Greener Pastures by Aurora Rey

Author:Aurora Rey [Rey, Aurora]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781636791173
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2022-04-01T01:27:31+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Rowan knocked on Ernestine’s back door and waited. She assumed she and Audrey were back on friendly enough terms that she could walk right in but decided not to chance it. Standing there, freshly showered and clutching a bottle of cider, made it feel once again like she was waiting for a date. Only this time she secretly wanted it to be a date. Hoped it was.

Before she could convince herself how laughable that was, the door opened. Audrey stood on the other side in a striped sun dress and flip-flops and offered her an easy smile. “Hi.”

Any chance she had of not hoping it was a date went flying out the window. “Hi.”

“Come on in.” Audrey returned to the stove instead of hovering at the door.

Steam wafted from one pot and another sizzled. “I probably shouldn’t ask first thing, but it smells amazing in here and I’m dying to know. What are we having?”

Audrey grinned. “It’s perfectly acceptable to ask, especially if the question includes a compliment.”

“I see.”

“Risotto. There were some gorgeous mushrooms at the market and the thyme is coming in so beautifully.”

“Mmm.” She opted not to admit she didn’t think anyone made risotto at home.

“Though, to be fair, you’re mostly smelling onions and garlic in butter and olive oil.”

Yep. “Why does that always smell so good?”

Audrey didn’t hesitate with her answer. “Magic.”

“Right, right.”

“The only downside is that I need to tend it, so you’re going to have to help yourself to wine.”

“I think I can manage.” Especially if it came with getting to hang out in the kitchen and watch Audrey cook.

“There’s an open bottle of chardonnay from what I put in the risotto, but there’s cider, too.”

“Wine sounds great.” Though she appreciated Audrey keeping cider on hand, whether for her or as a general rule. “Can I pour you a glass, too?”

“I confess I was pre-gaming, but you can top me off.” Audrey winked before returning her attention to the stove, where she added a ladle of broth to the pot and stirred.

She tried to ignore how adorable she found strait-laced Audrey using the term pre-gaming and opened the fridge. She poured a glass for herself and refilled the half-empty one on the counter next to the stove. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

Audrey picked up her wine and took a sip. “You could toss the salad. Or stir so I can.”

“I’m pretty sure I can’t mess up salad.” She wasn’t sure she could say that about risotto.

“The fennel is already marinating in the dressing. You just need to add arugula and shave in some parm.”

Not a salad she’d made or had, but the tasks landed safely in her wheelhouse. “On it.”

“Perfect.” Audrey added another ladle to her pot and continued to stir.

It wasn’t long before they sat at the table together. Since they’d seen each other a mere couple of hours ago, there was little to cover on the how was your day front. Rowan decided to take a chance on a slightly more personal topic.

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