A Cookbook Conspiracy Read Online Free PDF Page A

and placed them on either
     side of the bar where napkins and utensils were already set.
    After pouring myself a cup of coffee, I sat on the one stool inside the kitchen and
     watched Derek work.
    “This is a treat,” I remarked. “You’re usually long gone by the time I’m up and drinking
     coffee.”
    “I felt like spending a few extra minutes at home having breakfast with you.” He cracked
     four eggs into a bowl and whisked them into a froth.
    “I’m glad.” I wrapped both hands around my heavy mug and took a slow sip as Derek
     popped two pieces of bread into the toaster. “So when do you think the construction
     crew will start tearing the house apart?”
    He turned. “Thank you for reminding me. I didn’t want to bring up the subject last
     night while your sister was here, but we need to talk about that.”
    Two months ago, Derek had broached the subject of our living arrangement. I had taken
     it to mean that he was planning to move out, because that’s how I roll sometimes.
     But he’d actually been thinking of buying my next-door neighbor’s loft. If I was amenable
     to it, he’d said. We would tear down some walls and design a much larger place that
     would be big enough for both of us and our two careers.
    “Is there a glitch?” I asked.
    “Not exactly, but we now seem to have another choice of plans.”
    I swallowed my coffee. “What is it?”
    He pointed toward the back of the house. “Our original planwas to break through the back bedroom and make it the master, expand the hallway,
     enlarge the living space and add two more bedrooms.”
    “Right.”
    “But now the space directly beneath yours has come onto the market. It’s considerably
     smaller than this one. One bedroom, one bath, and an office alcove. We could join
     them by building a wide staircase and balcony along the east wall to create a mezzanine
     effect. It would add quite a bit of drama, but we wouldn’t be able to expand the size
     of any of our existing rooms. In fact, it would decrease the square footage of the
     living room.” He shrugged. “But we’d have an entire suite of rooms to use as guest
     rooms and office space.”
    “You don’t sound thrilled with that idea.”
    “I’m not.” He spooned fluffy scrambled eggs onto each of the plates and added the
     strips of bacon. “But it’s your decision to make. This is your home, after all. I
     want to give you all the available options before I forge ahead with plans that’ll
     surely disrupt your life for several months at least.” He turned to butter the toast,
     adding, “As if my presence hasn’t already disrupted things for you.”
    I stared at his muscular shoulders and well-toned back. I should’ve been mesmerized
     by the sight—and I was. But I was also surprised. Was that
apprehension
I’d just heard in his voice?
    Derek? Showing fear?
    I suppose it wasn’t out of the question, at least when it came to our relationship.
     Recently, he and I had spent several long weeks apart. At one point, he had been off
     on assignment in Europe while I had traveled to Lake Tahoe to attend a weeklong house
     party with my neighbors, Vinnie and Suzie.
    There had been a misunderstanding. A certain woman had answered Derek’s cell phone
     when I called him. I knew Derek would never cheat on me or betray me, but the incident
     had caused me to question our relationship. Again.
    The thing was, the two of us had almost nothing in common. Derek went off on these
     top secret assignments regularly. His life was filled with danger and excitement.
     My life wasn’t quite the same. I mean, it wasn’t like I was some kind of country bumpkin
     bookbinder (although I did tend to wear my comfy old Birkenstocks while working).
     No, my life was full and complicated and, yes, interesting, I thought. But exciting?
     Dangerous? Not exactly.
    On the other hand, I could be sparkling and sophisticated, having been raised in the
     heart of Northern California’s wine