Valentine's Recipe for Love

A Taste at Dinner

♡ Megan ♡

The savory scent of garlic and herbs filled my apartment as I pulled the lasagna out of the oven. I set it on the counter, pleased with how the golden, bubbly cheese glistened under the kitchen lights. Tonight had to be perfect. I wanted to show Shane that I was more than just a baker. Sure, I loved whipping up pastries and cakes, but I could cook too – and I was determined to prove it. Luna meowed from her spot on the windowsill, as she lazily stretched before she jumped down to weave between my legs.

“You are excited too, huh?” I murmured, as I bent down to scratch behind her ears. “Let’s hope he likes lasagna as much as I do,” the past few days had been a whirlwind. After our lunch at Café Fresco, I couldn’t stop thinking about Shane. He had this way of making me feel at ease, like I could be completely myself around him. And when I invited him over for dinner, he didn’t even hesitate to say yes. I glanced at the clock. He would be here any minute. The table was already set with my favorite blue dinnerware, and a bottle of red wine sat uncorked, ready to pour. The starters – cheesy steak and veggie lettuce wraps – were arranged on a platter in the center of the table, and the banoffee pie was chilling in the fridge. I was just giving the salad a final toss when the doorbell rang. My heart leaped in my chest. I quickly wiped my hands on a towel before I hurried to open the door. I gasped in surprise when I came face to face with a bouquet of flowers.

“Hey,” Shane said as he lowered the flowers and his smile warm and genuine. “I thought these might brighten up your kitchen,”

“They are beautiful. Thank you,” I said as I accepted the flowers. I inhaled their sweet scent as I stepped aside to let him in. “Come in. Make yourself at home,” Shane stepped inside, and he glanced around my apartment with curious eyes.

“It smells amazing in here. Did you cook all this?” he questioned as he gestured at the table, and I couldn’t help but blush.

“I did. I wanted to prove that I can make more than just cupcakes,” I teased as I set the flowers on the counter so that I could grab a vase from the cupboard.

“I never doubted you,” he said, and his gaze softened as he watched me. “But I’m impressed,” I filled the vase with water and arranged the beautiful flowers before I stepped back to admire them. Just then, Luna sauntered over to Shane as she eyed him with curiosity. “And this must be the famous Luna,” Shane remarked as he crouched down and extended his hand for her to sniff.

“Yes, that’s Luna,” I said with a smile. My mischievous cat rubbed against his hand and purred loudly.

“She’s adorable,” he said softly as he scratched behind her ears, which earned him an approving meow.

“She likes you,” I noted, surprised by how quickly Luna warmed up to him. “She’s usually pretty picky about people,” I didn’t mention that Brendan and Luna had hated each other. Shane grinned as he looked up at me.

“I guess I’m lucky,” I couldn’t help but feel a flutter in my chest. There was something about seeing him here, in my space, interacting with Luna, that made everything feel right.

“Come on, let’s eat,” I said. Shane stood up and followed me over to the table. He rubbed his hands together as we sat down, and I chuckled as we started with the cheesy steak and veggie lettuce wraps. Shane took a bite, and the way his eyes widened in surprise and appreciation was a bit comical.

“Woah. These are incredible,” he said as he reached for another wrap.

“Glad you like them. They are one of my favorites,” I said, and as we continued to eat, the conversation flowed so easily. We talked about his day at the gym, my morning at The Rolling Pin, and everything in between. It felt effortless, like we had known each other for years.

“So, what made you decide to open a bakery?” Shane asked as he leaned back in his chair. The wraps were gone, and I had been worried that I had made too much. I smiled, as my mind was filled with fond memories.

“It was always a dream of mine. I loved baking with my grandmother when I was little. She taught me everything I know. When I moved to Rockland, I saw the space for rent and thought, why not take a chance?”

“I’m glad you did. The Rolling Pin is amazing,”

“Thanks. And what about you? How did you get into fitness?” I asked curiously and he chuckled.

“Honestly? I was a scrawny kid who wanted to bulk up. But once I started, I fell in love with the process. Helping people achieve their goals, seeing them grow stronger…it’s rewarding,” there was a sincerity in his voice that I admired. He wasn’t just about the physical aspect of fitness; he genuinely cared about helping people feel better about themselves.

“That’s great,” I remarked as I got up and returned to the kitchen. Shane kept up the conversation while I cut into the lasagna. I dished up a slice each and a side of salad before I rejoined him at the table.

“Megan…this looks amazing,” he said when I set it down in front of him. I, once again, blushed at his compliment. We continued to chat as we ate and when we were finished, I brought out the banoffee pie. Shane’s eyes lit up as I placed it on the table. “You made this too?” he asked, and clearly, he was impressed.

“I did,” I answered as I cut into the pie. Shane didn’t hide his delight as he took his first bite.

“Ok, this is officially my favorite dessert,”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” and all too soon dinner was over, and the atmosphere shifted slightly. The laughter quieted, and a comfortable silence settled between us. Shane looked at me, his expression was a lot more serious.

“Megan,” he began, his voice soft. “I’ve really enjoyed tonight,”

“Me too,” I replied, and my heart pounded in my chest. He reached across the table, and his fingers brushed mine. The simple touch sent a spark through me, and I found myself leaning in, drawn to him in a way I couldn’t explain. But before either of us could say anything more, his phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at the screen, and his expression immediately hardened.

“Sorry,” he said, as he picked up the device. “I should answer,” I nodded as I watched him as he stood up to take the call. It wasn’t like I wanted to listen in on his conversation, but I was curious. “Hey…yeah? What’s up? No, I told you…no, I am at dinner,” his voice was low, but the tension was real. Instead of staring at him and listening in on his conversation, I got up and cleared the table. I made sure to make some of the leftovers for Shane. “Sorry about that, Megan,” Shane said when he joined me in the kitchen.

“No problem, is everything ok?” I couldn’t help but ask.

“Yeah,” he answered. When he didn’t offer any further information, I decided not to push. “But I should get going,” I nodded as I tried to hide the disappointment. I had hoped we could talk more, but we both had work in the morning. I gave the containers to him before I saw him out. Shane hesitated by the door, but eventually, he leaned in and kissed my cheek, and thanked me for dinner. When I closed the door, I couldn’t help but let out a little squeal. I had a crush on Shane. But even as the excitement bubbled inside of me, I couldn’t help but shake the feeling that Shane was holding something back.