“Mind if I help you?”
She stares at me for several heartbeats before saying, “I can do it.”
With a smile, I raise my hands and step back, letting her have another crack at it.
She dumps cheese onto a fresh tortilla and starts all over again, this time turning the burner on low.There’s a huge mess all over the counter—bits of jalapeno everywhere, including the floor. The rotisserie chicken looks like a crazed fox got to it.
She’s clearly a terrible cook.
Why is that so hot?
Grace takes another healthy sip of her wine and does a little happy dance.
My smile gets bigger.
She looks over at me. “Want a glass?”
“No thanks. I’m not a wine drinker.”
“More for me.”
A quick glance at the label and I make a mental note to grab her another bottle next time I’m in town. If it makes her this happy to drink it, I’ll buy a fucking case. “You’re doing a good job with this second one.” I replace her fork with a spatula. “Try flipping it with this when you fold it.”
She smacks her palm with the flat side. “Good thinking.”
“And if you put a lid on, the cheese will melt faster.”
“You’re a genius.” She goes digging for a lid and gently rests it on top.
I can’t stop staring at her as she picks at the rotisserie carcass and eats tiny bits.
“You’re recreating the bar’s quesadilla?”
“Yeah.” She takes another sip of her wine. “I get hyper fixated on a food sometimes. I’ll eat it every day for weeks until I’m sick of it.”
Interesting. “So, a barbeque chicken quesadilla put a spell on you?”
“Seems to be the case.” She tears off another piece of chicken and pops it in her mouth. “I definitely should go harder on the jalapenos though.”
“Maybe add caramelized onions, too. That’s what I would do.”
She frowns. “I don’t have onions.”
I’m tempted to run home and get one for her, but she waves her hand and says, “Meh, it’s fine without it. I don’t even know how to caramelize an onion.”
Grace is adorable.
“Also…” She turns to me, smacking her hand with the spatula again as if threatening to use it on me. “I’m not leaving in two weeks. I’m staying up here until spring.”
The hell she is.
Anger slices through me. “I already told you it’s not safe.”
“Not safe for anyone or not safe forme?” She pokes me in the chest. “Listen buddy, I’m not as fragile as you think I am. I’m staying up here.”
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
