Page 5 of Executive Benefits

My eyes roamed over another item—a small, pink ball of what appeared to be watermelon and dragon fruit with some type of foam. It was a little too much for what this town probably wanted. Although beautiful, if he wanted to go with a small, hometown feel, it may scare away the crowd he was hoping to bring in.

I picked it up and tasted it, humming at the flavor. Dragon fruit and watermelon with some type of cream cheese and honey. My eyes rolled into the back of my head.

“I like to see people enjoying my food,” Nick said. My eyes snapped open, and I thought my cheeks would burn up from embarrassment.

“This is wonderful.” I pointed to the second one. “It might not fit with the food you’re going to be making, but it’s delicious, nevertheless.”

Nick handed me the menu. Good humor sparkled in his sapphire eyes, and I found myself smiling with him.

When I managed to break away from his gaze, I flipped the menu open to the first page, and there, with the appetizers,fruit and cream cheesewas spelled out in French to make it fancier. It was also almost thirty dollars.

I lifted my pen and ran the end of it over the description just to make sure I wasn’t missing anything.

A thumb caressed my cheekbone. The skin on skin contact left a line of heat down to my jaw as Nick’s fingers tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I didn’t hate it, but it was weird. My eyes flicked to meet his, and his hand was still in my hair.

I didn’t know what to feel as embarrassment painted across his face.

“Sorry,” he said, showing me a little fuzz ball. “I didn’t mean to scare you. This was in your hair.”

“Oh.” I chuckled, happy it didn’t come out as a giggle or high-pitched like my laughter could get when I got flustered by the opposite gender. I tended to get awkward personally. “Thank you, then,” I said and turned back to the menu, wishing his hand were still on my neck or skin somehow.

He couldn’t read my thoughts.

I was positive about that.

But he scooted over and sat close to me.

I wondered if I’d said anything out loud and I just hadn’t realized it.

The heat from his body thrummed, and I had a hard time not scooting closer so our thighs were touching.

“Well, what do you think?” he said. He reached for the menu and looked at it with me.

“I could tell you what would be good for the restaurant, even if you weren’t rebranding your restaurant,” I said. My words came out breathier than I’d anticipated, and if I thought I couldn’t be any more embarrassed, I would have been dead wrong.

Nick leaned back, placing a hand along the back of the booth.

I didn’t really want to see if he was flirting with me, but I couldn’t help myself. I sat back and brought the menu with me. He didn’t move his arm, and I almost fit into his body.

Surprise filtered through his eyes and he sat forward, just enough so his arm fell off the booth’s cushion and wrapped around me to scoot closer.

“Well,” I said, whispering now. I wanted to kick myself for how breathy I sounded, but it had been awhile since I was attracted to a man. And even though he was a client and I’d never go there again—I’d learned my lesson from Jared—it was nice to feel an attraction and flirt. Even if he was a bit older.

Flirting did feel harmless.

“The melon ball, cream cheese appetizer is good. It’s probably one of the best things I’ve eaten all year.”

“That seems like high praise,” Nick said, his voice low also.

“It’s pretty steeply priced,” I said.

He studied my face, and for a moment, I thought I just lost the client, but a smile broke out on his face. “You’ve got the job.”

3

NICK

“Ihave some great news, everyone,” I said as my staff gathered in the dining area for our weekly meeting. The employees looked at me with perked brows and worry. I didn't blame them. I’d been a bear the last few months, and Kendra always found a way to mistreat them if they showed me favor over her. It was why our staff was so small now, but hopefully, I could change it.

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