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Just a Taste
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Just a Taste
5 Steam-up-the-kitchen romances
Tawna Fenske
Erin Nicholas
Kait Nolan
J.H. Croix
Lili Valente
Contents
Introduction
Chef Sugarlips by Tawna Fenske
Also in the Ponderosa Resort Romantic Comedy Series
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Epilogue
About the Author
Also by Tawna Fenske
Making Whoopie by Erin Nicholas
The Hot Cakes Series
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
About Erin
Stay a Little Longer by Kait Nolan
Invite
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Epilogue
Other Books By Kait Nolan
About Kait
Crash Into You by J.H. Croix
1. Daphne
2. Flynn
3. Daphne
4. Flynn
5. Daphne
6. Flynn
7. Daphne
8. Flynn
9. Daphne
10. Flynn
11. Daphne
12. Flynn
13. Daphne
14. Flynn
15. Daphne
16. Flynn
17. Daphne
18. Flynn
19. Daphne
20. Flynn
21. Flynn
22. Daphne
23. Flynn
24. Daphne
25. Flynn
26. Daphne
27. Daphne
28. Daphne
29. Flynn
30. Flynn
31. Daphne
32. Daphne
33. Flynn
34. Daphne
35. Flynn
36. Daphne
Epilogue
The Baby Maker by Lili Valente
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
EPILOGUE ONE
EPILOGUE THE SECOND
About the Author
Introduction
Dearest Reader,
Welcome to the Just a Taste anthology! Inside you’ll find five fabulous foodie related romances. Each of the included novels is part of a series but they can all be read as standalones. We’ve got chefs; we’ve got a baker; we’ve got a wine maker. There’s something here for everyone.
Hearts will pound. Laughs will be had. Faces will be fanned. And you’re probably gonna end up really hungry (we sure did while writing!), so we advise you to read with snacks.
We hope this set provides you with much needed entertainment and escape.
Happy reading!
Love,
Tawna, Erin, Kait, J.H., and Lili
Chef Sugarlips by Tawna Fenske
A Ponderosa Resort Romantic Comedy
I’ve loved Amber since I wore Batman Underoos, but she doesn’t know I exist. Not until she knocks me unconscious with a dead turkey.
Now I can’t stay away, and it’s only a matter of time ‘til she learns my big secret. Not my recipe for beef bourguignon, but the secret one no one knows. Not even my siblings who’ve spent endless hours with me dreaming up our new luxury resort and oh yeah, getting to know each other since we grew up with different moms.
But the more I’m with Amber, the surer I am she’s my dream girl. Brains, beauty, and the business smarts to turn a reindeer ranch into a quirky wedding venue. Did I mention she’s perfect?
Then my mom shows up stewing like a pot set to boil over, and suddenly I’m not sure I can keep a lid on things. Can the guy in the white chef’s hat be the hero who gets the girl and saves the day, or will it all fall flatter than a burnt soufflé?
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Text copyright © 2018 Tawna Fenske
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the author.
www.tawnafenske.com
Also in the Ponderosa Resort Romantic Comedy Series
Studmuffin Santa (Jade & Brandon)
Chef Sugarlips (Amber & Sean)
Sergeant Sexypants (Bree & Austin)
Hottie Lumberjack (Mark & Chelsea)
Stiff Suit (James & Lily)
Mancandy Crush novella (Valerie & Josh)
Captain Dreamboat (Jonathan & Blanka)
Snowbound Squeeze novella (Gretchen & Gable)
Dr. Hot Stuff (Isabella & Bradley)
If you dig the Ponderosa Resort books, you might also like my Juniper Ridge Romantic Comedy Series. There’s even some crossover with characters featured in both worlds. Check it out here:
Show Time (Dean & Vanessa)
Let It Show (Mari & Griffin)
Show Down (Lauren & Nick)
Show of Honor (Joe & Jessie)
Just for Show (Cooper & Amy coming soon!)
Show and Tell (Lana & Dal coming soon!)
Show of Hands (Tia & Vonn coming soon!)
Dedication
For Kait Nolan.
Thanks for shoving me into the deep end.
The water’s warm here, or maybe that’s pee?
Chapter 1
AMBER
“Picture a bunch of twinkle lights in those rafters, and the hay bales over there would be the edge of the dance floor.”
I deliver my most charming smile to the bride and groom before zeroing in on the mother of the bride. She beams like I’ve handed her a puppy and a vodka-laced Frappuccino, and I’m positive I am currently her favorite person in this barn.
I have that ef
fect on moms.
But it’s the bride who needs convincing, so I turn back to her. Julia’s blonde hair is arranged in a stylishly messy French twist, and her outfit is classic college-girl-approaching-the-threshold-of-real-life. I want to ask where she found her vintage Coach bag, but now’s not the time.
“Did you get the Pinterest page I sent with those flowers in mason jars?” I ask.
“Yes,” she says slowly, glancing around like she expects a farm animal ambush. “They’d be pretty with rose gold ribbon.”
“Absolutely.” I flick a hand toward the imaginary tables. “Picture them with little stargazer lilies. Or maybe early-season tulips. Those should be available this time of year.”
Julia’s blue eyes continue a survey of the space, and I know she’s seeing it in her mind.
The rustic wine barrels spilling with wildflowers.
The cute chalkboard signs pointing people to her guest book.
The train of her gown gliding through a pile of fresh reindeer droppings.
The beast responsible for the droppings snorts and rubs her branchlike antlers on a post.
“Tammy won’t be invited to your ceremony,” I assure the bride and groom. “We keep the reindeer penned up during weddings.”
Tammy the reindeer stamps a hoof and keeps banging her antlers on the post. She’s due to lose them any day now, and I say a silent prayer it won’t happen in the next five minutes.
“It’s totally fine, honey,” the mother of the bride assures me. “The whole point of doing a rustic, country-style wedding is having some flavor.”
“We can certainly offer that.” I turn back to the happy couple. “We’re all about the quaint, country charm.”
The groom—who’s been mostly quiet up to this point—takes his bride’s hand and studies her face as intently as she’s watching Tammy. “What do you think, honey?” he says. “It has that homey, folksy vibe going for it.”
Julia does an agreeable little head tilt, though I can’t tell from her face if she thinks that’s a good thing or a bad thing. “I guess rustic country chic is all the rage right now.” She glances at me for affirmation. “I see a lot of that on Pinterest.”
I nod like a bobblehead, grateful for the powers of Pinterest in backing up my business plan. “Did you see last month’s cover of Bride magazine? Country chic is in.”
The mother of the bride puts a hand on her daughter’s arm. “Remember that episode of Say Yes to the Dress where they had those adorable burlap table runners and centerpieces with bright red apples in little metal tubs?”
Tammy the reindeer swings her antlers our direction, and I hold my breath. She knows that word, and she’s poised to stomp over here and start snuffing at pockets for Honeycrisps. I focus very hard on using mental telepathy to beg my sister to come drag the blasted reindeer out of the barn.
But since Jade and I aren’t telepathic, Tammy just stares.
“It’s nice, I guess,” Julia says, with roughly the same enthusiasm I’d use to describe the work gloves I bought last week.
“I think it’s totally charming.” The groom squeezes her hand, and I can tell he really means it. “My family would say it’s exotic.”
“Exotic.” Julia frowns a little. “That’s because they’re from Manhattan. It’s not exotic when you spent childhood summers mucking stalls.”
“Now, honey.” The mother of the bride puts an arm around her daughter’s shoulders and smiles at me. “It’s a hat tip to your heritage.”
“A way to blend our lives together.” The groom smiles, then lowers his voice just a touch. “And we are sort of in a hurry.”
The look they exchange confirms what I guessed the second these two first called about pulling off a wedding in five weeks.
My own furtive glance at his Allen Edmonds shoes and Ralph Lauren slacks fills out the rest of the picture: East Coast boy from old money knocks up college sweetheart whose middle-class upbringing comes from cattle ranching instead of blue chip stocks. Opposites attract, etcetera etcetera, and graduation’s close enough that no one will question a hasty spring wedding.
“How about I email you some figures and a link to another Pinterest board with a few ideas I think you might like,” I tell them. “That’ll give you some time to talk things over.”
The mother of the bride hoists her leather bag a touch higher on her shoulder. “That would be lovely, dear. Can I also get you to send us some more suggestions for catering? None of the ones you mentioned were quite what we’re looking for.”
“We’re foodies,” the bride says, smiling as she shoots an adoring look at the groom. “Our first date was at Le Bernardin in New York City.”
“Not a problem,” I tell them, which isn’t totally true. Catering options are limited in Central Oregon, especially this time of year. “I’ll make some calls and see what I can find.”
“Wonderful,” chirps the mother of the bride. “We’ll be in touch.”
The three of them shuffle toward the door, and the groom holds it open for his betrothed. As the barn door closes, the bride’s voice carries back to me in a hushed half-whisper.
“It’s too bad that Ponderosa Luxury Resort place isn’t open yet. That would be perfect.”
Damn.
Well, we knew there’d be some overlap between the rustic country-style weddings we’re offering and the plans for hoity rich person weddings at the ranch-turned-luxury-resort down the road. It’s to be expected. We even met with their marketing VP to make sure no one’s stepping on anyone else’s toes, but still.
I turn and trudge out the door and into the paddock where my sister is busy shaving mud balls off the hindquarters of a large reindeer steer.
“This week on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” I announce. “The glamorous world of reindeer ranching.”
Jade rolls her eyes and snips another mud ball. “You want to give me a hand here?”
I grin and step close enough to plant a kiss behind the reindeer’s left antler. “Hey, Harold,” I say as Jade maneuvers an especially large glob of muddy fur. “Are you glad you don’t have to wear the Donner harness and jingle bells anymore?”
“So happy that he gave himself a mud bath,” Jade mutters. “How’d it go with the wedding couple?”
“Tammy was very helpful.”
“Crap, sorry. I thought I had her penned in.”
“It’s fine, she was mostly charming,” I say. “Pretty sure the couple’s going to sign on for that date in five weeks.”
“Shotgun wedding?”
“That’s my guess.
“God bless failed birth control,” my sister says.
“It’ll keep these guys in beet pellets and hay when they’re not earning their keep on the Christmas circuit.”
Jade snips another mud ball as Harold tosses his massive antlers in dismay. “I’m impressed we’re already booking this many weddings.”
“I am kind of impressive, aren’t I?” My cheeky quip earns me a snort from my sister and a grunt from Harold. I give him a scratch behind one enormous antler. “I think the catering thing is going to be an issue.”
“How so?”
“No one’s doing the farm-to-table thing everyone wants. Not this time of year, anyway. Options are limited for gourmet snobs.”
“It’s winter in a high-desert mountain town,” she points out. “The only thing growing right now is juniper.”
“Juniper’s good for gin.”
“What else would anyone need for a wedding?” Jade snips another mud ball and looks thoughtful. “You know, Brandon’s cousin is a Michelin-starred chef.”
“The one doing the restaurant stuff at Ponderosa Luxury Ranch Resort?”
I give the words the proper socialite sneer, even though we’ve mostly stopped mocking the neighbors for plunking down a rich person’s resort in the middle of freakin’ farm country. The fact that my sister is boning a member of their family might have something to do with that.
“Sean’s a gre
at cook,” Jade says. “Maybe he has time for a side job, since they’re not opening for another couple months.”
“Huh.” I like this idea. “Plus winter’s slow for everyone,” I add. “And it could be a good way for them to get their name out there before they open.” I rub my hands down the front of my jeans, eager to see if this could pan out. “I can give him a call and see what he says.”