Chef Gianna made the rounds, stopping to speak to each couple. When she arrived at their station, she shared guidance with Todd on preparing the salmon while Maileah focused on the pasta. She salted the water on the stovetop and stirred, feeling a slight sense of accomplishment.
“No need to stir it,” the chef said with a smile. “Water will boil on its own.”
Maileah gave her a sheepish smile. “Did you have me figured out the moment I came in?”
“Relax,” Gianna said. “I’ve seen much worse. And you have a very handsome partner who seems to know what he’s doing. Try to think of cooking as love.”
“I like that analogy,” Todd said, putting his arm around Maileah.
Her cheeks grew warm, and that had nothing to do with the stove. But what she felt wasn’t attraction; it was embarrassment. “I’m glad you do. Even if I might poison you with my culinary skills.”
Suddenly, something behind her sizzled. The water had boiled over. Maileah screamed, reaching for the pot. As she did, she knocked over the simmering sauce, and the hot liquid splashed onto the floor.
Everyone turned and gasped, and Maileah was horrified. She wished she’d never come.
Without flinching, Gianna called for a kitchen assistant to clean up the mess and continued her instruction. “Accidents happen in the kitchen, so always wear closed-toe shoes.”
To Maileah, Gianna said, “Let’s reduce the flame on the water a little. And don’t worry, we have extra sauce on hand just for such accidents.”
While others tended to the stove and the mess, Maileah stepped away, mortified at her mistake.
Fortunately, Todd chuckled as others salvaged the situation.
“I’m glad you’re taking this so well,” she told him.
“What else can we do?” he asked. “Now we have a good story to tell.”
“I promise I’m better than this. Well, a little better,” she added.
Todd took over the preparations, and when he plated their finished dish, Maileah was impressed. “Wow, look at you, chef Todd. You’re amazing.”
“You helped, too.” Todd winked, bumping her shoulder playfully. “Not bad for the queen of takeout.”
They joined the other couples at a long rustic table, sampling each dish as it was passed around. To Maileah’s surprise, their farfalle met with enthusiastic approval.
“I can’t believe we made this,” Maileah marveled, taking another bite.
Todd gazed at her with a smile. “We make a pretty good team.”
As they enjoyed the meal, Maileah relaxed. Todd was easy to talk to, and he brought others into the conversation. Her disaster faded into the background.
“So, what’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?” she asked Todd between bites. She had to know if a man who worked with numbers might have an adventurous side.
Todd thought for a moment. “Well, there was this one time in college when I streaked across campus on a dare.”
Maileah nearly choked. “You? Mr. Accountant?”
“Just kidding, but you fell for that.” Todd laughed. “What about you? Any wild stories?”
“Once I went skydiving over a heard of sheep in New Zealand?—”
“Aw, come on now,” he laughed. “Cut the kidding. Real stories, please.”
“I’m serious,” she said, though he still looked at her with mild disbelief.
As she recounted her adventure of landing in the middle of a sheep ranch, he listened with what seemed like genuineinterest. So far, he wasn’t put off by her thrill-seeking past, although she only shared the abbreviated version.
She didn’t mention she was kicked out of a Queenstown bar later that night.
