Landon pulled open the door and the most delicious smell assaulted him. His mouth watered and his stomach let out a pitiful growl. The chaos that greeted him only added to his confusion. The house was a mess. Disaster area didn’t cover the enormity of destruction. Empty boxes and Styrofoam had been discarded randomly and littered the counters and the floor. Dishes filled the table. Some appeared new and unused, and others were filled with cooling baked goods. There were plates of pastries, meats, and various vegetables, some burned and some not, but they all looked as if they had been sitting there awhile.
He stuck his head inside the kitchen to see a short brunette standing next to Robert. She’d been spared from whatever had exploded in the kitchen, her khakis, white short-sleeved shirt, and apron all clean and well-kept. Robert, on the other hand, was filthy from his loafers to his T-shirt, including the apron he wore. Puffs of something saucy splattered his face, and his hair was an absolute mess.
“He should be home soon. This needs to be finished,” Robert said, his whole concentration resting on the stockpot on the new stove he had purchased earlier in the week and had installed yesterday.
“Concentrate on this, Robert. Don’t rush it, and don’t lose your attention. Timing is key with most things. It’s why the others failed today. You need to find the patience of the surgeon you are.” Her voice was wise with instruction and had a thick French accent.
“I think this is overly complicated. It seems like it could be made easier,” Robert said, his brow knitted as he stared at whatever he stirred.
“Of course, coq au vin can be made simpler, but then it wouldn’t have this taste.”
Landon stood in the opening of the kitchen, watching her dip then lift a spoon to Robert’s mouth. He took the taste, his hand steadily stirring, and he looked relieved, moving the pot off the burner.
“Do you see the difference between cutting corners and preparing the dish as it was intended?”
“It’s very good.” Robert’s gaze suddenly shifted to Landon. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
“When I offered to do the dishes, I’m not sure it covered all this,” he said teasingly, lifting his hands wide enough to encompass the multiple rooms of mess. Any tension he had sensed in Robert eased as the always relaxed and composed man glanced around, maybe for the first time, to see the disaster zone around him.
“We’ve been in here since right after you left. I think I’ve finally gotten something right. Come taste,” Robert said and reached for a clean utensil from the open drawer beside the oven. Robert dipped the spoon inside the pot and lifted it. “Come on. It’s good.”
Landon stepped into the circle of the two and opened his mouth, eager to taste the dish Robert worked so hard to master. When the spices and perfect flavor combination hit his tongue, he closed his eyes to savor the divine taste. He opened to see two expectant stares waiting on his review. He didn’t have to pretend at the greatness of the concoction. His eyes grew wide as he chewed the bite down. “That’s incredible. What is it?”
“Coq au vin or translated to rooster in wine. You must be the mysterious Landon he keeps referring to.” She lifted her hand to shake Landon’s. Her clasp was warm and friendly and lasted a second or two longer than normal. “I’m Helene Hermes.”
“Landon Russo.” She had a way about her that he instantly liked. “It’s delicious. Are you eating rooster?” he asked Robert and leaned over to grab a new spoon for another bite when Robert must have mistaken his advancement for a kiss. There was no hesitation. Robert kissed him as if there was no one else in the room. His heart fluttered at the bold gesture. Now the delicious meal was runner-up to the man staring at him with a twinkle in his eyes.
“No, but I’ve had little tastes here and there. We’ve been at it all day. I wanted to make you something special, but I’m not sure there’s much edible out there,” he explained, cocking his head toward the table full of food.
“Nonsense.” Helene had the same forceful tone his Master Sergeant always used. “You have the talent I suspected. No son of Kane Adams would lack talent. We just need to hone your skill.” Helene stepped back and untied her apron. “Starting tomorrow, we’ll begin breaking you of your bad habits with better control of the basics like keeping the precious ingredients inside the cookware, not on you,” she teased, eyeing Robert’s complete state of utter destruction. Robert looked down at himself before giving Landon his charming grin again.
“She gives a compliment then takes it away. We made homemade egg noodles—” Robert said to Landon before Helene cut him off.
“Not my choice for such a dish as coq au vin,” she said with a tsk, and Robert interrupted her as she did him.
“I thought you”—Robert lifted a hand, his palm running down the length of Landon’s arm—“would like the noodles with your Italian upbringing, and you’re who we were cooking for. Which was technically today’s lesson: know your audience.” Robert got an arched brow and another tsk, tsk from Helene who went for the edge of the counter where her purse sat. “Let me walk her out, and I’ll be back.”
The camaraderie between Helene and Robert showed they had known and appreciated one another for years. Of course, his dick noticed Robert’s playful yet take-charge tone, along with his sweet teasing and gentle caresses as he looked over the kitchen and thought about Robert’s confession. This whole state of disarray was with the sole intention of pleasing him. Oh man, he was so fucked. Robert made him feel cared for, special, and wanted. Landon reached
