Chapter Thirteen
Liam
I’m glad Frederich came in when he did. Olivia opened up for a moment, then almost immediately pulled back. I could feel it the moment she yanked her hand back from the piano. It was like she’d been burned.
I know she lost her mom early on, but never really knew what it meant to her. I can’t imagine how I’d feel if my own mother passed away. I’d be sad, obviously, but beyond that… Well, nothing comes to mind. My mom and I don’t have the kind of warm fuzzy relationship most might assume.
Frederich sets dinner on the terrace. In the center of the round table are a white tea candle and a centerpiece made with white and pink sweet peas from the garden.
He wasn’t kidding about the sea bream with French tarragon sauce.
He only makes it when he wants to show off because the sauce is to die for.
He serves it with haricots verts, fingerling potatoes and a simple green salad with light lemon vinaigrette.
A home-baked baguette with room-temperature Bordier butter on an elegant mini plate completes the menu.
A chilled bottle of Meursault is already breathing on the table and the sound system plays soft jazz.
With the balmy air and the sun now on the horizon and turning the sky a burnt orange, I couldn’t ask for a better setting for a first dinner with my wife.
Actually, it’s our first meal together, period.
Himeko was nice, but it was more like an easy date, nothing serious, just me trying to cheer her up.
We had pizza together a few times in college, but those were working meals because we met for group projects for financial modeling.
Plus there were other students in our group.
Now, she isn’t just in my home—she’s in my life, with a proper social status that nobody can overlook.
She says it’s only for some months, but there’s nothing in the contract saying we have to get divorced.
I intend to give her a vision of the life we can have together and convince her to stay, starting now.
I’m sure I can change her mind. Although my parents called me superfluous, I think I’m pretty likable.
Exhilaration uncoils inside me, spreading all the way to my heart. My head starts to feel light, like I’m already drunk, even though I haven’t had a drop of alcohol yet.
I pull out a chair for her. The sea breeze plays with her hair and caresses her radiant face. Her soft lips are curved into a smile as she gazes at the ocean and the elegant meal.
I take a seat and serve her some wine.
“Did you choose the wine?”
I shake my head. “Frederich did.” I let him handle tonight’s dinner. He’s never failed any of us.
“He must be a connoisseur,” she murmurs, looking at the label.
“He knows everything. And everyone. It’s his job. I mean, technically he’s our parents’ butler, but he’s been taking care of all the Kingswood properties and residences since before we were born.”
Olivia blinks. “Wow. So…did I pass the test?”
“With flying colors. He likes you.” He’d like any woman who can make one of us brothers happy. Unlike Grandmother, who mainly cares about how blue the bloodline is.
Olivia smiles. “Good. I like him too. He seems very grounded. So did you make any of the items on the table?”
“Nope. Safer that way. Apparently, my cooking isn’t fit for human consumption. I say it can’t be harder than turning boring carbon into pretty diamonds in the lab, but everyone disagrees.” I give her a mock pout.
She chuckles, the sound surprisingly relaxed and triumphant…then suddenly stops. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re…thinking about something deep.” She narrows her eyes. “Are you plotting something behind my back?” Her voice is teasing, but her eyes are a little too focused.
“No.” I laugh. “I was thinking about that time back in college when our model crashed. You remember? The one we made for the AT&T project?”
She makes a face. “Oh my God, don’t remind me. That was horrible. If we hadn’t been able to recover the data, I might’ve sued Microsoft.”
“I would’ve joined you and called Jeremiah.”
She laughs. “Lucky them, our models never crashed again.”
“Can’t have those engineers get in the way of getting an A.”
“Nope. I’m glad none of the other projects we did together suffered midnight crashes.” She grins, then looks down at the Rubedo on her finger. “Anyway, don’t let a lack of culinary skill drag you down. Your diamonds are stunning.”
“I also look awesome flexing my forearms while serving food.” I turn my cuffs up and flex for her benefit.
Interest glints in her eyes.
“Ten out of ten?”
“Do that again. In case I missed something.”
Laughing, I flex and move my arms so she can see them better.
“Yup, ten out of ten.” Her eyes sparkle with good humor. “That more than makes up for the lack of cooking skills.”
“Thought so.” I grin.
Her answering bright smile hits me square in my heart like another of Cupid’s arrows. My mind goes blank.
She takes a bite of the sea bream. Her eyes light up with approval. “Wow. Frederich’s cooking is up there, too.”
“The man is gifted.”
“Mmm.” She sighs wistfully.
“What is it?”
“Trying to think of the last time I was treated to such a brilliantly put-together homey dinner.”
“You didn’t have one after…you know,” I say, trying to be circumspect about her pain.
She laughs wistfully. “You can say ‘after your mother passed away.’ I’m not that fragile.” She sniffs. “Deena isn’t exactly the most thoughtful person, to put it mildly. She served deviled eggs and Korean mandu at the latest formal brunch at the Whitmore house.”
My jaw slackens. “What?”
“I know, right? She was so proud. And she loves to serve sparkling water in champagne flutes. Says it ‘elevates’ them. With just a single cube of ice to keep them chilled, of course.”
I shudder. Good thing Frederich isn’t here to hear this, or he’d collapse in outrage. “I’m sorry.”
“Yeah. Me, too.” She eats with more enthusiasm than I expected. “This is amazing. If I’d known you had a chef this awesome, I would’ve definitely invited him to the wedding.”
Toward the end of the meal, Frederich places a narrow ceramic tray with six squares of chocolate dusted with cocoa powder and a few raspberries in front of us. “Your dessert. Enjoy.”
“What is it?” I ask. I’ve never seen these before.
“Nama chocolate, originating from Japan. My own recipe, however.” He puffs out his chest. “Use your spoon or fork, please. Don’t bite into it, just put the whole piece on your tongue.” Then he leaves as discreetly as he came.
“That looks interesting.” Olivia leans forward to study the plate. “But I’m sure it’s good.” She spoons a square and puts it into her mouth, just the way Frederich instructed. Her jaw moves as though to chew, then immediately stills, and she blinks. “Oh my God.”
“What?”
“You have to try it. This is divine.” Eyes bright, she scoops up a square and brings it to my mouth.
I open instinctively and take it onto my tongue.
It instantly begins to melt, flooding my taste buds with intense chocolate.
The texture is too soft and creamy to be ganache, but it’s incredible.
My eyes meet hers, and she flushes, like she just realized what she did.
But her chin tilts up with a hint of defiance and a so-what attitude.
“Am I right or am I right?” she says.
“You’re right. Heavenly,” I reply, my eyes still on hers.
“Better hurry or I’ll eat all the pieces.” She smirks.
“We can’t have that.” I pick up a raspberry and put it into her mouth before she can scoop up more chocolate.
She gives me a sidelong glance. “Trying to distract me?”
“You need your fruit.”
She giggles, then takes another square. I take one as well, but I’m too busy watching her to really eat. I owe Frederich a huge favor for this dessert. It’s so rare to see her let her guard down and glow the way she’s meant to.
The final square vanishes into her mouth, leaving a smear of chocolate at the corner of her lips. I lean close and kiss the spot, licking it clean.
“What…?” She sounds slightly breathless, but doesn’t pull away.
“Chocolate. Didn’t want it to go to waste,” I murmur.
Her pulse flutters in her slender throat. I pull back just slightly, but we’re still close enough to share the air.
“Time to dance, Mrs. Kingswood.”
She blinks. “Dance?”
“Every married couple ought to dance after the wedding.”
Her gaze goes to my mouth, then to my eyes. Something flashes over her face, but she finally nods. “Okay. Let’s.”