Page 30 of Sensuous

Jealousy. That’s my problem. I’m jealous of him and have been since that day my parents and I went to his restaurant and my father couldn’t say enough wonderful things about the meal he made. My father has never once said anything as glowing to me about a single meal I’ve made him, yet this guy gets gushing like he’s some kind of god in the kitchen.

I jab my fingertip into the down button for the elevator as anger begins to replace sadness inside me. Anger at my father. Anger at Marco for his grabby hand bullshit today. Anger that Maria and Shane have cast me as some kind of mean girl when all I wanted to do was cook some great food and try to win that million-dollar prize.

And anger at Alex March for not being a decent enough person to even let me apologize.

The guy couldn’t even let me say my I’m sorry speech without being a dick. Oh, no. This is not how it goes.

My head full of what I truly want to tell him, I storm back down the hallway to his door and pound my fist against it. I’m going to say what I came here to say, and if that means I have to yell it through the door, then so be it.

A second later, he flings the door open and barks, “What? What do you want?”

My mouth drops open in shock as I stare at him standing in front of me in just a pair of black shorts. I had no idea Alex March looked this hot under his clothes. Tattoos cover his chest and shoulders, with one arm covered down to his elbow in a sleeve. Muscles I never would have imagined him having complete the gorgeous image in front of me, including chiseled abs that look like they could be used to wash clothes back in the day.

“Well, what do you want? Are you here to insult me again? Is that what couldn’t wait until tomorrow?” he snaps even more angrily than a minute ago.

I shake my head, but somehow all the anger I felt as I marched back here to give him a piece of my mind has disappeared. He looks even more perfect than I thought he was before this moment, and I don’t know what to say.

“How did you find me anyway? I guess you’re not only rude but a stalker too.”

As much as I try, I can’t get any words out under his withering stare. Finally, I mumble, “Sadie found you.”

Alex scowls at me for a long moment before rolling his eyes. “Okay, great talk.”

He begins to close the door in my face, but I stick my foot out to stop him. “Please, I do want to talk to you.”

In the tiny opening, he glares out at me. “Fine. Say what you came to say.”

“Can I come in? It’s sort of impolite to keep someone standing out in your hallway here.”

“Kat, you’re the queen of impolite, so it seems pretty fitting.”

I look into his dark eyes and try to find some shred of kindness in them. I think I see a hint of something, so I push down my hurt feelings from his comment and say in a quiet voice, “Please, Alex. I just want to talk.”

For a few moments, it feels like the world stops turning as I hold my breath and wait for him to decide if he wants to let me in or not. I can tell him what I came to say from out here, but I’d rather not have everyone on his floor hear me give my mea culpa.

Finally, he disappears from the opening and the door opens. “Fine. Come in.”

Relief washes over me, and I step inside his apartment. Instantly, I’m hit with an incredible aroma of something he’s cooking. My mouth begins to water it smells so delicious.

“What are you making? It’s nearly midnight,” I ask as I follow him down his hallway.

“Just something I felt like cooking,” he answers, his words clipped like he resents my being there and my asking him anything.

“It smells wonderful. I’m getting garlic and rosemary and something else I can’t place,” I say as I sense things aren’t going to get better between us anytime soon.

“It’s lavender,” he says flatly. “In the herbs de Provence.”

I thought it could be that, but I was too afraid to say it. God, this man intimidates me. Why does he have to be so perfect in every way?

As I turn the corner to walk into the kitchen behind him, I stop dead, stunned at how gorgeous the room and all theappliances are. All stainless steel and professional grade, they’re exactly what I wish I had at my place.

“This room is beautiful,” I quietly say as I look around at the Italian inspired design complete with white marble countertops and stone detail around the gas stove.

“I like having a place where I can cook, so I redid this room when I bought the condo. The rest of the place is pretty much the same as it was then, but this kitchen is exactly what I wanted.”

“You’re so lucky to have this. You really are.”

Alex spins around to face me and snaps, “So this is what you came to say? That I’m lucky again? Did it ever occur to you to think things happen because of my hard work?”

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