Recipe for a Successful Relationship - Part One
Part One
Two new tickets came in.
Snatching both from the window, he called out, “Two haddock, two halibut.” His voice rang across the kitchen and he turned back to the pan. The cod was almost finished sautéing; it began to flake beautifully, as if whispering to him that it was ready, and he removed it from the heat. Sliding the pan toward Jake-one of his line cooks-he called, “Garnish,” and Jake promptly plated the cod. He finished it with basil and then turned to the window, where he set it alongside a plate of scallops. “Order up,” He called and the tray was immediately carted off to hungry customers.
Jared loved nights like this. Nights where they moved swiftly from one task to the next, functioning like a well-oiled machine. It was nights like this that made his heart swell with pride because all of this was his. From the wonderful staff to the lease attached to the building, and he couldn’t be happier.
He could already tell it was going to be a busy night. More so than usual, but he’d anticipated it. Some foodie magazine had published a blurb about them and the recommendation had people driving in just to try their food. If Jared had a moment to breathe-to really reflect on the mild popularity he was experiencing-he might have been terrified. Instead, he just kept going. Charged forward at full speed. Only six months of business under his belt and JP’s Catch was well on its way to becoming a known name even outside the small, coastal town of Cape Annabelle, Maine. It was awesome, but he understood things could easily go sour. What he needed to focus on was quality. To make sure people kept coming back, even after the buzz subsided.
Pans sizzled around him and the scent of garlic wafted through the air. He passed Felicia, who was plating a shrimp cocktail. His steps slowed and he watched her stack the greens neatly atop the jumbo shrimp and then finish the plate with a dollop of dill mustard and a fresh slice of avocado.
“Looks good,” He told her and she flashed him a bright smile.
Then, suddenly, Genevieve was at his side. He looked down at her, and her expression was pinched in a way that told him she was worried about something. In her arms she carried a pan with two pieces of halibut ready to be broiled.
“We’re running low,” She told him.
“On the halibut?” It was their special for the night, and she nodded.
“Yeah. Two hours of service left, I’m not sure if we’re going to make it.”
“Well, that’s why we say specials are limited.” He paused, and shrugged his shoulders. “Everybody wanting it just means you’re doing a good job.”
“Thanks.” But there was a distinct nervousness in her tone. She took her job as sous-chef seriously and didn’t like letting the customer down, even if it was something they couldn’t predict like running out of the special. He nudged her back toward her station.
“Keep cooking, Cortese,” He said lightly. “Everything’ll be fine.”
She gave him a small smile and shuffled back to her station while he continued to circle the kitchen. He checked in with each line cook and then ducked out to the front to make sure everything was under control. Kim, his manager, gave him the thumbs up and he felt pleased as he headed back into the kitchen. At his station he pored some oil into his pan and glanced over at Jake, who wasn’t paying nearly enough attention to the scallops in front of him. “Abel,” He said, snapping his fingers in his direction. Jake glanced at him, wide-eyed, and Jared shook his head. “Toss those,’” He said. “They’re overdone. A minute and a half on each side, remember?”
“Sorry, chef,” He murmured, and he threw the overdone scallops into the trash. Which was a shame because they were gorgeous sea scallops, but he couldn’t have his customers getting a plate they could hardly chew their way through. He watched as Jake started a new batch, this time staring intently at the pan as he seared them, and Jared nodded his head curtly before he turned back to his own station.
The rest of the evening dissolved into a blur of hot pans and sizzling oil.
By the time service came to an end, he was exhausted. A pleased, give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done sort of exhausted, but exhausted nonetheless. It had been a few nights since he’d had time to cook during service. It was a treat, really. Cooking cleared his mind. Reminded him why he wanted to open his own restaurant in the first place.
Now, the final dishes were carried out of the kitchen and Jared called out a congratulatory, “Good work tonight, guys,” A few of his staff gave him smiles or nods and Genevieve passed him on the left.
“Good work yourself, chef,” She said, reaching up to pat him on the shoulder.
“And look at that, two pieces of halibut left,” He called after her. “Told you everything would work out.”
She flashed him a knowing smile over her shoulder and then disappeared into the dish room. He stood in place for a second. Wiped his hands across his apron and watched his staff begin to clean their stations. He’d have to make his rounds again. Check in with everyone and then head to his office. There would be voicemails to take down and emails to return but hopefully he’d be out of there before midnight.
And then tomorrow was another day.
It never ended, but it was worth it.
~
Hopes of being home early were shattered early on.
He didn’t make it in until half past one, but he still managed to rise with the sun in the morning. Normally he’d sleep in, go for a run, and then started his day around ten or eleven but today was Saturday and that meant the best selection at the local fish market.
He rubbed sleep from his eyes and his body protested as he dragged himself from bed. The hot spray of the shower soothed tired muscles and he tried to clear his mind. Tried to relax for a moment, but instead found himself thinking about sautéed shrimp with lemon and steamed littleneck clams. His menu was constantly on his mind. Specials and new additions or how to tweak what they were currently serving.
The shampoo gave a sickening sputter as he tried to squeeze some into his palm. A few drops came out and realized he’d forgotten to buy more. He cursed mentally and shook what he could from inside. It had been on his ‘to do’ list, but had been edged out by the mental question of how to improve upon their lobster bisque. He’d had one a couple weeks ago-warm and silky and topped with a glazed cream. It really knocked his socks off and he wished he could mimic the feeling it gave him in the one he was currently serving.
But he digressed and the point remained: He might need a refresher on priorities. Before he could dwell over it however, his thoughts floated to firecracker calamari. That could work. They didn’t have calamari on their menu currently-he’d have to ask Jensen about it.
By the time he was out of the shower and dressed, he was back to clams. As he walked out the front door he was thinking steamed with garlic and oil. Simple, but sometimes simplicity made the biggest impact. No bells or whistles to hide behind, just good food. By the time he reached the docks he had a small list of things he needed to pick up and a second list of ideas. His mind was buzzing and he was happy to see that the small row of stands were relatively quiet. Nothing sucked more than trying to buy during the middle of a rush.
A couple vendors were still setting up-placing fresh and frozen fish out for display, and as he approached Jensen’s stand he could see him speaking with Jim, one of the fishermen he worked with regularly. As Jared came to a stop, Jensen caught his eye and gave him a small wave. Jared waved back and then began looking over the selection as he let them finish.
The market was the best place to get seafood. Vendors either bought from or were experienced fisherman and you knew you were buying quality.
This was especially true when it came to Jensen. He was picky and wouldn’t allow anything short of perfect on his stand. Jared admired that. It was what drew him to him in the first place, when he had been trying to find a reliable vendor for the restaurant. Jensen hadn’t tried to talk him up or sell himself to Jared. He’d simply given him a few samples and said to come back if he liked it. He let the fish speak for itself, and while Jared had gone back and cooked it he had already made his decision. Now, Jensen was one of his best friends and he couldn’t imagine buying from anyone else.
“Hey, man,” Jensen greeted him a couple minutes later. He was dressed in his jacket and a heavy pair of gloves for handling fish. He pulled them off and flexed his fingers. Stretched them a little while eyeing Jared up. “You look like crap,” He commented, and it evoked a chuckle from Jared’s chest.
“Thanks,” He said. “Greet all your customers that way?”
“Only the ones who look like they haven’t slept in a week.”
He was teasing, but there was an edge of concern in his tone. Jared rolled his shoulders back in a lazy shrug and said, “Been busy.” Because he didn’t like it when Jensen motherhenned him but he knew he probably had a point.
“Busy’s good,” Jensen said. “Sleep is good too, though.”
“Thanks, mom,” He said dryly.
His eyes began to scan the selection Jensen had placed out for the morning. Behind them, a boat pulled away from the dock and the voices of fishermen floated in and out with the breeze.
“Hey,” Jensen said after a couple seconds. “I read that thing-the review. In that hipster, foodie magazine. Congrats, man.”
“Oh, yeah.” He laughed a little. Lifted his hand and rubbed at the back of his neck because he could see the amused smirk in Jensen’s eye. He didn’t think much of that scene. Didn’t think much of people who saw food or restaurants as fads and skipped from one to the next. But it was bringing him customers-for now, at least-so Jared couldn’t knock it.
“We should celebrate.” He lifted a sea bass above the table as he spoke and for a moment Jared thought he was suggesting they celebrate with fish. He quickly realized he was just setting it out for display, however, and he mentally slapped himself on the forehead. Jensen carried on with, “Drinks on me at the Harbor?”
“Man, that sounds good.”
“Tonight? Eight, maybe?” He lifted his brow and Jared sighed.
“Can’t-I’d like to cook during service. I could slip out near the end, though. Around ten thirty?”
“I need to be up early.”
“Well, we’ll figure it out.”
“Always do,” Jensen replied, his tone tinged in disappointment.
Desperate to elevate the mood, Jared clapped his hands together. “What’s the situation here, then,” He asked. “Any recommendations or should I go with the usual?”
“Well.” Jensen looked over his stand and then back toward some of the other fish he hadn’t put out yet. “Got some pollock that looks good… how’d the halibut go over?”
“Oh, it was great. Broiled it with a little lemon and garlic. Got a lot of positive comments.”
Jensen perked up a little at that. A pleased smile crossed his expression and he said, “Good to hear. You know what…” He trailed off and pursed his lips in a way that made him look exceptionally adorable and Jared suddenly really wished he could find the time to hang out with him that evening. He shifted in place a little and Jensen finished his thought by saying, “How ‘bout we try some littlenecks and then your usual?”
“I was thinking about littlenecks earlier, actually.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” He grinned.
“Great minds, man,” Jensen said with a warm chuckle. “I’ll wrap ‘em up, then.”
“Sounds good.”
~
“Bay scallops.”
The words rolled smoothly off his tongue. A hand crept beneath the sheets and rough fingertips grazed Jared’s hip. “Small, sweet, succulent.”
“What else?”
“Mussels, maybe?” He smoothed his palm over Jared’s stomach and then dipped two fingers beneath the waist of his boxers. “Tender and light with just enough chew.”
“Sole,” Jared murmured. His tone bordered on pleading and Jensen’s lips curved into a small smirk. “Describe sole to me,” He said as he thrust his hips up just so.
Jensen withdrew his hand and Jared immediately missed the contact. He huffed a little, frustrated and then felt Jensen’s chin butt his shoulder playfully. “Thought we were planning your specials for the week,” He said. His voice was a low rumble against Jared’s shoulder and hot breath ghosted his skin. “This is getting indecent.”
He smiled down at Jensen. “Hard to be decent with you talking dirty like that.” He tried to come off as seductive, but the way Jensen rolled his eyes told him he’d failed.
“Could probably talk you off just by describing food.”
Jensen’s tone was light-teasing-and Jared lifted his chin a notch. “Wanna try?” He asked, which earned another huff of laughter.
“Outta here, freak.” Jensen jerked his thumb toward the door. “Gotta be up early.”
They’d finally gotten those celebratory drinks. Those drinks led to more drinks and eventually they made their way back to Jensen’s house, where they had promptly fallen into bed together. It was a familiar routine. Something they hadn’t visited in a couple weeks, but Jared always appreciated blowing off a little steam with him beneath the sheets.
“Thought we were having fun,” He mumbled as he rolled out of bed.
His bare feet hit the cool, hardwood floor and he gathered his clothing. Began to tug his jeans on and as he zipped them, he caught Jensen’s eye. He looked unfairly good right now-hair mussed and cheeks still a little flushed. The sheets pooled around his waist, providing Jared with a view of his upper body; muscled arms, smooth chest, and the smattering of freckles that dotted his shoulders. Heat pooled warmly in his stomach and if he hadn’t begun to get dressed he might have tried for round two.
“You’re killing me, man.” In only his jeans, he dropped back to the bed. The mattresses dipped beneath his weight and he leaned into to kiss him. Long and slow and when he pulled away Jensen’s eyes were wide with surprise.
“What was that?”
“Couldn’t help it.” The corner of his mouth tugged into half a smile. “Just wanted to… you know.”
“Oh.”
Jensen made an indiscernible noise in the back of his throat, and Jared pushed himself back off the bed. Forced himself to, because part of him wanted to crawl right back into bed and stay there. Wanted to hold Jensen as he fell asleep and wanted to kiss him awake in the morning.
But that wasn’t part of the deal.
He finished getting dressed. Tugged his belt through the loops and then pulled his t-shirt over his head. As he threw his plaid button-down over his shoulders, he heard Jensen clear his throat. “Jim says he’s got some primo lobster,” He said. “Interested?”
“How big?” He’d just stocked their tank, but was always in the market for more-especially if they were the giants Jensen sometimes wrangled for him.
“Couple pounds each.”
“Oh, definitely.” He nodded his head and ran his fingers through his hair a few times. The knotted strands caught between his fingers and he added, “Might not be able to swing by until later, though.”
“Whenever you get a chance.”
“Cool.”
He took a step towards the door. Lingered in place for a moment and watched as Jensen tucked himself back against his pillows and hitched the blankets higher. “See you tomorrow, then,” He said, his voice already a little fuzzy with sleep as he relaxed into the mattress.
“Yeah.” He paused. Tapped his fingers against the door frame and added, “Night, Jensen.”
“Night.”
Then he left. Walked his familiar route down the hall and out the front door, locking it securely behind him.
As he stepped out into the cool, night air he drew a slow breath in. Allowed the air to clear his mind. As he exhaled, he tried to push the hollow feeling from his chest. The feeling that seemed to manifest itself a little stronger each time he left Jensen’s, because while hooking up with him was supposed to be fun and easy it was slowly becoming anything but.
“Damn,” He murmured, and then walked off into the night.
~
He went for a run the next morning.
Jogged through his quaint neighborhood, past neat rows of capes with steeply pitched roofs and gables, and down to his favorite trail.
Maybe a mile in it morphed into an elevated boardwalk. Crossed the water and offered him a magnificent view. Views like this were what made him fall in love with the area. Made him want to move here and start a business. He breathed the salty, sea air in and from there he could see the docks. He saw the boats that dotted the harbor and could just make out the market stands.
Jensen would already be down there, of course. He got up at dawn or earlier most days. Set up shop and sold to tourists and locals alike. He was great at what he did. His face would light up when he was asked for recommendations or a recipe, and sometimes you could even get a fishing story out of him. He went on his own, or occasionally he went with the men he bought from. The latter was what Jared enjoyed most, because while Jensen knew what he was doing he wasn’t raised on the sea like some of those guys. His cheeks would flush as he described his mistakes, but then his eyes would glint with childlike glee as he talked about reeling something in or helping pull the nets in.
It was cute, really. Not that he’d ever tell Jensen that. Calling him cute got you a playful punch, and calling him cute a second time got you punched for real.
He chuckled a little and picked up pace.
The first time they had sex, it had been an accident.
Not an oops I fell on your dick sort of accident, but a hanging out on the couch, watching the game, and you know what would make this even better? Making out. That sort of accident. They were two single, consenting adults who had needs and not a lot of time for relationships. It made sense and they figured, why not?
And yeah, sometimes he wished he could stay the night. Wished he could take Jensen out somewhere or cook him a nice dinner but… he tried to ignore those urges. This was all he needed and it was all he and Jensen really wanted. The key was that neither of them expected anything more. It was what made this work and he didn’t want to risk ruining it.
Now, he slowed his jog. Passed his mailbox and waved to his neighbor, who was getting into his car, briefcase in hand a donut pinched between his teeth. “Hey, Mark,” He called and Mark waved back.
He then walked the short stretch of his driveway and went inside to shower before he started his day.
~
Service began in less than an hour.
“How’s it going?” He called as he stepped into the kitchen.
This was his first time in there tonight, save for a laughably short tour. Kim was on vacation this week so he’d taken charge of showing the new serving hire the ropes. He tried to match Kim’s vivacity, and while he doubted he came close he still felt like Rachel had a good understanding of everything. She was a small, soft-spoken thing but he knew she had the fire in her to power through especially busy services.
Genevieve stood beside Jake and both were busy prepping; chopping vegetables and preparing the glazes. He trusted them to have everything ready for service.
“Fine, chef,” She chirped while Jake nodded his head.
“Good to hear,” He said.
He smoothed his hands over his apron and then realized he’d never picked the lobsters up from Jensen. Crap. It had slipped his mind entirely and while he had plenty in the tank, wasting perfectly good seafood was not something Jensen took lightly. If he set something aside, he expected it to be picked up. He cursed quietly beneath his breath and glanced at the clock while he wondered if there was enough time to run over there. Before he could entertain the thought long, however, the back door opened.
Jensen walked inside. He looked around the kitchen and visibly relaxed when he caught Jared’s eye. In his arms he carried a heavy cooler and he gestured with it as he said, “Got the lobsters.”
Jared met him partway across the kitchen. He opened the lid and grinned at the sight. Genevieve was pushing up behind him suddenly, pressing her small body against his waist and peering into the cooler as well.
“Holy shit,” She squealed. “These are perfect. You’re perfect.” She reached up to pat Jensen’s cheek, a gesture that made him roll his eyes fondly and blush a little, then she grabbed the cooler from him. “I’ll put ‘em in the tank,” She said and Jared thanked her with a quick smile.
“Thanks, man,” He said after a moment.
“Wasn’t sure if you were going to show, so I thought…” He shrugged and Jared shot him an apologetic smile.
“Time got away from me. I really appreciate it, though.”
“No problem.” He waved his hand through the air and then took a step toward the stations behind them. “Smells good in here,” He commented as he watched Jake julienne some carrots.
“Hungry?”
“Starving.”
Jared smiled a little and reached over to one of the stations. He grabbed the plate that still had half a piece of sole stuffed with crab on it; it was their special for the night and Genevieve had fired a couple off as practice. He held the plate out and asked, “Wanna try? I ate part but I swear I don’t have cooties.”
“I’d of probably caught them long ago if you did,” Jensen replied with a wink. He eyed the piece of sole for a second or two and then grabbed the plate from Jared. Taking a bite, he shook his head slowly and murmured, “Jesus.” And as he swallowed added, “This is fantastic.”
The compliment warmed him from head to toe, but he played it off with a smile. “My ego thanks you,” He drawled. Let that little bit of Texas come out in him because he knew Jensen liked it when his accent showed. He’d begun to lose it over the years; too much time spent on the east coast, but the same went for Jensen.
Jensen popped the last bite into his mouth. Scraped the plate as he finished and made small noises that gave Jared deliciously dirty thoughts; if it wasn’t a health code violation and wrong on so many levels he might have entertained the idea of having a quickie somewhere. In his office or the store room; maybe something involving a creative use of that hazelnut spread they've got for desserts. Occasionally he demonstrated restraint however and decided that he could wait until later.
“Got any plans tonight?” He asked. He was leaning against the counter, arms crossing his chest, and Jensen looked up at him. He seemed to think for a moment, then shook his head.
“Nope.”
“How ‘bout you come by after service? I was thinking dinner and then…” He trailed off and lifted his brow in a way that left little wondering about what he meant.
“And then…” Jensen mimicked, smirking. “You lookin’ to get some, Padalecki?”
“Maybe.”
“Well, make good on that promise of dinner and we’ll talk.”
“Sounds good. Come by around ten fifteen or ten thirty, then? If that isn’t too late.”
“Thanks, man. I’m not that old.” He paused, then admitted, “Tomorrow’s my day off so I don’t have to-“
“Tuck yourself in at nine?”
“Fuck you,” He muttered, laughing. “No, it's fine. I’ll see you then.”
“Sounds good.”
And there it was. That goofy sort of twisting in his stomach that made him grin dumbly and unearthed urges to kiss him right here and now. But they weren’t like that. Kissing him in public would lead to an awkward conversation about his distaste for PDA and questions of whether or not Jared fully understood their arrangement.
But he could touch him.
So he reached out, gave his upper arm a quick squeeze, and then Genevieve was hurrying back between them.
“They look like monsters next to the others!” She said, a little breathless and grinning. She pushed the cooler back into Jensen’s arms.
“Glad you like ‘em,” He said, smiling down at her.
“Thanks again,” Jared said. “And see you later.”
“Yeah, later,” Jensen gave him a small wave and then made his way back to the door. As he disappeared outside, Jared turned back to the stations and found himself beneath Jake’s stare.
“What’s up, Abel?” He slipped back into the persona of executive chef and walked to the sink to wash his hands.
As he scrubbed at his skin, he heard Jake say, “Didn’t know you two were together.”
“We aren’t.”
“Seems like it,” He commented with a light shrug of his shoulders.
“Not sure why you'd think that, but we're just friends.”
“It’s the way you two look at each other. So much lust and passion,” Genevieve called from her station.
“No one asked for your opinion, Cortese,” He called back and she stuck her tongue out at him briefly before turning focus back to whatever she was working on. Prepping crab for the sole, probably.
Jared rolled his eyes and said, “My relationships aren’t relevant to the kitchen. Now, we’ve got six reservations coming in a half hour-let’s be sure we’re ready.”
“Yes, sir,” Genevieve and Jake chimed in unison, and the rest of the evening dissolved into a whirlwind of order tickets and the sounds of pots and pants clattering against burners and counters.
~
Around ten thirty, he slipped out from the kitchen and made his way up front.
The dining room was quiet and the final customers for the evening were finishing their meals. Their plates were practically clean and Jared paused next to their table to ask how the food was. He thanked them for stopping in and they thanked him for a wonderful meal. He took a moment to savor the feeling of a job well done. This was what he loved-seeing customers enjoy his product and knowing he made somebody happy.
Jensen was standing near the hostess stand, smiling at him.
“Looks like they enjoyed the food,” He commented.
“They did.”
“Must feel good,” He said, and Jared nodded.
“It really does.”
He led him into the kitchen. It was quiet as most of the staff had already left. All they’d had to do was clean up their own stations since he was going to be using the rest of the kitchen again in a few minutes.
His area was already prepped. He had most of the ingredients ready and was about to quickly chop some of the larger chunks of lobster into bite-sized pieces when he felt Jensen brush up against his side. He’d taken his jacket off and was down to an olive-colored t-shirt that fit him like a glove. It hugged his chest and showed off his arms, a sight that made Jared’s throat run a little dry.
“You gonna cook for me?” He asked. His tone was light and amused, but there was a glint in his eyes that told Jared that he was secretly pleased by the idea.
“I am.”
Jensen rocked back on his heels. His smile grew and he said, “Been a while since anybody’s cooked for me.”
“Hard to believe that.”
And that made Jensen huff. “Been a while since I’ve had anybody,” He explained. “I mean, with the market and politics with the fishermen and…” Then he trailed off and quickly backtracked. “Not that I mean you’re somebody. I mean, you are somebody-you’re my friend-but I don’t mean…”
“I understand,” Jared said, chuckling a little. “I’m your best friend. Your best friend who happens to be a hot piece of ass that you can’t keep your hands off of.”
“So romantic.”
“I try my best.”
“Alright, then,” Jensen said, moving on. “What’re you making for me?”
“Lobster roll.”
“Yum,” He said with a hum. “Are we going off menu?”
“We are.”
Jensen watched him cook. He helped season the meat and toasted the buns for them. When it was all finished he topped them off with pickles and then Jared carried both plates to the dining room. It was empty, save for two of his servers-Alona and Emily-who were wiping the final table down.
“Night, guys,” He called as they took their aprons off.
“Night, Jared,” Alona called back. “See you tomorrow.”
Jared took a seat across from Jensen, who took a bite of his lobster roll and shook his head slowly. His eyes fluttered closed and he smiled as he finished chewing. “This is great,” He said. “Really great.”
Jared took a bite of his own, and while the taste was good he enjoyed the look on Jensen’s face a little more.
“Figured it was about time you got to see what I actually do with your fish.”
“Mm.” Jensen hummed through his bite and shook his head. “Been here a few times,” He said, swallowing. He lifted his napkin to his lips and Jared lifted his brow because that was news to him. He’d never seen him in the restaurant and Jensen hadn’t mentioned it.
“When?”
“Right after you opened,” He answered simply. “Wanted to make sure you were doing my product justice.”
“And?”
“Still selling to you, aren’t I?” A playful smile turned his lips, but his tone made Jared question whether he was actually joking. Then he continued, lowering his voice a little. “No, I really enjoyed it,” He said. “It told a story. It was like I could taste the passion and love you put into it. Which sounds ridiculous, but.” He shrugged and Jared leaned into the table a notch. The amount of flattery was a little overwhelming. “It’d been a long time since I’d eaten anything as amazing or as… I don’t know, moving? I guess. If that makes sense.”
“It does,” Jared assured him and Jensen lifted his chin to meet his eye.
“Well, good, because it sort of made me want to get to know you. I thought to myself, there’s something special about this guy. And I was right. There really is something special about you.”
His heart was hammering in his chest. He swallowed thickly, tried to smile, and managed a quiet, “Thanks.” Then he felt Jensen’s hand on his. He rubbed his thumb across the back of his knuckles softly and smiled.
“I’m happy for you, Jay. Happy this is going well because you deserve it. I’ve seen so many people come through and…” He paused. His tongue flicked out to wet his lips and then he shook his head. “Well, you know. Successful businesses are few and far in between.”
“God, do I know. I can still hear my parents voices in my head. How they laughed when I said I wanted to open a seafood restaurant-a seafood restaurant in Maine, no less.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. They thought I was stupid. I mean, they weren’t happy with me wanting to be a chef in general but they thought this was an even worse idea. Only…” Jared pulled his hand away from Jensen. Stretched his arms out on either side of him and smiled. “It’s real. And it’s going well.”
The décor around them was simple. Dark blues and hard wood with netting on the walls and photos of fish dispersed throughout. Jensen smiled at him from across the table and Jared carried on, “Sometimes I can hear Guy Fieri in my head. Like, coming by to feature this place and being all, What’s business does a southern guy have coming to Maine to open a seafood restaurant? And I’d laugh and he’d try the food and talk about how amazing it is… god, I’m sorry.” He chuckled and dragged his hand across his face, unable to believe he was telling Jensen all of this. “You must think I’m a complete dork right now.”
“No, no.” Jensen shook his head. “It’s cute.”
“Hey, I call you cute and I get punched.”
“The difference is that you actually are cute. Adorable, really. I mean, those dimples,” He shook his head and then shot Jared a sly grin. “Keep talking, I want to hear about all your dorky fantasies for the fabulous future of JP’s Catch.”
“You sure you want to open that can of worms?”
“Definitely.”
“Well.” He leaned back in his chair. “I’m picturing a feature in Food and Wine magazine and possibly a James Beard. And then…” He carried on. Kept talking for over and hour and even got one or two wild fantasies out of Jensen. His weren’t so much wild as boringly realistic, but it was still nice to see him dream.
Then, once they cleaned the kitchen up and closed everything up, they went back to Jared’s place.
The sex was intense. Far from the norm, but nothing he’d ever object to.
Normally there was groping, a little sloppy kissing, and maybe a couple crude jokes before they stripped down on got to business. That night, however, there wasn’t any of that. Every touch set Jared’s skin aflame and he felt like he was going to explode as he waited for Jensen to kiss him. It was like the dial had been turned from five to one hundred. He pressed his body against Jensen’s. Undressed him slowly and licked up into his mouth with a heat he never knew he was capable of.
Afterward, Jensen didn’t leave. He let Jared tuck himself against his back. Let him hold him.
And as he listened to the rhythm of his breaths slow, he murmured a quiet, “I could get used to this.”
“Me too,” Jensen replied and they both drifted off to sleep.
~
He made breakfast in the morning.
Woke up early and left Jensen curled up in his bed, tucked beneath the covers and looking pleasantly debauched. In the kitchen he’d set to work. Made lemon ricotta pancakes with huckleberry compote and a dollop of whipped cream.
When Jensen finally stumbled into the kitchen an hour later, he was dressed in a pair of Jared’s sweats, which were a little too long, and his t-shirt from the night before. His hair was mussed and he scratched absently at his stomach as he padded barefoot across the kitchen floor. He paused at Jared's side. Leaned into his shoulder a little and watched him finish the pancakes.
Jared promptly set a plate in his hands and he muttered a quiet, “Jesus,” at the sight.
“You like?” He was feeling especially giddy that morning. He’d always been fond of surprises and he’d been picturing Jensen’s as he made breakfast. The look on his face didn’t disappoint. Jensen’s eyes flicked up to meet his and he smiled.
“I love,” He said earnestly and then picked his fork up and moved to the counter to take a bite. He slammed a hand flat against the countertop as he chewed his first bite and huffed as he swallowed. “Man, you’re gonna make me fat.”
Jared chuckled a little and bumped his hip against his side. “Don’t care,” He said, because truth be told, nothing could make him like Jensen any less. He kissed him. Nipped at his lower lips a little and then licked the sweet and tangy taste of lemon and huckleberry from his mouth. The stubble along his jaw was rough and when he pulled away, Jensen’s eyes were wide and his lips parted ever so slightly.
“Hi,” He said quietly.
“Hi,” Jensen replied. “You have-“ He lifted his hand. Wiped a finger across Jared’s cheek and drew it back to show him the white substance that coated his fingertip. “Flour,” He said.
“Thanks.”
He rocked back and grabbed a plate for himself. They took their seats at the counter and ate in silence for a few minutes. Only the sound of forks scraping the plate filled the air as they enjoyed the meal. It was pretty damn good, if Jared said so himself. He didn’t make breakfast often, only for himself, and he was pleased that Jensen enjoyed it.
It was Jensen who finally broke the silence. He cleared his throat and said, “So, what is all of this?”
“Hm?”
“This.” Jensen gestured to the plate.
“Breakfast.”
“Oh, thanks,” He retorted dryly. He rolled his eyes and said, “I’m not blind, Jay. You’re acting a little…”
“A little what?” He asked, urging Jensen to finish the thought. Because he honestly wasn’t sure where he was headed with this.
Jensen drew a short, calculated breath in and said, “Boyfriend-y.”
“Boyfriend-y?” He repeated. He couldn’t hide the amusement in his tone, because… well, it wasn’t the most ridiculous thing in the world. And maybe he’d had some less than fuck buddy-ish thoughts while going to sleep last night, or waking up this morning. Okay, maybe he had a point-but he wasn’t about to admit it so he played it off with an irritated sigh as he said, “What? I’m not allowed to make my buddy some pancakes?”
“Oh, your buddy loves it when you make him pancakes,” Jensen replied. “But he gets a little confused when you kiss him all sweetly and massage his thigh beneath the counter.”
Jared’s gaze followed Jensen’s, trailed downward and he realized he was in fact feeling his thigh up beneath the counter. In his defense, Jensen had really nice thighs. Muscular but with a hint of softness. He cleared his throat and pulled his hand away.
“Sorry.”
“This is why I don’t like to stay the night. It’s difficult, figuring out how to act in the morning.”
“I know, I know.” He took a breath. Briefly he entertained the idea of deny, deny, deny but where would that get him? A few more weeks or maybe months of supposedly meaningless sex with Jensen? As appealing as sex with Jensen is in any situation, he wasn’t sure how much longer he could do this. He could only bury what he was actually feeling for so long. So, he raised both hands above the counter, palms up as if to symbolize his openness, and he said, “I know we agreed we wouldn’t become invested but… it’s hard. Harder than I thought it’d be.”
“I know.”
“And-“ He’d been ready to barrel forward. The floodgates were open and he’d meant to keep going, to explain himself, but he stopped short. In his mind he replayed the last five seconds-wanted to make sure he’d heard right-and then, his voice pitching upward in surprise, he asked, “You do?”
“Well. Yeah.” Jensen smiled a little. “I’m not a robot, Jay. You’re charming and, yeah. Sometimes it’s a little difficult to keep emotionally distant. To keep things as casual as we agreed to.”
“Oh.” It caught him off guard. He’d known he had been falling hard and fast for the past months, but he hadn’t expected the same from Jensen.
“But before you get all giddy, I don’t really-I’ve never really done relationships so this is confusing for me on quite a few levels.”
“But you had thought about a relationship? With me. A relationship with me?”
“Yes, loser. A relationship with you. But-“ He shook his head. “I don’t even know how it would work. Most days, I can hardly remember to take care of myself. I don’t know how I’d fit another person in there.”
“Think I can take care of myself, Jen.”
“You know what I mean.”
And yeah, he did. Because jokes aside, it was the same concern he had.
It’d been a few years since his last boyfriend.
Misha was five years ago, almost six now. He’d started seeing him in his last year of culinary school. He’d started out as somebody Jared bought pot from and fucked occasionally-funny how most of his relationships stemmed from casual sex-and eventually became something more.
Then, Jared had gotten a job at a popular restaurant in Manhattan. It had been an exhilarating, amazing experience but he worked under a demanding chef and seventy hour work weeks became the norm. He hardly ever saw Misha. While the split had been amicable he could still hear the disappointment in his voice; because even if Misha was a free spirit who changed plans as quickly as he made them, he was still capable of being disappointed by a boyfriend who constantly canceled at the last minute.
Now, he was busier than ever. He didn’t want to put anther person through that, but for some reason he really thought they could make it work. Maybe it was determination or plain ignorance, but he wanted to give it a shot. Wanted nothing more, actually.
“What if I said I really wanted to try?” He lifted his brow as he spoke, and kept an eye on Jensen’s expression.
“I’d say you were nuts,” Jensen replied. Then he paused and rolled his eyes fondly. “Then again, I sort of love how nuts you are.”
“Then.” He reached out and took Jensen’s hand. Squeezed it lightly and said, “I’d really like to give it a try.”
He could tell Jensen wanted to resist. Wanted to shoot him down and never look back, but even those who painted themselves as immune to feeling had to give in eventually. After a drawn out pause he said, “Okay. Let’s do this.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
He could hardly control the glee that bubbled up in his chest. And while the nerves remained-irritating whispers that caused him to question whether or not they could this-the euphoria briefly erased them. Because at that very moment, he felt like he could take on the world and in comparison to that a relationship with Jensen would be a piece of cake.
“I won’t let you down” He promised as he leaned in and pressed his lips to the corner of Jensen’s mouth.
“Better not,” Jensen murmured, smiling.
Part Two | Back to Masterpost
Two new tickets came in.
Snatching both from the window, he called out, “Two haddock, two halibut.” His voice rang across the kitchen and he turned back to the pan. The cod was almost finished sautéing; it began to flake beautifully, as if whispering to him that it was ready, and he removed it from the heat. Sliding the pan toward Jake-one of his line cooks-he called, “Garnish,” and Jake promptly plated the cod. He finished it with basil and then turned to the window, where he set it alongside a plate of scallops. “Order up,” He called and the tray was immediately carted off to hungry customers.
Jared loved nights like this. Nights where they moved swiftly from one task to the next, functioning like a well-oiled machine. It was nights like this that made his heart swell with pride because all of this was his. From the wonderful staff to the lease attached to the building, and he couldn’t be happier.
He could already tell it was going to be a busy night. More so than usual, but he’d anticipated it. Some foodie magazine had published a blurb about them and the recommendation had people driving in just to try their food. If Jared had a moment to breathe-to really reflect on the mild popularity he was experiencing-he might have been terrified. Instead, he just kept going. Charged forward at full speed. Only six months of business under his belt and JP’s Catch was well on its way to becoming a known name even outside the small, coastal town of Cape Annabelle, Maine. It was awesome, but he understood things could easily go sour. What he needed to focus on was quality. To make sure people kept coming back, even after the buzz subsided.
Pans sizzled around him and the scent of garlic wafted through the air. He passed Felicia, who was plating a shrimp cocktail. His steps slowed and he watched her stack the greens neatly atop the jumbo shrimp and then finish the plate with a dollop of dill mustard and a fresh slice of avocado.
“Looks good,” He told her and she flashed him a bright smile.
Then, suddenly, Genevieve was at his side. He looked down at her, and her expression was pinched in a way that told him she was worried about something. In her arms she carried a pan with two pieces of halibut ready to be broiled.
“We’re running low,” She told him.
“On the halibut?” It was their special for the night, and she nodded.
“Yeah. Two hours of service left, I’m not sure if we’re going to make it.”
“Well, that’s why we say specials are limited.” He paused, and shrugged his shoulders. “Everybody wanting it just means you’re doing a good job.”
“Thanks.” But there was a distinct nervousness in her tone. She took her job as sous-chef seriously and didn’t like letting the customer down, even if it was something they couldn’t predict like running out of the special. He nudged her back toward her station.
“Keep cooking, Cortese,” He said lightly. “Everything’ll be fine.”
She gave him a small smile and shuffled back to her station while he continued to circle the kitchen. He checked in with each line cook and then ducked out to the front to make sure everything was under control. Kim, his manager, gave him the thumbs up and he felt pleased as he headed back into the kitchen. At his station he pored some oil into his pan and glanced over at Jake, who wasn’t paying nearly enough attention to the scallops in front of him. “Abel,” He said, snapping his fingers in his direction. Jake glanced at him, wide-eyed, and Jared shook his head. “Toss those,’” He said. “They’re overdone. A minute and a half on each side, remember?”
“Sorry, chef,” He murmured, and he threw the overdone scallops into the trash. Which was a shame because they were gorgeous sea scallops, but he couldn’t have his customers getting a plate they could hardly chew their way through. He watched as Jake started a new batch, this time staring intently at the pan as he seared them, and Jared nodded his head curtly before he turned back to his own station.
The rest of the evening dissolved into a blur of hot pans and sizzling oil.
By the time service came to an end, he was exhausted. A pleased, give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done sort of exhausted, but exhausted nonetheless. It had been a few nights since he’d had time to cook during service. It was a treat, really. Cooking cleared his mind. Reminded him why he wanted to open his own restaurant in the first place.
Now, the final dishes were carried out of the kitchen and Jared called out a congratulatory, “Good work tonight, guys,” A few of his staff gave him smiles or nods and Genevieve passed him on the left.
“Good work yourself, chef,” She said, reaching up to pat him on the shoulder.
“And look at that, two pieces of halibut left,” He called after her. “Told you everything would work out.”
She flashed him a knowing smile over her shoulder and then disappeared into the dish room. He stood in place for a second. Wiped his hands across his apron and watched his staff begin to clean their stations. He’d have to make his rounds again. Check in with everyone and then head to his office. There would be voicemails to take down and emails to return but hopefully he’d be out of there before midnight.
And then tomorrow was another day.
It never ended, but it was worth it.
~
Hopes of being home early were shattered early on.
He didn’t make it in until half past one, but he still managed to rise with the sun in the morning. Normally he’d sleep in, go for a run, and then started his day around ten or eleven but today was Saturday and that meant the best selection at the local fish market.
He rubbed sleep from his eyes and his body protested as he dragged himself from bed. The hot spray of the shower soothed tired muscles and he tried to clear his mind. Tried to relax for a moment, but instead found himself thinking about sautéed shrimp with lemon and steamed littleneck clams. His menu was constantly on his mind. Specials and new additions or how to tweak what they were currently serving.
The shampoo gave a sickening sputter as he tried to squeeze some into his palm. A few drops came out and realized he’d forgotten to buy more. He cursed mentally and shook what he could from inside. It had been on his ‘to do’ list, but had been edged out by the mental question of how to improve upon their lobster bisque. He’d had one a couple weeks ago-warm and silky and topped with a glazed cream. It really knocked his socks off and he wished he could mimic the feeling it gave him in the one he was currently serving.
But he digressed and the point remained: He might need a refresher on priorities. Before he could dwell over it however, his thoughts floated to firecracker calamari. That could work. They didn’t have calamari on their menu currently-he’d have to ask Jensen about it.
By the time he was out of the shower and dressed, he was back to clams. As he walked out the front door he was thinking steamed with garlic and oil. Simple, but sometimes simplicity made the biggest impact. No bells or whistles to hide behind, just good food. By the time he reached the docks he had a small list of things he needed to pick up and a second list of ideas. His mind was buzzing and he was happy to see that the small row of stands were relatively quiet. Nothing sucked more than trying to buy during the middle of a rush.
A couple vendors were still setting up-placing fresh and frozen fish out for display, and as he approached Jensen’s stand he could see him speaking with Jim, one of the fishermen he worked with regularly. As Jared came to a stop, Jensen caught his eye and gave him a small wave. Jared waved back and then began looking over the selection as he let them finish.
The market was the best place to get seafood. Vendors either bought from or were experienced fisherman and you knew you were buying quality.
This was especially true when it came to Jensen. He was picky and wouldn’t allow anything short of perfect on his stand. Jared admired that. It was what drew him to him in the first place, when he had been trying to find a reliable vendor for the restaurant. Jensen hadn’t tried to talk him up or sell himself to Jared. He’d simply given him a few samples and said to come back if he liked it. He let the fish speak for itself, and while Jared had gone back and cooked it he had already made his decision. Now, Jensen was one of his best friends and he couldn’t imagine buying from anyone else.
“Hey, man,” Jensen greeted him a couple minutes later. He was dressed in his jacket and a heavy pair of gloves for handling fish. He pulled them off and flexed his fingers. Stretched them a little while eyeing Jared up. “You look like crap,” He commented, and it evoked a chuckle from Jared’s chest.
“Thanks,” He said. “Greet all your customers that way?”
“Only the ones who look like they haven’t slept in a week.”
He was teasing, but there was an edge of concern in his tone. Jared rolled his shoulders back in a lazy shrug and said, “Been busy.” Because he didn’t like it when Jensen motherhenned him but he knew he probably had a point.
“Busy’s good,” Jensen said. “Sleep is good too, though.”
“Thanks, mom,” He said dryly.
His eyes began to scan the selection Jensen had placed out for the morning. Behind them, a boat pulled away from the dock and the voices of fishermen floated in and out with the breeze.
“Hey,” Jensen said after a couple seconds. “I read that thing-the review. In that hipster, foodie magazine. Congrats, man.”
“Oh, yeah.” He laughed a little. Lifted his hand and rubbed at the back of his neck because he could see the amused smirk in Jensen’s eye. He didn’t think much of that scene. Didn’t think much of people who saw food or restaurants as fads and skipped from one to the next. But it was bringing him customers-for now, at least-so Jared couldn’t knock it.
“We should celebrate.” He lifted a sea bass above the table as he spoke and for a moment Jared thought he was suggesting they celebrate with fish. He quickly realized he was just setting it out for display, however, and he mentally slapped himself on the forehead. Jensen carried on with, “Drinks on me at the Harbor?”
“Man, that sounds good.”
“Tonight? Eight, maybe?” He lifted his brow and Jared sighed.
“Can’t-I’d like to cook during service. I could slip out near the end, though. Around ten thirty?”
“I need to be up early.”
“Well, we’ll figure it out.”
“Always do,” Jensen replied, his tone tinged in disappointment.
Desperate to elevate the mood, Jared clapped his hands together. “What’s the situation here, then,” He asked. “Any recommendations or should I go with the usual?”
“Well.” Jensen looked over his stand and then back toward some of the other fish he hadn’t put out yet. “Got some pollock that looks good… how’d the halibut go over?”
“Oh, it was great. Broiled it with a little lemon and garlic. Got a lot of positive comments.”
Jensen perked up a little at that. A pleased smile crossed his expression and he said, “Good to hear. You know what…” He trailed off and pursed his lips in a way that made him look exceptionally adorable and Jared suddenly really wished he could find the time to hang out with him that evening. He shifted in place a little and Jensen finished his thought by saying, “How ‘bout we try some littlenecks and then your usual?”
“I was thinking about littlenecks earlier, actually.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” He grinned.
“Great minds, man,” Jensen said with a warm chuckle. “I’ll wrap ‘em up, then.”
“Sounds good.”
~
“Bay scallops.”
The words rolled smoothly off his tongue. A hand crept beneath the sheets and rough fingertips grazed Jared’s hip. “Small, sweet, succulent.”
“What else?”
“Mussels, maybe?” He smoothed his palm over Jared’s stomach and then dipped two fingers beneath the waist of his boxers. “Tender and light with just enough chew.”
“Sole,” Jared murmured. His tone bordered on pleading and Jensen’s lips curved into a small smirk. “Describe sole to me,” He said as he thrust his hips up just so.
Jensen withdrew his hand and Jared immediately missed the contact. He huffed a little, frustrated and then felt Jensen’s chin butt his shoulder playfully. “Thought we were planning your specials for the week,” He said. His voice was a low rumble against Jared’s shoulder and hot breath ghosted his skin. “This is getting indecent.”
He smiled down at Jensen. “Hard to be decent with you talking dirty like that.” He tried to come off as seductive, but the way Jensen rolled his eyes told him he’d failed.
“Could probably talk you off just by describing food.”
Jensen’s tone was light-teasing-and Jared lifted his chin a notch. “Wanna try?” He asked, which earned another huff of laughter.
“Outta here, freak.” Jensen jerked his thumb toward the door. “Gotta be up early.”
They’d finally gotten those celebratory drinks. Those drinks led to more drinks and eventually they made their way back to Jensen’s house, where they had promptly fallen into bed together. It was a familiar routine. Something they hadn’t visited in a couple weeks, but Jared always appreciated blowing off a little steam with him beneath the sheets.
“Thought we were having fun,” He mumbled as he rolled out of bed.
His bare feet hit the cool, hardwood floor and he gathered his clothing. Began to tug his jeans on and as he zipped them, he caught Jensen’s eye. He looked unfairly good right now-hair mussed and cheeks still a little flushed. The sheets pooled around his waist, providing Jared with a view of his upper body; muscled arms, smooth chest, and the smattering of freckles that dotted his shoulders. Heat pooled warmly in his stomach and if he hadn’t begun to get dressed he might have tried for round two.
“You’re killing me, man.” In only his jeans, he dropped back to the bed. The mattresses dipped beneath his weight and he leaned into to kiss him. Long and slow and when he pulled away Jensen’s eyes were wide with surprise.
“What was that?”
“Couldn’t help it.” The corner of his mouth tugged into half a smile. “Just wanted to… you know.”
“Oh.”
Jensen made an indiscernible noise in the back of his throat, and Jared pushed himself back off the bed. Forced himself to, because part of him wanted to crawl right back into bed and stay there. Wanted to hold Jensen as he fell asleep and wanted to kiss him awake in the morning.
But that wasn’t part of the deal.
He finished getting dressed. Tugged his belt through the loops and then pulled his t-shirt over his head. As he threw his plaid button-down over his shoulders, he heard Jensen clear his throat. “Jim says he’s got some primo lobster,” He said. “Interested?”
“How big?” He’d just stocked their tank, but was always in the market for more-especially if they were the giants Jensen sometimes wrangled for him.
“Couple pounds each.”
“Oh, definitely.” He nodded his head and ran his fingers through his hair a few times. The knotted strands caught between his fingers and he added, “Might not be able to swing by until later, though.”
“Whenever you get a chance.”
“Cool.”
He took a step towards the door. Lingered in place for a moment and watched as Jensen tucked himself back against his pillows and hitched the blankets higher. “See you tomorrow, then,” He said, his voice already a little fuzzy with sleep as he relaxed into the mattress.
“Yeah.” He paused. Tapped his fingers against the door frame and added, “Night, Jensen.”
“Night.”
Then he left. Walked his familiar route down the hall and out the front door, locking it securely behind him.
As he stepped out into the cool, night air he drew a slow breath in. Allowed the air to clear his mind. As he exhaled, he tried to push the hollow feeling from his chest. The feeling that seemed to manifest itself a little stronger each time he left Jensen’s, because while hooking up with him was supposed to be fun and easy it was slowly becoming anything but.
“Damn,” He murmured, and then walked off into the night.
~
He went for a run the next morning.
Jogged through his quaint neighborhood, past neat rows of capes with steeply pitched roofs and gables, and down to his favorite trail.
Maybe a mile in it morphed into an elevated boardwalk. Crossed the water and offered him a magnificent view. Views like this were what made him fall in love with the area. Made him want to move here and start a business. He breathed the salty, sea air in and from there he could see the docks. He saw the boats that dotted the harbor and could just make out the market stands.
Jensen would already be down there, of course. He got up at dawn or earlier most days. Set up shop and sold to tourists and locals alike. He was great at what he did. His face would light up when he was asked for recommendations or a recipe, and sometimes you could even get a fishing story out of him. He went on his own, or occasionally he went with the men he bought from. The latter was what Jared enjoyed most, because while Jensen knew what he was doing he wasn’t raised on the sea like some of those guys. His cheeks would flush as he described his mistakes, but then his eyes would glint with childlike glee as he talked about reeling something in or helping pull the nets in.
It was cute, really. Not that he’d ever tell Jensen that. Calling him cute got you a playful punch, and calling him cute a second time got you punched for real.
He chuckled a little and picked up pace.
The first time they had sex, it had been an accident.
Not an oops I fell on your dick sort of accident, but a hanging out on the couch, watching the game, and you know what would make this even better? Making out. That sort of accident. They were two single, consenting adults who had needs and not a lot of time for relationships. It made sense and they figured, why not?
And yeah, sometimes he wished he could stay the night. Wished he could take Jensen out somewhere or cook him a nice dinner but… he tried to ignore those urges. This was all he needed and it was all he and Jensen really wanted. The key was that neither of them expected anything more. It was what made this work and he didn’t want to risk ruining it.
Now, he slowed his jog. Passed his mailbox and waved to his neighbor, who was getting into his car, briefcase in hand a donut pinched between his teeth. “Hey, Mark,” He called and Mark waved back.
He then walked the short stretch of his driveway and went inside to shower before he started his day.
~
Service began in less than an hour.
“How’s it going?” He called as he stepped into the kitchen.
This was his first time in there tonight, save for a laughably short tour. Kim was on vacation this week so he’d taken charge of showing the new serving hire the ropes. He tried to match Kim’s vivacity, and while he doubted he came close he still felt like Rachel had a good understanding of everything. She was a small, soft-spoken thing but he knew she had the fire in her to power through especially busy services.
Genevieve stood beside Jake and both were busy prepping; chopping vegetables and preparing the glazes. He trusted them to have everything ready for service.
“Fine, chef,” She chirped while Jake nodded his head.
“Good to hear,” He said.
He smoothed his hands over his apron and then realized he’d never picked the lobsters up from Jensen. Crap. It had slipped his mind entirely and while he had plenty in the tank, wasting perfectly good seafood was not something Jensen took lightly. If he set something aside, he expected it to be picked up. He cursed quietly beneath his breath and glanced at the clock while he wondered if there was enough time to run over there. Before he could entertain the thought long, however, the back door opened.
Jensen walked inside. He looked around the kitchen and visibly relaxed when he caught Jared’s eye. In his arms he carried a heavy cooler and he gestured with it as he said, “Got the lobsters.”
Jared met him partway across the kitchen. He opened the lid and grinned at the sight. Genevieve was pushing up behind him suddenly, pressing her small body against his waist and peering into the cooler as well.
“Holy shit,” She squealed. “These are perfect. You’re perfect.” She reached up to pat Jensen’s cheek, a gesture that made him roll his eyes fondly and blush a little, then she grabbed the cooler from him. “I’ll put ‘em in the tank,” She said and Jared thanked her with a quick smile.
“Thanks, man,” He said after a moment.
“Wasn’t sure if you were going to show, so I thought…” He shrugged and Jared shot him an apologetic smile.
“Time got away from me. I really appreciate it, though.”
“No problem.” He waved his hand through the air and then took a step toward the stations behind them. “Smells good in here,” He commented as he watched Jake julienne some carrots.
“Hungry?”
“Starving.”
Jared smiled a little and reached over to one of the stations. He grabbed the plate that still had half a piece of sole stuffed with crab on it; it was their special for the night and Genevieve had fired a couple off as practice. He held the plate out and asked, “Wanna try? I ate part but I swear I don’t have cooties.”
“I’d of probably caught them long ago if you did,” Jensen replied with a wink. He eyed the piece of sole for a second or two and then grabbed the plate from Jared. Taking a bite, he shook his head slowly and murmured, “Jesus.” And as he swallowed added, “This is fantastic.”
The compliment warmed him from head to toe, but he played it off with a smile. “My ego thanks you,” He drawled. Let that little bit of Texas come out in him because he knew Jensen liked it when his accent showed. He’d begun to lose it over the years; too much time spent on the east coast, but the same went for Jensen.
Jensen popped the last bite into his mouth. Scraped the plate as he finished and made small noises that gave Jared deliciously dirty thoughts; if it wasn’t a health code violation and wrong on so many levels he might have entertained the idea of having a quickie somewhere. In his office or the store room; maybe something involving a creative use of that hazelnut spread they've got for desserts. Occasionally he demonstrated restraint however and decided that he could wait until later.
“Got any plans tonight?” He asked. He was leaning against the counter, arms crossing his chest, and Jensen looked up at him. He seemed to think for a moment, then shook his head.
“Nope.”
“How ‘bout you come by after service? I was thinking dinner and then…” He trailed off and lifted his brow in a way that left little wondering about what he meant.
“And then…” Jensen mimicked, smirking. “You lookin’ to get some, Padalecki?”
“Maybe.”
“Well, make good on that promise of dinner and we’ll talk.”
“Sounds good. Come by around ten fifteen or ten thirty, then? If that isn’t too late.”
“Thanks, man. I’m not that old.” He paused, then admitted, “Tomorrow’s my day off so I don’t have to-“
“Tuck yourself in at nine?”
“Fuck you,” He muttered, laughing. “No, it's fine. I’ll see you then.”
“Sounds good.”
And there it was. That goofy sort of twisting in his stomach that made him grin dumbly and unearthed urges to kiss him right here and now. But they weren’t like that. Kissing him in public would lead to an awkward conversation about his distaste for PDA and questions of whether or not Jared fully understood their arrangement.
But he could touch him.
So he reached out, gave his upper arm a quick squeeze, and then Genevieve was hurrying back between them.
“They look like monsters next to the others!” She said, a little breathless and grinning. She pushed the cooler back into Jensen’s arms.
“Glad you like ‘em,” He said, smiling down at her.
“Thanks again,” Jared said. “And see you later.”
“Yeah, later,” Jensen gave him a small wave and then made his way back to the door. As he disappeared outside, Jared turned back to the stations and found himself beneath Jake’s stare.
“What’s up, Abel?” He slipped back into the persona of executive chef and walked to the sink to wash his hands.
As he scrubbed at his skin, he heard Jake say, “Didn’t know you two were together.”
“We aren’t.”
“Seems like it,” He commented with a light shrug of his shoulders.
“Not sure why you'd think that, but we're just friends.”
“It’s the way you two look at each other. So much lust and passion,” Genevieve called from her station.
“No one asked for your opinion, Cortese,” He called back and she stuck her tongue out at him briefly before turning focus back to whatever she was working on. Prepping crab for the sole, probably.
Jared rolled his eyes and said, “My relationships aren’t relevant to the kitchen. Now, we’ve got six reservations coming in a half hour-let’s be sure we’re ready.”
“Yes, sir,” Genevieve and Jake chimed in unison, and the rest of the evening dissolved into a whirlwind of order tickets and the sounds of pots and pants clattering against burners and counters.
~
Around ten thirty, he slipped out from the kitchen and made his way up front.
The dining room was quiet and the final customers for the evening were finishing their meals. Their plates were practically clean and Jared paused next to their table to ask how the food was. He thanked them for stopping in and they thanked him for a wonderful meal. He took a moment to savor the feeling of a job well done. This was what he loved-seeing customers enjoy his product and knowing he made somebody happy.
Jensen was standing near the hostess stand, smiling at him.
“Looks like they enjoyed the food,” He commented.
“They did.”
“Must feel good,” He said, and Jared nodded.
“It really does.”
He led him into the kitchen. It was quiet as most of the staff had already left. All they’d had to do was clean up their own stations since he was going to be using the rest of the kitchen again in a few minutes.
His area was already prepped. He had most of the ingredients ready and was about to quickly chop some of the larger chunks of lobster into bite-sized pieces when he felt Jensen brush up against his side. He’d taken his jacket off and was down to an olive-colored t-shirt that fit him like a glove. It hugged his chest and showed off his arms, a sight that made Jared’s throat run a little dry.
“You gonna cook for me?” He asked. His tone was light and amused, but there was a glint in his eyes that told Jared that he was secretly pleased by the idea.
“I am.”
Jensen rocked back on his heels. His smile grew and he said, “Been a while since anybody’s cooked for me.”
“Hard to believe that.”
And that made Jensen huff. “Been a while since I’ve had anybody,” He explained. “I mean, with the market and politics with the fishermen and…” Then he trailed off and quickly backtracked. “Not that I mean you’re somebody. I mean, you are somebody-you’re my friend-but I don’t mean…”
“I understand,” Jared said, chuckling a little. “I’m your best friend. Your best friend who happens to be a hot piece of ass that you can’t keep your hands off of.”
“So romantic.”
“I try my best.”
“Alright, then,” Jensen said, moving on. “What’re you making for me?”
“Lobster roll.”
“Yum,” He said with a hum. “Are we going off menu?”
“We are.”
Jensen watched him cook. He helped season the meat and toasted the buns for them. When it was all finished he topped them off with pickles and then Jared carried both plates to the dining room. It was empty, save for two of his servers-Alona and Emily-who were wiping the final table down.
“Night, guys,” He called as they took their aprons off.
“Night, Jared,” Alona called back. “See you tomorrow.”
Jared took a seat across from Jensen, who took a bite of his lobster roll and shook his head slowly. His eyes fluttered closed and he smiled as he finished chewing. “This is great,” He said. “Really great.”
Jared took a bite of his own, and while the taste was good he enjoyed the look on Jensen’s face a little more.
“Figured it was about time you got to see what I actually do with your fish.”
“Mm.” Jensen hummed through his bite and shook his head. “Been here a few times,” He said, swallowing. He lifted his napkin to his lips and Jared lifted his brow because that was news to him. He’d never seen him in the restaurant and Jensen hadn’t mentioned it.
“When?”
“Right after you opened,” He answered simply. “Wanted to make sure you were doing my product justice.”
“And?”
“Still selling to you, aren’t I?” A playful smile turned his lips, but his tone made Jared question whether he was actually joking. Then he continued, lowering his voice a little. “No, I really enjoyed it,” He said. “It told a story. It was like I could taste the passion and love you put into it. Which sounds ridiculous, but.” He shrugged and Jared leaned into the table a notch. The amount of flattery was a little overwhelming. “It’d been a long time since I’d eaten anything as amazing or as… I don’t know, moving? I guess. If that makes sense.”
“It does,” Jared assured him and Jensen lifted his chin to meet his eye.
“Well, good, because it sort of made me want to get to know you. I thought to myself, there’s something special about this guy. And I was right. There really is something special about you.”
His heart was hammering in his chest. He swallowed thickly, tried to smile, and managed a quiet, “Thanks.” Then he felt Jensen’s hand on his. He rubbed his thumb across the back of his knuckles softly and smiled.
“I’m happy for you, Jay. Happy this is going well because you deserve it. I’ve seen so many people come through and…” He paused. His tongue flicked out to wet his lips and then he shook his head. “Well, you know. Successful businesses are few and far in between.”
“God, do I know. I can still hear my parents voices in my head. How they laughed when I said I wanted to open a seafood restaurant-a seafood restaurant in Maine, no less.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. They thought I was stupid. I mean, they weren’t happy with me wanting to be a chef in general but they thought this was an even worse idea. Only…” Jared pulled his hand away from Jensen. Stretched his arms out on either side of him and smiled. “It’s real. And it’s going well.”
The décor around them was simple. Dark blues and hard wood with netting on the walls and photos of fish dispersed throughout. Jensen smiled at him from across the table and Jared carried on, “Sometimes I can hear Guy Fieri in my head. Like, coming by to feature this place and being all, What’s business does a southern guy have coming to Maine to open a seafood restaurant? And I’d laugh and he’d try the food and talk about how amazing it is… god, I’m sorry.” He chuckled and dragged his hand across his face, unable to believe he was telling Jensen all of this. “You must think I’m a complete dork right now.”
“No, no.” Jensen shook his head. “It’s cute.”
“Hey, I call you cute and I get punched.”
“The difference is that you actually are cute. Adorable, really. I mean, those dimples,” He shook his head and then shot Jared a sly grin. “Keep talking, I want to hear about all your dorky fantasies for the fabulous future of JP’s Catch.”
“You sure you want to open that can of worms?”
“Definitely.”
“Well.” He leaned back in his chair. “I’m picturing a feature in Food and Wine magazine and possibly a James Beard. And then…” He carried on. Kept talking for over and hour and even got one or two wild fantasies out of Jensen. His weren’t so much wild as boringly realistic, but it was still nice to see him dream.
Then, once they cleaned the kitchen up and closed everything up, they went back to Jared’s place.
The sex was intense. Far from the norm, but nothing he’d ever object to.
Normally there was groping, a little sloppy kissing, and maybe a couple crude jokes before they stripped down on got to business. That night, however, there wasn’t any of that. Every touch set Jared’s skin aflame and he felt like he was going to explode as he waited for Jensen to kiss him. It was like the dial had been turned from five to one hundred. He pressed his body against Jensen’s. Undressed him slowly and licked up into his mouth with a heat he never knew he was capable of.
Afterward, Jensen didn’t leave. He let Jared tuck himself against his back. Let him hold him.
And as he listened to the rhythm of his breaths slow, he murmured a quiet, “I could get used to this.”
“Me too,” Jensen replied and they both drifted off to sleep.
~
He made breakfast in the morning.
Woke up early and left Jensen curled up in his bed, tucked beneath the covers and looking pleasantly debauched. In the kitchen he’d set to work. Made lemon ricotta pancakes with huckleberry compote and a dollop of whipped cream.
When Jensen finally stumbled into the kitchen an hour later, he was dressed in a pair of Jared’s sweats, which were a little too long, and his t-shirt from the night before. His hair was mussed and he scratched absently at his stomach as he padded barefoot across the kitchen floor. He paused at Jared's side. Leaned into his shoulder a little and watched him finish the pancakes.
Jared promptly set a plate in his hands and he muttered a quiet, “Jesus,” at the sight.
“You like?” He was feeling especially giddy that morning. He’d always been fond of surprises and he’d been picturing Jensen’s as he made breakfast. The look on his face didn’t disappoint. Jensen’s eyes flicked up to meet his and he smiled.
“I love,” He said earnestly and then picked his fork up and moved to the counter to take a bite. He slammed a hand flat against the countertop as he chewed his first bite and huffed as he swallowed. “Man, you’re gonna make me fat.”
Jared chuckled a little and bumped his hip against his side. “Don’t care,” He said, because truth be told, nothing could make him like Jensen any less. He kissed him. Nipped at his lower lips a little and then licked the sweet and tangy taste of lemon and huckleberry from his mouth. The stubble along his jaw was rough and when he pulled away, Jensen’s eyes were wide and his lips parted ever so slightly.
“Hi,” He said quietly.
“Hi,” Jensen replied. “You have-“ He lifted his hand. Wiped a finger across Jared’s cheek and drew it back to show him the white substance that coated his fingertip. “Flour,” He said.
“Thanks.”
He rocked back and grabbed a plate for himself. They took their seats at the counter and ate in silence for a few minutes. Only the sound of forks scraping the plate filled the air as they enjoyed the meal. It was pretty damn good, if Jared said so himself. He didn’t make breakfast often, only for himself, and he was pleased that Jensen enjoyed it.
It was Jensen who finally broke the silence. He cleared his throat and said, “So, what is all of this?”
“Hm?”
“This.” Jensen gestured to the plate.
“Breakfast.”
“Oh, thanks,” He retorted dryly. He rolled his eyes and said, “I’m not blind, Jay. You’re acting a little…”
“A little what?” He asked, urging Jensen to finish the thought. Because he honestly wasn’t sure where he was headed with this.
Jensen drew a short, calculated breath in and said, “Boyfriend-y.”
“Boyfriend-y?” He repeated. He couldn’t hide the amusement in his tone, because… well, it wasn’t the most ridiculous thing in the world. And maybe he’d had some less than fuck buddy-ish thoughts while going to sleep last night, or waking up this morning. Okay, maybe he had a point-but he wasn’t about to admit it so he played it off with an irritated sigh as he said, “What? I’m not allowed to make my buddy some pancakes?”
“Oh, your buddy loves it when you make him pancakes,” Jensen replied. “But he gets a little confused when you kiss him all sweetly and massage his thigh beneath the counter.”
Jared’s gaze followed Jensen’s, trailed downward and he realized he was in fact feeling his thigh up beneath the counter. In his defense, Jensen had really nice thighs. Muscular but with a hint of softness. He cleared his throat and pulled his hand away.
“Sorry.”
“This is why I don’t like to stay the night. It’s difficult, figuring out how to act in the morning.”
“I know, I know.” He took a breath. Briefly he entertained the idea of deny, deny, deny but where would that get him? A few more weeks or maybe months of supposedly meaningless sex with Jensen? As appealing as sex with Jensen is in any situation, he wasn’t sure how much longer he could do this. He could only bury what he was actually feeling for so long. So, he raised both hands above the counter, palms up as if to symbolize his openness, and he said, “I know we agreed we wouldn’t become invested but… it’s hard. Harder than I thought it’d be.”
“I know.”
“And-“ He’d been ready to barrel forward. The floodgates were open and he’d meant to keep going, to explain himself, but he stopped short. In his mind he replayed the last five seconds-wanted to make sure he’d heard right-and then, his voice pitching upward in surprise, he asked, “You do?”
“Well. Yeah.” Jensen smiled a little. “I’m not a robot, Jay. You’re charming and, yeah. Sometimes it’s a little difficult to keep emotionally distant. To keep things as casual as we agreed to.”
“Oh.” It caught him off guard. He’d known he had been falling hard and fast for the past months, but he hadn’t expected the same from Jensen.
“But before you get all giddy, I don’t really-I’ve never really done relationships so this is confusing for me on quite a few levels.”
“But you had thought about a relationship? With me. A relationship with me?”
“Yes, loser. A relationship with you. But-“ He shook his head. “I don’t even know how it would work. Most days, I can hardly remember to take care of myself. I don’t know how I’d fit another person in there.”
“Think I can take care of myself, Jen.”
“You know what I mean.”
And yeah, he did. Because jokes aside, it was the same concern he had.
It’d been a few years since his last boyfriend.
Misha was five years ago, almost six now. He’d started seeing him in his last year of culinary school. He’d started out as somebody Jared bought pot from and fucked occasionally-funny how most of his relationships stemmed from casual sex-and eventually became something more.
Then, Jared had gotten a job at a popular restaurant in Manhattan. It had been an exhilarating, amazing experience but he worked under a demanding chef and seventy hour work weeks became the norm. He hardly ever saw Misha. While the split had been amicable he could still hear the disappointment in his voice; because even if Misha was a free spirit who changed plans as quickly as he made them, he was still capable of being disappointed by a boyfriend who constantly canceled at the last minute.
Now, he was busier than ever. He didn’t want to put anther person through that, but for some reason he really thought they could make it work. Maybe it was determination or plain ignorance, but he wanted to give it a shot. Wanted nothing more, actually.
“What if I said I really wanted to try?” He lifted his brow as he spoke, and kept an eye on Jensen’s expression.
“I’d say you were nuts,” Jensen replied. Then he paused and rolled his eyes fondly. “Then again, I sort of love how nuts you are.”
“Then.” He reached out and took Jensen’s hand. Squeezed it lightly and said, “I’d really like to give it a try.”
He could tell Jensen wanted to resist. Wanted to shoot him down and never look back, but even those who painted themselves as immune to feeling had to give in eventually. After a drawn out pause he said, “Okay. Let’s do this.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
He could hardly control the glee that bubbled up in his chest. And while the nerves remained-irritating whispers that caused him to question whether or not they could this-the euphoria briefly erased them. Because at that very moment, he felt like he could take on the world and in comparison to that a relationship with Jensen would be a piece of cake.
“I won’t let you down” He promised as he leaned in and pressed his lips to the corner of Jensen’s mouth.
“Better not,” Jensen murmured, smiling.
Part Two | Back to Masterpost