Chapter 11 #2
The timer chimed from the kitchen, breaking the moment. They returned to finish Paul’s crème br?lées, and Susan watched as he carefully torched the sugar on top of each custard until it formed a perfect amber shell.
“These are definitely going on the menu,” Susan said after tasting the one he gave her. The cardamom added an exotic warmth that complemented the vanilla custard beautifully.
“And your torte is perfect.” Paul had tried a small slice after it had chilled. “Rich but not too sweet. The dark chocolate really shines through.”
They spent the next hour finalizing their testing schedule for the remaining menu items and sketching out preliminary plans for the BioTech events. By the time Susan packed up her equipment to leave, the winter sun was already setting, painting the sky in shades of pink and gold.
Paul helped her carry her containers to the car. The parking lot was empty except for their two vehicles, and the air had grown colder. Susan’s breath created small clouds in the frosty air as she arranged her supplies in her truck.
“Thank you again,” Paul said, standing closer than necessary. “For everything. For waiting when I was late, for agreeing to help with BioTech, and mostly for being someone I can count on.”
Susan closed the passenger door and turned to face him. “That’s what friends are for.”
But the word “friends” hung in the air between them, inadequate for what was developing. Paul’s expression softened, and he reached out to brush a strand of hair from her face. His fingers lingered near her cheek, warm against her cold skin.
“Susan,” he said quietly.
She looked up at him, her heart racing. The setting sun cast golden light across his face, highlighting the silver in his hair and the warmth in his dark eyes. For a moment, the world narrowed to just the two of them standing in the parking lot.
Paul’s hand moved from her cheek to gently cup her face. “I keep finding reasons to spend time with you,” he admitted. “And I don’t think it’s just about the menu anymore.”
“No,” Susan agreed softly. “I don’t think it is either. I like you, Paul.”
“I like you too, Susan.”
He leaned in slowly, giving her time to step away if she wanted. But Susan didn’t move. When his lips met hers, the kiss was gentle, tentative, and full of promise. When Paul’s other hand came up to cradle her face, she closed her eyes, savoring the moment.
When they finally pulled apart, Paul rested his forehead against hers. “I’ve been wanting to do that for weeks,” he confessed.
“I’m glad you did.” Susan’s voice was barely above a whisper. Her hand found Paul’s. “What’s happening between us could be complicated, especially if we’re working together.”
“Probably,” Paul agreed.
Susan frowned. “We’ll both make mistakes.”
Paul smiled. “Definitely.”
“And we’re both terrified.”
“That’s true.” Paul pulled back just enough to meet her eyes. “But I’m more scared of not telling you how much you mean to me. You’re an amazing person, Susan, and I’d like to spend a lot more time with you.”
Susan squeezed his hands. “Me too. So we try. We work on the menu and the Christmas events, and we see where this goes. We won’t make any promises we can’t keep. All we need is to be honest and be there for each other.”
“Especially when it’s difficult,” Paul said as he hugged her close. “That’s when it matters the most.”
Susan stood in the shelter of Paul’s arms, not wanting to break the magical spell surrounding them.
Finally, Paul stepped back. “We’ll get frostbite if we stand out here for much longer.”
Susan sighed. “I should go home. I still have to prepare for tomorrow’s cooking class.”
Paul kissed her cheek. “Drive safely and text me when you get home.”
“I will.” Susan reluctantly let go of his hand. She climbed into her truck and waved to Paul after she’d reversed out of her parking space.
As she drove home along the darkening lakeshore, Susan touched her fingers to her lips, still feeling the warmth of Paul’s kiss. Everything had changed in the parking lot, and yet somehow it felt like the most natural progression in the world.
She thought about second chances and new beginnings, about lace dresses, and friendships found in the unlikeliest of places. She thought about Paul’s gentle hands and his grandmother’s French cooking, about cardamom and dark chocolate, and all the ways people showed care through food.
But mostly, she thought about the way Paul had looked at her before he kissed her—like she was something precious he’d been waiting his whole life to find.
Maybe, she thought as she stopped in her driveway, this was exactly where she was supposed to be. Not rushing toward anything, but allowing something real to develop at its own pace. And now, that something had blossomed into a first kiss under the Montana sunset.
Susan gathered her things and headed inside. She pulled out her phone and sent Paul a quick text: Home safe. Thank you for today. For everything.
His response came almost immediately: Thank you for saying yes. To BioTech, and to everything else. Sleep well, Susan.
She smiled at the screen, reading between the lines of his message.
Tomorrow she’d email Paul and ask him to send her a copy of the menus for the BioTech events.
And after that she’d finish Lynda and Matt’s menu, pre-order the ingredients she’d need, and continue building this new life, one careful step at a time.
But tonight, she’d simply sit by her window and remember the warmth of Paul’s embrace, the way he’d held her face in his hands, and when everything had shifted between them with a single, perfect kiss.