“But they’re getting mashed after boiling them, right?”
“So?”
“So, no matter how perfect you think something is, it can always change with the right amount of pressure. It can turn into something more beautiful. Stop overthinking, Si.”
Somehow, I knew he wasn’t just talking about the potatoes. Chef Laurent glanced between us, shaking his head. “You two cook together often?”
“This is our first time,” I answered.
“That explains a lot,” he remarked.
I laughed under my breath as I went to the stove, placing the pan down and adding a bit of oil. Then I filled a pot with water, adding the potatoes to it. After bringing them to a boil, Chef Laurent reminded me not to cook them too long if we wanted some texture to it. I noticed Kier watching me again.
“Lemme fix you a drink while you enjoy the show. Any recommendations, Chef? What pairs well with sea bass?”
“Sauvignon Blanc, and I brought a bottle.”
I poured two glasses of wine, handing one to Kier before lifting mine in the air. We toasted, and he sipped while sitting on the counter, continuing to observe me.
The potatoes were tender enough, so I drained them, mashed them, and mixed my ingredients in. Chef Laurent didn’t give me any tutorial on that because I knew what I was doing. I added heavy whipping cream and my own assortment of herbs. Kier was locked in now, amazed and respectful at the same time. Once the potatoes were done, I started on the fish. Turning the stove up, the pan sizzled softly, giving me a quick ASMR feel. Kier joined me at the island, and his hand came to rest lightly at my lower back.
“You’re hovering,” I said quietly.
“I’m observing, making sure you’re not cheating.”
“Cheating is crazy. You’ve watched me cook solo this whole time. You just be wanting to rile me up!”
“And it works every time.” He added, placing a quick but soft kiss on my collarbone.
“If you wanted to be close to me, Kier,” I turned to him, “that’s all you had to say.”
“Touché,” he replied, stunned and proud at the same time.
Chef Laurent stayed close as I worked through the fish, offering small corrections here and there but mostly letting me take the lead. I spooned the oil over the top, watching as it turned crisp before my eyes. Before long, I plated it, then garnished it with thin slices of lemon.
“Alright,” I said after a moment, stepping back a bit. “I think I did okay.”
Chef Laurent stepped forward, taking in the plate, nodding once. “You did more than okay.”
“I told you,” I said, glancing at Kier.
“Yeah, yeah, the taste is the real test.” He added, teasing me again.
I took a spoonful of the lemon-garlic sauce and held it up to his lips. Tasting it, he nodded. “It tastes almost as good as you.” Kier leaned down and kissed my lips. My arms found his neck as we both enjoyed the moment.
The chef cleared his throat, beginning to clean up. “I’ll leave you two to enjoy.”
I nodded in thanks, barely noticing when he dipped out of the house. Since Kier hadn’t moved—if anything, he’d stepped closer—I pulled away, either startling or offending him.
“Are you still nervous around me Si?”
“No,” I said, but it came out softer this time. “But I want you to eat before it gets cold.”
“Good,” he said.
We carried our plates out to the patio. Somewhere in between teasing and watching me cook, he managed to set up a beautiful candlelight table setting. The small square table was covered in tan linen, and a single rose sat in the middle, with a candle on each side. Kier sat close enough that our knees brushed every now and then, neither of us adjusting, neither of us making it a thing. We ate, talked a little, and laughed inbetween bites. Kier was hilarious. Looking at him, one wouldn’t think his sense of humor was so big. This man was something.
After dinner,Kier and I made ourselves comfortable in his cabana. I’d been wondering about the softness of the couch since we got here. It definitely did not disappoint. I rested my back against his chest while he played with my fingers.
