Page 78 of A Chef's Kiss for Christmas

“I didn’t just throw him,” Warren said, making a face at Josh as he set him down. “I also caught him. He loves it.”

“It’s fun!” Josh said, tipping his head back to grin at Warren.

“It’s messed your hair up,” Selena said. “Tamara, have you got a comb?”

The nanny produced one from her back pocket and got towork on his gelled hair, which still looked perfectly styled to Anna.

Bemused by the whole scene, she was taken aback when Jen put a hand on her arm.

“We won’t be long with the photo. If you want to wait in the kitchen, Rachel will pour you a drink.” Without waiting for a response, she waltzed over to a camera on a tripod facing the Christmas tree. “Warren, will youpleaseput the jacket on?”

Ignoring her completely, he flashed Anna a reassuring smile. “Told you it was best not to be totally sober.”

“Is it always like this?” Anna whispered.

“Yeah. Some version of this madness, anyway.”

“Who’s Rachel?”

“The cook.” He glanced behind him as his mum told him to move and stand beside his dad. “Go get a drink,” Warren said, backing away. “At least one of us can escape this circus.”

For a moment, Anna watched Jen direct them all into position, while also giving Tamara directions about the camera. Since Tamara only responded in Spanish, it was hard to know what she made of it all, but she seemed to take it in her stride.

Leaving the noise behind, Anna strolled along the hall to the kitchen.

“It smells amazing in here,” she said to the tall woman with her hair tied back in a French twist.

“Thank you.” She turned from whatever she was stirring on the hob. “Veal with creamed cauliflower, roasted vegetables and mushroom sauce.”

“That sounds delicious.”

“I hope so. You must be Warren’s girlfriend.” She wiped her hand on her apron before extending it to Anna. “I’m Rachel.”

“Anna,” she replied, deciding not to comment on whether she was Warren’s girlfriend.

“Can I pour you a drink?”

“Wine would be lovely, please.”

“Red or white?” She went to the table, set with a white tablecloth and gleaming silver cutlery. Decanters of red and white wine sat in the table’s centre, and every place setting had wine and water glasses.

Anna opted for white and was a little gobsmacked when Rachel poured her a taster glass.

“If it’s not dry enough for you, I can open another,” she remarked while Anna swilled the wine in her mouth and wondered who in their right mind would ask for something different when they were a guest in someone’s house.

“It’s lovely,” she said, handing the glass back to be topped up.

When Rachel drifted back to the kitchen, Anna moved to the window and spotted a flutter of snowflakes illuminated by the outdoor lights.

She was still there when Warren came to stand beside her five minutes later.

“It fits you well,” Anna remarked, eyes raking over his new shirt while her lips curled to an appreciative smile.

“I like it,” he said. “But don’t tell my mum that.”

“Your secret is safe with me. Did your mum get the photo she wanted?”

“I think so.” He turned away when his dad asked him what wine he wanted, then the two of them launched into a surprisingly earnest conversation about the best wines to serve with veal.