like to make it a unique experience.’
She watched as Harrison took a forkful of cod, her eyes fixed on his face as he chewed then swallowed. Her favourite part of her job wasn’t tasting her own food, it was observing others and seeing their reaction. It told her everything she needed to know about whether to keep something on a menu or return to the drawing board.
‘Thoughts?’
‘Exquisite,’ he said, and she could tell from the way his eyes widened and his brows lifted that he’d enjoyed it. ‘It was anexplosion of flavour. I think Daniel was right about you being the best in the business.’
‘Please, have some more,’ she said, cradling her glass of wine and watching as he ate half of it before sliding the plate over to her. Seeing him enjoy her food was just what she’d needed.
‘If everything else is as good as this…’
Charlotte had learnt to accept praise, and she happily took his. If he hadn’t liked it, she would have seen it written all over his face, but she could tell he meant it. She tasted it herself as he moved on to the next dish of clams, pleased with the flavour and happy she’d made detailed notes about how she’d achieved such depth to the sauce.
‘So, tell me why you left Oslo in the first place,’ he said. ‘Had you always wanted to live in London?’
She finished her mouthful, looking up and wishing she’d been quicker to turn the conversation around to him. Talking about herself was not something she did often or was comfortable with.
‘I have what you might call a complicated relationship with my father,’ she said, collecting her thoughts as she swapped the plates around to put the clams in front of him. ‘I haven’t seen him in years, actually, and it’s the main reason I don’t come home often.’
‘Family can be complicated at the best of times,’ he said. ‘I get it.’
‘My mum left when we were young, just walked out on us and started a whole new life, and my dad changed overnight. First, he grieved her, and so did we because it was almost as if she’d died when she left us, but then it was as if someone had flicked a switch, and he stopped being the easy-going father we’d grown up with and became hyperfocused on us achieving to the highest level at school and mapping out our futures for us.’
‘Byusyou mean?—’
‘My brother and me. My father wanted, noexpected, us to become surgeons just like him,’ she said, remembering the way he’d yelled at her when her science grades hadn’t matched his expectations, or how he’d reacted when she’d dared to share her own dreams with him. ‘Thankfully my brother lived up to my father’s dreams, but when I decided to forge ahead with my own plans, the only way was to leave home and do it on my own.’
