Page 10 of One Sweet Taste (Love with a Price)

Then she heard Marnie’s voice and whipped her head around. The older woman was standing at the two younger women’s table, holding her coffee as she gave them a withering stare. “You sure do have a lot to learn, Heather. Even if your fake nails and even faker boobs were Foster’s style, which they’re not, I can tell you for certain that he doesn’t go for your particular type of mean girl.”

Heather’s jaw dropped open in surprise that anyone would talk to her that way. Before she could gather herself to respond, Marnie was already heading for the door. She turned to offer Linzee a wink on the way out.

The two women were staring at her then, and she was sure it wouldn’t take them long to put two and two together. After standing up and gathering her purse, Linzee all but ran out of the coffee shop and around the corner, gulping in breaths of cool air as she tried to calm herself.

Why was she getting upset? Despite Marnie’s defense of her, the younger women were right, weren’t they? Why would Foster go for someone like her when he had hot young women falling at his feet? The inkling of hope she had for any sort of relationship with him faded. It was ridiculous for Linzee to stay in this situation. She’d made a mistake, and she knew what she needed to do. It was time to cut her losses.

Chapter Ten

When Linzee’s outgoing message played again, Foster had to grit his teeth and restrain himself from throwing his phone across the room. He’d tried calling her countless times last night and this morning, and she still wasn’t answering. He’d left what seemed like a hundred messages, so there really wasn’t a point to leaving any more. She knew he was looking for her. Hell, at this point, he’d be lucky if she didn’t have him arrested for stalking. The thought that she didn’t want to talk to him cut him deeper than he cared to admit.

Ethan had refused to give him her exact address despite Foster’s attempts at bribing and blackmailing his brother for the information. Ethan had just cited some bullshit about privacy laws and said no.

Well, he’d be damned if that stopped him. After checking his messages at the studio, he locked the front door and headed in the direction of Price B&G. Linzee was going to talk to him even if he had to corner her.

The bell jingled as Foster entered Price. The door was open, so hopefully that meant Linzee was there already. “Hello! Anyone here?”

Normally he would have stopped to admire the way the place was coming along, but right now he was laser-focused on one thing only. He’d just made it to the kitchen door when it swung toward him.

Ethan walked out looking grim, and was followed by Linzee. Her eyes were red, and Foster could immediately tell she’d been crying.

“What did you do?” Foster bit out the accusation at his brother. “Why is she so upset?”

Ethan hadn’t been thrilled with him for making love to Linzee in the kitchen of the restaurant, but after giving Foster a thorough reaming, he’d said he was happy that Foster had finally found someone. Ethan and Tori apparently thought they made a perfect couple.

But right now, it didn’t look like Linzee was lost in new romantic bliss. He turned to look at the redhead, and didn’t like the way her gaze slid away from his. Moving next to her, Foster lifted an arm to hug her close, but she shrugged him off and stepped away. His face tightened and he glared at Ethan, waiting for an explanation.

“Don’t look at me like that. I tried to get her to stay, but she won’t. She says she’ll only stay until I can find a replacement chef.”

The blood felt like it completely drained from his body. No. He’d finally found the woman he’d searched for. The woman he clicked with. And she was leaving?

“What is he talking about?” he demanded, but Linzee remained silent, her hands twisting in front of her. “Linz, answer me!”

She jumped, and Foster realized how harsh he must have sounded. But dammit, he was angry. She couldn’t just walk away.

She cleared her throat, and squared her jaw as she looked up at him. Why the fuck did she look like she needed to gather her courage to talk to him? She should be able to say anything to him, dammit.

“Foster, I’ve decided that Oakville isn’t a good fit for me after all. I think it’s best that I go back to Chicago. Like I told Ethan, I’ll give him time to find a new chef before I go, but I … I think this is the right decision.”

He was stunned. He stared at her for a long moment and watched as her face flushed, and she looked away, unable to meet his eyes.

“Linzee, you can’t do this. You can’t just walk away from this.”

Ethan shuffled his feet and cleared his throat, obviously uncomfortable. “I think I’m going to call to make sure our deliveries will be on time.”

Ethan gave him a look that could only be described as pity before he went back into the kitchen, and it made Foster’s blood boil. It was the same pitiful look he’d received from his siblings when he’d lost the Donovan Award for the third year in a row. He wasn’t good enough for that, and apparently, he wasn’t good enough for Linzee either.

“Foster, last night shouldn’t have happened.” Even though her words were soft, they held a jagged edge. “It was a mistake.” She took a deep breath. “Not only would it be awkward for me to keep working for your brother, but I’m not doing well being away from my daughter. I think it would be best if I left.”

He couldn’t blame her for wanting to be near Georgia, but dammit, he just wanted to come first for once. It was selfish, but he didn’t care. He felt an ache in his chest that made him realize just how much Linzee had gotten inside of him. Letting her see that would just make things worse.

He hardened his gaze. “Right. Well, I’m sorry a good fuck wasn’t enough to keep you here.”

Linzee gasped at his cruel words, and Foster hated himself for it.

“Tell Ethan I have to go. Let me know if you need help packing.”

He turned to leave, hoping she would come after him, that she would call his name and tell him she was wrong. But she didn’t.

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