Christmas at Emelia's: Blossom Creek Novella by Lexi Buchanan

Author:Lexi Buchanan [Buchanan, Lexi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HFCA Publishing House
Published: 2020-12-13T18:30:00+00:00

Ten

Levi De La Fuente

Seeing the look on Mom and Dad’s faces as we showed them around the restaurant makes it worth all the worry and stress of getting this place fixed up. When I got the idea into my head of opening a second Emelia’s as my own, I never dreamed it would come to fruition. The only thing niggling at me is that I couldn’t talk Emma into coming in with me in this place. Don’t get me wrong, I love working with my cousin and we get on like brothers. However, I sense Emma isn’t truly happy anymore, and that bothers me. Or rather, she wasn’t satisfied in Essex, but she’s glowing in Blossom Creek. Contrary to what my sister thinks, I’m not a clueless idiot and know the glow she wears is because of Jared Peters.

Vivien had the same glow when I’d walked into Temptations before I’d freaked and ran out on her. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking, considering I know that she’s different. I know that I want more with her. I want to wake up with her and spend lazy mornings together before we go our separate ways for a day of work, only to come back together again in the evenings. Why I fucked it up as I had, I honestly don’t know.

It needs to be made right.

The saying goes that a way to a man’s heart is his stomach, so I’m doing a reverse and making Vivien and her sister, Ingrid, one of my favorite meals and something I can make with my eyes closed. I’ve perfected the recipe over the years, and my rigatoni with vodka sauce is superb, followed by sfoliatella. The shell-shaped pastry filled with a sweet ricotta filling is Emma’s favorite dessert. If nothing else says how sorry I am, then I’m hoping the meal I’ve made will.

I’ve always loved being in the kitchen, and a brand new one fills me with excited energy. It’s unique and it belongs to Ryan and me. The large silver refrigerators and freezers lining the back wall keep everything fresh. The stoves and grills are fitted between each countertop section to give the chefs room to prepare and cook the food. I don’t think there is an item in this room that doesn’t shine, from the copper pots to the knives and utensils. It’s a chef’s delight. I can’t wait to have Emma in here to bake while I prepare her favorite dish, paccheri ai quattro formaggi.

My stomach grumbles loudly as I think about the pasta with four kinds of cheese.

“I should have known you’d be in here,” Ryan says.

Without looking up, I admit, “I’m cooking for Vivien, so no touching.”

“Vivien?” Rosie, Ryan’s mom, asks, causing me to groan.

“I had no idea you were here yet.” I glance up and feel a blush on my cheeks. Rosie isn’t alone. Her husband, Ruben, and Ryan’s fiancée, Gretchen, are grinning at me from the kitchen doorway.

Ryan laughs and grips my shoulder while he looks over it.

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