her kitchen. Tabby found herself following. “I don't. I go for tall, leggy, smooth, coco skinned, beauties who lately, have a habit of shooting me down."
"Maybe you're losing your touch?” Yeah right.
"It's not the ninth inning yet, Slugger. I still have time."
"You're right. The games over."
"Overtime?"
"Friends,” she reminded him.
"With benefits?"
"You're not that lucky, big guy. Try again."
"I'm starting to see that. Just wanted to make sure you didn't suddenly realize a night of sweaty, no-strings-attached sex was on the menu."
"Nope, I'm sticking to pizza."
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Five
Nico started off by teaching her how to make the dough. To her surprise he didn't measure a thing. Really she shouldn't be shocked. Cooking was not only what he did for a living but obviously something he loved as well. He moved so comfortably in her kitchen. Even though he'd never cooked in it she could tell he was a professional in his natural habitat.
They put the dough aside to let it rise. He told her it would only take about three hours and while it did its thing they'd make the sauce. Nico poured chopped tomatoes in a bowl and added a little tomato paste.
Finally grabbed her measuring spoons he glanced up. “I'm going to show you how I like it. When you do it on your own you'll learn to mix, add, take away different seasonings to your taste. Right now we'll just use the Valenti special."
He measured out red wine, basil, garlic, salt, pepper and added them to the bowel with the tomatoes. Tabby watched, taking mental notes and hoping like hell she could remember.
"Wash your hands,” he told her. Tabby did and met him back at the counter.
"I want you to mix it together."
Tabby reached to pull a mixing spoon when Nico's hand suddenly grabbed hers. She felt a tingle shoot up her arm.
"No. Mix it with your hands. You need to mash the tomatoes really good."
He pulled away. Ignoring the dancing flutter in her belly she eased her hands into the bowl and began to crush the tomatoes, mixing the seasonings together. As the juices sloshed through her fingers she looked over at Nico. He watched her intently, like he was a doctor teaching her how to perform a surgery rather than a chef teaching her how to make pizza. But the fact that he took his job serious and really, truly enjoyed what he did make her respect for him grow.
A second later he eased his hands in the bowl with hers. She hated to admit it but the tingle returned with his touch. This time it settled a little south of the twitter in her stomach.
"That's it. Really get in there and smash them,” he told her.
Their hands touched, swam together in the mixture getting it just right. He didn't talk anymore, just watched her, their hands drenched in tomato sauce, pureeing what was in the bowl. “I think that's good enough,” she said breaking the moment. His eyes diverted from hers to the bowl.
"Yeah, that was a little too much to tell you the truth.” He raised his finger to her mouth. “Taste?"
She didn't know why she did it. Knew it was stupid but she opened her mouth and drew his finger inside. The sauce tasted good but the man tasted even better. Quickly she pushed his finger out with her tongue. “Tastes good.” Tabby walked over to the sink and started to wash her hands. She wanted, no needed to get a little bit of space between them.
She ran her hands under the warm water watching the red sauce drip from her fingers and down the drain. Nico stood behind her at the counter still by the bowl. She didn't have to turn around to know he watched her. She felt his eyes on her back. They'd shared a weird moment just now. A moment that felt more than friendly.
"So we can kickback and let the dough rise. Then we'll finish."
The light tone in his voice made it easier for her to turn and look at him. “Alright.” Tabby moved aside to let him wash his hands. She dried hers then passed to towel to him. After his hands were dried they both
"Maybe you're losing your touch?” Yeah right.
"It's not the ninth inning yet, Slugger. I still have time."
"You're right. The games over."
"Overtime?"
"Friends,” she reminded him.
"With benefits?"
"You're not that lucky, big guy. Try again."
"I'm starting to see that. Just wanted to make sure you didn't suddenly realize a night of sweaty, no-strings-attached sex was on the menu."
"Nope, I'm sticking to pizza."
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Five
Nico started off by teaching her how to make the dough. To her surprise he didn't measure a thing. Really she shouldn't be shocked. Cooking was not only what he did for a living but obviously something he loved as well. He moved so comfortably in her kitchen. Even though he'd never cooked in it she could tell he was a professional in his natural habitat.
They put the dough aside to let it rise. He told her it would only take about three hours and while it did its thing they'd make the sauce. Nico poured chopped tomatoes in a bowl and added a little tomato paste.
Finally grabbed her measuring spoons he glanced up. “I'm going to show you how I like it. When you do it on your own you'll learn to mix, add, take away different seasonings to your taste. Right now we'll just use the Valenti special."
He measured out red wine, basil, garlic, salt, pepper and added them to the bowel with the tomatoes. Tabby watched, taking mental notes and hoping like hell she could remember.
"Wash your hands,” he told her. Tabby did and met him back at the counter.
"I want you to mix it together."
Tabby reached to pull a mixing spoon when Nico's hand suddenly grabbed hers. She felt a tingle shoot up her arm.
"No. Mix it with your hands. You need to mash the tomatoes really good."
He pulled away. Ignoring the dancing flutter in her belly she eased her hands into the bowl and began to crush the tomatoes, mixing the seasonings together. As the juices sloshed through her fingers she looked over at Nico. He watched her intently, like he was a doctor teaching her how to perform a surgery rather than a chef teaching her how to make pizza. But the fact that he took his job serious and really, truly enjoyed what he did make her respect for him grow.
A second later he eased his hands in the bowl with hers. She hated to admit it but the tingle returned with his touch. This time it settled a little south of the twitter in her stomach.
"That's it. Really get in there and smash them,” he told her.
Their hands touched, swam together in the mixture getting it just right. He didn't talk anymore, just watched her, their hands drenched in tomato sauce, pureeing what was in the bowl. “I think that's good enough,” she said breaking the moment. His eyes diverted from hers to the bowl.
"Yeah, that was a little too much to tell you the truth.” He raised his finger to her mouth. “Taste?"
She didn't know why she did it. Knew it was stupid but she opened her mouth and drew his finger inside. The sauce tasted good but the man tasted even better. Quickly she pushed his finger out with her tongue. “Tastes good.” Tabby walked over to the sink and started to wash her hands. She wanted, no needed to get a little bit of space between them.
She ran her hands under the warm water watching the red sauce drip from her fingers and down the drain. Nico stood behind her at the counter still by the bowl. She didn't have to turn around to know he watched her. She felt his eyes on her back. They'd shared a weird moment just now. A moment that felt more than friendly.
"So we can kickback and let the dough rise. Then we'll finish."
The light tone in his voice made it easier for her to turn and look at him. “Alright.” Tabby moved aside to let him wash his hands. She dried hers then passed to towel to him. After his hands were dried they both
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