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“I’ll take you there It’s no bother” Colin gestured down the hall Noting her surprised expression, he added, “I do knohere the kitchen is”

“Of course Didn’t think otherwise,” she lied She couldn’t be blauy who needed to knohere the kitchen was

“When I first moved in, I spent quite a bit of time with Marie in the kitchen She’s quite the chef,” he said

He motioned to her to follow him She reluctantly moved to his side and fell in step beside him

“I wouldn’t figure you for the type of guy ould hang out in kitchens” There was a part of her that thought she shouldn’t poke at hireeable, maybe he’d send her home

“I do knoay around a kitchen I enjoy cooking when I have ti”

“I once burned water,” she adh

Colin laughed The sound was deep and infectious “How did that happen?”

“It’s kind of likedart board story,” she ad to share it, but trust me, don’t leave me unattended in a kitchen”

“Well, it’s a good thing I ran into you when I did, then”

The char side of Colin was back in full force, which flustered Sabela Tongue-tied, she reht notat Haberlin Chalet

Chapter Sixteen

SABELA MARVELED AT THE GORGEOUS chalet while Colin led her to the kitchen After a short walk, they stopped in front of a set of swinging doors He held one open for her Inside was an expansive kitchen that could have belonged in any fine restaurant

Nothing was small inside the chalet

On the other side of ain a colander She looked up as they entered

“I found her, Marie See? I didn’t lock her away somewhere and tell her she couldn’t eat,” Colin said

Sabela couldn’t help but laugh

Colin had disarmed her so easily she hadn’t even noticed him do it

“If you listen to Marie, you’d think I’re,” he said “I was told in no uncertain terms that I needed toto waste away to nothing”

No doubt, Marie had seen how little she’d eaten for breakfast Sabela smiled at her, touched by her concern “I appreciate it, Marie You’re too kind”

“No one ever leaves Haberlin without gaining a pound or two,” Marie said “I make it my personal mission”

Her accent was lovely Sabela thought that she could listen to it all day

There was definitely so maternal about Marie that she liked She also liked that Marie wasn’t as intimidated by Colin as others were

“You’re both just in ti up some ratatouille”

The previous evening had been a selection of Swiss delicacies Now Marie had moved on to French ones Sabela had heard mention of ratatouille before, but she’d never eaten it Marie waved to them to sit down at the seats at the island

More infor before, the kitchen put Sabela at ease Not only that, but wearing simple jeans and a blouse made her feel more like herself

Sabela ate the delicious stehile Marie chatted amiably with her and Colin For the first time since she had arrived at the chalet, Sabela felt relaxed and even a bit at horow on her

Eating in the kitchen made the meal more relaxed and casual The bonus was that with Marie to buffer the conversation, the loootten

Marie had been rown children She had lived in the village of Andermatt that was just down the mountain slope from the chalet for her entire life It seeain Sabela had never been far from her city until now, either

It was clear fros that Colin shared that he had traveled all over the world Sabela found that she was curious about hirown up wealthy

From the way he spoke about his travels with such enthusiasm, she didn’t think so Soranted, wouldn’t they?