Chef Charming by Lyn Ellerbe Page B

good,”
Marcus was now thumbing through the five or six pages of food related items . “I knew you did portraits, but had no idea you had
such an expansive repertoire. I’d be interested in using these for a project
that Jake and I are working on.” He smiled again.
    I’m going to die right here
at his feet, Rori thought. I can see the
headlines now:  ‘Coed falls victim to handsome chef’s deadly smile’. She
laughed.
    “What’s so funny about
that?” Marcus asked, his smile fading. Is she laughing at me, again? He thought disappointedly.
    “No, no,” Rori tried to
recover . “I’m just not used to you being
nice to me. Sorry.” Avoiding eye contact, she did not see the devastating
affect her words had on Marcus. She continued, unaware of his
painful confusion.
    “That would be great,” she
said. “ You’re welcome to use whatever
sketches you need. Would you like me to drop some by to you or Jake before
Friday?”
    Marcus struggled to regain
his equilibrium. Apparently, her comment had not been meant to wound since she blithely continued
their previous conversation.
    “Maybe you could meet with
me and Jake about it one morning?” He
suggested. Last night he finally admitted that since his time with this
frustrating and fascinating woman was coming to an end ,
he needed to act soon. He was desperate and terrified all at the same time.
    “Say, Friday morning?” He asked.
    “Okay,” Rori agreed
hesitantly . “You do remember that I won’t
be in class Friday night, right?”
    Why do you think I want to
see you on Friday morning, woman ? Chef
thought. Knowing that would shock her for sure, he decided against verbalizing
his thoughts.
    “Yes, I remember,” he
replied instead. “You have a preview for your art show, correct?”
    “Yes.” She nodded anxious to
end this uncomfortable intimacy as the other students were entering the lab. “I
can meet you and Jake at the cafeteria Friday, say around eight thirty? Is that
okay?”
    “See you then. ” He closed her sketchbook and moved away.
    Rori could breathe again.
Now if only her heart would behave, she might actually survive the evening.
    The soufflés were tricky but
fun, and messy, so Rori thoroughly enjoyed them. Jessica said that Rori never
used the same spoon, or pot, or pan, or potholder, if she could take one, or
two, or all the others out of the drawers, instead. Their station was a wreck,
but their broccoli and cheese soufflé was delicious.
    “This is definitely a skill
I will practice,” Rori said. “I’m going
to make my parents a fancy breakfast before Gwen and I go to Europe.”
    “You really ought to ask him
tonight, you know,” Jess reminded Rori about their weekend discussion . Jessica had suggested that she ask Marcus to make
some culinary recommendations for her upcoming European adventure.
    “You know, like what foods
to try in Paris, and the best pastry shop in Rome, things like that.” Jess was trying everything she could to push these two
lovebirds together. “I’m sure he would love to give you some ideas.”
    Rori reluctantly agreed to
speak to him after class . Their planned
meeting on Friday morning made for a perfect excuse. She made Jessica promise
to stay with her while she talked to him.
    “Just in
case he says something to make me mad . I wouldn’t want to hurt him without a witness,” Rori giggled.
    “Chef MacRae,” her roommate stopped him before he headed to
his office. “We have a special request.” Jess decided not to give Rori a chance
to change her mind.
    “How can I be of service,
ladies?” Marcus had been frantically thinking of excuses to open up another
conversation with Aurora. I t was like an
answer to prayer.
    Jess launched right in,
“Rori and her sister are going to Europe and she needs some input on places,
and food, you would recommend she try.”
    “My sister is graduating
with a degree in History next week,” Rori explained as the handsome man smiled,
turning his full