Read Online Written in the Stars by Luann McLane - Free Book Online Page A

Southern food...well, I use the term
food
loosely.”
    â€œA delicacy, you mean.”
    He gave her that killer grin again. “If you say so. Have at it. But in reality pork rinds are low-­carb and not as unhealthy as you might imagine.”
    â€œI feel a tad better, then, not that it would matter in the end. Do you fancy one?” She held a fat, curly pork rind up to him in polite offering.
    â€œNo, thanks.”
    â€œWait—­are you only into healthy food?” From the looks of him Grace could believe it. He appeared as solid as a rock. She’d like to squeeze one of those biceps to find out—­oh yes, she would.
    Mason hesitated and then said, “No, not really. But craft beer pairs well with certain meals, much like wine, so I’ve become a bit of what Mattie calls a foodie, even though the term makes me feel silly.”
    â€œYou don’t say.”
    â€œYour turn to be surprised?”
    â€œI happen to like surprises.” She reached into the bag for another pork rind. “So can you cook too?”
    â€œSure can.” Mason nodded. “I honed my skills over a campfire. I can cook anything from beef stew to brownies.”
    â€œSeriously? Brownies? I can barely manage s’mores. Oh, now I want one. So how is it that you’re such a proficient campfire cook?”
    â€œI used to conduct overnight fishing trips, and I wanted the food to be something to remember. So, do you like to camp out?” He gave her a look that said he couldn’t quite imagine her sleeping beneath the stars.
    â€œI haven’t done a lot of it, but I did a white-­water rafting trip in West Virginia that lasted three days. I had to be pretty hardy for that.”
    â€œI’m impressed.”
    â€œDon’t be. I fell out of the raft twice.” She held up two fingers. “But I loved it...well, except for the night noises and complete darkness. When you’re a city girl, thick, black darkness can be quite scary, not that I wouldn’t give it a go again. Being a bit frightened is part of any adventure, wouldn’t you say?”
    â€œI have to agree. It’s all about the adrenaline rush.”
    â€œNo doubt! Well, I’m certainly impressed by your campfire cuisine.”
    â€œAfter mastering a campfire, cooking in the kitchen is a breeze. How about you?”
    â€œNot so breezy.” Grace really didn’t want to explain that she’d grown up with a cook in the house. Her mother enjoyed cooking but didn’t have the time. Of course, Grace could have been like Sophia and watched meals being prepared, but Grace was always too antsy to sit around the kitchen island for any length of time. “I’m always on the move, so I never really put much effort into fixing my own meals. Why cook when you can unwrap a cheeseburger?”
    Mason made a face.
    â€œOh, stop. Fast food is a guilty pleasure, but I know my way around fine cuisine.” She tilted her head. “But in truth, what I love the most is discovering hole-­in-­the-­wall restaurants that serve up amazing local dishes. Getting lost in the middle of nowhere has its rewards.”
    â€œWine and Diner up on Main Street serves up comfort food with a gourmet twist. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the menu there.”
    â€œSounds lovely.” Grace nodded, hoping he might offer to take her there, but he started walking toward the office again.
    â€œThe food is really delicious. It used to be Myra’s Diner, you know, Southern comfort food like pot roast and meat loaf.”
    â€œChicken-­fried steak? Mashed potatoes?”
    Mason nodded. “The best.”
    Grace groaned. “Stop, you’re killing me. So the diner changed hands?”
    â€œSort of,” he said, while looking through some notes on the desk. “When hard times hit, Myra’s niece came back from Chicago, where she was a chef at some big-­time restaurant