Page 5 of Recipe for Satisfacton (Madewood Brothers 1)

Big band music played in the background—his mother’s favorite. His brothers worked the room, mixing and mingling with the guests, but Jack kept a low profile. A year ago, this cruise would have been his bread and butter. The schmoozing, the socializing…he could charm a buttload of zeros onto a donation check. But his former life—one of girls, drinking, and the never-ending party—now seemed insignificant.

Feedback from the microphone quieted the boat and everyone turned their attention to the lectern, where Neil waited to address the crowd.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming tonight.” He grabbed both sides of the lectern and took a deep breath. “My brothers and I contemplated long and hard about whether to hold this event tonight. Given the circumstances, we just weren’t sure if we were in the right frame of mind. But thanks to the newest member of the Madewood team—Penn Foster—we’re all here tonight, helping raise money for the Cooking for the Future program. Ladies and gentlemen, please acknowledge her hard work and dedication.” Neil gestured to where Penn stood. She raised her champagne flute and smiled from ear to ear.

From what Jack had gathered in the small amount of time he’d spent with her, she loved the attention.

“Penn is the brains behind this event. On behalf of my brothers, and all of the kids in the program, I’d like to say thank you.” Neil winked. “It seems that the four of us just can’t function without a strong, focused woman telling us what to do.”

The crowd laughed.

Neil gripped the lectern tighter and Jack noticed the grimace flash across his face.

“We’re also here to honor a wonderful businesswoman, mother, and friend—a woman who was taken from us far too early by breast cancer.”

Breast cancer. Just hearing those two words had him breaking out in a cold sweat again.

It had been unbearable, watching his mother waste away from the vibrant, beautiful woman she had been, to a pale and fragile shell. But through it all, she’d never lost sight of what mattered—family.

And in her absence, there would always be one thing that would keep his family together.

Cooking. It had been his saving grace. It had also kept him out of trouble when it seemed that was all he was good at. It was the one thing in the world that tied him to his brothers and their mother—who was the only constant the four of them had ever known.

After his mother became sick, he returned every few weeks to pitch in. He did as much as he could, battling his need to be with his family and his determination to prove he could be successful in his own right. And if he was completely honest, he hadn’t believed that she would be taken from him so soon.

It was on Finn’s watch that she had passed. Jack hadn’t been there. And he would forever be reminded of that night—of his guilt—when photos of him and an anonymous woman were plastered all over the gossip blogs and magazines. His innocent meeting with a holistic practitioner was turned into an evening of debauchery. All he wanted was to consult with an expert on some alternative methods of treatment. Instead the press claimed he was indulging in sex and alcohol while his mother took her last few breaths. Because of that, there wasn’t one reporter or photographer on this boat tonight. He stayed far away from the media.

“Many of our guests here tonight are current students and graduates of the Cooking for the Future program. Talk to them. Ask them how much the program has given them. These are young men and women who have overcome the odds and are shining examples of how your donations literally change lives.” Not one for long speeches, he wrapped up quickly. “Enjoy the food and drinks, and open up your hearts…and your checkbooks.”

The night air swelled with applause, and Jack added his own hearty clap as his brother left the stage with a final wave.

The gentle evening breeze lifted the ends of his shirt and reminded him of the sight of Sterling on the deck below—of that outfit, which left little to the imagination. He’d caught sight of her at the food table at the beginning of the night, placing hors d’oeuvres on a black napkin. Her legs were long and lean, with toned calves leading up to supple thighs that were mostly hidden beneath a pouf of coarse material. And those shoes, with heels that went on forever. Jack twitched, almost feeling the bite of pain as those heels pinched into his ass when she squeezed her legs around his hips.

After meeting her, he knew his decision to take it slow with women was going to be challenged. Funny how no sooner did Neil mention getting back in the game than Sterling Andrews walked into his life. More like crashed into it. But she could crash into anything as long as she did it wearing as little as possible.

“Only a woman could put that look on a man’s face.” His brother Finn O’Reilly stepped beside him along the railing.

“Sterling Andrews.” Jack smiled just saying her name.

“Oh, the friend.” Finn looked at him with a sly grin. “I would have expected Penn to bring a man to this shindig, not a chick.” He leaned his body against the railing, his blond hair tousling in the wind. “I don’t know how Neil and Cole concentrate all day long, having her around.” Finn sipped on his drink. The brown liquid was no doubt Jameson Irish Whiskey. “You should see her in her tight skirts.”

“You really shouldn’t be speaking like that about the woman who works for us.” Jack tried to sound stern, but he was already scanning the room, trying to find the woman who’d captured his attention…who was friends with the woman who worked for them. Slightly better, at least.

“You’ve been looking all over the place since I got here.” Finn took another sip of his drink. “Can’t find her anywhere?”

”Not yet. But I will.” His gaze bounced from teased blond head to teased blond head. He wasn’t in the mood for a blonde tonight though. No, he had his sights set on a fetching brunette. Who gets seasick. He should probably be checking along the railing.

Finn clapped Jack’s shoulder. “Did you get her number?”

Jack shrugged, still scanning the crowd milling about on the deck.

“I guess her number would be easy enough to get since she’s Penn’s friend,” Finn said.

Jack grinned at his brother. “You always have the best solutions.” If all else failed, he’d get her digits from Penn and call her in the morning. Maybe ask her out to breakfast. After tonight’s belly catastrophe, she’d probably be starving come morning.

“Have fun, bro.” With a wink, Finn walked away and into the crowd.

But before he tracked down Penn, what could the harm be in trying to find her one more time tonight? After all, she was sick. What kind of gentleman would he be if he didn’t make sure his guests were comfortable at his party?

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