Page 25 of Chloé

“No need to apologize.” Ethan cupped her face in his hand and leaned in to press a kiss to her lips. “It’s bound to take you a little while to settle into a new place and new bed—”

“Oh, that’s not the reason.”

“No?”

“No.” Chloé shook her head and moved aside to show them the computer. “It’s work.”

Ethan stepped forward to read what was on the screen as Zayne wrapped an arm around her shoulders and kissed her on the temple.

“Did something happen?” Ethan asked.

“Umm, yeah, I guess you could say that. Mypèreasked me to make a menu tonight. Well, last night.”

Zayne looked down at her. “What do you mean,makea menu? Does he want to change things up at JULIEN?”

“No, this would be a one-off menu. A special event to, um…” She thought about the best way to phrase it.

“Show you off?” Ethan asked.

She opened her mouth to deny that but smiled. “Maybe?”

“That’s fantastic.” Zayne hugged her, and Chloé nodded.

“It is, yes. But it’s also super stressful. I have to come up with dishes and sauces and wine pairings that will blow the mind, and”—she turned her face into his naked chest—“it’s scary.”

Zayne chuckled and rubbed a hand up and down her back. “Aw, come on, Red. You’re the best chef I’ve ever met. Your food is hands down the best I’ve ever put in my mouth. You haven’t got any reason to be scared.”

“Zayne’s right.” She looked at Ethan, who was eyeing her closely. “Julien wouldn’t have suggested this if he didn’t think you were ready.”

“I know, and you’re right. You both are. It’s just… This is it. This is what I’ve always dreamed of. Creating my own menu, running JULIEN. I’ve spent my whole life in those kitchens with mypère. He’s taught me everything I know. I just want to make him proud. I want to make them all proud.”

Ethan took her hands in his. “I’ve never seen prouder parents than your fathers.”

“He’s right, Red. That pedestal you’re on? It’s a skyscraper.”

“Deservedly so.” Ethan ran his thumb over the back of her hand. “You’re a beautiful, smart, fiercely independent woman. What you do at JULIEN is a reflection of all of those things, and that’s what makes them proud. Not one night at a restaurant. So don’t be scared, be excited. Your fathers want to show you off.”

“You make me sound like some debutante entering society.”

Ethan’s lips twitched. “I wasn’t going to put it quite like that.”

“No?”

Zayne chuckled. “I doubt any young women from aristocratic families were shacking up with two men.”

Chloé scoffed.

“What? You think they were?”

“They do in my books.”

Ethan and Zayne both turned to the box of books sitting in the living room, then Zayne looked back to her.

“Please tell me those onesaren’tin French.”

Chloé started laughing and walked into the kitchen. “They aren’t, and if you’re nice to me, I just might let you read the story about the earl, the viscount, and the duchess.”

Zayne’s eyes widened as she pulled out the coffee cups and grinned.

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