Mustard and Love 2

Isabella took the plate and stepped through the door. She looked around the room. It was empty, except for a table in a corner, where someone familiar was sitting.  She almost dropped the plate when she recognized who it was. 

The dusty stranger she had almost hit this morning, smiled at her with his mesmerizing green eyes. His Boston Red Sox baseball cap sat on the table and he had combed his hair.

“You again,” she said. Her free hand went to her hair, and she smoothed a curl behind her ear. What a handsome man he was. Maybe it was time to finally move on with her life, and find a real father for Tony. But in spite of the flutter of attraction she felt for the dusty stranger, she knew she wasn’t over Fernando yet, not at all.

“You work here?” the stranger said.

Isabella placed the plate in front of him. “I’m Isabella Martinque, the chef of Chez Moi. And this is one of my creations, Filet Mignon with White Wine Mustard Sauce.”

This might be the menu for the restaurant Isabella works in.

For just a second, the stranger’s smile disappeared. Was Isabella mistaken, or had she seen a calculating look in his eyes? Before she could decide, he spoke.

“It looks delicious. I’m Brett Doukas, head food chemist for Mamie’s All Foods Company.”

“If you are looking for great new ideas with spices, you are at the right place,” Isabella said and knew it sounded stilted. But she couldn’t think of anything else to say. She looked away from Brett’s bright smile, once again wishing her stubborn heart wouldn’t keep wanting Fernando. “Enjoy this sample,” she added, and decided to save her dignity by returning to the kitchen.

Daphne had been right, this guy wasn’t just important, he was probably loaded. Well, she had a great job now, and she and Tony would be just fine without a man, rich or not, in their lives.