by Sandi Lynn
I sighed. “I apologize for calling you that.”
“And I apologize for saying that I’d break your balls.”
“Fine. Apology accepted. But don’t ever speak to me that way again.”
“You can guarantee I will if you call me something other than ‘Emerson’ again.”
The longer I stayed in her room and argued with her, the angrier I became. I started to walk out and stopped when I reached the door. I turned around and put my finger up.
“You—” I was so angry that I couldn’t finish my sentence. She stood there with her arms folded and stared at me. I walked out and went to the dining room to have breakfast.
As I was eating, Robert stepped into the room and asked to speak with me.
“My mother has taken ill and I need to go to see her in Florida. I really don’t know how long I’ll be gone,” he spoke.
“I’m sorry to hear that. When are you leaving?”
“As soon as possible.”
“I understand, Robert. Have a safe trip and I hope your mother feels better soon.”
“Thank you, sir.” He gave a small nod and went back into the kitchen.
Could this day get any worse? As I tried to eat my breakfast, I couldn’t get over the fact that Emerson had spoken to me the way she did. No woman had ever spoken to me that way and it would never happen again.
Chapter 6
Emerson
I take back what I said about Alex Parker not being such a bad guy. He was a complete asshole the way he spoke to me in his commanding voice, like I was some sort of child. Maybe I shouldn’t have told him what I did, but my defenses had gone up. The only people who had a right to talk to me like that were my parents. I couldn’t stop thinking about how he came into my room last night to check on me. As weird as it was having him hover over me in bed, it was a nice gesture on his part. I got the feeling there were two sides of Alex Parker. I just hadn’t figured out yet which side was more dominant. I was only here for three months and it wouldn’t be difficult to have as little contact with him as possible.
After putting on my bathing suit, and as I was walking out the patio door, I heard Alex call my name.
“Emerson. I need to speak with you for a moment.”
I rolled my eyes and turned around to face him.
“Yes, Alex.”
“Robert’s mother has taken ill and he is leaving for Florida. So I will need you to step in and take his place.”
I raised my eyebrow at him. “Take his place? What exactly do you mean?”
“You’ll be his replacement chef. Mainly cooking my breakfast in the morning and an occasional dinner.”
I laughed uncontrollably. “You’re kidding, right? You expect me to cook for you?”
“No and yes. Since you apparently have these mad cooking skills, it will save me from having to hire another personal chef. After all, I am letting you stay here,” he spoke with seriousness.
Cocking my head, I stared at him, becoming distracted by his overall sexiness in his tailored business suit and his scent that lingered in the air. Damn him.
“Fine. Since you were kind enough to open up your home to me while my brother is away, the least I could do is repay you by cooking your meals.” I pretty much had to choke out the words.
“Very good. You’ll start tomorrow morning. Breakfast is at 7:30 sharp.”
“And if I don’t have it ready until 7:31 or perhaps 7:32?”
He took in a sharp inhale. “7:30, Miss James.” He walked away without even cracking a smile. I didn’t see him the rest of the day or night, which was fine with me. I wasn’t particularly liking his attitude.
****
I made sure to wake up nice and early to serve His Majesty his breakfast on time. Just as Alex walked into the kitchen, I plated his quiche with a side of fresh fruit and a homemade banana-nut muffin.
“Good morning,” he mumbled.
“Morning. Your breakfast is ready.”
“It smells delicious in here. Did you make homemade muffins?”
“Yes. Banana-nut. I hope you like them.”
“They aren’t my first choice, but I don’t mind them.”
I rolled my eyes as I set his plate on the table.
“Are you joining me?” he asked as he sat down.
I cocked my head. “Does Robert ever join you?”
“No.”
“Then why would I?”
I walked out of the dining room and into the kitchen with a small smile on my face. I poured myself another cup of coffee and took a muffin from the cooling rack. Banana-nut might not have been his first choice, but they sure were mine. As I was cleaning up, Alex brought his plate to the kitchen.
“That was an excellent breakfast.”
“It must be those mad cooking skills I supposedly have,” I replied as I stood over the sink, washing a pan.
Suddenly, I felt a wave of hot breath over my neck as he came up from behind and leaned close to my ear.
“You have very mad cooking skills and I can’t wait to see what you cook up next.”
I gulped. His scent was infiltrating my space and it was driving me crazy, not to mention the fabric of his suit that lightly brushed up against my skin.
“Guess you’ll have to wait and find out,” I spoke without turning around.
My phone, which was sitting on the counter, beeped with a voicemail message. Strange that I hadn’t heard it ring. Alex backed up and I reached over and pressed play and hit the speaker button because my hands were wet. It was from a number I didn’t recognize.
“Hey, Em, it’s Ryan. I got a new number and want you to have it if you change your mind about us and come back to Connecticut. I sure do miss you, baby. I miss the great sex we had and I miss holding you in my arms.”
I immediately stopped the message and sighed. Shit. I couldn’t believe Alex heard that.
“Ryan? Great sex? Another heart you broke?” He snickered.
I took in a deep breath. “The sex wasn’t all that great and, yes, another heart I broke. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to finish cleaning up before I head down to the beach.”
“Enjoy your day and thank you for breakfast.”
“No problem. After all, you are letting me stay in your castle.” I gave a small smile.
He walked out of the kitchen and I placed my hands against the counter, pushing myself back. Why the hell would Ryan be calling me after all this time?
****
Alex
Sitting in the car on the way to the office, the only thing on my mind was Emerson, the breakfast she made me, and the two hearts she broke. Why the fuck was I thinking about her so much? She was certainly a beautiful woman. Probably, no, definitely one of the most beautiful women I’d ever laid eyes on, but she was mouthy and disrespectful. Even though I despised those two things about women, she had me curious about her. Something was going on with her and I was going to find out what her story was, whether she wanted to tell me or not. I would give her the opportunity to tell me herself and if she didn’t, then I would hire someone to find out for me. She was a woman about whom I shouldn’t give a damn. She was my friend’s sister. But there was something about her that made me want to know more and my mind wouldn’t rest until I found out everything about her.
Chapter 7
Emerson
I couldn’t shake the feeling I’d had all day after feeling Alex’s hot breath sweep across my neck. The only way to describe it was riveting. Feeling him so close to me, I froze up, almost as if he had cast a spell on me. I was unable to move and take in a breath. When I googled him, the only information that came up was business related. There was nothing that told me about his personal life, except for all the pictures of him with different women. But even those seemed businesslike. They were photos of him attending charities, events, premieres, and the opening of whatever new business he took on. The type of woman he was photographed with was classy, rich, and uptight, just like him. How could I tell? It w
as easy to spot a bitch. But of course he would be into that type of woman. I wouldn’t expect anything less from him. It made me wonder if those women put up with his condescending bullshit and attitude. Too much thinking about Alex Parker was dangerous and a waste of time. I had other things to think about, like when Adam got back and we had our talk, where I was going to venture off to next.
As I was relaxing on the beach, soaking up the sun, and plotting my next move, I heard Jenna calling my name.
“Emerson, Mr. Parker just called and said that he needs you to cook dinner tonight for him and a guest. He’ll be home around seven o’clock.”
I sighed. “Would this guest be of the female species?”
She laughed. “I would say probably.”
“Okay, then. It looks like my time down here on the beach is done for the day. I’ll have to call Phillip and have him take me to the grocery store.”
I grabbed my towel and my water and headed back up to the house. As I walked to my room to change, I dialed Phillip.
“Hello.”
“Phillip, it’s Emerson James. I’m going to need a ride to the grocery store. Mr. Parker is having me cook dinner tonight for him and a guest.”
“Very well, Emerson. When would you like to go?”
“How fast can you be here?”
“About thirty minutes.”
“Okay. I’ll be waiting for you.”
After changing into my clothes, I went to the kitchen and pulled out a piece of paper and a pen from the drawer. As I sat on the stool next to the island, I began to jot down some items I would need. Just as I was completing my list, Phillip walked in.
“Are you ready to go, Emerson?”
“Yes. I just finished my list.”
I climbed into the back of the Bentley and Phillip drove me to the store.
“Are you coming?” I asked him as he held the door open for me and I climbed out.
“Where?” he asked with confusion.
“Into the store. I’ll give you half the list and we can split up. The sooner we get what I need, the sooner we can get out of here.”
“But, Emerson—”
“No buts, Phil. Let’s go.”
I heard him sigh as he walked behind me and into the store. I ripped the list in half and handed it to him.
“If you have any questions about these items, just ask.” I smiled.
****
I set the table with Alex’s fine china and placed two beautiful crystal candlestick holders in the center with red candles to create a romantic ambiance. After all, if he was bringing home his date for dinner, I wanted to make it as romantic as possible for them. Not really. I just did it to see what kind of reaction I’d get out of him. I didn’t know what the hell the matter with me was, but the thought of him bringing home a woman for a romantic dinner bothered me. Shit. I wasn’t even fond of Alex Parker.
It was 6:55. The candles were lit and the fresh red rose petals were laid perfectly around the table. I really went all out. As I was pouring two glasses of chardonnay, I heard the front door open, and my jaw dropped when Alex walked in with a guy.
Shit. Shit. Shit. His dinner guest wasn’t a woman!
I stood there nervously, thinking about the dining room table I’d set.
“Emerson, this is Greyson Adair, CEO of Adair Holdings and Securities.
Greyson, this is my houseguest and chef, Emerson James.”
Greyson looked at me as he took my hand and brought it up to his lips. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Is dinner ready?” Alex asked.
“Yes. I just have to plate it. Why don’t the two of you go sit in the living room and have a drink? I’ll call you when dinner is served. All I need is a few minutes,” I spoke in a panic.
“There are two glasses of wine right there,” Alex said as he reached for a glass.
“No!” I voiced as I took both glasses from the counter. “I mean, these are for dinner and must only be drunk with your meal. It’s all about the pairing, Alex.”
He gave me a strange look. A look that told me he knew I was up to something. But I didn’t care. My only concern was getting the candles and rose petals off the table.
“Go on.” I smiled as I waved my hands. “Go enjoy a pre-dinner drink.”
He continued to stare at me as he led Greyson to the living room. When they were out of sight, I ran to the dining room, blew out the candles, grabbed them, and scooped up the rose petals, tossing them into the trash and hiding the candles in the cabinet. As I was plating their dinner, Alex and Greyson walked into the dining room and took a seat.
“Tonight’s dinner is chicken scallopini with a shitake sake sauce over udon noodle cakes, steamed broccoli, and homemade dinner rolls, paired with a chardonnay.” I smiled as I set down their plates in front of them.
“It smells like candles were blown out in here,” Alex spoke as he raised his eyebrow at me. He leaned over his chair and picked up a single rose petal that must have fallen from my hands. “What’s this?”
“It looks like a rose petal.”
“I know what it looks like, Emerson. Where did it come from?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. Do you have roses around here somewhere?”
“No.”
“Weird.”
As I turned and began to walk away, Greyson called my name.
“Why don’t you join us for dinner, Emerson?”
“Thank you. But I have to clean up and I’ve already eaten.”
“Alex, tell your chef that she is required to join us.”
I watched as Alex gave Greyson an odd look.
“Emerson, go get yourself a plate and sit down and join us for dinner,” he spoke in an authoritative tone.
Flashing a fake smile, I went to the kitchen, made myself a plate, and sat down across from Alex.
“This chicken is amazing. May I ask where you learned to cook like this?” Greyson asked.
“I studied in Tuscany.”
Alex’s eyes focused on me when I said that.
“Under whom?” Greyson asked.
“Under Mario Ricci and his wife, Vanessa.”
“Interesting,” Alex spoke as he glared at me.
“Tuscany is a beautiful place. How long were you there?” Greyson continued with his questions.
“A little over six months.”
“Well, this is extremely delicious and I must say I’ve never had udon noodle cakes before, but it’s quickly becoming one of my favorites.”
“Thank you.” I smiled.
I sat and ate my dinner as the two of them talked business. I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t turned on by Alex’s business talk. I needed a smack upside the head.
Chapter 8
Alex
After finishing dinner and our business discussion, I escorted Greyson to the door, but not before he kissed Emerson on the cheek and thanked her for an enjoyable dinner. I didn’t like the way he’d been staring at her. When he left, I followed her into the kitchen and watched as she put away the rest of the dishes.
“So you studied cooking in Tuscany?”
“Yep,” she replied as she placed the plates in the cupboard.
“Why did you leave?”
“It was time to.”
“Would you care to elaborate on that?” I asked.
She turned and looked at me as I sat down at the island with my hands folded on the granite countertop.
“Nope.” She gave a small smile.
“Did you leave another broken heart behind?” I smirked.
“Maybe.” She turned and reached up in the cupboard to put away the glasses.
There was a piece of plastic sitting on the counter, so I grabbed it and threw it in the trashcan. When I opened the lid, I noticed several red rose petals in the garbage.
“What are those?” I asked as I pointed to them.
She walked over and looked down into the garbage.
“Looks like rose petals. Strange. I wonder where they came from.”
I cocked my head and glared at her. She knew damn well where they came from.
“Don’t lie to me, Emerson. I don’t like liars and I won’t tolerate being lied to.”
She rolled her eyes and put her hands up.
“Fine. You want the embarrassing truth? I thought your dinner guest was your girlfriend and I lit some candles and spread rose petals across the table to make the dinner more romantic. But when you walked in with Greyson, I freaked out and hurried and cleared the candles and the rose petals from the table. How would that have looked, having dinner with another man with candlelight and rose petals staring you in the face?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “First of all, I don’t have a girlfriend and second of all, even if I did, she would have known something was wrong because I don’t do candlelight dinners or rose petals.”
Her left eye narrowed as she stared at me. “Why don’t you do candlelight dinners or rose petals?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I’m just not that romantic of a guy.”
She shrugged and turned away. Turning back around, she narrowed her eye again. “If you don’t have a girlfriend, who was that woman you were having lunch with the other day?”
“A casual friend whom I date on occasion.”
Her eyes still narrowing at me, she spoke, “Ah, a friends-with-benefits type of woman. I gotcha.”
“Friends with benefits?” I asked curiously.
“Yeah. You know. A person who you call a friend and have casual sex with. No strings, no commitments. Just sex, sex, and more sex when you want it.”
She needed to stop saying the word “sex” because my cock was twitching uncontrollably and starting to get hard. The way the word “sex” rolled off her tongue turned me on. All I could picture was her bent over the island with her beautiful ass in the air while my cock was thrusting in and out of her, and her begging me to go deeper and faster. Shit. I needed to stop.
“Then I guess I have a lot of friends with benefits.” I smiled.
“Good for you, Parker.” She winked.
“How about you? Do you have any friends with benefits around the world?”