Love, French Toast, and Bacon

By G. Whitman

Living alone is fine, but cooking for one sucks. Kelly took a cooking class to get new recipes and ideas. Brian is just tired of peel back lid microwave cooking. Paired together in the cooking class, they create great food together.

There’s an attraction, but previous bad ending relationships makes them cautious and needing to play it safe before embarking on something together. As their relationship starts to turn serious, Brian’s job requires he leave for a few months.

They think their relationship is strong enough to deal with the situation. Until Brian’s ex-girlfriend makes a play and wants Brian back, leaving Kelly to deal with the ex-girlfriend on her own.

**For Mature readers due to language and sexual content.**

• Language: English
• Publisher: G. Whitman
• Release date: Sep 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781536564075

G. Whitman

I believe in Happily Ever After. I'm always looking for the silver lining and hope to find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I find life absolutely hysterical sometimes and try not to take myself too seriously. I also love watching sports- football, hockey, baseball. I read romance, but I also love a good mystery thriller. You can email me at [e-mail]

Book preview

Chapter 1

There wasn’t a whole lot to do in February in New England. Not unless you liked shoveling snow. Skiing was definitely not Kelly’s thing. So when Georgia suggested they take a cooking class at the local community college, Kelly jumped at something to do to pass the time.

Kelly thought herself a decent cook. She could follow a recipe. Her friends liked what she cooked when she had small gatherings. Maybe it was time to branch out and try something new. Learn some more inventive foods and make up her own recipes.

Of course, she was going to kill Georgia when Kelly next saw her in the office. Georgia was conveniently out of town the next two weeks, and the first class was tonight. Kelly convinced herself not to go, but the class was prepaid, with no refunds. She decided at the last minute to attend the class. Kelly hoped she wouldn’t be late.

She made it with five minutes to spare and was met at the door by the instructor. Kelly thought she looked nice, if looks meant anything.

Hello. I’m Chef Brandt.

Kelly took her outstretched hand. I’m Kelly Harper.

Well, Kelly, we are working in twos, and I have everyone else paired up.

My friend Georgia was supposed to be here.

Georgia called me two weeks ago to let me know her schedule prevented her from attending. I do have another student I’m waiting on. I’ll partner the two of you, if that’s okay? Chef Brandt gave her a smile.

No problem.

So Georgia called the instructor two weeks ago. Damn her. She was going to kill Georgia. Her friend was always trying to get her to meet new people. Taking the class and then conveniently bowing out.

The last blind date she went on was a complete disaster, and Georgia felt guilty about the match. Somehow and in some way, all her friends were bound and determined to find Kelly a man. Like all their relationships were going well. Not. For now, Kelly thought, she was fine by herself. Good things would happen when they would happen. Georgia’s retort was nothing could happen if she didn’t mingle and meet some people. Kelly would call her mother later. For some reason, her mom and her friend might be in cahoots.

The work stations were interesting. A small two-burner stove and oven at one end, a sink at the other end, and a flat space in between. Two high stools to sit on.

Kelly hung up her coat on a peg and was glad she decided on leaving a purse at home. Her ID and a credit card in one pocket and her keys in another. She put on the chef’s apron that lay on one of the stools.

Then he walked in. All out of breath like he’d been running, and his hair all tousled. Kelly remembered thinking his hair color was almost the same as hers. A deep brown she liked to call just a shade off black. Other than her own family, the guys she met were usually black, brown, or blond. Never a color like hers.

With a minute to spare, Mr. Rivers. Chef Brandt nodded and grinned at him. She put a hand in Kelly’s direction. You’ll be paired with Ms. Harper.

Thanks, he said with a smile and walked over to the table. He put on the apron. Hi, I’m Brian, he directed to Kelly.

I’m Kelly.

I’m sorry you’re stuck with me, but my friend ditched at the last minute.

My friend ditched me too, and I don’t consider this being stuck. We’ll call it...  a way to make a new friend.

He smiled brighter. I like your positive attitude.

Why did Kelly think this was a fortuitous situation? Georgia planned this all along.

You don’t happen to have a friend named Georgia by chance? Kelly asked Brian.

No. Why?

Just wondering.

Brian thought for a second. Wasn’t Rob seeing someone with a similar name? He’d always thought Rob called her Georgie. Close enough.

Chef Brandt began. This course is not a structured class. The reason for having you fill out a questionnaire ahead of time is I want to do what you want to do. If you continue in cooking classes, then pick something specific. This is introductory. Get a feel for the food. Don’t be afraid to screw up. If it tastes like shit, we throw it out. The class chuckled. I hope not everybody makes something that tastes like shit on the same day. I’d like to taste something in every class.

The first task was to learn chopping of vegetables without losing or nicking any fingers. Start slow, Chef Brandt told them. Speed came with repetition.

With various vegetables chopped, Chef Brandt asked each them to work together and make a small salad. The number of ingredients were limited to five and to make a dressing.

I know salads, Kelly said to Brian. I want to think outside the box a little. Are you okay with that?

No problem. You know salads, so we’ll go with what you think. He smiled. Later you may have to trust my judgment on something else.

Deal. Her grin was broad. I’d like to use cabbage instead of lettuce.

More the slaw route. Okay. Add carrot and red onion for color?

I like it. I think radishes work. Maybe asparagus?

Let’s try it.

They gathered the ingredients and worked on presentation. They decided everything mixed except for the asparagus. They would be crossed on the top. A cider vinegar and oil dressing rounded out their plate.

Wow, Chef Brandt commented before she tasted anything. This is going to be an interesting class. I walked around watching every group. It all looks good.

The chef walked around to every group tasting and making comments. It was fun to hear what the other groups used. Kelly quickly took notes for herself. She loved different salads.

So, Kelly. What is your goal in taking this class? Brian interrupted her thoughts as they were waiting their turn with the chef.

Maybe putting together different kinds of foods. She shrugged. I like cooking for people. I want to make sure all the pieces go together. And you?

To stay alive.

What?

He grinned. My roommate did all the cooking. He moved out a few months ago. I’m beginning to hate pre-packaged foods.

I know what you mean.

Do you want to get a cup of coffee when we’re all done here?

Can we make that a hot chocolate?

Or a drink?

Drinks were a date. Hot chocolate was conversation. This Kelly could handle.

I’d like to stick to hot chocolate.

Drinks were too fast. More like a move. Brian wasn’t ready either, he surmised. Hot chocolate it is.

There was a twenty-four hour coffee shop down the street from where the class was held. It was easier to walk rather than drive. Kelly and Brian sat across from each other sipping hot chocolate.

The chef liked our salad, Kelly began.

She liked all the salads. He raised an eyebrow. Salads are tough to screw up.

True. That might have been the plan.

Give us confidence from the get go.

Probably. Silence. You had a roommate and now you’ve decided to live alone?

I’ve never lived alone before. Wanted to see what it was like.

And?

It’s weird. He paused. I’m the oldest of three. I have a sister and a brother. They were always hanging on my leg growing up. My roommate in college was also my roommate when we finished grad school. Both of us graduated in December. He took a job in Colorado.

Brian paused and took a breath before continuing. I do research for Biotech firm in Cambridge. I started as an undergrad intern. They hired me as I finished my graduate work.

Good for you. You said your roommate did all the cooking. You never learned?

Didn’t have to. In college I was on the meal plan. When we got an apartment, he knew how to cook. I’m not fussy, so I ate pretty much everything he made.

Kelly chuckled. Fortuitous.

One could say that.

What was his major? Cooking?

Same as mine. His parents were ‘let’s have the whole family involved in cooking’ kind of people. That’s how he learned. Brian looked at Kelly. Enough about me.

My turn. I’m a commercial loan officer at Green Trust Bank. I had a roommate as well, but she got married. I’ve lived alone for about three years.

How do you like it?

"It took some getting used to. Sometimes it was nice to have someone there to talk to. Now, I