Love a la Carte

By Jeffrey Stepakoff

A romantic short story from Jeffrey Stepakoff, bestselling author of Fireworks Over Toccoa and The Orchard.

In The Orchard, Grace Lyndon is a rising ingénue in the world of perfumes and flavors; a stiletto-wearing, work-a-holic in Atlanta, she develops aromas and tastes to enthrall the senses. Dylan Jackson is a widowed single father whose heart and hands have been calloused in the fields of his North Georgia apple farm. When Grace happens to taste an apple picked from Dylan's trees, it changes both their lives forever.

In "Love A La Carte," Dylan cooks a romantic dinner for Grace, who is stuck all evening at work. By the end of the delicious evening, Grace realizes that she's beginning to fall for the handsome and caring Dylan…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
• Release date: May 31, 2011
• ISBN: 9781429936750

Jeffrey Stepakoff

JEFFREY STEPAKOFF has written for more than a dozen different television series, including the Emmy-winning The Wonder Years, Sisters, and Dawson’s Creek, for which he was co-executive producer.  Author of the acclaimed novel, Fireworks Over Toccoa, he has also developed and written plays, TV pilots and major motion pictures.  Stepakoff holds a BA in journalism for UNC-Chapel Hill and an MFA in playwriting from Carnegie Mellon.  He lives in Georgia with his wife and three young children.  His fiction is published in six languages.

Book preview

Long and slender in her tailored pencil skirt, Grace Lyndon stood on her executive desk, balancing in her fine designer heels, reaching for a burned-out light bulb in the fixture above her.

You know there are people employed here specifically to do that sort of thing, Monic said, still in her lab coat as she marched into the open door.

By the time a work request is made and someone gets around to it— Grace removed the old bulb with her fingertips and began twisting in a new one.

You’re risking your neck, you know.

I don’t like to be in the dark.

The new bulb came on.

Well, Monic said. Now we know how many flavorists it takes to change a light bulb.

Old bulb in hand, Grace jumped from the desk, knees bent, landing expertly. So you’re here to mock me?

No—to pump you for information. A mischievous grin grew on Monic’s face. About tonight. About your third date with this guy.

Stop. Grace tossed the old bulb in a garbage can and sat in the high-backed chair at her desk. It’s just dinner.

A dinner date. Monic plopped down happily on the sofa and placed her feet up on the coffee table.

A working dinner.

You’re having a lot of working time with someone who has very little to do with your work.

He owns the orchard where we’re doing some testing.

Honey, the equipment is doing the testing.

We have things to go over.

I’m sure you do.

Stop! Grace worked to convey a mature tone to her voice that suggested she was not interested in such things, but the slight flushing across her fair face gave away her thoughts.

I’m just saying.

You’re just teasing.

Hey, a farmer does not leave his orchard right before harvest unless there’s a very good reason, and a third date is a very good reason.

He’s in town to pick up supplies.

Monic raised an eyebrow, a peculiar little gesture that she reserved specifically to needle those close to her. Well, isn’t that convenient.

Why does everyone think that two human beings consuming food in each other’s presence constitutes courtship?

Single people don’t eat together unless they’re talking about sex or thinking about having sex with each other.

Laughing, Grace shook her head. Where do you get this stuff?

I’m married, and married people make a highly committed avocation out of vicariously preoccupying themselves with the dating lives of their single friends.

I see.

You didn’t think I was keeping up with the intimate details of all things Grace just because I care about you?

Grace sighed. Just think what you could accomplish if you used your powers for good.

Just keep the date and afterwards you better text me, descriptively and slowly.

Hearing stifled laughter, Grace and Monic looked up to see Grace’s assistant standing in the door.

Emma, have you met Farmer John? Monic asked.

No I haven’t, Dr. Jain. Emma knew that wasn’t his name, of course, but she knew who they were talking about and enjoyed being in on the fun.

Reviews for Love a la Carte

[mmoj_2 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Way too short, even for a short story because it didn't have a beginning middle or end. It felt like it started and then stoped and you wonder what was the point? It was a nice, easy story and probably would have enjoyed more but hesitant - is this the author's style or just formatted this way for just this ebook.