Page 64 of Challenged By You
And not unlike before, my heart reacts before my brain does.
“Jonas,” I greet him when I approach.
“Trina.” I flush when his eyes rake over me from head to toe. “Would you be comfortable at our normal table?”
“That’s fine. Thank you.” My thighs quake when I feel the warmth of his hand through my chef’s jacket. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
“I haven’t. Not for over a week. It’s becoming a problem. I keep having these dreams.” I have to stifle my giggle at the frustration in his voice.
“For shame, Mr. Rice. This is a professional interview,” I scold him.
“Are you willing to share with me the ingredients for your cheesecake?” he demands.
“Nope.” I pop the p like I just popped a bubble.
“Then this isn’t a professional anything yet.” After scanning the restaurant to make sure we don’t have any eyes and ears on us, he lifts my hand to his mouth, murmuring, “I couldn’t wait to see you again.”
“You just saw me last night. If I remember correctly, after Annie and Chris went to bed, I went to sleep remembering the kissing that occurred on my bed.”
Jonas lets out an agonized groan. “I’ve neverbeanthis way about a woman, Trina.”
“Me neither.” And it takes a Herculean effort to admit that to him. “But all of this will be over soon.” Jonas rears back as if I’ve slapped him. I hastily add, “The interviews, the critique of the restaurant. Christ, Jonas. You have me tied up in so many knots, I don’t even know what to make.”
“I don’tcarrotall. I’m sure whatever it is will be fabulous,” he says loyally.
“See, that? That’s part of the issue.” Sadly, I disengage my hand. “You should care. You’re a professional; so am I. We both worked too hard to get to the top of our game, and despite these feelings I have for you…”
“Let’s explore that.” He pounces on my last statement.
“Not here!” I explode. There’s a deathly quiet between us. “Here I just spent the last twenty minutes explaining to my executive chef she could rely on me because I’m a team player. I’m one person, but I’m supported by a team back there, Jonas. I can’t—no, I won’t let them down.”
Sitting back, chastised, he replies, “I understand.”
“Do you? Because you’re distracting me from kicking your ass.”
“I’ll make you a deal,” Jonas proposes.
I groan. He laughs. “Just hear me out. This will be the last time I interview you in Seduction prior to the review. I’ll ask everything I need today so you can focus here. But when we’re together, Trina, it won’t be recipes we’ll be discussing.” Beneath the edge of the table, his thumb strokes my inner wrist. “Is that a deal?”
“Deal. So, what’s your first question?”
Pressing Record on his phone, Jonas asks, “You’ve said over and over it’s a team effort at Seduction. Can you elaborate on that?”
And I do. For the next hour, Jonas fires off question after question at me until I’m hoarse. But when it’s done, I know I represented not only uniqueness of Seduction New York, but more importantly the people who work here. And no matter what, I trust Jonas to represent that in his article.
Standing, he shakes my hand so to Baptiste, who’s just wandered in for his shift, our conversation appears conventional. But his words are as tantalizing as the single finger that strokes along my inner wrist. “How about I meet all of you tomorrow morning at your apartment? Plus, you’ve got a new challenge tonight.”
“Oh?” I raise a brow at him.
“Hmm. Figure out something for all of us to do. That’s within budget, of course. I, after all, got us to the zoo.” There’s a smile that’s fighting to erupt on his face.
I lean a little closer. “Keep your phone on. By the time I walk out of here tonight, we’ll have plans.”
“Or what?”
Letting his hand go, I step back. “That’s for you to decide. Thank you for your time.”
“No, Ms. Paxton. As always, thank you for yours.” He tips his head.
