Sam
Five years later
“Bas,” I yell, tearing after my three-year-old terror as he careens around the corner into the kitchen. With a frustrated chuckle, I run after him, in hot pursuit.
Entering the bustling kitchen, I prepare to see Bas creating havoc of his own, but he’s nowhere in sight. My staff is busy at work preparing the lunch for Livvy’s birthday. As I catch the eye of Stéphanie, my sous-chef, she smirks, likely knowing what I’m going to ask.
“Bas? He came barreling in here, have you seen him?”
Her light laughter flits through the air as she smiles at the dilemma I usually find myself in with my son.
“You mean the adorable little boy that just left with his sister?”
Nodding, I sigh. “Paige took him?”
“Yes, she’s out back with him. If you have a minute, can you tell me what you think of this?” She hands me a spoon full of whatever she’s working on.
I place the spoon in my mouth and savory, succulent flavors burst on my tongue. “Shit, that’s fucking fantastic.”
“It’s the sauce for the pork tenderloin, thought I’d try something new and test it out on your guests. Hope you don’t mind?”
“Damn, Stéph, that’s going on our menu. You gotta let me know what you did. Seriously, it’s amazing.”
She blushes, a small smile gracing the curve of her lips as she shoos me away. I’m damn lucky to have her running the kitchen. Sure, the success of my Toronto restaurant, Camellia, is all mine, but I can’t deny that she’s certainly contributed to the reason people keep coming back.
She’s a very talented chef and it’s only a matter of time before she leaves to start her own restaurant. While I’ll fully support her, I won’t lie, I’m not looking forward to that day.
I step into the courtyard where our friends and family are scattered around the large table in the center of the outdoor space. It’s decorated with balloons, streamers, and twinkling lights in the trees and along the trellis.
It’s Livvy’s birthday and we’re celebrating with a special meal surrounded by our family and closest friends. We closed the restaurant for the occasion and while she didn’t want me to, I’m glad we did.
My chest swells with happiness at my life. While a day doesn’t go by that I don’t wish Bas were here to see this, to be a part of it all, to meet my son, I’ve got a lot to be grateful for—most of all, my beautiful wife, who I adore beyond measure, and our fantastic children, Drew, Paige, and Bastien.
When I moved here years ago to be with Livvy and to open Camellia, Alec came with me. I thought the transition would be hard, especially for Alec, since he’d lived in Montreal all his life, but it was the complete opposite. He adjusted well and is thriving.
He needed the change and it’s not like he walked away from his past. We both still have business in Montreal and visit often, but my heart is here with my love and my family.
At the end of the table, Olivia stares at me, a smile blooming across her face, lighting up her pretty features. Bas is running around with Paige trailing behind him, pretending to not be able to catch him. His light, playful laugh floats through the air.
Walking toward my woman, my heated gaze never wavers. She excuses herself from a conversation with Sin, Jonah, and Alec and heads in my direction. We meet in the middle, my arms wrapping around her slender waist as she leans up and lightly kisses the underside of my jaw.
“Hey you.” Her voice is low and sexy.
“Hey you, happy birthday.” I lightly kiss the tip of her nose as she smiles.
“Thank you. I hear this place is owned by a panty-melting celebrity chef, have you seen him?”
“What? Seriously? I haven’t seen him. Will I do?”
“Hmmm.” She places her finger on her lips, her smile still big and bright. “I don’t know, what did you say your name was again? I think I’ll have to Google you first.”
We both laugh at the memory of our first meeting and our gazes soften, both of us reliving all the wonderful moments that got us to where we are today.
“You missed the appetizers. We polished them off, they were so good.” She purrs, licking her lips suggestively. “I’m not sure I should eat lunch or else my pants won’t fit me.”
“That’s where I come in.” Jonah pops up beside us, grinning from ear-to-ear.
“Back off, Jonah. She’s taken,” I quip,
Jonah isn’t a threat. He’s a true friend and I’ve been lucky enough to watch him find happiness with the right person. Needless to say, we still carry on the usual sparring we’ve taken to engaging in regarding Livvy.
Quirking a smile, Olivia pipes up, “Hey, I can speak for myself, thank you very much.”
Jonah chuckles. “Oh, she’s taken, is she? Well we’ve got a date tomorrow morning,” he taunts, jokingly referring to their workout. “And what say you, Liv?”
She laughs, shaking her head. Then, schooling her features, she glances from Jonah to me. She looks serious now, but I can tell it’s an act, reminiscent of her joking moment before about the celebrity chef.
“I’m taken.” Her tone is genuine but also suggestive, a mischievous glint sparkling in her eye.
Placing his hands on both our shoulders, he leans in closer, kisses her on the cheek, then turns to look at me, his sly grin firmly in place.
“Sorry Sam, I wish I could kiss ya. You’re real pretty and all, but I don’t swing that way.” We chuckle as he pats me on the back before sauntering away.
Staring up at me, her eyes are heavy lidded, sultry as she whispers, “Too bad for him, but all the better for me, because I sure would like to kiss you.”
She grips my hair, her tug like a detonator, and my cock hardens as she pulls me closer. Before she can make her move, my mouth crashes onto hers and I take over with an intensity that devours, addictive and furious.
Clapping, whistles, and catcalls from our guests have us reluctantly breaking apart. Her cheeks are a lovely shade of pink and I have a silly grin on my face. I scan the crowd of close friends and family, all of them smiling at us, and my heart swells. We’re surrounded by love and friendship and even still, all I can see is her. It’s been that way from the very beginning. As my smile widens at that thought, I lean in and lay another quick but no less searing kiss on my Olivia.