Twist (Siren Publishing Allure) by Kat Barrett Read Free Book Online

the taste. “That is absolutely delicious.”
    Lee nodded, a pleased smile on his face. “I love cooking.”
    Cutting into her waffle with her fork, she braved the question on her tongue. “Could you teach me how to make these? My waffles are good, but not like this.”
    “You know how to cook?”
    “I get by. I make a killer lasagna, with a cheesecake chaser.”
    “There is no way that your cheesecake is better than mine. What do you put in your lasagna?”
    “I start with a layer of homemade, organic, free-range meat sauce. I use gluten-free noodles with one layer of organic spiced ricotta cheese, a second layer with the meat sauce, and a third layer with shredded organic mozzarella. I cover each layer with sauce and bake it slowly, for at least an hour. I like to make it the night before and reheat it the next day. It always tastes better after the flavors have blended. My cheesecake is thick enough to hold a fork, with a slight lemon kick and just sweet enough so you don’t have to stop after the first piece.”
    Enar chuckled. “I guess she told you. I think you should have a cook-off and I can be the judge,” he said with a toothy smile.
    Lee ignored him. “What kind of spices in the ricotta?”
    “Parsley, garlic, sea salt, maybe some fresh ground pepper and or a little dill. It depends on my mood and who I’m making it for. My grandchildren are not big on pepper.”
    “Sounds good. I think you should make it for us. Give me a list of ingredients and I will pick up what I don’t have in the house. I get sick of my own cooking. Enar doesn’t cook much.”
    Enar stuck a forkful in Lana’s mouth. “I do, too. I know how to cook. You just do it better. I raise the vegetables to cook with, don’t I?”
    “Yes, you do.”
    Lana gave Enar a square of her waffle, amused by the exchange. It turned out to be the perfect breakfast, and she took it upon herself to wash the dishes and leave them drying in the drainboard.
     
    * * * *
     
    They were on the road an hour later, and Lana assumed that Enar was heading back to her house. She had no idea where she was, but when he pulled up in front of Hall’s Salon, she frowned at him. “I thought you were taking me home. I don’t have any clean clothing and you shredded my underwear.”
    “I know.” He got out of the car and walked around, opening the door for her. Lana slid out and he took her hand, leading her inside.
    The woman at the front desk smiled. “Good afternoon, Mr. Manard.”
    “Good afternoon, Beth. Can you do me a big favor and give the lady the works? I will be back in about an hour and a half.”
    Beth nodded and smiled at Lana. She motioned to two women who were talking on the other side of the shop, and one of them walked over. “Hi, I’m Olive.”
    “Hi. Lana.”
    Enar smiled and gave her a lusty kiss. “I’ll be back.”
    She watched him go. Olive chuckled. “Wow. Want to trade?”
    “Trade what?”
    “Trade boyfriends. He is so hot. Where is he taking you?”
    “I don’t know. Why?” Lana asked, feeling overwhelmed and under-informed as she glanced around the well-equipped beauty salon.
    “Usually if a woman gets the works, it means she is headed someplace special for the evening. Come on, let’s get you started.”
    Olive motioned her into a back room, and Lana slid onto the padded, cloth-covered table. Olive wrapped her hair in a towel and turned on the steamer. “Would you like a cup of tea before I begin your facial?”
    “I would love one. Thank you. Orange with honey if you have it.”
    “Of course.” Olive went to get her tea, and Lana wondered about Enar. When Olive touched her face, Lana almost leapt from the table. “Are you okay?”
    “Yeah, I was lost in thought. I didn’t hear you come back.”
    “I put your tea on the table so it can cool a bit. Do you have any preference?”
    “Preference for what?”
    “We carry both organic and standard therapies, which do you prefer?”
    “Organic please.”
    Olive