A Chef's Kiss

5

Jade looked over at Carter. He had a smile on his face his fingers tapping the steering wheel as he drove them back to South Shields. His green eyes were trained to the road as his light silver hair was blowing in the wind from the open windows. It was the first time she really got a look at him.

Carter was muscular but not overly. His arms had tattoos scattered across them. He was taller than her by at least a foot. The beard along his chin was longer but well kept. She noticed the scar along his nose that went into his mustache. Jade watched as his eyes flicked to the rear view mirror. She could tell he was making sure that Elsie was asleep.

"Do you have any tattoos?" The conversation they held throughout the day was continuing. They had been asking each other questions when they could all throughout the day slowly learning more and more about each other. She lowered the radio before answering.

"I do there just not as visible as yours." He chuckled.

"How many and where?" He asked quietly his eyes still not leaving the road.

"I've got a few. One down my spine, one along my ribs, and a couple on my feet, with more to come." She could see a small smile appear on his lips. "Not to sound like an ass but you don't look away from the road do you?" He shook his head.

"Not unless we're stopped and even then. Last thing I need is another accident. I know I can't stop others but I can at least know that I wasn't the cause of it." Jade had to stop herself from resting her hand along his on the shifter. "Any food allergies?"

"Peanuts actually." He chuckled lightly drawing her attention to him once more.

"Same here." He said softly before her subconscious took over and her hand moved atop his.

"Favorite band?" She could almost see him thinking.

"I'd be cliche and say Little Mix but recently it's been this random German band that I fell upon on TikTok. They did this cover of Tom's Diner and I listened to some of their other covers then fell into their music. It's this weird obsession, but I think it's that I like the music more than what they're saying." She laughed lightly at his words.

"You'll have to show me them one day. I love obscure music like that." She could see a smile appear on his lips.

"I forgot to ask before we left. Do you want to go back to your place or...." The car came to a stop at a light as he hesitated. His head turned and his eyes finally met hers. His green eyes were studying hers. Her hand squeezed his trying to get him to go on. "Would you want to come back for a glass of wine then I can take you back to your place?" She could tell he was nervous.

"Let's go back to your place so you can get her into bed and we can finish off your 'birthday' with some wine." A smile appeared on his face as he nodded. When the light changed to green his eyes were back on the road as he effortlessly drove them back to his house. Her hand finally moved off of his as he parked the car. His eyes met hers before they exchanged a small smile.

"If you wouldn't mind getting the door.... I've got to grab her." She nodded as she took the door key from his hand. They both exited the car before she watched him carefully get Elsie out of the backseat. As her sleeping form was balanced in his arms they made their way to the front door.

Jade quietly unlocked it and opened the heavy wooden door. Carter held the door with his foot before the two walked in, the door shutting itself behind them. His next words were spoke quietly so he wouldn't wake Elsie.

"If you want you can follow me to the kitchen. I'll just be a few minutes with her." Jade nodded before she followed him through the house. She could tell Elsie controlled the house as the majority of the house was pink and there were toys neatly placed in every room. When he left her in the kitchen her eyes went wide as she looked around the room.

The rest of his house was basic besides Elsie's decorating but the kitchen. The kitchen was fully Carters. It was spotless with a floor to ceiling wine rack in a corner. She wondered how he got the fridge inside as it was larger than she was. His stove was massive with more burners than she could count and if she wasn't mistaken she could swear he had two ovens. Pots and pans were hanging from the ceiling and she could see wine glasses hanging upside down next to the wine rack. She was nearly overwhelmed by the room.

"It was the one room I had to have mine." He said noticing the fact that she was still frozen in the doorway. He snapped her out of her trance as he moved around her and into the kitchen towards the wine. "It's overwhelming but trust me when I say I love it I just don't get to use it enough." His eyes met hers as he grabbed two wine glasses.

"I feel like I should be trying things here instead of at the restaurant." When she realized the words that came out of her mouth she turned red.

"In all honestly that would probably be easier. Would give me more time with her as well. I just try everything there because then I don't have the mess here but no matter what I'd still have a mess." She laughed lightly at his words as the color in her face returned to normal. "So I've been meaning to ask you. White or red?"

"As long as it's cold white wine." He chuckled before he went into the small fridge to the left of the wine rack and pulled out a bottle of white wine. "So I'm assuming you're a lover of wine."

"To a point. I love drinking it but can never finish a bottle so I rarely drink because I hate wasting it." She nodded.

"That I agree with. Plus it's no fun to drink alone." She could see his head nod in agreement as he poured them each a glass. He handed her a glass before motioning for her to follow him. The two sunk into his couch before turning to face each other. His foot tucked beneath his knee, she was hesitant, his couch was comfortable but she didn't want to get too comfortable. "Jade I have a kid, if you want to put your feet up on the couch please do. Just make yourself comfortable."

"Sorry I didn't want to assume." The two exchanged a smile as she made herself comfortable. Her knees were pulled into her chest as the two went back to questioning each other. During one of the questions she watched him shift around before he pulled a toy out from underneath himself.

"Perks of having a kid." He commented as it was thrown into a pile of toys. "I never want to assume and I probably shouldn't ask but do you have any kids?" She shook her head.

"I don't. Haven't found the right person just yet." He nodded in understanding. "Why did you trust me enough to meet Elsie?" As he finished his second glass his eyes met hers. It was the deepest question they had asked all night.

"To be honest I really don't know...." He began before he paused thinking about it more. "Being honest with you it's because you're one of the realest people I have met. In all actuality outside of the people that work at the restaurant she's met one person. That person then immediately freaked out and I haven't heard from them since. When you didn't run at Grace's I knew it would be fine I was just mainly worried about how she would handle it."

"Children would never scare me away in all honesty. Was it a bit shocking when I saw yous there? Yes...." Their eyes met. "But in all honesty Carter it just shows the type of person you are. I really do appreciate the fact that you let me get to know her today because yous are a special bunch." She could see a blush rise along his cheeks. Carters response was hesitant, Jade almost couldn't hear the words he spoke they were so soft.

"You're special too Jade."