Page 2 of One Sweet Taste (Love with a Price)

He’d watched her as she studied the photograph in the window. Her eyes had been wide with wonder, and he’d immediately found himself wishing he had his camera to capture the look on her face.

Foster sighed as the gorgeous woman disappeared around the corner before he fished the keys out of his pocket to unlock the studio door. Yeah, finding out who the firecracker was? Definitely going at the top of his to-do list.

He shrugged out of his coat as his eyes strayed to the photograph on the far wall, and his good mood evaporated in an instant. The photo of a woman holding her premature infant was good ... but apparently it hadn’t been great. Before Foster could sink any more into his self-pity, his phone rang. Recognizing his brother’s ringtone, he pulled the phone out of his pocket and answered as he walked to his office in the back of the spacious studio.

“Ethan, you’re up early. It’s only nine.” Since his brother had moved back to town, he’d spent every moment with his girlfriend, Tori Bennett. The two were holed up in Tori’s apartment most of the time. It was a wonder the poor girl could still walk.

“Did Tori come to her senses and decide she fell for the wrong brother?” Foster smiled as Ethan growled over the phone.

“Fuck you, Foster. If you come near my girlfriend, I will kick you square in the ass.”

He laughed. Tori was his sister Becca’s best friend, and he viewed her as a little sister as well. But it sure was fun to flirt with her, especially now that it had the added benefit of annoying his younger brother.

“Look, man,” Ethan continued before Foster could goad him any more, “I was hoping you could come over to the restaurant this morning and take some pictures. Luke and his crew are going to be there, and I really want to capture every step of the renovation for marketing. We need all the promo we can get before it opens on Valentine’s Day.”

Damn. Foster had completely forgotten he’d promised Ethan he’d take pictures today. “Uh, this morning?” He was really hoping to get the few photo shoots he had scheduled out of the way and then head down to Quigley’s for a drink. “I have some family holiday shoots, so I—”

Ethan cut him off. “Look, I happen to know your shoots aren’t until later. Becca checked the calendar on your phone.”

Foster made a mental note to flick his nosy little sister in the back of the head. She never could stay out of his stuff.

“Foster, you can’t just pull back. I know how sensitive you are, man. If you don’t want to talk to me about it, talk to Dylan.”

Out of his four siblings, Foster had been the closest with Dylan. However, all of the Price kids were a tight-knit bunch.

“There’s nothing to talk about, man. I didn’t win.”Again. “End of story.”

He heard Ethan’s frustrated sigh on the end of the line. “Whether or not you win the Donovan Photography Award doesn’t prove anything. You’re a brilliant artist. Are you really going to let a group of people you don’t even know define your worth?”

“I don’t want to talk about this. No offense, but I’d prefer not to start my morning discussing my failures.”

“Fuck, Foster,” Ethan growled, and then conceded. “Fine. Get over here, then, and take some damn pictures. You can meet my new head chef. She’s probably already there, working up a menu for the festival next week.”

Foster shook his head, and decided having a distraction this morning was probably a good thing.

His brother was crazy. As if the holidays weren’t stressful enough, Ethan was organizing a holiday food-and-wine festival. Foster had to give it to him, though. It really was a great way to build anticipation for the new restaurant. People would be lining up before the doors opened.

He said good-bye to his brother before he went to get his camera bag and choose the proper lenses. He grabbed his jacket on the way out, figuring he’d just walk over to the restaurant and try to get his head in the game. It was just right around the corner in the same direction the redhead had walked. Foster’s mouth tipped up. Maybe he could figure out exactly where she worked.

Chapter Three

Linzee sat her laptop down on the big butcher-block workspace and powered it up. The kitchen in Price B&G was a dream ... and much bigger than the kitchen in her little Chicago restaurant. A pang of sadness went through her as she thought about her former restaurant. Her rat-bastard ex had called in the loan he’d given her to open the place. He’d known it would bankrupt her. It had almost killed her to close her doors when her name had just been starting to get out there, but she hadn’t had a choice.

Her ex was just lucky their daughter had stopped her from figuring out creative ways to kill him and hide his body.

Linzee moved around the kitchen, admiring the new stainless-steel appliances. She hummed as she made a pot of coffee, trying to keep her mind from drifting to a stranger with dark hair and blue eyes. And strong, smiling lips. And stubble that would scrape along her chin to cause an erotic little bite of pain when he kissed her. What would it be like to kiss those strong lips? He wouldn’t be tentative. He’d be sure, firm. His mouth would easily probe hers open and his tongue ... Mmmm, what would he taste like? Would he taste as good as he smelled?

She shook her head to clear it.Snap out of it, Linzee. What is wrong with you? It’s just been too damn long since you’ve been with a man, that’s all.When she got home tonight, she’d have to unpack some more boxes and see if she could find her bullet vibrator that she’d named Albert. Yep, Albert never let her down. If a vibrator could do dishes, then he’d be the perfect man.

Taking a sip of coffee, Linzee pulled up the recipes on her computer, scrolling through the finger desserts to make note of the ones she’d picked out that would be perfect for the festival.

While she was highlighting ingredients she needed to order, she heard the bell jingle over the front door. Ethan must be here. That was odd. He usually came in through the back. After sliding off her stool, she refilled her coffee cup and then pushed through the swinging door that led into the main dining area.

“Good morning, boss. I was just making a list of—” she stopped and gasped at the man in front of her who lowered the camera from his face to look at her. His eyes widened in surprise.

Oh, holy hell, what was he doing here? She tried to recover from her shock, but the raven-haired man from earlier was already grinning at her. “Well, well, it’s my little firecracker. Don’t tell me you’re Ethan’s new head chef.”

“I—yes, I am.”Stay firm, Linzee. He shouldn’t be in here.“Would you mind telling me what you’re doing in here taking pictures? We’re not open yet, as you can see.”

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