Beauty and the Feast Read Online Free PDF

wood himself, that every piece was recycled scrap lumber. No trees were harvested to make his floor. Eva was very glad she’d had the foresight to leave her biking shoes on the front porch, although she suspected Luis would have asked her to remove them in any case. The wood was rich with age. The floors felt warm and alive against the soles of her feet. The planks were creamy, satiny, sensuous, as her mom would say—soft as a baby’s behind.
    Luis showed off the garden behind the cottage. Eva stepped from the kitchen onto a secluded patio made of gray slate. Double French doors from both the dining room and the kitchen opened directly onto it. Crimson and butter-yellow climbing roses draped themselves dramatically over high stone walls. A cobbled pathway wound its way past herb beds fragrant with lavender, rosemary, a variety of thymes, basils, and mints.
    Eva spotted a small patch of tiny ripe, red strawberries. She leaned over and plucked one, popping it into her mouth. Eva closed her eyes as the sweet, tart flavor spilled over her tongue and flooded her mouth. She could use these in a dessert.
    Luis led her past the lovely, secluded swimming pool. He pointed out a separate stone building.
    “It’s temperature controlled,” he said. “For the wines. The Señor told me you may need access to it.”
    Eva nodded.
    Luis continued, “The key to the front door unlocks that door as well.”
    Luis showed her where the key was hidden beneath the bird feeder. He excused himself, asking only that Eva come and find him when she was ready to leave. Eva strolled around the property, ducking beneath the thick branches of
California
oaks. She was barefoot so she kept an eye out for snakes. There were rattlesnakes in the hills that she had come across occasionally while mountain biking.
    Eva returned to the front of the house and sat on the stoop where she put on her biking shoes. She stood, stretched and retrieved her bike before she went looking for Luis. She found him raking near the entrance to the private lane.
    “ Muchos gracias , Luis,” she told him. “I appreciate the tour. The garden is enchanting.”
    “ De nada ,” he replied. “It’s my pleasure.” The older man smiled and took her hand. He brought it gallantly to his lips and kissed it. “The garden is nothing,” he said, “compared to you.”
    “Aren’t you a charmer!” Eva laughed.
    Now, sitting on her bed, staring at the pad of paper, Eva smiled. Luis genuinely was a sweetheart. She hoped Gabriel Abbott valued the man because the results of his handiwork were breathtaking. A menu to match the house? Or the lush garden? Eva tapped her pencil against her lips. The house. Simple. Stark. Elegant. Clean flavors. The food would have to be served either cold or at room temperature. Mr. Abbott… Gabriel Abbott… Gabe said he didn’t want to cook, just serve.
    Eva wondered to whom he planned to serve this meal. A woman. Chances are, a sophisticated woman who watches her waistline and won’t want to stuff herself before retiring to the loft and … Gabe did have a nice voice … Eva’s thoughts roamed. With a rueful smile, she shook herself out of her reverie. She remembered the herbs she’d seen in Gabriel Abbott’s garden and Eva knew exactly what her theme for the evening would be. She pictured a series of small plates, starting with a chilled soup in a martini glass. She hoped Mrs. White wouldn’t mind if she was a bit tardy on Friday. Eva wanted to be at Abbott’s place by six in the morning. If she could put in at least six hours, she should be able to get a lot of the prep work done. Plus she wanted to see if she needed to bring any supplies—glassware, plates, utensils, from her own kitchen. Eva looked forward to the challenge. Tom and Marcus were counting on her to do this right.
    * * * *
    Gabe worked late into the night. He’d sent Marsha home hours ago. Fridays and Mondays were always the worst. Mondays were littered with the leftovers