Chapter 0447
Hannah
I could hardly catch my breath. The chef—Noah's private chef—bustled around the kitchen, arms laden with bags of fresh produce and gourmet ingredients. I glanced at Noah, still reeling from the shock. We weren't just staying in a lavish rental; we had our own chef preparing a gourmet meal. The level of planning surpassed anything I'd expected for a simple weekend getaway.
“A private chef?” I whispered, leaning close to Noah.
Noah chuckled, casually slipping an arm around my waist. “That’s right,” he said smoothly. “Chef Marco will be teaching us how to cook some gourmet meals. I thought it could be a fun… couples thing.”
My cheeks flushed, but before I could respond, the chef turned to us with a jovial smile. “Good evening!” he greeted. “I’m Chef Marco. If you two are ready, you can put on your aprons.”
I blinked, still processing everything as I returned his smile. “I hope we’re not in over our heads,” I admitted. “I’m not exactly the best cook.”
Noah snorted. “I beg to differ. I’m the one who needs the assistance.”
For the next hour, under the chef’s guidance, Noah and I chopped, stirred, and sautéed like seasoned professionals. Well, Noah looked the part; I was still fumbling, my brows knit in concentration as I stirred the risotto.
“The key to a perfect risotto is the stirring,” the chef explained. “It’s all about slowly releasing the starch from the rice, giving it that creamy texture.”
I followed his instructions, stirring steadily as the rice absorbed the savory broth. The heady aroma of sautéed mushrooms and white wine filled the air. It was almost hypnotic—the rhythmic motion of the spoon, the soft hiss of ingredients melding together.
I glanced at Noah, who was watching me with a strange glint in his eye.
“What?” I asked.
Noah shrugged and quickly looked away. “Nothing. Carry on.”
Strange, I thought, but I rolled my eyes good-naturedly and returned to my work.
By the time we moved on to the herb-crusted rack of lamb, I was actually enjoying myself. The chef handed us mortars and pestles, explaining the importance of grinding fresh herbs for the perfect crust.
Noah and I worked side-by-side, the soft crunch of herbs filling the space between us. It was oddly intimate, cooking with him like this. It felt…domestic. Something I still wasn’t used to after years of feeling like I’d been married to a ghost.
I caught Noah sneaking glances at me as he ground the herbs, his focus not entirely on the task. “What is it?” I asked again, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks under his gaze.
“Nothing,” he replied with a soft smile. “Just… thinking about how beautiful you look when you’re concentrating.”
“You’re impossible, you know that?”
“Only for you.”
As we moved on to chocolate soufflé, I felt more at ease, that is, until I accidentally flicked some batter onto my face. It landed squarely on my nose, and Noah burst into laughter.
“Hold still,” he said, walking over.
Before I could react, Noah leaned in, his lips brushing my nose as he kissed away the chocolate. His tongue darted out briefly, making me gasp.
“Noah!” I yelped, half-laughing, half-scandalized. I glanced at Chef Marco, who had tactfully turned away, busying himself with the oven.
“What?” Noah asked, feigning innocence. “Couldn’t let that chocolate go to waste.”
By the time we finished, the table was set with our meal: creamy mushroom risotto, herb-crusted lamb, and the decadent soufflé. I stared at the spread, incredulous.
“I can’t believe we made this,” I marveled, taking a bite of the lamb. It was perfect—tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. “It’s amazing.”
Noah raised his glass of wine with that serene smile. “To us.”
My cheeks reddened, wondering what was going on in his head, but I clinked my glass against his and echoed, “To us.”
After dinner, with Melody asleep, Noah disappeared into the bedroom, returning with a bottle of wine, a mischievous grin, and… he was fully nude.
“Care to join me in the hot tub?” he asked, holding up the wine bottle.
A shiver of excitement rippled through me. “I thought you’d never ask.”
The night air was crisp, the stars twinkling. Noah poured us wine while I stripped off my clothes. Yelping at the cold air, I jumped into the hot tub before he could admire my nude body.
“For you,” Noah said, handing me my glass and climbing in beside me.
“This is heaven,” I sighed, taking a sip. “Thank you, Noah. But I still don’t get where all of this is coming from.”
Noah settled beside me, his arm brushing against mine. “I just thought you deserved this,” he murmured. “A break from everything. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want some alone time with you.”
I leaned into him, feeling the tension melt away as his arm wrapped around my shoulders. “Well… thank you,” I whispered, my voice barely audible above the bubbling water. “For all of this.”
We drank in companionable silence. Before I knew it, the wine had begun working its magic. My head felt pleasantly fuzzy.
“You know,” I began, turning to him, “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were planning something this weekend.”
Noah’s brow lifted in mock surprise. “Planning? Me? Whatever gave you that idea?”
I gestured vaguely, my hand slipping a little in the water. “This. All of this—the surprise trip, the chef, the wine… It feels like there’s more to it.”
His gaze softened, though there was a flicker in his eyes I couldn’t quite read. “Can’t a man spoil his girlfriend without her getting suspicious?”
I smiled, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks—not from the water, but from his words. “Of course you can,” I murmured. “But… I don’t know. It feels special.”
Noah was quiet for a moment, his eyes searching mine. Then, slowly, he leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear. “And what if this trip is special? What if there is more to it?”
My heart raced. “Noah,” I whispered, my voice trembling, “are you… are you planning to propose?”
There was a beat of silence. Then, a slow, knowing smile crept across his face, his eyes twinkling as he whispered against my skin, “If I said yes, would you accept it?”