Page 91 of A Chef's Kiss for Christmas

“You could drive me to a train station or something.”

He glanced around. “How about we just walk to the pub?”

“I can’t stay here tonight,” she said, but followed when he set off along the road.

“Why not?”

“Because I just called them horrible people.To their faces.Multiple times.”

“It’s probably not as big of a deal as you think it is.”

“Of course it’s a big deal.” She hurried to keep up with his long strides. “I’m going to feel terrible when my anger wears off.”

“We’ll have a drink at the pub. Everything will seem better then.”

“But they won’t want me in the house,” she said. “There’s no way I can stay there.”

“Let’s worry about that later.”

“I’d rather worry about it now while I still have time to get a train home.”

“It’s too late to get a train anyway,” he said.

“Can you drive me home, then? You didn’t want to come in the first place. Not really. I convinced you it was a good idea. I’ve changed my mind. It wasn’t a good idea, so we should leave.”

“I’m not driving in the dark on icy roads. We’ll go tomorrow morning as planned.”

“Warren,” she said with a sigh.

“Everything will be fine. I promise.”

Sulkily, she kept quiet for the rest of the ten-minute walk to the village pub, and didn’t speak again until they were settled in the corner of the warm room with drinks in front of them.

“Why didn’t you defend yourself?” she asked as her nervous system gradually settled back into a relaxed state.

He hesitated before answering. “Because I know what they think, and I know nothing I say can make them think differently. I love my job, and that’s enough for me. I don’t need it to be enough for them.”

“But it upsets you.” She rested her elbows on the table. “When your parents came to visit and your dad spoke to you about it, you were upset. As I recall you were so upset that I had to order you out of the kitchen.”

“That’s true.” He took a sip of his pint. “I guess it’s easier to deal with my family when you sit there and shout at them and tell them they’re horrible people.”

“We’re not joking about that yet. In fact, I don’t think we’ll ever joke about that.”

“Sorry.” His shoulders shook as he chuckled. “I can’t help it. It was funny. I’m going to laugh about it often.”

“You’ll have to laugh about it alone,” she huffed.

“I don’t think so. Not once I tell Carla about this.”

Fighting a smile, she threw a beer mat at him.

He caught it and threw it straight back, making her smile properly.

“I can’t believe I shouted at them,” she said, covering her face with her hands.

She relaxed back in the chair as the faint buzz of alcohol loosened her tight muscles.

“Was there any point in your life when you considered going into the family business?” she asked seriously.