Oh, yeah, she could definitely go for having her own boy toy for a while. A guy whose sole purpose was to make her body sing with pleasure-over and over again. Especially if he had pitch-black hair, eat-me-up blue eyes, and a mouth made for sin.
Just like the man sitting in front of me.
Another rush of heat swept through her. Drawing a deep breath, she shoved those provocative thoughts right out of her mind before they got her in big trouble.
She leaned back in her chair, putting distance between them any way she could. "So, what can I do for you, Mr. Tremaine?"
"It's Jack, please," he insisted, "especially since we'll be working together."
She raised a brow at his presumptuousness. "We will?"
"I told you I was interested in having you design the desserts for Tremaine's Downtown, and you promised me an exclusivity agreement." He tipped his head questioningly. "Have you changed your mind?"
He looked a little anxious as he waited for her reply, and she found it hard to believe that such a confident man might be worried that she'd refuse his request. Not that she'd pass up such a golden opportunity, but it was nice to know that her agreement mattered to him, that he truly wanted her to create his desserts. It gave her a sense of feminine power that was foreign to her, but one she liked very much.
"No, I haven't changed my mind," she said softly, and immediately saw his shoulders relax. "And I'm glad you didn't either."
He graced her with another one of his breathtaking grins. "Then I guess that makes us even."
Yes, it did, and she smiled back at him. "Do you have any preference on the kind of desserts you want?"
"That's what I'm paying you for. To be creative and to provide a variety of different desserts. I'm completely open to new experiences and ideas, so don't hold back."
"It's good to know you're so daring," she teased. "That gives me a whole lot of creative license."
His eyes sparked just as humorously. "Hey, I tried the Pink Squirrel the other night, didn't I?"
She laughed at his indignant tone. "And you liked it, too," she reminded him.
"That goes to show you the kind of risk-taking guy I can be, so bring it on, sweetheart." He winked at her.
Bring it on. He had no idea just how adventurous her desserts could get, and she couldn't stop herself from wondering what would happen if she mixed a bit of pleasure with their business. The result would be spontaneous combustion, no doubt.
"When do you think you'll have the first dessert ready for me to try?" he asked.
"Let's see," she said thoughtfully, as she opened the day planner on her desk and skimmed through the pages. "It's Wednesday and I need a few days to experiment with some new recipes, and to see what I can come up with. I could have something ready for you to sample, say, by Sunday?"
"That works for me. What time?"
"Since I'd prefer that we weren't interrupted by business, how about six-thirty in the evening, a half hour after the shop closes?"
"Perfect. I'll be here."
She penciled in the appointment on her calendar, and as she did so, her arm brushed his jean-clad hip. She valiantly tried to ignore the heat of him, along with the tightening of her breasts that the chaste touch evoked. She could only imagine the sparks they'd ignite if they ever rubbed skin to skin.
He moved off her desk, straightened, and reached into his back pocket to withdraw his wallet. He pulled a check from his billfold and set it in front of her. She glanced from the staggering amount on the check, all the way back up to his deep, drown-in-them-forever blue eyes.
"What's this for?"
"A down payment for your services," he said matter-of-factly.
"I'd rather wait until services have been rendered and I have a better idea of what you owe." She pushed the check back towards him. "You don't even know if you'll like the desserts I create."
"Then we'll just have to keep working at it until I'm completely satisfied." He didn't seem at all bothered by that possibility. "Besides, I have no doubt you're worth every penny and you'll give me my money's worth. I also know that exclusivity doesn't come cheap."
No, it didn't, but talk about blind trust in her abilities. She shook her head, certain any further argument would be futile. "Okay, fine." If his bill was less than what he'd just given her, she'd issue him a refund. But, boy, would all that money look good in her business account.
"So we have ourselves a deal?"
Since he was towering over her, she stood, too. There was one issue she needed to address before she had her lawyer draw up a final contract and deliver it to Jack. "There's something I need to ask you."
He slid his fingers into the front pockets of his jeans. "Sure. Go ahead."
She didn't know an easy or tactful way to express her concern, so she just let it out. "I got the distinct impression at the Commerce dinner that your girlfriend wouldn't be too thrilled to find out we're working together. Is she going to be a problem for me?" The last thing Kayla wanted or needed was a jealous woman bad-mouthing Pure Indulgence and ruining her hard-earned reputation.
"I broke things off with Gretta the night of the dinner," he told her, and there was no regret in his voice. "So there's no girlfriend or significant other for you to worry about. I'm single and unattached."
That revelation pleased her, more than was prudent, and she couldn't stop the secretive smile that curved her lips. She'd just found the perfect test subject for her aphrodisiac desserts.
Chapter 3
Jack walked into the kitchen area of his restaurant, a last check to make sure that everything was in order before he headed over to Pure Indulgence for his appointment with Kayla. It was fairly busy for a Sunday night, but thanks to his manager and well-trained staff there were no huge problems for Jack to worry about.
A steady stream of appetizers and dinner orders lit up the computer screen of the fully integrated system he'd purchased a few months ago, which kept the kitchen organized and his employees efficient. Behind the warming station his head chef made sure that the cooks processed and prepared the entrées at a steady pace, and still produced the high quality and visually appealing dishes that Tremaine's Downtown was known for.
Satisfied that all was running smoothly, he headed toward his manager, Rich, who was helping to garnish plates and double-checking the dishes before the waiters and waitresses served them to their customers.
Rich wasn't only his right-hand man since Tremaine's Downtown opened six years ago. They'd grown up together in the same impoverished neighborhood and Rich had been his best friend since the age of ten. The two of them had both lost their fathers early on and were raised by single mothers who'd scraped to make ends meet. They'd also been two rebels with plenty of cause, but instead had channeled their energy and young ambition and made something of their lives. He shuddered to think how easily they could have gone the other way.
The two of them had been through a lot together, and managed to remain as close as brothers, supporting one another in everything they did. Jack couldn't imagine his life without Rich in it.
"I'm taking off for the night," Jack said as he came up to his best friend. "Do you need me for anything else before I leave?"
"Nope. I have everything covered just fine." Rich slanted him an inquisitive look as he handed a waitress a dish she was reaching for, taking in Jack's casual shirt and khaki pants, instead of the suit and tie he normally wore when he was working at the restaurant. "Where are you off to? Hot date tonight?"
"No." Not yet, anyway, Jack thought. Kayla definitely made him feel hot and bothered, but despite their mutual attraction, she'd erected a barrier between them that he was determined to gradually break down. As for a date, he hoped that would come in time, as well.