Page 7 of It Had to be You

The expression on her face was transcendent and as she swallowed it down, she gave a little shiver.

A cough turned his attention to the chef who gestured in her direction. "Now you can see why I make her anything she wants. We live to cook, but when someone enjoys the fruits of your labor like that? It makes me feel like I was just awarded another Michelin star."

She rolled her eyes and gave the chef a pointed look. "I’m so lucky you let me in here at all. It’s not every day I get to enjoy the cuisine of a chef of your caliber."

The chef waved her off. "It’s a pleasure, as always."

Someone called out from one of the stations and the chef left to deal with the emergency.

Alex found himself staring at the woman, warring with the need within. The empty seat across from him was a reminder that he was literally there as a match for someone else, but there was

something-

"I see you."

His eyes refocused and saw her warm brown eyes focused on him. "I- I’m sorry?"

"No need to be sorry." Her smile deepened and he saw the hint of a dimple in her cheek. "I agree with you."

He felt a furrow form between his brows.

Lifting her fork, she pointed at the dessert. "It’s beautiful, isn’t it?"

Oh. She thought he was staring at her plate.

"And you’re probably thinking that I’m selfish. And you’re right." She gently tucked the plate against her body and heaven help him, his eyes followed the movement to the swell of her breasts. "But seeing as you’re one of Martina’s clients, I’ll try to be a little more magnanimous."

She walked from the counter to the table with a few elegant strides and set the plate beside his glass of wine. Lifting her fork she cut out a regular bite-sized piece and slipped her fork under it. Shifting slightly, she adjusted her skirt and crouched down beside the table. The subtle gesture had revealed a modest slit along her thigh and that had allowed her to get down to where she was eye to eye with him.

Lifting the fork she held it before him. "Go on," she grinned, "take a bite. You’ll thank me for it later."

It had been more than twenty years since the last time someone had tried to feed him something and the gorgeous woman facing him looked nothing like his grandmother.

There was a moment of indecision, stemming mostly from the oddly intimate nature of the moment, but then there was only curiosity and a strange need to take a taste of this new sensation welling up inside of him.

They leaned toward each other and he had to force himself to focus on the fork rather than her chocolate brown eyes before he ended up with custard on his suit.

And what he ended up with was egg on his face.

He managed to swallow before he spoke. "That is incredible!"

She stood and gave him a haughty wink as she lifted her plate. "I told you."

"You told him what?"

Alexander stood and found himself feeling as if he was standing between the two women even though there was a table between himself and Blair.

"We were talking about the dessert."

"Dessert?" Blair looked down at the table and then back up. "We haven’t had dessert yet."

Lifting the plate in her hand, she gave a little shrug. "I snuck a bite ahead of time." She looked at him and then back at Blair. "Enjoy, you two." With that, she left the kitchen.

Alexander walked around the table and took hold of the back of Blair’s seat. "Did you get everything worked out?"

Blair remained silent until he was back in his chair. "How did you end up with Tatum Hansen?"

"Tatum… who?"

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