Page 72

“Perfect.”

They worked well as a team, moving around the kitchen in harmony without getting in each other’s way. Taylor had put her favourite music on for them to bop along to while they worked, and Rosemary Joaquin was currently singing her heart out. She could admit—it was nice. Really nice. Maybe she didn’t mind this cooking thing after all. Especially if Sam was involved.

The pasta was rolled out and cut into fettuccine before she knew it.

“That’sit?” Taylor said again, still surprised how easy it was so far.

Sam just laughed. “Yes, that’s it. Cooking isn’t hard. It’s just about making the time to do it and enjoying the process—the journey. Not just making it a means to an end.”

“I can see what you’re saying. And while I’m maybe not thereyet, I could see myself liking it more.”

Sam sprinkled a little extra flour on the pasta, tossing it around to loosen the strands before setting them in neat little nests, ready to cook. Taylor could watch her work all day. “Now, sauce time,” Sam said, snapping her out of it.

The sauce was even easier than the pasta. They turned the Italian sausages into mini meatballs, frying them with the garlic, onion and mushrooms before adding in the cream, Parmesan cheese and a few handfuls of baby spinach. Taylor found herself dishing up two steaming bowls of creamy fettuccine in no time.

“You can add a crack of black pepper to both if you like,” Sam encouraged as she tore off a few sprigs of parsley to garnish.

“Jeez. Even Jess would be impressed with our cooking tonight, and she works at a restaurant!”

Sam glowed at the statement. “You haven’t tried it yet, so wait until you’ve had the full experience.”

Taylor brought the bowl up to her nose as she walked over to sit at the dining table. Between the garlic and the fennel in the sausages, the aromatics were driving her wild. Sam did the same as she sat opposite her.

“Mmm, it does smell like a good batch tonight.”

They clinked their cutlery together, and with a quick grin, both dived in. It was literal heaven in a bowl. Come to think of it, she hadn’t had a dish this good in… well, a long time. It made her realise justhowlongit had been since she’d truly spoiled herself with a good meal—bought, homemade or otherwise. She swallowed, letting the flavours wrap themselves around her palate. Sam was definitely a keeper now, she mused to herself.

“Well, this is nice.” Sam smiled over her wine glass as she took a sip, her eyes never straying from Taylor’s, crinkling at the edges.

“It really is,” Taylor agreed, absolutely content in the moment. “Have you had any more thoughts on everything? On us? Since the weekend?”

She really wanted to find out how Sam was feeling. While she was on cloud nine right now and things felt great, they still hadn’t broached the topic ofthemsince things had progressed.

Sam dipped her chin as she toyed with the pasta in her bowl. “I have a bit, yeah. Firstly, I’m annoyed.”

Well, that was a surprise. She felt her current mouthful almost catch in her throat. She reached for the wine to wash it down. Taylor tried to think if she’d said or done anything lately that may have been misconstrued as annoying when Sam must have read her face. She reached out, squeezing her knee.

“No, no. Not at you.Definitely not at you. I meantI’mannoyed because what happened between us on the weekend? That could only be described as magic. And I want to know why I’ve spent myentirelife up until that moment without that kind of experience in it. It’s like it makes me question everything I knew, everything I thought. Why haven’t I ever thought to date women before when it’s just that good?”

“Because… maybe you wouldn’t have met me?” Taylor offered, giving her a small smile.

“And I am so glad I did.”

Sam leaned over, giving her a heartfelt kiss, her lips soft and warm.

“I still can’t get enough of that. Are you not put off that I feel like I’m obsessed with you?” Sam looked at her with such earnest worry, chewing at her bottom lip, Taylor could only laugh.

“Sam, I very much have no issue with you being obsessed with me. Would it make you feel better if I said I’m obsessed with you too?” That got her a furious nod and another kiss.

“Good, that’s settled then. Mutually obsessed.” Taylor beamed.

Chapter Twenty-Six

With her cooking date plan a total success, Sam sat snuggled against Taylor on the couch while Taylor loaded up a game she wanted to teach Sam. Belle lay over her feet, already snoring, keeping them toasty warm. She could get used to hanging out with this pup more. She was just the most adorable thing, maybe almost as adorable as the girl she was cuddled into. She snuggled in further.

Taylor had enjoyed the cooking so much, she thought she’d see how Sam fared at video games—not one of Sam’s usual hobbies by any stretch. Sam might still have a Wii stashed somewhere at home, but god knows what storage box that was left in… one she hadn’t opened in a very long time. Like board games, it was another hobby that had faded into the background as she got older.

Taylor handed her a controller and gave her a brief overview of the game.