Coming Home to Love (Lakeside Porch Series Book 2) by Katie O'Boyle

and at the moment she’s my cooking teacher.”
    “You schemer. You’re already an accomplished cook.”
    “She’s teaching me to cook gluten-free. And I’m learning to plan menus so I can cook my own meals regularly.”
    Sydney folded her arms under her voluptuous bosom.
    Justin leaned closer and whispered, “I love that view.”
    “Spill. What’s the story?”
    Justin explained his food intolerance and the dramatic improvement in his health in a matter of weeks, similar to the improvement when he’d been in Indonesia the previous year. “I’m still weak, but I’m eating without difficulty, sleeping soundly, no more headaches or nausea. I feel like a new man.”
    Sydney nodded and swallowed the last of her vodka martini. “You look younger, fitter, and happier than you did in December.”
    “Not fitter, not yet, but I can work on that now that I have some energy back. Let’s talk about the college.”
    “Mine or yours? Mine’s not very interesting. Yours was a disaster, last I heard. Decided yet who you’re going to fire?”
    Justin raised his hand to signal the waiter for another round of drinks.
    Sydney stilled his hand.
    “I’ve had enough vodka. Make mine Perrier, too.”
    “I’ve been meeting with the Provost and one trustee who’s local to Tompkins Falls. I’ll meet two more trustees when I come back for my suits next week. Syd, there’s a to-be-fired list that’s shocking. The corruption went all across the campus, nearly every department.”
    “So you’ll fire a few from everywhere?”
    “Not my decision alone, as you know, but I suspect we will. I’m feeling out the other trustees, letting them sniff me.”
    “You definitely need world-class suits if the big boys are sniffing you,” Sydney said dryly.
    “And you definitely don’t need any more vodka, my dear.”
    “I need food, dearest. Let’s order.”
    Justin chose filet and salad, no croutons, to Sydney’s prime rib and baked potato.
    “Danny expects me to bring home half my meal and make a complete report on what we talked about.”
    “Is he jealous?”
    “Just protecting his territory.”
    “And is he behaving himself?”
    Sydney smiled tenderly, her eyes on her wedding band. “He’s being a thoughtful, attentive, faithful husband, and I love him for it.”
    Justin drummed his fingers on his glass of Perrier. “You’re happy?”
    “I’m happy, Justin.”
    “It’s as it should be.”
    “I expect the same from you. If not with this cook then with another lovely woman. Tell me”—she fixed him with a look— “where did you find your women in London? You don’t drink, and I can’t imagine you pub crawling now that you don’t drink.”
    “At the university, of course. We had a smashing faculty club and soirees and dinners and holiday bashes. And there were coffee houses around the area. A very lively social scene.”
    “And you had your pick of women.”
    “Smart, attractive, unattached women. Every one of whom reached the conclusion that I am a workaholic with a heart of stone.” Justin put his hand on his heart and let out a heavy sigh.
    “Well, the nerve.” She rolled her eyes. “I don’t suppose they were right?”
    Justin laughed at himself. “Perhaps they were. About the workaholism anyway.”
    Sydney appraised her friend and said gently, “You protect your heart fiercely, don’t you, Justin? Is it all about that Alexis person you knew in Switzerland?”
    “Alexa.” Justin was surprised to hear his voice catch. He coughed and took a swallow of Perrier.
    “She hurt you deeply, my sweet.” Sydney patted his hand. “Don’t let it make you paranoid with this fair maiden of yours. If there’s love between you, she’ll be true to you, but she won’t stick with you if you’re suspicious or jealous without cause.”
    “Why do you say suspicious and jealous? Do you think that’s the case with me?” The pucker of his forehead betrayed his hurt.
    Sydney nodded sagely. “I have heard it in