Love Starts In The Kitchen

Rebecca sat on the bar stool, holding her wine glass, as it sat on the counter of the island that separated her from the heart of the kitchen. She was watching him as he chopped the carrots for the meal he was making for her. She loved watching him. She had spent months watching him at work. He worked for her father as a construction foreman. She spent many hours, when she was on site, watching him as he gave the other workers orders, or as he himself swung a hammer or wielded some other tool. He was tall, well over six feet, well built with broad shoulders; muscled arms, which were well tattooed, and a beautiful washboard stomach. He kept his dark hair cut short. His stunning blue eyes stood out in contrast against his bronze skin.

Rebecca gave a little sigh as she took a sip of her wine. She'd had a crush on him since she'd first seen him six months ago. Since then, she had made a point of going to the job site he was working at. It was only in the last two months that she struck up conversations with him on a regular basis. It was only yesterday that he had finally asked her out. Tonight was their first date. He had said he wanted to do something special for her. He had given her an address and told her to arrive at five o'clock. So here she was, sitting in his kitchen, while he cooked her supper.

He turned at the sound of her sigh and smiled. "I hope you like lamb. I'm making my mom's rack of lamb with mint sauce. It's one of my favorites, and I'm hoping to impress you with it." He gave a little laugh before adding, "It goes really well with the garlic mashed potatoes and steamed veggies." His deep voice sent shivers to her very core, and that smile... Rebecca felt her heart skip a beat or two every time he smiled at her.

"Mmm, I love lamb. It's actually one of my favorites when its done right, " she answered. Taking another sip of wine, she continued "Did your mom teach you how to cook?"

"Yeah, my mom taught me and my siblings to cook. She loves to cook. We ate very well growing up. She and my father cook together all the time, actually. She always said 'Love starts in the kitchen'. That's why she loves my dad with all her heart." He picked up the cutting board and walked over to the stove. He pushed the carrots into the pot, turned the burner on, then turned around to face her. "My mom had one rule when it came to her kids and cooking, especially the boys." He gave another little laugh before continuing. "Her rule was that we all learn to cook. She wanted all her kids to be able to cook a meal for themselves, especially her sons. She always said 'No son of mine will rely on a woman to cook for him.' So my brother and I learned how to cook full meals."

He walked over to the island where she sat and grabbed the bottle of wine and empty glass that sat in the middle of the counter. He poured himself a glass then looked at her. Rebecca gave a little nod and he topped her glass off. "The lamb is almost done, along with everything else. We can either stay in here, or we can move to the table while we wait. It's up to you, love," he said.

"Table." He nodded, grabbed his glass and walked around to her side of the island and took her hand. Rebecca grabbed her glass with the other hand and let him lead her over to the table. He placed his glass on the table as he let go of her hand, then pulled out the chair next to her. Rebecca gave him a shy smile and sat down. Her stomach was doing funny little flips. She couldn't remember when a man pulled out her chair, or cooked her a meal for that matter. At that moment Rebecca was feeling very much like a princess in a fairytale. If this continued, she could see herself falling in love with this man.

He turned and walked back to the island and grabbed the bottle of wine before joining her at the table. They talked about family. He told her more about his childhood. He was the oldest out of four children. It wasn't long before the timer sounded from the kitchen. He got up and headed to the kitchen, refusing Rebecca's help, telling her to relax and enjoy her wine. It was only a few minutes before he returned, carrying a plate and a small dish. He placed it in front of her then headed back into the kitchen to grab his own plate.

Rebecca looked down at the beautiful plate that sat in front of her. The half rack of lamb was placed in the center of the plate with the steamed broccoli and carrots on one side and two perfectly scooped mounds of garlic mashed potatoes on the other. The little dish was filled with a dark brown liquid with minced green leaves throughout. The aroma that was now reaching her was sweet and minty, and absolutely heavenly. Rebecca's mouth started to water as she took in the display of culinary perfection that was laid out in front of her.

He returned within seconds with his own plate and little dish and sat back in his chair next to her. "I hope you like this," he said as he picked up the knife and fork that laid beside his plate.

"If it tastes anywhere close to the way it looks and smells, it's going to be amazing.... Thank you," Rebecca stated as she picked up her own knife and fork.

He smiled. He was watching her, waiting for her to cut into the lamb and try it. She cut down between the two rib bones, then cut into the piece that fell away from the rest of the rack. Stabbing the piece of meat with her fork, she dipped it into the dish of brown liquid. She then brought it to her mouth. He watched as she took the piece of meat into her mouth and closed her lips around the fork as she pulled the fork from her mouth. She let a soft moan escape as the taste of sweet, mint and the flavor of the lamb exploded across her taste buds. His eyes changed, darkened, desire filling them as he watched the scene in front of him.

"OH MY GOD, Damian! This is heavenly, absolutely heavenly... Your mother is right, Love starts in the kitchen, because I think I'm falling in love with you!"