Falling for Novogratz

Chapter 6

As I start making the cream base for the vegan trifle, I think about my time in Los Angeles so far. Everything has just been so .. unexpected, and unusual.

I sigh as I put the cream base on the side, cut up my red fruits and smash the vegan cookies up into small pieces.

Satisfied with everything ready for that dessert to go into the fridge, I look around in the cupboards to find some small bowls or small glasses of some sort to put the trifle in, to make portions. I stand on my tiptoes and open the cupboard above the sink. I know he's tall, but these dimensions are ridiculous. I eventually see what would be perfect for the dessert, but can't reach. I sigh, of course I can't reach, that would've been too fucking easy. I look around to find a little step ladder like I have at home, but don't find anything even remote to being big enough or stable enough for me to stand on.

Damn it. There really is no other choice... So help me God.

" Wolfgang?!" I yell, hoping he can hear me. I really don't want to have him to come and help me, but I could use someone tall right now.

As soon as I hear footsteps, I see his head pop up behind the doorframe. " Yes?"

I point my index finger at him to show him I'm serious. " Don't you dare laugh at me, okay? But I need your help to reach the upper shelf. "

He steps from behind the doorframe with a side smile, trying to contain a smirk that so clearly wants to escape his lips. " Sure, anything for my ladyfriend." He stands next to me, and I take him in once more. I can't seem to get enough of this man's beauty.

" So, what exactly do you need?"

" The small clear cups on the left side on the upper shelf please. "

" I forgot these were even here. What are you going to do with them?"

I shrug and point to the mixing bowls ont the countertop. " Vegan trifle. And seeing as these cups are clear, we can see the layers, that will make it ten times better, trust me." I say smiling, really excited to try this, never had it the vegan way. Shouldn't be too bad.

" Okay, ever made this before?" He grabs the cups and places them next to the mixing bowls. I nod as I take two teaspoons.

" Yeah, but never vegan. So I'm curious to try. Care to join me in a taste test? "

I turn to him and offer him a teaspoon. He looks at me with a genuine excited smile.

" I'm always up for a taste test, count me in." Taking the spoon from my hand, I hold my spoon in front of him, and touch my spoon with his, in a way to say 'cheers'.

We both dip our spoons in the cream base/batter and taste the concoction.

Surprisingly it tastes really good. A little sugary, but so.. Cream like, even though there is not an ounce of dairy in this.

" That is not bad if I say so myself." My smile growing by the minute. I put my spoon down and take a tablespoon to start filling the cups, so I can put the first dessert into the fridge, before starting anything else.

" Yeah, I'd say so. Sure you never made this before?"

" Nope, not this way exactly." I shrug, scooping up the little bits of cookies and placing them on the bottom of the cups.

" Well, then you're either a greater cook than I thought, a genius or just very lucky." Wolfgang says, following my lead and putting cookie bits on the bottom of the cups.

I look at him with a sidegrin. " What if I just am all of the above? "

" I think that's a possibility. " I smile widely and get back to the cups. I take the baking paper with the dark chocolate I melted earlier, to make it thinner to put it into the cups. " Is that chocolate?"