Jake called to them from over the fence. “We have coffee and another of Bella’s creations here, Cory. That’s if you’re done with the ball skills lessons.”
At the promise of more to eat, he ignored the ball. “What is that stuff?” Cory wandered over to the table and chairs on the porch facing the lake and poked at the plate beside the coffee cups.
“That stuff is rose and pistachio bark with a sprinkling of black salt.” Bella picked up a large slab and broke it into smaller pieces, handed one to Cory. “Try it. Tell me what you think. I want to put it in the new cookbook I’m working on but I wasn’t too sure of the taste combinations.”
Cory took it, sniffed it and shrugged his shoulders. “Here goes nothing.” He threw it into his mouth and started chewing.
Bella watched his face as he got the flavors on his tongue. From skeptical to wow, his face changed as the different elements exploded. With a sigh of pleasure, he swallowed.
“It looked like it tasted good. Tell us what you think, Cory.” She glanced at Jake, saw the movement of his throat.
He stood with his hands waving, trying to find the words. “That is amazing. Kind of like, I don’t know how to explain it. Kinda like a garden in your mouth but not. The chocolate is a bit bitter but it makes the flower petals taste like, wow. Just wow. I didn’t think you could eat flowers. And then there’re the nuts. I didn’t know I even liked them. And the aftertaste of salt, really gives it a punch I wasn’t expecting.”
Bella hugged him, overwhelmed with his review. “I couldn’t ask for a better answer.” She ruffled his hair, squeezed his shoulders. Cory slung a casual arm around her, leaned into her warmth. “I think we’d all better have some before Cory steals the plate and hides it in his room.”
Chapter Eight
“I can’t let you pay for this, Bella. It’s too much.” Mari ran her fingers over the edge of the shiny new stove. It’d taken Russell only four days to get it arranged and delivered to Cherry Lake. It paid to have friends in high places who could pull strings to get something in a hurry.
“Don’t make such a fuss. I couldn’t let you pay for something I needed, could I? Besides, I can write it off on my taxes because, without it, I can’t do the work I need for the book. Talking of which, I really need to knuckle down before the photographer gets here. He’s making noises about coming out and making a start and I’m so not ready for him yet.”
“He’s really coming here to do it?”
“Yep.” She looked around the kitchen, happy now that it was arranged in a way that suited her and her cooking style. Mari hadn’t blinked at the changes she’d made. If anything, she’d looked relieved that someone had taken over and done the work. The cleaners Jake suggested had made the walls and fittings gleam again. It was almost like stepping into a new kitchen. “I should have asked you first but do you really mind if we do some photo shoots in here? It could be good for the hotel and the backdrop would be visually exciting for my book. These old buildings are very popular right now. Even the paint peeling off the walls would look great with something modern and pristine in front of it.”
“Sure. I’d love it. I can always put something on the website too if you don’t mind my taking advantage of your name.”
“Of course I don’t mind. Anything I can do to help, you know that.” She looked at the notes on her clipboard. “I wonder if I can get some local advice on some other stunning places we can use too, outside preferably. By the lake or in an orchard will look pretty amazing. I don’t want everything to be done inside apart from a few shoots.”
“I think that’s the kind of thing you want to ask Jake. He’s lived here forever and you two seem to be rather cozy lately. I heard you had coffee together, again!” Mari leaned her hip against a table and watched Bella’s face.
Bella did her best not to blush but hearing his name made a small wave of heat roll through her. “He’s nice. He’ll be over shortly to give me the final approval to use the kitchen again for the public. It’s a requirement, he assured me.”
“Uh-huh. I bet it is too. Jake’s very methodical when it comes to his job. Right, I have things to do. Let me know when you get the all clear to use the kitchen again. I can do up a poster to let people know we’re back in business.” Mari sauntered out and left Bella alone.
Bella ran her hands over the stove lovingly. It would be good to get stuck into the routine again. The last couple of days had her chomping at the bit. Cooking for Jake and his family wasn’t enough to keep her occupied. Her mind had wandered away from the jobs she should have been concentrating on and onto the man in question. Funny when she knew she couldn’t have something, she wanted it. Jake was out of bounds as anything more than a friend regardless of what she might think. He was easygoing, not impressed with her fame, nor did he want anything from her. It was a refreshing change. Maybe that was why she felt herself thinking of him more and more.
Bella gave herself a
