Hero at Large by Janet Evanovich Page B

teach you how to make macaroni and cheese?”
    His face brightened. “I love macaroni and cheese.”
    Chris couldn’t help smiling with him. “I know.” This is hopeless, she thought, how could anybody resist a man who made you feel like a million dollars just because you offered to make macaroni and cheese? Sighing in resignation, Chris shrugged out of her coat. Ken took it from her and headed toward the front hall closet as she began pulling things from the refrigerator. “Milk, butter, cheddar cheese,” she mumbled as she set the food on the countertop. As Ken walked back into the kitchen, she handed him the block of cheese. “You can grate this in the food processor.”
    His face looked blank. “Food processor?”
    Chris moved the machine to the front of the counter. “Cut the cheese into chunks…like this. Drop them into the attachment…here. Press the proper button—this one—and presto!” The machine whirred.
    â€œI think I can handle that.”
    Chris melted butter in a small saucepan and added a little flour, stirring with a wire whisk. “You see,” she said, “two tablespoons melted butter and two tablespoons of flour.”
    â€œHmmmm,” he hummed into her hair as he watched over her shoulder.
    â€œThen, after you’ve cooked this together for a minute or two, you add a cup of milk.”
    â€œCup of milk,” he repeated, the husky words vibrating along the edge of Chris’ ear.
    Chris closed her eyes and swallowed. “Have you grated that cheese, yet?”
    â€œI was watching you.”
    â€œWell, you don’t have to watch me anymore. That’s all there is to the sauce. Now it just gets cooked until it thickens a little.” Chris set a pot of water on the stove to boil.
    â€œGrated cheese and elbow macaroni,” Ken said, placing them next to the stove. “I feel like I’m assisting at surgery.”
    â€œThis is nothing. Wait until I teach you how to make soup, and you have to cut up a billion vegetables.”
    â€œI’m good at vegetables. I made a salad,” he said proudly. He took a large plastic wrapped bowl from the refrigerator for her inspection.
    Chris looked at his handiwork with genuine admiration. He definitely had a flair for salad.
    â€œI noticed a hambone in here,” he called over his shoulder as he rummaged in the refrigerator. “Maybe we could slice some ham off it and add it to the macaroni and cheese.”
    They worked together in companionable silence, setting the table, then adding cheese to the white sauce before combining it with the cooked macaroni and slivers of ham. Chris sprinkled extra cheese over the top and slid the dish into the oven to brown. They stood at the stove in hushed expectancy, waiting for their supper.
    Ken grinned down at her. “I guess it’s kind of dumb, but I really am enjoying myself. It’s nice to work in the kitchen with you.”
    Chris nodded in agreement. “I like to cook, but I almost never get the chance. I never get home before six, and Lucy can’t wait much longer than that to eat.” She stole a slice of radish from the salad and carried the bowl into the dining room. “Besides, when Aunt Edna’s here, she really isn’t too crazy about me invading her kitchen.” Chris took the steaming casserole from the oven and set it on the table.
    Ken waved his fork at the heaping portion of macaroni he had doled out onto his plate. “I canmake this, now: two tablespoons butter, two tablespoons flour, one cup of milk, and a bunch of cheese.”
    â€œIs it okay?”
    â€œIt’s great.”
    Chris stared across the table at him. “I see you’ve decided to grow a beard.”
    Ken rubbed the black four-day-old whiskers with his thumb. “I thought I’d give it a try. What do you think?”
    The thought of Ken in full beard gave her the shivers. It would