Charming Chef (River's End Ranch Book 7)

by Kelley, Pamela M.

  He tried Barbi’s number again, and it went straight to voicemail. He called and rearranged his flight, so he’d get into town a day earlier. He didn’t know what else to do. There was no way he was going to lose Barbi again.

  * * *

  Barbi hadn’t returned any of Ryan’s calls. She was too upset, after what she thought they’d had. To see him kissing Sophia in those pictures made her feel sick. But since she hadn’t returned his calls, she didn’t know if he was still planning on coming on Thursday. She figured that he’d probably forgotten all about her and had rebooked his flight to go to Chicago instead.

  So when she got home Wednesday night, her night off, after dinner with her mother, she was surprised to see an unfamiliar car in the driveway. She opened the door cautiously and stepped inside. Strangely, neither of the cats came to greet her like they usually did. The house was quiet, but something smelled amazing. She took a sniff and recognized the scent—dark chocolate and coffee.

  She made her way upstairs and stopped at the entrance to the kitchen. Ryan was there, holding a blow torch over two desserts. He put it down when he saw her.

  “Hey, there. Perfect timing. The creme brulee just came out of the oven.”

  Barbi reminded herself that she was mad at him as she fought the urge to have a bite of the sinful smelling dessert.

  “I know you’re mad at me. Sit down and have a bite of this dessert anyway. We can talk after.”

  That seemed reasonable enough. Ryan set the two desserts on the table, along with two spoons and they both sat down. Barbi picked up her spoon and cracked the hard sugar crust that Ryan’s blow torch had made by melting the sugar on top of the custard. She dipped the spoon lower and got a bit of custard along with the sugar and let it all melt on her tongue. Creme brulee was one of her favorite desserts, and Ryan’s version of it was something special with a deep coffee flavor.

  “How did you get the coffee flavor in this?” she asked.

  Ryan looked pleased by her question. “It was easy. I just passed the custard through some used coffee grounds. Instant flavor.”

  Barbi made a face. “That sounds disgusting.”

  “But how does it taste?”

  “Right.” She glared at him before asking in the frostiest voice she could manage. “So, what’s up with those pictures? Are you back with Sophia?”

  Ryan reached over and grabbed her hands. “No. Never. I should never have stayed there. There’s nothing going on with me and Sophia.”

  “But that kiss…”

  “Was completely Sophia’s doing. We were just walking into her building when she spotted some camera men and it was show time. She pulled me in and started kissing me. She totally caught me off guard and I pulled away immediately, but there was enough there that they got a good shot. I’m sorry. Truly.”

  Barbi wanted to believe him.

  “You’re still not sure?” He looked sad and upset.

  Barbi said nothing. The very idea of Sophia kissing him was too painful.

  “Come here.” Ryan took her hand and led her into the living room and onto the sofa. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, black velvet box. Barbi’s heart jumped but she was still too scared to believe it. She looked into Ryan’s eyes and waited.

  He got off the sofa and onto one knee, and then he opened the box. There was a stunning cushion cut diamond inside, bigger than Barbi had ever seen before.

  “Barbi, I swear to you, there’s no one else but you. I was too afraid to tell you the truth back then but the truth is that I loved you then and I love you now. I’ll love you always, if you’ll let me.”

  “I love you, too. I always have, and I always will.”

  Ryan slipped the ring onto her finger and then he kissed her.

  Oscar and Felix jumped up on the sofa and came over to see what all the fuss was about.

  Ryan sat back on the sofa and pulled Barbi in tight.

  “I’ve been thinking a lot these past few weeks. About how we can make this work.”

  Barbi turned to face him.

  “What are you thinking?”

  “I’m going to sell the restaurants and the Boston condo. I have an idea for a new restaurant concept and an online business possibly shipping comfort food nationwide.”

  “Really? That’s a great idea. You won’t have to travel as much, then?”

  “I won’t have to travel at all. We can live here, if you want to.”

  “I love it here. Your aunt’s house feels like home to me.”

  “To me, too. Though I think wherever you are would feel like home to me.”

  “Have I mentioned that I love you?” Barbi teased.

  “Maybe once. But I know I’ll never get tired of hearing it. Or saying it. I love you, Barbi. What do you think about eloping tomorrow?”

  Barbi laughed. “Are you serious?”

  “More serious than I’ve ever been about anything. Marry me tomorrow?”

  Barbi didn’t hesitate for even a second. “Yes, Ryan Calhoun, I’ll marry you tomorrow.”

  Epilogue

  One week later, Barbi had her mother and Sam over for Sunday dinner. She didn’t mention that Ryan was going to be there. They wanted to surprise them by telling them they were married. After they told her mother, they were going to have Ryan’s father and wife over for dinner a day or two later to tell them as well. Her mother seemed in an unusually good mood when she arrived and Sam was beaming as well. Barbi was glad that things were still going so well for them.

  Ryan made an incredible meal that they all enjoyed and once they were on dessert and coffee they shared their happy news.

  “Mom, we have some big news. Ryan and I—well, we got married!”

  “You did? When?” Her mother looked shocked.

  “Just a few days ago. We didn’t tell anyone. You’re the first to know.”

  Her mother’s eyes welled up, and she grabbed a paper napkin to dab at them.

  “Honey, that’s just about the best news ever. I’m so happy for the both of you.” She looked at Sam and he nodded as if to encourage her.

  “We have some news, too. We did the same thing, Friday morning. Went down to town hall and made it official.” She held up her hand, and Barbi saw the beautiful ring that Sam had given her. She hadn’t even noticed it earlier in the evening as she’d been so preoccupied with making her own announcement.

  Barbi gave her mother and Sam hugs. “I am so happy for both of you.” Ryan put his arms around her and she leaned into him and smiled. “I’m thrilled for all of us”

  * * *

  An hour later, when her mother and Sam had left and Barbi and Ryan were snuggled cozily on the sofa with the two cats at their feet, Ryan leaned over and kissed her tenderly.

  “I am so glad that we found our way back to each other. I finally feel like I’m at home. You are my home.” Barbi felt a happiness bigger than she ever could have imagined.

  “I love you, Ry.”

  “And I love you, Mrs. Calhoun.”

  Barbi chuckled. “Why does that make me sound like I’m eighty?”

  “Well, I’ll still love you when you’re eighty, or ninety, or even a hundred.”

  “Mr. and Mrs. Calhoun. I suppose that does have a nice ring to it after all.”

  “Come here, Mrs. Calhoun. You need to be kissed.”

  ~The End~

  Thank you so much for reading! If you liked this book, please consider joining my new release alerts list—and be the first to know about early release discounts and other special promotions and fun giveaways. Click here for new release alerts!

  Also by Pamela M. Kelley

  Six Months in Montana

  Mistletoe in Montana

  Mischief in Montana

  Match-Making in Montana

  Winter in Ireland

  The Wedding Photo (a friends to lovers romance)

  Trust (Waverly Beach Mystery Series #1)

  Motive (Waverly Beach Mystery Series #2)

  Riv
ers End Ranch series

  Veterinarian’s Vacation

  About the Author

  Pamela M. Kelley lives in the historic seaside town of Plymouth, MA near Cape Cod. She has always been a book worm and still reads often and widely, contemporary and historical romance, suspense, and cookbooks. She writes contemporary romance and suspense and you'll probably see food featured and possibly a recipe or two.

  Connect with Pam

  @pamelamkelley

  pamelakelleybooks

  www.pamelakelley.com

  pam@pamelakelley.com

  Seafood Carbonara Recipe

  So this is pretty amazing. No matter what seafood you use, scallops, shrimp, fresh lobster, it’s all good. No seafood? It’s good with chicken too, or just as is.

  Ingredients

  4 oz raw scallops

  4 oz raw shrimp

  4 oz cooked lobster (optional)

  8 oz spaghetti

  1/2 cup diced pancetta

  2 tab olive oil

  1 tab butter

  1/4 cup white wine

  4 eggs

  1/4 cup heavy cream

  1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

  Salt, pepper, and grated nutmeg to taste.

  Cook pasta until al dente, drain and set aside, reserving 1/3 cup of the cooking water

  In small bowl, beat eggs, cream and cheese together. Set aside.

  In large skillet over medium heat, add one tab olive oil and one tab butter. When butter starts to foam, add the shrimp and scallops and cook for 2 minutes, then flip and cook for 2 more. You want them a little under done. Remove from the pan and set aside.

  In the same pan, add the pancetta and reserved tab of olive oil and cook until slightly crispy. Add the wine and let it reduce by about half. Remove pan from heat.

  Add the cooked pasta, reserved water, and seafood (including lobster if you are having it) to the pan and return to the heat. Stir and cook for about two minutes until heated through and then remove from the heat.

  Add the egg and cheese mixture and stir well. Grate a dash of nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste.

  Plate and enjoy!

  Nashville Dreams Sneak Peek

  Coming in January 2017, a soapy saga about young lovers torn apart by amnesia and an evil billionaire with political ambitions.

  Laura Scott patted her stomach and snuggled against her boyfriend, Cole Dawson. He tightened his arms around her and kissed her forehead gently as the warm, Charleston breeze danced over them. They were in their favorite spot, sprawled on the soft grass and leaning against the big old oak tree that overlooked a shallow pond, where a family of swans floated by. They’d come here on their first official date, two years ago, after getting ice cream cones and strolling through the park. The old tree had beckoned to them and gave a bit of privacy as they watched people walking along the water’s edge.

  Laura sighed with happiness. On this sunny afternoon, a week after graduating from high school, she suddenly felt very adult and ready to take on the world, and was relatively sure of her place in it. She glanced down at the modest diamond engagement ring she was wearing. Cole had given it to her a few days ago, and she couldn’t stop staring at it. Her mother had been thrilled, and relieved, considering. Laura hadn’t ever really worried though, except for the initial day of panic when she learned the news and couldn’t understand how it had happened, as they’d been so careful. Her doctor explained that the antibiotics she’d been taking for an ear infection had canceled out the birth control. She and Cole had already talked about getting married though and having children. She loved kids and he said he wanted a houseful of them, though neither one of them had expected to get started quite so early. It did change their plans a bit.

  “I’ll have to let Montana State know that I won’t be attending after all. Hopefully Clemson will still let me in.” Laura was planning to be an elementary school teacher.

  “Of course they will. They did accept you. And if it’s too late for this year, you can do community college and then start up fresh in the Fall.”

  “That could work. How do you think your father will take it? Do you want me to come with you?” Laura noticed a muscle clench in Cole’s jaw and knew that he was dreading the conversation that he needed to have.

  “He’s back tonight, and we’re having dinner at the club. I thought that might be a good place to tell him. He can’t go too crazy if we’re out in public, especially there.”

  Cole’s father could be intimidating, and although she’d offered to join Cole, to support him, Laura was actually glad that she wouldn’t be there. As sure as Cole was about getting married, she knew that his father was going to give him a hard time about it. Dalton Dawson was a big deal in Charleston. No one knew exactly how much he was worth, but it was rumored to be multiple billions. He was a real estate developer with holdings all over the country. He was smart, driven, and Laura suspected, a bit ruthless. She didn’t particularly care for the man. He and Cole couldn’t be more different. Where his father was hard and ambitious, Cole was sensitive, caring and creative. His dream was to be a country music artist.

  Laura suspected that Cole took after his mother who had once been a singer too. She’d never had the chance to meet her, as she’d died a year before she and Cole started dating, but he spoke of her often and had played some of her old recordings for Laura. She had a lovely voice. She had softened his father’s edges and they’d been madly in love. When she died, six months after being diagnosed with lung cancer, his father changed. He threw himself into work even more and recently found a new focus. He was determined to be the next Governor of South Carolina. Which was another reason he wasn’t going to like their news. Dalton Dawson was a staunch Republican and conservative family values was a key part of his platform. His son knocking up a teenager who lived in a trailer park wasn’t going to go over well.

  “He’ll just have to deal with it. People have babies all the time, and at least we’re getting married. I told him over a month ago that I was going to ask you to marry me, so that won’t be a surprise.”

  Laura chuckled. “He tried to talk you out of it, I imagine?”

  “Well, yes. He said we’re too young for one thing.” Cole looked like he was going to say something else, then thought better of it and Laura imagined that his father had shared a few more reasons as to why their getting married wasn’t a good idea. He didn’t think she was good enough.

  Cole reached into his pocket and drew out a swiss army knife. He opened it and then smiled at Laura as he turned around and found the heart he’d carved into the old tree on their first date. It simply said Laura and Cole and the simple gesture had endeared him to her then. They’d seen each other almost every day since. Cole didn’t care that she lived in a trailer park, and he liked her mother. Laura and Cole were best friends, and she couldn’t imagine not having him in her life. She watched with curiosity as he carved something below their names. When he was done, he leaned back so she could see. It was a single word, in small letters so it could fit into the heart and it said, ‘Forever’.

  “There is nothing that my father can say, that will change my mind. We are getting married, as soon as possible. And then we’re going to start the rest of our life together.”

  * * *

  Laura’s mother was sitting on the patio smoking a cigarette when Cole dropped her off. He waved goodbye as Laura joined her mother and pulled up a chair. Technically where they lived was considered a mobile home, but there were no wheels. They were manufactured homes, modest, but well-kept and Laura had never minded living there. It was other people that seemed to mind, catty girls mostly, and as her mother had reminded her more than once, if they had a problem with where she lived, that said more about their own issues.

  As of a few years ago, her mother had paid off the mortgage and now owned her home free and clear. She was a tiny woman, just over five feet tall and about a hundred pounds. Unlike Laura’s hair, which was long, fine and stick straight, her mother
’s was the same sandy blonde shade, but short and wavy and she didn’t have to do a thing except run a comb through it. She also had blue eyes, a cute nose and an easy smile. She’d been beautiful when she was younger and in Laura’s opinion, still was. She looked tired today though. She worked as a waitress at a family restaurant and must have worked the lunch shift as she was still in her uniform and had a glass of chablis by her side. She enjoyed her wine and often had several glasses at the end of a long day.

  “Has Cole told his father yet?” Her mother seemed worried. She knew as well as Laura did that Dalton Dawson was not going to be happy to hear this news.

  “He’s been out of town. They’re talking tonight, at the club.”

  Her mother took a sip of wine and then a long drag on her cigarette.

  “You don’t have to get married you know. If it’s going to cause problems. You and the baby can stay here. There’s room for all of us.”

  Laura reached out and squeezed her mother’s arm. She knew that she really wouldn’t mind having them stay. In fact, she’d probably love it. Laura’s mother had been about her age when she found herself unexpectedly pregnant as well. Like Laura, she’d been in love and Richard, Laura’s father, had been in love with her too. They’d married and everything had been wonderful, until a few years later when her father hurt his back on a construction site and became hooked on painkillers. He died in his sleep one night after an accidental overdose, which her mother blamed herself for and never really got over. Richard had been the love of her life, and though she occasionally went on a date, her heart wasn’t in it. Laura worried that it might be hard for her when she moved out, and she was glad that Cole had agreed to stay in Charleston, so they would still be close to their families.