Learning Curves 1 - French Cooking 101 by Olivia Rigal Read Free Book Online Page A

from her body, and she couldn’t remember why she’d ever thought going for him would be such a bad idea. Oh man, she was in trouble.  
    She let go of the spoon and parted their hands. She stepped back and said, “Now you try alone.”  
    Looking up from the mixing bowl, she realized that four out of five pairs of eyes shifted their gaze away from them. Charles was the only one still watching them. The others looked a bit uncomfortable, as if they had been forced to witness an intimate scene. Charles had an amused expression. Who knew what that man was thinking?    
    “So now you all pour your mixture in the ramekins and put them in the center of the oven. In twenty minutes, they will be ready,” she said. “While the soufflés cook, we’ll prepare the salads and the dressings. I suggest each team make a different one, and you can all taste the differences in flavor.”

    ❦

    “Lunch was scrumptious,” Charles said to Ariane, pushing away his plate and giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you!”
    “I really enjoyed the contrast between the bite of the seasoned salad and the softness of the soufflé,” commented Mary.
    “You’re absolutely right. The mellow versus tart combination makes them both more interesting,” answered George.
    “Good, I’m happy you enjoyed it,” said Ariane. “Now class is dismissed. Go take a walk, enjoy this perfect weather, and come back in two hours for the dinner preparation.”
    “Oh no,” said Jenna. “I can’t think about food anymore. I can’t eat another bite. I’m so happy we didn’t prepare anything for dessert. I don’t think I’ll ever be hungry again.”
    “That’s why we need to get out and exercise.” Thomas got up and took Jena’s hand. “Come on, let’s go.”
    Watching them rush out, Ariane wondered if they were indeed going to take advantage of the Paris scenery or rush right back to their hotel room. They were so into each other, they reminded her of a story she had read about a couple who put a coffee bean in a jar every time they made love during their first year of marriage. Then they spent their remaining years together removing one bean on each occasion without ever clearing the jar.  
    “I’m meeting Jean-Michel for coffee, but I can help you clear the table before I go,” offered Charles.
    “No, thank you. Go. I’ll be fine,” answered Ariane.
    “Then I guess we’ll go for a digestive walk,” said Mary. “Come with us, Peter. George will show us around.”
    “You’re sure you don’t need any help?” Peter asked. “I’d be happy to stay and give you a hand.”
    “Yes, I’m sure. Thank you very much,” she said, unable to look into his blue eyes for more than an instant. “It’s your vacation. You should go and take advantage of the city.” She walked them to the door and locked it behind them. She brought the curtains down and went back to work.
    In less than half an hour, she was done. She’d cleared the lunch table, loaded the dishwasher, cleaned the work stations, prepared the ingredients for the afternoon class, and set the dining table. She would have more than an hour to rest.
    She was looking around to make sure everything was ready before going upstairs. She turned off the lights and was on her way up her spiral staircase when she heard someone turning the outside door handle.  
    Then a knock on the door and Peter’s voice. “Ariane, are you there? I want to talk to you.”
    She ran up the last steps, walked into her bedroom, closed the door, and set her alarm clock to wake her up in a few minutes before the afternoon class. Lying down on her bed, fully clothed with her hair still in the working bun, she prayed for him to go away. She needed sleep. She couldn’t function without seven hours, and she had barely slept three. Peter called out one more time. She closed her eyes and fell into oblivion.

    ❦

CHAPTER TEN
Peter

    WALKING AROUND WITH HIS SISTER and her new beau had been fun for about ten