Read Chef Charming for Free Online

my humor always seems to
come out at the wrong times. Is he always so serious?”
    “No, actually, he’s really a
kind person,” Carla wanted to give her friend the most complete picture of
Marcus that she could.
    “Really?” Rori mumbled. “Could have fooled
me.”
    “Stop frowning, Aunt Wa-Ree !” Zoe was taking her
portrait drawing very seriously.
    Carla laughed at her intense daughter’s comment. “Yes, Rori, stop
frowning. Marcus is Jake’s best friend and I would think you know us well
enough that you could trust our judgment.”
    “Point taken,” Rori
admitted, casually sketching the youngster sitting across from her. “So tell me
about this Prince of a man.” Carla was amazed that Rori could hold a serious
conversation and draw so beautifully at the same time.
    “Marcus grew up in a good,
faithful family, although they are quite a bit more reserved than your family
probably is. I think it’s something in the proper British upbringing and all.
He has a younger brother Collin, a younger sister named Katie, and an older
brother, James who’s married and has a son about Zoe’s age.”
    “Nice cookbook cover
information,” Rori said wryly, “but I’d like something juicier, please.”
    “Juicier?” Carla laughed.
“Like is he dating someone? Does he like brunettes or redheads? Is he a secret
agent or in witness protection?”
    “Is he?” Rori stopped
sketching long enough to look intently at Carla . The serious look in Rori's eyes let the young mom know just how
deeply her husband's friend had affected her. But she had to be sure.
    “Is h e what?” Carla asked teasingly.
    “Dating anyone?” Rori
ventured.
    “No. He dated a little in
college from what I can remember, but not a lot since then. His standards are
high, thankfully. He loves Zoe and his nephew, and from what we see, both Jake
and I think he’ll make a marvelous father.” Carla decided to press for some
answers. “Why the sudden interest?”
    “I don’t know,” Rori said.
“I’ve tried to figure that out myself. I think it just may be that he doesn’t
seem to like me and I want to figure out why.” She seemed truly unsure of her
own motivations, so Carla back ed off even
though she suspected there was more to Rori’s motivation.
    “What else do you want to
know?” Carla asked.
    “What did he do after
culinary school?” Rori was now completely focused on
her adult conversation, and Zoe was now coloring in her picture so her
inattention was accepted.
    “He took a job as chef at a
fancy ski resort, which seemed unusual at the time,” Carla explained. “He was
close to the top of their graduating class, so the position he took was not as
prestigious as expected . But we found out
later that his mom was caring for his step-grandmother who was suffering from
Alzheimer’s disease. The assisted living complex was a couple hours away from
the resort, so it was a perfect chance for him to help out.”
    Rori was quietly trying to
take all this in . Marcus was definitely not what he appeared to be on the surface.
    “I know you don’t know all
of our history, either, but Marcus played a big role in getting me and Jake
together, too.”
    “Really?” So Chef Charming is a matchmaker, too , Rori thought.
    “Yes,” Carla was obviously
revisiting the time in her memories. “Jake went through a tough time when he
lost his dad and wouldn’t have made it without Marcus. Jake had turned into a hotheaded ruffian. Marcus’s
prayers and friendship were what brought him out of that dark time. It was
right after that that he introduced me to Jake.”
    Rori was quiet . There was really nothing she could
say. Carla set the plate of lunchmeat and cheese out. They were going to
have gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, apparently. Rori just then noticed how
much food was on the platter.
    “Expecting company?” Rori
asked at the same time she heard the front door open . Marcus followed Jake into the kitchen. He was
startled to see her