Bachelor at Her Bidding (Bachelor Auction Book 2)(29)

The more she learned about him, the more she liked him. Far from being the grumpy Parisian-trained chef who’d cooked her a birthday dinner, Ryan Henderson was sweet-natured and surprisingly gentle.

“So what kind of desserts do you like making most?” she asked.

“I like making all of them,” he said. “It’s the best feeling in the world when you see people really enjoying the food you just cooked for them, or when they call in advance to see if their favorite is on the menu today.”

“The dessert you made for me, when you blow-torched the crème br?lée – is that the kind of thing you did back in Bozeman?”

“Yes. I guess I miss experimenting,” he said. “It’s fun to play around with ingredients and see if you can mix it up a bit to make it more exciting – say making it in a different format, like a cheesecake in a verrine.”

“What’s a verrine?” she asked.

“A dessert in a shot glass,” he said. “It’s something they do in a lot of Parisian patisseries. So instead of having the crumb crust base on a cheesecake and maybe decorating the top, you have a fruit compote in the bottom of the glass, the mousse in the middle and a light crust on the top. And it’s fun to play with textures and taste, ring the changes with an old favorite to make it new and special.”

“Like your red velvet cheesecake – so the customer gets the best of both worlds?”

“That was the idea, and thankfully the customers seem to like it.” He kissed her lightly and changed the subject. “So what about you?”

“I like all of my job, too,” she said. “I decided early in my training I wanted to be a family doctor rather than work in a hospital department, because this way I get to know my patients and I get to see some of them grow up. I like actually knowing that I’m making a difference to the town.”

Being right in the heart of the community, he thought, was what he really liked himself. He and Rachel definitely saw the world from the same direction; which was odd for him because Lucille had always wanted something else. She’d never been satisfied, even when he changed his plans to fit in with hers. But Rachel – Rachel liked being in the heart of the place.

*

The following Tuesday afternoon, Susie called in unexpectedly on her way home from the stables. As she opened her front door to her sister, Rachel was guiltily aware that Ryan still looked pretty rumpled and so did she, but at least they hadn’t actually been in bed together when Susie had knocked.

Not that her sister was in the slightest bit fooled. She looked at them both and said, “So you’re seeing each other, then?”

“Susie, we’re keeping it just between us. Please don’t say anything to anyone, even Jake,” Rachel said softly.

“Sure.”

“I need to go anyway,” Ryan said, glancing at his watch. “Sorry to be rude, Susie, but I need to pick Gram up from the day care center. She’ll worry if I’m late.” He patted her shoulder awkwardly. “See you around. I’ll call you later, Rach.”

After Ryan had left and Rachel had made them both a coffee, Susie said quietly, “I know Nick hurt you, honey, but it doesn’t mean that Ryan will. I don’t see why you’re keeping it quiet.”

Rachel grimaced. “It’s just easier for both of us.”

“And you’re seeing each other when, a few snatched minutes here and there?”

“In between the end of his shift and when he needs to meet Phyllis at the day care center.”

“Which is no time at all. Honey, if you two went public, then you’d have people queuing up to sit with Phyllis and give you some real time together, not just little bits when you can,” Susie pointed out. “Everyone will be pleased for you. You’re both well liked in the town.”

“We can’t.” Rachel shook her head. “Ry feels really strongly about not dumping his responsibilities.”

“He isn’t dumping his responsibilities. We all know he gave up his career to come home and look after Phyllis, and everyone respects that. Has he ever thought that his grandmother might like a bit of different company for a change?”

“Maybe.”

“I’d be glad to sit with Phyllis, and so would Lexy and Dayna. Phyllis always was one of our favorite teachers. Han would love someone else to talk to about babies, and Lizzy would be there for both of you. You know that.”

“I’ll talk to him,” Rachel said, knowing that it was a subject where she’d be treading on eggshells. Yes, she’d love to spend more time with Ryan and she hoped that he felt the same. But it was a tricky subject and it would be better to wait until they were face to face before she brought it up – maybe when they’d been to bed together and he might be more open and receptive.

*

On Wednesday afternoon, Rachel was curled up in bed beside Ryan when she said, “Susie was saying, she’d like to visit with Phyllis.”

Where had this come from?

Ryan thought of Lucille and how she’d resented the time he spent with his grandmother. Given that Rachel had suddenly suggested visitors, could it be that Rachel was going to be the same?

He shifted away from her and sat up. “Why?” he asked coolly.

“Because your grandmother was one of Susie’s favorite teachers at school – though, yes, I admit, it’s also because she thinks it would give us a little more time together.”