Nic laughed, but when Katerina shot him a dirty look, he stopped.
“You’re so sweet,” I said with a smile. “But honestly, you don’t have to do that.”
Lifting her head, Katerina simply grinned and said, “I want to help. Now, you go out there with your customers, and I’ll help Nic and . . .”
“Max,” I added.
“Yes, Max. I’ll help him make your mascarpone cake.”
My eyes darted over to Nic who simply shrugged.
Damn. Where was Kilyn when I needed her?
“O-okay. Max knows all the measurements and such.”
Katerina put her hands on my back and gently gave me a push.
“Off you go! I am the master in the kitchen.”
My eyes widened in horror. Nic took my elbow and led me out into the bakery. It felt as though someone was sitting on my chest as I glanced over my shoulder and watched the scene play out before my eyes.
Katerina turned to Max, placed her hands on her hips and said, “Give me the recipe, young man. I’m in charge.”
“Oh, my God,” I whispered as I stopped and headed back into the kitchen.
“Katerina, honestly you don’t have to do this.”
She slowly turned and looked at me. “Do you not trust me?”
I let out a nervous laugh. “Well, you did just find out your son was dating me and that I’m not Greek.”
Nic let out a small groan from behind me.
“Young lady, I take cooking very seriously. This is your business, and obviously my Nicholaus seems to be entranced by you. Therefore, I intend on helping you. It is not a sin to admit when you are defeated and need help.”
My head pulled back. “I’m not defeated.”
“Let it go,” Nic whispered from behind me.
Katerina laughed. “You seem rattled, my dear. Maybe you’re not used to getting a large order.”
It was my turn to laugh. “I’ve gotten bigger.”
When Katerina lifted her brow, I knew this was it. The challenge.
Oh hell no. You’re not doing this on my own turf.
Nic let out a nervous chuckle from behind me. “Gabi, why don’t we let Max and my mom start this. Liza is swamped up front.”
Katerina narrowed her eyes at me, silently willing me to dare her. I was going to nip this shit in the bud.
“Max,” I said with a firm voice, “Go help Liza. Katerina and I will take care of the cakes.”
Max walked up to me. “Are you sure?”
I nodded. I tried to push down my fear about this order and brush it off as an over-reaction. “Go help her and try Charity again.”
A slow smile moved across her face. This lady was good. But this time, she wasn’t going to win. Not with me in my own kitchen.
“Are you sure you can keep up with me, Gabriella?”
Oh! oh, it’s on!
“Are you sure you can keep up with me . . . Katerina?”
She smiled bigger.
Nic walked up and stood between us. “What’s happening right now?”
Giving him a pat on the chest, I replied, “We’re about to get our mascarpone on.”
Nic looked between his mother and I with a mixed expression of both concern and amusement.
I walked over to the giant refrigerator and took out two large bowls of my always-on-hand lemon curd.
Placing them on the kitchen’s stainless steel island, I looked at Katerina.
“What’s that?” Nic asked.
“Lemon curd,” Katerina answered with a smile.
“Because everyone knows you have to make the lemon curd ahead of time,” I added.
Clearing his throat, I glanced over to Nic. He looked between his mother and me then laughed. “So, this ought to be interesting.”
Katerina took one of the bowls. “Italian food is nothing but Greek food . . . but with less love.”
I went to say something when Nic kissed me then whispered against my lips. “Just take her help. I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
My lower stomach pooled with heat.
“For you,” I whispered. “I’m doing this for you.”
He laughed. “Uh-huh. Okay.”
It didn’t take long for Katerina and I to get lost in the baking process. She was good, there was no denying it. But she was not about to show me up in my own kitchen.
Little did I know I was setting myself up for Katerina’s real challenge.
I sat down at a table and sighed. “Thirty lemon mascarpone cakes done.”
Nic grinned and squatted down. He lightly pushed a strand of hair from my face. “You look beautiful.”
With a chuckle, I stared into his beautiful hazel eyes. “I’m a mess, Nic. I nearly killed myself trying to keep up with your mother.”
My eyes lifted and looked behind the bakery counter where Katerina was currently trying to take over in helping Liza with customers. “Look at her. It’s like she’s not the least bit fazed by all that baking. She’s the Energizer Bunny on crack.”
Nic glanced over his shoulder to his mother. “That was nothing compared to some of the cooking I’ve seen my mother do.”