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Chapter Eleven

Jenna double-checked the supplies. “I want to make sure I have everything,” she said, feeling more nervous than the last time and knowing her butterflies had little to do with teaching and everything to do with a certain student who had promised to attend.

“You’ll be fine,” Beth said. “Look how many reservations you have. There will be a big crowd. I’m looking forward to seeing the man Serenity set you up with. I think it’s fascinating you two hit it off.”

“I know. I didn’t know what to expect and I was terrified.” She lowered her voice. “Serenity isn’t exactly in the mainstream.”

“But she found a nice man.”

“Yes. At least I think so. It was a double date so we didn’t get much time to talk.”

Beth looked across the store to where Serenity chatted with a couple of customers. “She’s fitting in very well. Some people have that gift.”

Jenna glanced at her mother to see if Beth meant anything else by the comment, but her expression was open and unguarded.

Violet came up to them. “The Italian bacon is all cut up,” she said. “I’ve divided it into the little bowls, so every station has the right amount.”

“Thanks,” Jenna said. “I appreciate you doing that.”

Tonight’s class was a recipe for spaghetti carbonara, an easy pasta dish that anyone could prepare.

Beth excused herself and walked toward Serenity.

“Everything else is set up, right?” Jenna asked. “I’m sorry to keep checking. I don’t know what’s wrong with me tonight. I feel like I’m driving everyone crazy.”

“The nerves aren’t helping, are they?”

“No. Why did I invite him to this class? I’m not sure I even like him.”

Violet raised her eyebrows. “Seriously? You’re going to try to sell that to me?”

“Maybe not.” She sighed. “One second I tell myself that it was just one date and so what? The next I want to ask you if you think some woman is going to steal Ellington away from me.”

“No, and if someone does, then you’re better off without him.”

Jenna sucked in a breath. “Thanks for being rational. It’s important that one of us is. I don’t usually have trouble with it, but there’s something about that guy.”

“He’s gorgeous.”

Jenna grinned. “I know. Wasn’t that surprising? I nearly fainted when I opened the door. No wonder he’s a local celebrity—he’s probably very telegenic.” Ellington being well-known still made her uneasy. After all, Aaron had been charming at the beginning of their relationship, too.

Violet’s cell phone chirped. She pulled it out of her apron pocket and glanced at the screen, then put her phone away.

“Cliff,” she said. “He’s heading home from work and wanted me to know he was missing me.”

Jenna wondered if that had really been the message. “Things are still good between you?”

“Yes, they’re great. He’s sweet and caring.”

Jenna could think of many descriptions for Cliff, and neither of those came to mind. “I’m glad you’re happy,” she said instead, then glanced at the clock. “It’s nearly time.”

Over the next fifteen minutes, people arrived for the class. She handed out appetizers she’d made. Of the three samples, two were recipes she’d made before, but one was tiny cups of the soup she’d been playing with. She watched anxiously as people tasted the soup and relaxed when nearly everyone asked for more.

The need to create was coming back to her. Like an itch she couldn’t reach, it dogged her, appearing when she least expected it.

Jenna was on the lookout for Ellington and still managed to miss him when he showed up. One second she was handing out recipe cards, the next, someone tall and male was beside her.

“You look busy,” he said. “I just wanted to say hi before everything started.”

She turned to him and quickly got lost in his blue eyes. Yikes. He was better-looking than she remembered. His smile flashed, effectively blanking out her brain and leaving her unable to speak.

“Jenna?”

“Yes?”

“You okay?”

“I’m fine. The class... We’re expecting a lot of people. I’m glad you could make it. Here.” She thrust out a recipe card. “What we’re making tonight. Of course Serenity isn’t happy. Nothing vegan about our meal. So don’t expect her to taste anything. She said you give a great massage.”

Jenna clamped her lips together and wished for a mini tornado to whisk her into another reality. She hadn’t just said the massage thing, had she? Maybe she’d just thought it.

Ellington chuckled. “I’m glad she approves. Is it all right if I stay after class so we can talk? Or do you have somewhere to be?”

“I don’t have anywhere to be,” she squeaked.

“Good.”

She managed to pull herself together enough to start the class. She let the students divide themselves up into groups, then assigned them stations and explained how to make the pasta. She’d brought in bottles of chardonnay to be sampled during the cooking process. Soon the store was filled with the smell of simmering garlic, onion and Italian bacon and the steam from boiling pasta pots.

Serenity said she was tired and left about halfway through the class. Beth went with her, while Violet manned the cash register. Jenna moved from station to station, demonstrating how to whisk the eggs, showing how much salt and pepper to add.

She was aware that Ellington was in a group comprised of him and three women. The females in question were about her age, all pretty and obviously interested in him. They jostled each other in an attempt to be the one standing closest to him and kept up a running conversation.

Violet was right, she told herself. If he was the kind of guy who was easily distracted by other women, then she didn’t want him in her life anyway. But saying the mature thing and believing it were two different things.

As the cooking continued, the sound in the store rose. Jenna noticed Ellington’s group seemed to be having the most fun. The women had progressed to practically hanging on him.

She ignored the knot in her stomach and demonstrated how to pour the eggs into the pasta and stir until the eggs were cooked. She poured in the bacon, garlic, onion mixture from the frying pan and tumbled the entrée onto a serving dish.

The various groups then repeated her steps, some with more success than others. She went around and helped, then she and Violet passed out small plates and forks so everyone could sample what they’d made.

“You okay?” Violet asked in a low voice.

“Bitterly jealous.”

“Don’t be. He’s enduring, not enjoying.”

Jenna frowned. “How can you tell?”

“Let’s just say I have a lot of experience with reading men’s body language. See how the blonde is leaning into him?”

Jenna didn’t want to look, but she turned her head anyway. Sure enough, the tall, curvy blonde was all over Ellington. Like white on rice, as her grandmother would say.

“Uh-huh.”

“Look at how he’s standing. He’s leaning away from her, not toward her, and he has his arms folded. See how the left one is blocking her from getting too close?”

Jenna hadn’t noticed that, but now she saw that Violet was right.

“He’s smiling but he keeps looking at you,” her friend added.

Sure enough, Ellington glanced in her direction, then winked.

Jenna felt the jolt all the way down to her toes. “Have I mentioned how much I adore you?” she asked Violet.

“Just doing my job.”

Jenna laughed. “You’re the best, seriously. I was living in the bad place.”

“No need to go there with Ellington. He’s interested.”

Violet proved to be right. It took nearly an hour for the last of the customers to leave. The women who’d cooked with Ellington seemed determined to leave with him until he said something Jenna didn’t catch. All three of them turned to glare at him, then collected their purses and left.

Everyone else bought something from the store. The kits for the spaghetti carbonara all sold quickly. By seven-thirty, Violet was walking toward the back.

“I’m heading out,” she said. “Cliff’s waiting. See you tomorrow.”

“Night,” Jenna called after her.

Most of the lights were off, the front door was locked, leaving only her, a lot of pasta and a good-looking guy. Now what?

She turned to find that Ellington had poured them both a glass of wine and served up some pasta.

“From what you made,” he said, handing her both and motioning to the empty chairs. “I wouldn’t trust any of the others.”

“I’m sure they were fine.”

He collected his food and joined her. They sat on folding chairs, facing each other over the small table that had held the pasta kits.

“You’re a patient teacher,” he said. “You give a lot of encouragement.”

“I want people to enjoy cooking.”

“You make it look easy.”

“It actually is easy. Once you master a few basic techniques and procedures, it’s just a matter of practice and finding out what you like to eat.”

“I don’t think so,” he told her, his eyes bright with interest. “I’m a lousy cook.”

“You did fine tonight.” She picked up her wine. “Your group seemed to have a lot of fun.”

“They were interesting.”

She sipped and did her best to look casual. “And interested in you.”

He shook his head. “I tried to be subtle, then I told them I was with you. When that didn’t work, I said I was gay.”

Jenna nearly choked. “Seriously?”

He grinned. “Works every time.”

“What if you find a woman who wants to convert you?”

“So far I haven’t.” He studied her for a second. “You’ve been here all day, haven’t you?”

“In the store? Sure, but I’m here pretty much every day.”

“You’re tired.” He held up a hand. “I’m not saying you look tired—you look great.” He put down his plate and stood, then walked around her chair.

“Sit up,” he instructed. “Close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing.”

Feeling just a little wary, Jenna did as he said. Seconds later she felt his large, warm hands settle on her shoulders. His strong fingers immediately found her tense muscles and began to massage them.

Relaxation blended with pleasure, making her want to purr. It was all she could do not to roll her head back and forth and beg for more.

At his urging, she leaned forward so he could move a little lower down her back, then he shifted to her upper arms. The gentle yet deep rubbing was amazing, she thought. If he could do this with a simple back rub, what would Ellington be like in bed?

Images followed the question, and she felt heat on her cheeks. Oh, great. Her own imagination was making her blush. At least he couldn’t see her face.

The massage continued for a few more minutes, then he stopped. “I hate to end this now,” he said. “But I need to get going. I promised my son I would be home in time to put him to bed.”

Jenna rose and faced him. “You have a son?”

“Isaiah. He’s seven.”

Serenity had left that piece of information out of the conversation, Jenna thought, trying to decide if it mattered.

“Are you free tomorrow night?” Ellington asked. “Would you like to go to dinner?”

“I’d love that.”

“I see the store’s open until six. Want me to pick you up here?” he asked.

“That would be great.”

He stepped toward her and put his hands on her waist. “Tonight was fun, but I think it’s time we risked an evening with just the two of us.”

Her heart began to flutter like a trapped bird. She felt breathless. “Me, too,” she managed.

He lowered his head and kissed her. The contact was light and quick and just enough to make her knees go a little weak.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said as he straightened.

“Uh-huh.”

She let him out the front, then did her best to act dignified until he had driven away. Then she did a little dance all the way through the store.

* * *

Beth stopped by Jenna’s store on her way to the market. She wanted to hear about the singles class the previous evening. Ellington had arrived as promised, and she was curious if Jenna had liked him as much the second time around.

He’d certainly been good-looking enough, Beth thought as she walked toward the store. But what, really, did they have in common? She had asked Marshall if he knew any suitable single men in the local business community. Although he’d refused to get involved, she knew she could convince him that this was important.

She pulled open the glass doors and stepped in to find a class in session. But instead of her daughter helping people through a cooking project, Serenity was explaining the recipe.

Beth came to a stop so quickly, the door bumped her in the butt. She moved inside, then searched for Jenna and found her stocking shelves.

“She’s teaching a class?” Beth asked as she approached. “You didn’t tell me.”

Beth felt oddly breathless and confused, as if she’d suddenly found her kitchen chairs nailed to the ceiling.

“She mentioned it a week or so ago,” Jenna said. “I wanted to tell her no, but you kept saying I should give her a chance, so I put out a sign-up sheet and we had ten people interested within three days.” Her daughter smiled. “She has a welcoming style. Very inclusive and warm.”

Beth eyed the large crowd. “What’s the class?”

“Introduction to vegan cooking. They’re even baking, which I don’t understand. How can you bake without eggs for binding?”

“But this is your store,” Beth protested.

“I know, but I don’t think the customers care who’s cooking.” She frowned. “Are you upset?”

“What? No. Of course not. Just surprised. You never mentioned it. I wondered if you were keeping it a secret.”

Jenna stared at her. “Why would I do that? I forgot to tell you. It’s not a big deal.”

“Oh, I know. I’m fine.” Beth smiled as widely as she could. “You go ahead and finish your work. I just wanted to stop by. I’ll see you later.”

Jenna nodded slowly. “If you’re sure.”

“I am.”

They hugged, then Beth turned to leave. She still felt a little shaken inside. It was because she’d been so surprised, she told herself. Having Serenity a part of Jenna’s life was a good thing. She’d thought so from the start.

Before she could reach the door, Violet stopped her.

“Morning,” she said.

“Hello, Violet. It looks like you have your hands full.”

“I know. It’s a nice way to start the morning. Were you leaving?”

“I have errands to run.”

“I’ll walk you out.”

Beth led the way. When they were out on the sidewalk, Violet stopped.

“I have a favor to ask, but I want to make sure you don’t feel obligated.” Violet bit her lower lip and ducked her head, then looked back at Beth. “Agreed?”

“Of course.” Beth was more intrigued than concerned.

“I was wondering if you would mind going shopping with me sometime. You’re always dressed so stylishly and I’ve seen the clothes you’ve bought for Jenna. They’re wonderful. I don’t have a huge budget, but I want to make some changes in my wardrobe.”

Beth smoothed the front of her jacket and smiled. “Violet, that’s very sweet of you, but I’m old enough to be your mother. Why would you want to dress like me?”

Violet shook her wrist with the half dozen bracelets. “I like my look, but I want to upgrade it. I’m dating this really great guy. He’s a professional, in finance. Suits and ties, that kind of thing. I want to fit in better.”

“You shouldn’t change yourself for a man.”

Violet laughed. “Excellent advice that no woman takes. At least not at the beginning of a relationship.”

“True.” Beth wondered if the man in question had asked Violet to do this or if it was her idea.

“You know what you’re doing,” Violet said. “I don’t have a clue. I’ve been coloring my own hair since I was seventeen. I rarely go to a salon and I usually cut my hair myself.”

Beth eyed her spiky style. “You do great work.”

“Thanks, but I want to be classy. Myself but better.”

Beth tried to remember the last time she and Jenna had gone shopping. It had been a while. Once she’d met Aaron, Jenna had hardly ever come home. There had been very regular phone calls and Beth had flown out to see her a couple of times a year, but it wasn’t the same. She’d missed doing things with her daughter.

“I’m happy to help you pull together a few outfits. When’s your next day off?”

“Tuesday.”

“Why don’t we go then?” Beth pulled a piece of paper out of her bag and wrote down her cell number. “Give me a call and we’ll set up a time.”

“Thank you so much,” Violet said earnestly. “I really appreciate it.”

“I’m happy to help,” Beth told her. “We’ll have fun.”

* * *

Ellington arrived right on time. Customer traffic had slowed enough that Jenna had been able to change and retouch her makeup. As Violet had returned the sleeveless black dress and sworn it had great date karma, Jenna had decided to wear it. Hopefully she would have as much fun with Ellington as Violet had claimed to have had with Cliff.

She unlocked the store’s glass door and let him in, then found herself unexpectedly overwhelmed by his long, lean body in jeans and a long-sleeved white shirt. Had his eyes always been that blue? she wondered as she got lost in the pleasure of looking at him.

“You look great,” he said, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “How was your day?”

“Busy, but fun. I’m getting a lot of foot traffic, which is great. People are telling their friends about the store. Business is excellent.”

“I’m glad. Starting new in retail is tough.”

“Especially for someone coming from a completely different industry. If it wasn’t for Violet, I would have failed. She’s saved my butt and my bank account. Thanks to her good ideas, we’ve hired two part-time people.”

She pressed her lips together. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to go on like that.”

“Don’t apologize. It’s nice to hear someone excited about what they do. Are you hungry? We’re having dinner around the corner. Fish City Grill. Have you been there?”

“Not in years, but I remember liking it.”

“I doubt they’ll have anything as good as your enchiladas,” he warned.

She laughed. “I’m okay with that. Last night I tried to make a kale pesto. Can you spell yuck? I don’t know where I messed up, but it was awful.”

“Do you try different things with food a lot?”

Good question, she thought. “Not for a while, but it’s coming back. Slowly.” She smiled. “I’m starting to remember that it’s okay when things don’t turn out right the first time. I can always try again and get it right.”

“Good philosophy.” He motioned to the door. “Shall we?”

She collected her purse and followed him outside.

They walked to the restaurant. Ellington gave his name, and they were shown to a corner table by the window. Once they were seated, he leaned toward her.

“Thanks for coming out with me tonight,” he said. “I haven’t been on a real date in a long time.”

“Why not?” Someone who looked like him and who was also nice and successful should have women taking numbers.

He hesitated.

“You’re not going to tell me you were waiting for the universe to tell you it was time, are you?” she asked before she could stop herself.

He laughed. “No. I don’t communicate much with the universe. That would be your mother.”

Birth mother, Jenna corrected silently. “How much did she tell you?”

He looked startled. “About what?”

“The adoption. Our relationship.”

“Oh.” His expression relaxed. “That she gave you up for adoption when she was a teenager and recently she’s reentered your life.”

Jenna had a feeling he knew a whole lot more than he was saying, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to find out what.

Their server appeared. They both ordered wine.

When the woman had left, Jenna said, “Why haven’t you been dating? It can’t be for lack of opportunity.”

He laughed. “Thanks for the compliment. I suppose it’s a combination of things. I won’t date a client.”

“Hearts are breaking all over Georgetown.”

“I’ve had a few women leave my practice because of that,” he admitted. “No one I was truly interested in.”

“Ah, so you are interested in some of your clients.”

“Not at all.”

“That’s what you implied.”

His teeth flashed white as he grinned. “You’re trying to get me in trouble.”

“It’s kind of fun. You’re so perfect.”

“Far from it.”

“Oh, please. Harvard medical school, but it was too traditional, so you went to China to study there. You’re athletic, spiritual, have a kid, give a great massage, are holistic, but eat meat. Does it get any better than that?”

“Many women see my son as a liability.”

“Many women would see him as a bonus.”

The server appeared with their drinks. Ellington asked her to give them a few minutes before ordering.

Jenna took a sip of her drink and studied her date. She enjoyed teasing him, mostly because she sensed he would take it in the spirit she meant it.

“I’m far from perfect,” he said when they were alone. As he spoke, he leaned toward her. “For one, I’m divorced.”

“So am I.”

“My marriage fell apart because I was caught up in my work. I would rather have been with a patient than my wife. Or traveling.”

“Was that about you or what was going on at home?”

“Both. It’s hard to stay with someone who travels all the time. Even after Isaiah was born, I spent several months in India every year. I believed that what I was doing was more important than anything else.” He shook his head. “I wish I could say I was the good guy.”

“What changed?”

“She left and took my son with her. At first I kept doing what I’d always been doing, then one day I realized Isaiah was my responsibility. That I had deliberately brought him into this world and that he needed me. But the parenting plan was set. When I wanted to change things, she wouldn’t agree. I supposed it was her way of punishing me for emotionally abandoning her. I can’t really blame her.” He shrugged. “Unfortunately Isaiah suffered, as well.”

Jenna stared at him. “Something must be different now. He spent the night last night.”

“He didn’t spend the night, he lives with me. About a year ago, she was killed in a car accident. I became a full-time single dad. It’s been a tough year for him. He was six. First he lost his dad, then he lost his mom. We had a lot of adjustments to make.”

Jenna couldn’t imagine an adult going through something like that well, let alone a little boy. “How’s he doing now?”

“Thriving.” Pride filled Ellington’s voice. “I bought a house in his school district so he could stay close to his friends. My mom moved in and my mother-in-law lives around the corner. Between them, they handle the day care and everything about my life and his. I stopped traveling and opened a permanent practice at the healing center.”

“You were able to reconnect with him?” she asked.

“It took a while, but yes. We’re doing all kinds of things together. We have a deal that I’m home to tuck him in bed.” He grinned. “I had to get special dispensation for our last date and for tonight.”

“Please tell him I appreciate his generosity.”

“I can see I’m going to have to continue to negotiate the bed tucking issue with him,” he said, gazing into her eyes. “For the past year, it hasn’t been much of a problem, but that might be changing.”

Jenna willed herself not to blush. “I’d like that.”

“You’re ignoring the fact that I live with my mother.”

“I’m not scared about it, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Good.”

The server returned and they quickly ordered. After she left, he said, “Enough about my life. Tell me about yourself.”

She gave him a few highlights, explaining about being a chef, her marriage and subsequent divorce and her move back to Georgetown.

“You don’t want to tell me about your ex?” he asked.

“There’s not much to tell.”

Ellington didn’t say anything. He simply watched her.

“All right,” she said slowly. “He reminds me of you a little.”

“Ouch.”

She smiled. “You don’t look alike. But you’re both...charming.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“It turned out to be with him. I’ve always been creative with my cooking. At first he encouraged that, but in the last couple of years he seemed more interested in making me feel like I wasn’t good enough.” She shook her head. “The worst part wasn’t what he did, it was that I believed him.”

He reached across the table and touched her hand. “We often tend to believe the people we love. Even when they’re wrong.”

“I hadn’t thought of it that way, but you’re right. So now I have to figure out where I left my confidence and start trying things again. I’ve been taking a few very small risks. Our dinner was one. It’s strange, in the past couple of weeks, I’ve felt my experimental side returning.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Maybe that’s because Serenity is around.”

“Why would you say that?”

“She’s very creative, you’re a lot like her. Maybe having her show up jolted you out of a rut.”

“I was just getting my store up and running when Serenity and Tom arrived,” she mused.

“Interesting timing. Trust the Force.”

As soon as he said the words, his expression froze. Jenna blinked at him.

“The Force?”

Oh, God. First Serenity with the universe and now Ellington with the Force? She found herself glancing toward the exit.

He cleared his throat. “Sorry. I’m a huge Star Wars fan. I had the lunch box and everything when I was a kid. Isaiah has seen the first movie with me and we’ve been playing with our light sabers, so it’s on my mind.” He looked completely humiliated. “When I said ‘huge fan’ I meant I like the movies. I don’t have costumes or think there really is an Empire.”

She relaxed, finding the confession more charming than scary. And seeing the somewhat perfect Ellington squirm didn’t hurt, either.

“Light sabers?”

“Toys. They’re toys.”

“Do they make the noises?”

He sighed, as if surrendering to the inevitable. “Sure. Otherwise, where’s the fun?” He stared at her. “Do you think I’m an idiot?”

“I think you’re a lot less like my ex-husband than I realized.”

“That’s good, right?”

“Very good.”

They smiled at each other.

He cleared his throat. “Now what were we talking about before I stuck my foot in my mouth?” He paused. “Serenity and Tom.”

Jenna would rather have talked Star

Wars, but okay.

“You know they’re good people, right?” he asked.

“I do,” she admitted. “At first I resented her. I have a family, I wasn’t looking for more parents. But my mom—” She paused. “I know Serenity is your client or patient or whatever, so don’t take this wrong, but the woman who raised me will always be my mom.”

“Fair enough.”

“My mom thinks I should get to know Serenity and Tom. That my connection to them is important.”

“She sounds very wise.”

“I think so, which means I’m listening. Maybe Serenity isn’t as strange as I first thought. I can see she’s a lovely person, but she’s nothing like me.”

“You have a lot in common with her.”

“That’s the second time you said that.” Jenna wrinkled her nose. “I cook with butter, eat meat and the universe has never once sent me a message. Or the Force.”

He laughed. “I was thinking you shared other characteristics. You look alike.”

“True.” At least she knew she would age well.

“You’re both caring, nurturing people.”

“I don’t nurture,” Jenna protested.

“The act of cooking, of feeding people, is nurturing by its nature. Food is life.”

“I think you’re taking my work a little too seriously.”

“Or you’re not taking it seriously enough.” He mitigated the intensity of the words with a smile. “Appreciate the gift you bring.”

“Now you do sound like Serenity.”

“Occupational hazard.” He took her hand in his. “Have I totally scared you away?”

“No,” she said honestly. “You’ve intrigued me. You’re full of contradictions. And, according to Serenity, you give a great massage.”

He chuckled. “You’ve already had a sample of that.”

“I have and I’m surprised you have time to do anything else in your day. I would think your massage clients would keep you busy.”

“I don’t usually offer massage to my clients,” he said, releasing her hand.

“Really?”

“Serenity’s a special case.” He hesitated for a second. “What with her being from out of town and a temporary client.”

Before she could ask anything more, the server returned with the bread basket.

“Is it hard for you to eat out?” he asked, leaning toward her and speaking quietly. “Are you thinking about how you’d do it better?”

“I try not to,” she admitted. “Eating out is fun and I don’t want to lose that by being critical.”

“Sort of like me taking an over-the-counter pain reliever for a headache.”

She turned to him, pretending shock. “You don’t.”

“Sometimes.”

“What would your patients say?”

He laughed. “They’d be appalled. Can I convince you to keep my secret?”

She found herself getting lost in his blue eyes again.

“Maybe,” she said, trying to sound casual. “For a price.”

“A woman who negotiates. I like that.”

Which was good, because she was quickly beginning to realize that there were many things that she liked about him.