I walked to the front door, opened it, and saw a giant bouquet of beautiful flowers. I had no clue what kind they were, but there were pink, white, purple and light yellow blooms. I saw Luke peering around the flowers and smiling. "Do you like them Cupcake?"

"I love them Luke! I have never seen them before, what kind are they? And what are you doing out there? Why did you ring the doorbell."
He brought the flowers down a little so I could fully see his face. "They are a type of Aster. I think they look like fireworks though, and who doesn't like those?" I took the bouquet from him and looked over the flowers. I didn't want to admit that I have never actually watched fireworks. I had a chance to see them from my bedroom window a few times in Illinois for 4th of July celebrations and New Year's Eve. They were beautiful and that was all that matter. Luke stepped into the doorway, I stepped back to let him in. "I wanted to start our date off right. Pick you up at the door, bring you flowers, the whole deal."

I felt Gabriel come up behind me. "Nice choice Luke. I have always liked Asters." As he was talking, Gabriel started to grab from the flowers from my hand. Luke slapped Gabriel's hand away though.

"Those are not for you Gabe. It also hurts a little that you sound surprised that I can pick out flowers."

"I am surprised Luke. And calm down, I am just taking them so you two can head out. I will put them in water for her." I handed Gabriel the flowers and smiled back at him as Luke grabbed my hand and led me out of the house. He walked towards a car that looked just like Victor's and Owen's but it was black. I had yet to see this car, but that didn't surprise me. They were always showing up with new cars. "I thought this would be better than taking the motorcycle." He wiggled his eyebrows at me as he opened my car door.

We made pretty good time into downtown Charleston and Luke only drove around a few blocks before finding a spot to parallel park. "It's only around the corner. You okay walking in those?" He was eyeing my shoes and I thought I noticed a small smile on his face.

I swiveled my foot and looked down at my shoes. "I should be fine." I hoped. "Well if you need me to carry you Cupcake, just let me know." I blushed and kept my face down. How embarrassing would that be?

We walked around the corner and passed a few storefronts until Luke stopped in front of one. It was all glass windows in the front and the door was a stain glass mosaic. Above the door "The Tasting Room" was painted in gold lettering. Through the windows I could see rows of countertops in the middle and all along the outside walls were stovetops. There had to be 10-12 set ups all together. I couldn't see anyone else inside. Luke opened the door and a small bell jingled overhead. Back in the corner a door swung open and a woman, maybe in her 50's, came bustling out. She spotted us and quickly came over. She was about my height, but fuller in her waist and legs. She had on a white chef's coat and black and white checked pants. Her hair was almost all grey and straight, stopping just above her shoulders. "Lucian! How wonderful for you to come early." She had a thick southern accent, the kind that people always try to imitate, but hers seemed genuine. She grabbed Luke's hands and leaned in to kiss his cheek. I moved back a step, not wanting to get in the way. "And who is this darling girl?" She had turned to me, but was still holding Luke's hands.

"Miss Annabelle, may I introduce you to my girlfriend, Sang Sorenson. She is here to learn from the best." My stomach flipped when I heard him call me his girlfriend. I had heard him say it before, only in front of Uncle though, so it seemed more serious and exciting when he said it in front of Miss Annabelle. I had little time to think of that though because my hands were picked up in Miss Annabelle's and she was leaning in to kiss my cheek. I blushed at the contact, still not used to it even after all this time with the guys.

"He sure is a charmer isn't he sweetheart?" She leaned in closer to me. "And I know you must mean a lot to him if he brought you here. Lucian has never brought someone with him to any of my classes. He always said that cooking with someone was too intimate a thing to bring just anybody." I looked at Luke.

"It's true Cupcake." He winked at me. "Gabe keeps asking me to come and I keep avoiding it."

"But what about cooking at the diner, and for the guys?" It seemed like he was always cooking with someone else around.

Miss Annabelle had moved out of the way, but was still watching us. Luke moved in closer to me. "There is cooking just to get food on the table, that's what I do at the diner and when I'm making dinner for the guys. And then there is cooking to feel connected to something more than just a recipe. That's what I do when I come here, and when I am at the diner when it is closed. And today, it is what I am doing with you, because I want more than anything to share it with you." I forgot where we were, and I think Luke did too. He had leaned in so that he could whisper the last sentence and I closed the gap, placing my lips against his. It was brief and he was pulling back before I could do anything else. His smile was wide and infectious. I was brought out of the moment when I heard a high pitched squeal from next to us.

"Ooooo, if that wasn't just the cutest thing I have ever seen." Miss Annabelle was smiling and bouncing on her toes. "Let's have some fun before the class starts."