My Dreamy Pasta Salad is Born!

Please welcome Passionate Cook Rowena Sudbury to the Cafe!

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Note: I’ve decided to write a little story featuring Brad and Scott from my novella Blue Moon. Although told from their perspective, this is the actual genesis of the salad.

Summer heat baked the Atlanta streets, and both Brad and Scott felt wilted. Once the grocery shopping was completed, Brad declared he wanted nothing more than a night in, on the couch, with the air conditioner turned up full blast. Scott gave him an indulgent smile and told him to choose a movie while he finished up in the kitchen.

“It’s too hot to eat,” Brad complained.

“I’m making something light,” Scott said. “Now go pick the movie and quit grousing.”

Recognizing the hint of steel that underlined most of Scott’s commands, Brad sat on the couch, picked up the remote, and began browsing through the streaming Netflix titles.

Scott went back to work on his salad creation while keeping an eye on Brad over the low wall that separated the kitchen from the living room. He delighted in cooking meals for his lover, and he suspected this meal would be a hit.

Brad looked for a light movie to match the promised light meal. He wanted a comedy, but as he cast a glance back at Scott he knew he also wanted something sexy.

While the pasta cooked, Scott prepared the rest of the ingredients, kalamata olives from the gourmet grocery section, feta cheese with sun-dried tomatoes, chopped organic basil, and heirloom tomatoes. The faint aroma of toasted walnuts filled the small space, and Scott turned to pull them from the oven and set them on a cooling rack.

Brad’s nose twitched, “Mmm, something smells good.”

“Did you pick a movie?” Scott asked as he seeded a bell pepper.

“You okay with sub-titles?”

“I prefer sub-titles to bad over-dubbing,” Scott said, his knife making quick work of the pepper.

“Okay, well this movie is called J’en Suis, Heads or Tails. It’s about a straight guy who loses his real estate job and becomes an antique dealer.” Brad turned to look at Scott with a grin, “The description says the antique world is flamboyant, so the guy has to masquerade as a gay man even though he’s straight. After a while he’s not sure which side of the coin he’s on.”

“Sounds amusing,” Scott said. He drained the pasta and rinsed it under cool water.

“He’s hot,” Brad said.

“Who?”

“The guy who plays Dominique,” Brad said. “Besides, French is a sexy language.”

Scott smiled as he dumped the pasta into the bowl and mixed all the rest of the ingredients in. “Almost ready.”

“Good, now I’m starving,” Brad said as he cleared a space on the coffee table. He turned to look at Scott, “Besides, you always make the best stuff.”

“Flatterer,” Scott said. “Would you rather have beer or a glass of wine?”

“Hell Scott, you know before I moved in with you I was all about the beer and pizza. More civilized meals call for wine. Need any help?”

“I got it,” Scott said as he loaded a tray with two bowls of salad, a French baguette, and a bottle of Chardonnay from the fridge. Forks and two glasses rounded out the tray, and he carried it in to set in front of Brad. “Now, let’s see this movie.”

“First things first,” Brad said. He picked up his bowl and took a bite. “Oh, God, Scott, this is so dreamy!”

“You looking to score Bradley,” Scott said with a wink as he picked up his own bowl.

“No! I mean yes…I mean dammit, Scott, this salad is killer!” Brad said as he shoveled another forkful into his mouth.

With a chuckle, Scott picked up the remote and started the movie.

The salad disappeared as Brad helped himself to seconds. When they were done eating, Scott wrapped an arm around Brad and eased him in close. They laughed at the raunchier scenes, and by the time the movie ended they were both ready for bed.

“Give me a minute to put the leftovers away,” Scott said, and loaded their dishes on to the tray.

“What leftovers?” Brad asked.

“Greedy,” Scott said.

Brad reached for Scott’s hand and pulled him close. “That I am.” He angled his head up and stole a kiss. “Now, come to bed.”

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