Page 26 of A Very Grumpy Chef

“I can’t ask you to do that,” she protests, already shaking her head.

I close the remaining distance between us and pull her into my arms. “I know. You didn’t ask. I’m choosing you, Coco.”

“What if brunch isn’t enough?” she asks, but I can see the hope shining in her eyes.

I’m doing what her mother should have done. I’m choosing her. I’m putting her first. I’m loving her unconditionally.

“It will be. I can still be a chef and be yours. That’s what I want.”

“Alec—”

I shake my head, cutting her off. “It’s what I want,” I promise. “I love to cook, and I’ll still be doing that. I also love you. I can’t lose you, Coco.”

Her eyes widen when I say those words.

I press our foreheads together. “I love you. I know it’s fast, and you don’t have to say it back, but I don’t want to pretend that I don’t feel this way about you. This thing between us is right. We’re made for each other.”

“I—”

“You don’t have to say it right now,” I repeat.

Coco shakes her head. “I love you too. It’s crazy because we barely know each other, but it feels like we do.”

“We’re the same in so many ways,” I agree.

She smiles softly, and it’s my undoing.

I cup her face in my hands and bring my mouth down to hers. Coco rises onto her toes, wrapping her arms around my neck as she kisses me back. The second our lips meet, all the fear that’s been choking me since she tried to end things disappears.

She’s still here. She loves me. She’s mine.

I deepen the kiss, sliding one arm around her waist and pulling her against me. She lets out a soft moan, and I swallow the sound, kissing her harder. Her fingers thread through my hair as if she’s afraid I might disappear if she lets go.

I’m not going anywhere. I need her to know that.

“I choose you,” I murmur against her lips before kissing her again. “Every single time.”

Coco trembles in my arms, and when I finally pull back, tears shine in her green eyes.

“Good,” she whispers, brushing her thumb across my bottom lip. “Because I choose you too.”

I press one last soft kiss to her mouth, then rest my forehead against hers. For the first time since class started, she looks happy again.

“So, where is this brunch spot going to be?” she asks, grinning up at me.

“I’ve been looking at some places for sale up in Maple Creek. It’s not too far of a drive.”

“Yeah, that’s not bad.”

“Plus, I think we can find a house on that side of town. We’ll go look this weekend.”

“You’re crazy.” Coco laughs.

“Crazy about you.”

I kiss the tip of her nose, making her scrunch it up.

Fuck, she’s adorable.