SLAY PAIRS WITH ROSE (The Kelly's Deli Cozy Murder Mysteries Book 3) by Sophie Brent (books to read as a couple txt) 📗

“That’s the plan,” Erin laughed, then pointed to the refrigerator. “The main course is grilled salmon fillets with a crispy parmesan crust and preserved lemons. Served with home-made farfalle and a full-on tomato sauce which is reducing nicely right now.”

Erin took a moment to stir the sauce before going on.

“If they have any room left, I have creamy passion fruit panna cotta setting in the fridge. Then for the final touch. My almond and Amalfi lemon cake soaked with a drizzle of lemon syrup with some of the blanched lemon zest. These lemons have a really intense flavour. The secret is the polenta, but the cake should still be light.”

“Amazing,” Matt blinked. “Do you tread the grapes for the wine as well?”

Erin smiled, “No, but I have a very large family who imports the best of Italian produce from local farms they know by name. The olive oil is from a tiny orchard in Sicily.”

“Can I book a table now? Because I could eat anything on that menu, any day of the week.”

“Well, the sooner you clear out the bookshop, the sooner I can move in!” She replied and waved her spoon at him. “Let’s call this a test run for the bistro.”

She waited for his strong long nose to turn up and then realized that it couldn’t because he was smiling.

“Did you think I’d turned my deli into a greasy spoon cafe?” she asked, quizzically, since he had clearly lost the use of his voice, as he took the few steps over to the bar and stared intently at some of the old photographs Erin had displayed on the cream walls.

“Not at all,” he replied as he turned back to face her. “This is a terrific amount of work for one person to do alone. Isn’t it exhausting?”

Erin shrugged her shoulders. “It’s what I’ve always known. My mother was trained by my grandmother in the Russo family restaurant and saw no reason to stop working. Just the opposite in fact. My dad sold the food she made out of the deli, and the ready meals were always popular. The classical dishes are brilliant. It worked very well.”

Matt leaned back against the wall and smiled. “It sounds like you had a great relationship with your mother.”

Erin laughed and shook her head. “I didn’t say it was all smooth sailing. Two women in the same house? There were bound to be some arguments, and we always worked in the same room together. She could be one side of the table making pasta, while I chopped vegetables for the sauce on the other. I learned a lot. She was the best teacher I ever had.”

“But you don’t seem too keen on moving to Florida to work with her?”

Erin looked up and smiled at him. And he smiled back, only this time he really smiled back with his mouth and his eyes before pushing away from the wall.

It was a smile that was so personal she could feel the glow of her blush warming the back of her neck.

“You know the old saying about having too many cooks in the same kitchen? That was then and this is now. We want different things. Let’s just leave it at that.”

“I’m amazed that you are going ahead with this lunch after the long night you had. Did you manage to get any sleep at all?” Matt asked. “I know I didn’t.”

“Going ahead? You bet this lunch is going ahead. And if anyone thinks they are going to stop me, they had better stand back and get out my way. Not going to happen. Not today. Not any day. I had enough sleep to make sure this happens. I’ll sleep tonight.”

“She’s channelling her inner Russo,” Prisha hissed to Matt as she marched in through the back door of the kitchen carrying two large shopping bags. “Best to just step back and let her get on with it. Those pasta rolling pins can really hurt once they get going.”

“What can I do to help?” Matt asked.

“Seriously? Stay out of my kitchen until after lunch. I intend to sort this problem out my way and it will be sorted out, I promise you that. There’s going to be fireworks and it won’t be pretty.”

“Erin. Uncle Lucien would never forgive me if I spent the day sorting old tax receipts instead of doing something practical to help you today.”

“Fair point,” she smiled. “There is one thing I should be doing today if I wasn’t hosting a lunch party. Sorting out my van. I need that van to make my deliveries. Someone is going to pay for that damage, and I have a good idea who that will be. In the meantime, I need to find a garage that is willing to take it in today and make the repairs necessary so that I can get back to work and be on the road tomorrow. Can you help with that?”

“Leave that to me,” Matt replied and tapped two fingers to the side of his brow. “Consider it done. Have a great lunch.”

He turned and looked over his shoulder. “Please don’t hurt anyone when I’m out. It doesn’t look good on the police report.”

Erin turned to Prisha and blinked innocently. “I have no idea what he could possibly mean.”

Time went so quickly that it was a shock when Prisha leaned in to give Erin a quick shoulder hug. “Righty,” she said. “This deli is now a bistro and it is absolutely amazing. The tables are dressed, and this room has never looked so good. You should be very proud. I know I am, and I only helped to set the tables and get everything prepped. Time for you, young lady, to go and get changed! Your guests will be arriving in half an hour.”

Erin looked up in astonishment. “It can’t be that