Eleven

Michele’s hands were full of groceries. She’d bought all sorts of interesting and authentic ingredients at Juanita’s Mexican Market and Café but had not gotten a chance to meet the owner herself. Too bad. She would’ve liked to have asked a few questions about the Harpers.

What those three sisters had told her seemed impossible. It was mind-boggling that a family so wealthy and famous could have such terrible troubles. Poor Jeffrey. She admired him for working to become successful after being raised like that and then being kicked out of the house when he was only sixteen. Her childhood had been a piece of cake by comparison. Even though her dad had died when Michele was only ten and her mom had to be both parents after that, she always knew she was loved. Her mother had been the best mom on the planet, even if cancer had cut her life far too short. The love her mother had given her made the situation Michele was in that much harder. She had to be the mom now for Cari and make sure her sister had everything she needed. She couldn’t afford to get involved with Jeff or any man until she had her responsibilities under control.

Michele found a spot on the sidewalk that was out of the foot traffic to put the grocery bags down and dug into her purse for her cell phone. Smiling at the business card in her hand, she dialed.

“This is Michele Cox. Am I speaking to Alfred at the Batcave?”

A deep chuckle came through her phone. “Yes, yes, you are. Would you like a ride, miss?”

“I would. Thank you. I’m standing outside Juanita’s,” Michele said.

“Very good. We’ll be right there.”

We? Her heart beat a little faster.

Was Jeffrey coming, too?

She expected the long car that Alfred had been driving in the morning. She did a double take when a bright yellow Bentley convertible pulled up beside her with the top down. Alfred wore a plaid British ivy cap over his bald head while his passenger sat in the front seat with her long blond hair flowing in the wind. Chloe, not Jeffrey.

“Hi, Michele. Thought I’d tag along so we can stop at a shop along the way. I’ll move to the back,” Chloe said. “Alfred, take us to Carolina’s.”

Michele handed her bags to Alfred who loaded them in the trunk. “Carolina’s?” She’d seen pretty much everything the little town had to offer but didn’t remember that store.

“It’s a one-stop dress store for baptisms, quinceañera parties, proms and weddings. Lots of color and yards of frill and lace but I’ve got my fingers crossed they have at least one gown that will work for you tonight.”

“I don’t understand,” Michele said.

“For your outing with Jeff. It’s been firmed up. Each one has been a different way for Jeff to get to know the chefs better. Freja, for example, went fishing with him this morning. And Tonia and he rode horses.”

“I’ve never been on a boat before and love riding horses. Those outings sound lovely.”

“Well, they were illuminating, that’s for sure.” Chloe smiled. “The other two chefs had adventures in Plunder Cove but yours will be up the coast in another little ocean-side town just south of Big Sur called Seal Point. Matt is flying Jeff up there for a meeting with the California Restaurant and Lodging Association. There is a dinner party afterward with lots of big shots and some press. He really doesn’t want to go to this event, but it’s important to get the word out about the Plunder Cove hotel. And let’s face it, a conservative dinner party with a respectable date can help improve Jeffrey’s public image. All you two need to do is show up for the dinner and then you both can leave. Alfred will drive you back home together.”

Date?

She needed to keep her eye on the prize—the job, not the sexy man. Going on a date with him would be dangerous. Even as warning bells were going off in her brain, her lips were itching for another chance to taste Jeffrey’s full lips. A real date could be more temptation than she could handle.

“This is an important night for my brother. Please say you’ll help him,” Chloe said. “We have to do something to fix his damaged image.”

Schmoozing at dinner parties. Talking to big shots. Wearing a gown. All these things were so far outside Michele’s wheelhouse that she didn’t know where to begin. She was more comfortable behind the scenes and in the kitchen than outside where the VIPs ate. But she would go to this event to prove to Jeffrey that she could represent Harper Industries in any environment and convince him to choose her.

“Just tell me what I need to do.” Her voice sounded meek, unconvincing. She cleared her throat. “I want to help him, any way I can.”

“My brother likes you.” Chloe touched her arm. “Be yourself, Michele. And have a nice time.”

Trying not to yawn, Jeff shifted in his seat to ease off his sore backside. Tonia had sucked at horseback riding and had only wanted to ask him about his family—his brother, his sister, his father...and anyone else that lived at Casa Larga. Thankfully, they’d cut the adventure short before he’d had to come up with answers for her, or listening to the governor’s speech right now would be even more painful than it already was.

He looked around the conference hall. It was packed with all the big boys in the California hotel industry plus a few tiny fish trying to make a splash for themselves. Where did he fit in? Jeff might be a small fish after having his reputation decimated, but he was working for one of the biggest companies in the world. When he made eye contact with some of the attendees, he could tell he was hated by some and idolized by others. Story of his life.

He checked his phone. No new GIFs. He should be grateful. Instead, it worried him. Had the lawyers convinced Finn to cease and desist, or was he working on the next series of damning videos?

Just then Chloe texted him.

He frowned.

His sister knew why he hated to eat alone. Eating with a group of strangers was not much better.

His pulse kicked up.

There was no response.

The texting had stopped. Dammit, his sister was toying with him. And now he had the rest of the meeting to wonder who would show up tonight. Was this supposed to be a real date or was it part of the interview process?

Hell, who was his date?

He’d already spent time with Freja and Tonia. Would it be pretty, sweet, kind Michele?

He’d missed seeing her today. She was the only chef he’d connected with on a personal level, and quickly, which made him wary. Plus, he couldn’t stop thinking about the kiss in the kitchen. And how he wished he’d pressed her up against the kitchen island and kissed her back.

He honestly hoped it wasn’t Michele because he would be distracted by her. When she was close it was hard to concentrate on anything but the light catching in her hair and eyes, and the way her smile crinkles tugged at a soft spot in his chest, the rise and fall of her breasts when she breathed...damn. He was in big trouble if his date was Michele.

Worse. If the big boys at the dinner party intimidated her, bringing out her insecurities, she’d be going home tomorrow. He had a job to do and couldn’t make any more excuses for her. He’d have to cut her loose. And that would be the worst.

Michele felt a little funny sitting in the back of the limo while Alfred drove, but he said he wouldn’t have it any other way. “You look like a movie star, Miss Cox. And you’ll be treated like one tonight. You just relax. The drive up the coastal highway is beautiful.”

He wasn’t kidding. The highway meandered and curved along the blue-green craggy-rocked Pacific Ocean. It was breathtaking.

“And here we are. Seal Point,” Alfred said, as he pulled up to the lobby of a two-story building.

She’d expected something larger, more ornate, and was pleasantly surprised by the rustic wood-sided lodge atop the rocky cliffs. Torches lit pathways through gardens and into groves of lacy dark green Monterey pines. It felt intimate, somehow. The sun was an orange ball of wax melting into the Pacific Ocean. The sea breeze softly caressed her skin. It was a beautiful night, fragrant and warm. The setting was so romantic. And inside the lodge was the man who had the power to make her professional dreams come true and tempt her into destroying everything. She wanted him and knew she shouldn’t act on her desires.

Alfred opened her door. “Ready, miss?”

As I’ll ever be.

She’d never had her makeup professionally done before today, nor her hair swept up so perfectly. The dress Chloe had purchased for her was pale pink and clung to her curves like a cloud.

For the first time since she’d left her hometown to work for Alfieri, Michele felt beautiful. Special. Even if it was just a fantasy for tonight. She was at a stunningly romantic place, but she wasn’t here for romance. It was her job to make Jeffrey Harper look respectable, which meant she wasn’t going to gaze into his pretty starburst blues or let his deep voice delight her, and she was certainly not going to kiss his full lips.

This was a business dinner, nothing more. She could do this because Jeffrey needed her. And if she proved capable here, perhaps he’d choose her for his restaurant.

You’ll fail like you always do. You’ll embarrass Jeffrey in front of everyone.

“Shut up, Alfieri!” she mumbled under her breath.

“Miss? Did you say something?” Alfred still stood by the door waiting for her to get out.

Her legs seemed unable to move. “If I asked you to drive me back to the Batcave, would you do it?” Her voice was shaky.

Alfred leaned closer and whispered, “Is that what you want, miss?”

If I leave now, I might as well fly straight home to New York.

She swallowed. “No. I’m just a little nervous. I’m not used to parties like this.” Or being on a date with a famous, wealthy man. Who was she kidding? Any man. She hadn’t been on a date in years. “Where do I go?”

“I believe the people in the lobby can direct you to the restaurant where the dinner party is taking place.”

She nodded. “Sure, okay.”

“Miss Cox? I’ll be out here waiting for you and Jeffrey. Say the word and I will drive you back to Plunder Cove. But I believe you will be great tonight. Do as Chloe said and simply be yourself.”

“Thank you, Alfred.” She took a deep breath and walked toward the lobby, all the while wondering what word she needed to say to get a ride out of here should things go terribly wrong.

Michele didn’t ask the people at the front desk for directions. She simply followed the sound of piano music and laughter. The restaurant was beautiful. Lots of windows, tables with white cloths and candles. She searched the room and found...him.

Holy wow, he looked great in a tux. His broad shoulders nicely filled out the jacket. The thin black tie dipped inside behind the single button he still had buttoned. The perfectly tailored tux highlighted his thin waist and long legs. Her mouth watered.

Jeff was scanning the crowd, too. Looking for her? When his gaze met hers, she lifted her hand to wave. His mouth opened in what seemed like surprise. He rose to his feet and lifted his hand back at her. His lips formed one word. Wow.

Her breath caught in her chest, her heart pounded, her lips turned up of their own accord. All the other people in the room, including the pianist, disappeared. There was only Jeffrey and that smile on his lips.

It was just like the first time she’d seen him. The way he looked at her heated up her insides.

Respectable business dinner, she reminded herself, even as she wondered what his kiss would taste like.