Page 56 of Recipe for Temptation

“You’re the first, Reese.”

God help her, she believed him. Closing her eyes, she drew a deep, shaky breath and slowly exhaled. “Michael…”

“I need you?—”

“Michael.”

“—to come down to the restaurant.”

Her eyes snapped open. That was the last thing she’d expected him to say. “You need me to do what?”

“Come to the restaurant. That’s actually the reason I was calling. If you want to be my apprentice, you should familiarize yourself with the inner workings of a restaurant. So tonight I’m giving you a front-row seat to our busy kitchen.”

Reese groaned. “That sounds lovely, Michael, but does it have to be tonight?”

“Tonight’s perfect. Tuesdays are generally our slowest nights, so it won’t be a complete madhouse. Besides, aren’t you the one who said you were trying to get into your new role as my apprentice?”

The man remembered everything, damn him. “I did, and I am. But tonight doesn’t work for me.”

“Tonight, Reese.”

“Oh, come on, Michael,” she wheedled. “It’s already after seven. And Asha ran me ragged today. My feet are killing me.”

He laughed. “Don’t ever whine to a chef about having sore feet after a leisurely afternoon of shopping. Trust me, you won’t get any sympathy.”

She bit her lip, feeling a pang of shame. “I guess you have been on your feet all day, slaving in a hot kitchen.”

“That’s right, and you don’t hear me complaining. So suck it up, buttercup.”

Reese heaved a dramatic sigh of resignation. “All right. I’m coming, I’m coming.”

“Mmm,” came his low, husky rumble. “Now that’s what I like to hear.”

Heat stung her cheeks at the sexual innuendo. “Down, boy.”

“Too late.” He chuckled. “Anyway, your cab should be there in a few minutes.”

“What? You already called me a cab?”

“Yeah. I’ll drive you home afterward.”

Her hackles rose. “Don’t you think it was a bit presumptuous of you to call a cab before you’d even spoken to me?”

“Absolutely.” He was infuriatingly unapologetic. “Look, babe, I have to go. I’ll see you when you get here.”

Reese sputtered in protest, but he’d already hung up on her.

Chapter Nineteen

When she arrived at the restaurant thirty minutes later, Michael met her outside, looking good enough to eat in his crisp white chef’s jacket. He helped her out of the cab, then paid and tipped the driver so generously that the man’s eyes lit up like he’d just won a million-dollar jackpot.

As the cab lurched off down the street, Michael and Reese lingered on the sidewalk gazing at each other.

He touched her face, smiling warmly into her eyes. “Hi.”

Her insides melted. “Hi.”

“Glad you came.”

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