Free The Perfect Ingredient (Dare Valley) by Ava Miles Page B

a little different about them. In a good way, of course.”
    Ah, she was too cute with her round face and soft hair. “I used coconut oil instead of butter.”
    Arthur snorted. “Something wrong with butter?”
    Natalie put her hand on his arm like she was trying to soften her uncle’s bluster. “Uncle Arthur likes to complain about Jill’s coffee, especially the ones he insists are crazy concoctions, like her raspberry mocha latte.”
    Her uncle crossed his arms, his intelligent blue gaze raking over Terrance. “If people want to have dessert, why don’t they eat it instead of drinking it?”
    Terrance felt his mouth twitch. “People eat the darndest things. Now me, I’m the kind of guy who will try anything once.”
    “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me,” Arthur said.
    Joanie hit him gently. “Oh, ignore him. He’s all bluster. What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten, Terrance?”
    There were many, so he picked the first one that came to mind. “Grasshoppers. They’re considered a delicacy in the Congo.”
    All of the women shivered.
    Arthur snorted. “And what did you expect them to taste like? A steak?”
    Laughter shook his chest. “I guess it’s like climbing a mountain. If it’s in front of me, I’m going to give it a go.”
    “You’re braver than I am,” April said. “And speaking of being brave, it’s time I say hello to my hus…my ex-husband.”
    Arthur stood with her and took her arm. “We’ll both go say hello to that moron.”
    “Now, Arthur…” she said as they walked away.
    The frown on Natalie’s face spoke volumes. “I supposed I should go too. It was good to see you, Chef T.”
    “Please call me Terrance. If you’re going to keep me away from Elizabeth, you might as well use my full name. Not too many people have the balls to get between me and what I want.”
    She laughed like he’d hoped. “Ask my siblings. I have balls as big as any man.”
    As she walked away, he headed to the kitchen, the only place on earth he had ever felt at home until waking up in Elizabeth’s arms.

Chapter 9
     
    Even though her two brothers had plenty of space in their houses, Natalie and her sisters always stayed with their mom when they were visiting Dare Valley. The older house where April lived certainly wasn’t grand, but its contents felt delightfully familiar, like the music box resting on the mantle. Natalie used to crank it on snowy days, twirling the models around to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from her favorite childhood movie, The Wizard of Oz.
    And then there was the family farmer’s table boasting nicks and scratches from its long years of watching them grow. Their mom hadn’t taken everything from her house in Denver with their dad, but this table… Well, it had been more hers than his anyway. Their mom had sat with them at this table while they did their homework. She’d set cakes blazing with candles in front of them on their birthdays, as the lucky kid sat in the prized head of the table position, the guest of honor for a day. And this was where the Hale children had sat to talk over a problem with their mom—or sometimes even a sister or brother.
    Right now, Natalie and her sisters were huddled around it, drinking vodka shots. Not the wisest thing perhaps, but seeing Dad tonight had shaken everyone. Including mom, which was why she was taking longer in the shower than usual.
    “I still can’t believe his nerve,” Caroline said, kicking back in her chair. “It was hard enough for Matt to invite dad, but what does he do? He says he probably can’t make it because of surgery.”
    “And then he goes and shows up without telling any of us,” Moira added, sweeping a dramatic hand through the air like a symphony conductor before fumbling to shove her brown hair behind her ear.
    Despite her Irish name, Moira couldn’t hold her liquor.
    “He could have given Mom a warning,” Caroline continued. “Heck, all of us could have used one. Even Danny was