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“I was popular, I guess. I had a big group of friends, but they weren’t people I’d talk to unless it revolved around school.

Though, I didn’t have an Amanda.” I didn’t dare tell him that Amanda knew about the office.

“Then my grandmother made a meal, and I realized it tasted… odd. She had been angry all day about a fight with a neighbor. Without saying a word, I could taste it. When she cooked for just me, she always went the extra mile, and there was love in every bite.”

Imagining him at a table, swinging his feet while he waited for food, might very well be the cutest thing ever.

“I didn’t always have the words, but I didn’t need them when I cooked. I spoke with food. And when you see that look of satisfaction, it says more than a simple ‘good job.’”

“If you get any cuter, we’re going to have a problem.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“No. I’m threatening your zipper.”

The door opened and Simon stood there, knife raised in the air. It could very well have been a scene from a horror movie. There’d be shrill music, and then he’d chase me onto the green. I was too hungry for running. Just kill me and get it over with.

Simon set a plate in front of me. At first, I thought it was a good ol’ fashioned sandwich. When he rested the knife down the middle, I could hear it scrape the crust. Just before cutting, he changed the angle of the blade. “Diagonals show you care.”

He cut the sandwich, and the cheesy goodness hit my nostrils. My stomach growled in reply, demanding I shove it in my face hole. With a flick of the blade, the sandwich split apart, and the gooey goodness spread across the plate.

“Grandma’s grilled cheese.”

“In these here parts, we called it a ‘toasted cheese.’”

“Grandma would raise from the grave and slap that abomination out of your mouth.”

I snickered.

“Sorry, it’s nothing fancy. The deliveries come in tomorrow.” It might not be fancy for him, but it didn’t diminish my respect for the chef. The diagonal cut only made it more endearing. I didn’t need to have a bite to know it’d taste delicious.

“Is being a chef like in the reality shows?”

His head bobbed back and forth as he mulled over the answer. I couldn’t see him shouting at the staff for every minor infraction. Would he throw the plate across the kitchen for undercooked meat?

“Let’s say I’m happy to be out of a five-star restaurant. The food might have been amazing, but the stress…” He trailed off as he stared at the flame. “I didn’t like being that man. I didn’t like that I could be that man. A small kitchen and slower pace is better for my mental health.”

“Would you consider hiring people to help in the back?”

“Jason, you can cook a good scallop, but I don’t think you’re ready for my kitchen.” He shot me a wink. I wanted to grab him by the beard and plant a kiss on his face. “Maybe with a few more lessons.”

“I’ll have you know. I’m the master of microwave popcorn.”

He gasped. “Eat your food while I plot how to steal your microwave.”

I picked up a slice to see it was already light-years beyond my cooking prowess.

Sourdough bread? Okay, this might be better than my white bread sandwiches.

Before I took a bite, I could smell… cheese.

That didn’t happen when it came from a wrapper.

I took a bite, and the moment it hit my tongue, I let out a moan.

“Oh, my God. I’ve died and gone to heaven.”

Simon took the other slice and had a bite. While I had a mouthgasm, he had a discerning expression. “I think it might need more gruyere. Not so much rosemary.”

“Go make me more,” I demanded. Another bite in, and I decided I’d never cook again. I’d spend every meal at the Bistro, and I’d live in bliss with unlimited grilled cheese sandwiches. “There will be a review online for this.”

I devoured the sandwich. My stomach stopped grumbling, satisfied with the meal. Would it be rude to make him go into the kitchen to make another? Could he teach me? No, he couldn’t do that, or I’d never leave my house.

“You like?”

“Did I not moan loud enough?”

He snorted. “Next time, I’ll make sure we go somewhere special.”

Since we were on the topic of cheese. I reached across the table, holding out my hand until he gripped it with his paw. “Spending the night with you is all the special I need.” Yes, I felt as gooey as the sandwich.

“I didn’t expect to meet anybody when I moved up here. I didn’t expect to…”

“Fuck in my office?”

“Eloquently put. No, that wasn’t on my to-do list.” He squeezed my hand.

“I’m… happy? Yeah, I think I’m happy. It’s been so long, I forgot what content feels like.

” His eyes shimmered from the light of the candle.

It accentuated the laugh lines and crow’s feet, and when he smiled, they deepened. “I’m glad it happened.”

“If I jerk off to the memory anymore, I’m going to chafe.”

The laughter came out in a roar. He leaned back in the seat, his entire body shaking as he laughed. How did I get this lucky? A handsome bear cooking me dinner and laughing at my jokes? When I got home, I’d have to add it to my vision board.

“I’m glad I’m not alone,” he said. “I guess we’ll have to do that again.”

“Or we could…”

His eyes widened. “Here? The health code inspector wouldn’t like that.”

“He can watch.” I paused while he looked about the Bistro, stopping at the biggest table in the dining room.

Simon made me laugh. The facial expressions and the consideration he showed as he looked for a flat surface.

Everything about him made me… happy. “I was joking. We can save it for another night.”

“You have more self-control than me.”

A lie if I ever heard one. “While imagining you naked is a priority in my mind… topic switch. Tomorrow night, you want to see what Firefly is all about?”

“Jason, are you asking me on a date?”

The town might be postcard-perfect from the outside, but Firefly had a reputation for getting rowdy once a month. I wasn’t sure he could handle it, but it’d go a long way toward endearing him to the locals. He’d either love it or run screaming.

“Simon Peterson, would you accompany me tomorrow night?”

“Why Jason Cowan, I would love to.” He raised an eyebrow. “For what?”

“Have you ever played Bingo?”

He hid his face as he laughed. I didn’t need to ask. Nobody had ever suggested a date for one of the lamest games in the world. I played every month, but I really went to schmooze it with people. In a town that closed at sunset, Simon would get to see how we entertained ourselves.

“Get your game face ready.”