Heat Vol. 4 (Heat: Master Chefs #4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

just a little tired,” I said, trying to shrug off the uneasy
feeling.  Deep down, I knew what it was.  The thought that Bobby could have so
easily decided to stay in New York, that his life there meant more to him than
me… It was a tough pill to swallow.  I tried to be happy for him, and tried to
find my own happiness in my new freedom, but my stomach was tied up in knots.
    “I
know what will pep you up.  Come on.  Get dressed, something comfortable and
casual… jeans.”  He hopped out of bed and started to dress.
    “What
for?”
    “You’ll
see.”  He tapped my bottom and finished buttoning his shirt.  “I’ll go start
breakfast then we’ll be on our way.”
    I
followed his instructions and slipped on a pair of faded jeans that were snug
in all the right places.  Pairing them with a simple white cotton blouse, I
clipped a silver chain around my neck, grabbed my walking shoes and headed down
to meet Rial for breakfast.
    “This
is a lumberjack’s breakfast,” I said when he set down the mammoth plate in
front of me.  Pancakes, eggs, sausages, bacon and thick cut toasts.  “I can’t
eat all this.”
    “Eat
what you can.  You're going to need the energy.”
    Despite
my protest, I managed to get down two eggs, three slices of bacon, half a
sausage, half a pancake and one toast, all drenched with way too much coffee.
    “I
don’t know what you have in mind, but it better be good or else I’ll be jumping
off the walls after all this.”
    Finishing
his last bite, he patted his lips with a linen napkin, his eyes playful and
teasing.  “Follow me.”
    He
led me to the wall of French doors that opened onto the terrace and led me away
from the chateau, past the garden and well beyond the sprawling lawn that
surrounded the centuries old home.
    “It’s
a lovely day for a stroll, Rial, but it’s hardly a surprise, nor does it
require such a hearty breakfast.”
    “The
stroll is just to get there.”
    He
led the way down a cobblestone path that veered off through a lush forest of
tall pines, majestic oaks and elegant dogwoods.
    “I
don’t remember this forest.  Are we still on the chateau’s property?”
    “This
was the dark and mysterious forest.  When you were younger, you hated it out
here.  I brought you out one afternoon and you were spooked by the tall trees
and the leaves that rustled with the wind.”
    I
laughed.  “I bet it was you who spooked me.  You probably hid somewhere and
came out when I least expected it.”
    His
laughter confirmed my suspicions.
    We
finally emerged from the forest and came to a small stable.
    “I
don’t remember this either.”  But as we got closer and the smell of hay and
oats took over, I had a vague sense of recognition.
    “Come
and meet my latest acquisitions.”  He opened the stable door and we were
greeted with the neighing of two magnificent palominos.
    “Rial,
they’re beautiful.”
    “This
one is Roger and that one is Evan.”
    “Hi,
Evan,” I said to the mare who poked her head out for a scratch between the
eyes. “I’ve had them saddled up and they’re ready to go.”
    “Go? 
Go where?”
    “For
a ride, silly.”
    I
looked at the beautiful mare with apprehension.  “I don’t know, Rial.”
    “You
used to love to ride.”
    “Did
I?”
    “You
had a young gelding wrapped around your little finger.  I think Bugsy was his
name, or something like that.  Only you could ride him and he was as gentle as
a summer breeze.”
    Scratching
Evan between the eyes, I shook my head.  “I don’t remember it at all.  The
stables are so far away from the chateau… and the forest.  If you say I was
afraid of it, I probably never came out here.”
    “Only
on a few occasions.  When you got good and spooked, your father would have your
horse saddled up and walked to the chateau.  You would get one there, go for a
ride and your horse was walked back to the stable.  Your father had a bit of a
love hate relationship with horses.  He loved