Recipe for Temptation

by Gina Gordon

  “Are you sure about this?” She looked up, biting her bottom lip. “What about the club?”

  He shrugged. “It won’t fall apart in a week.”

  Her heart leaped. If there was one thing Cole Murphy was not, it was blasé. But this man walking beside her had somehow shown up when she’d least expected it, but needed him the most.

  She pulled him to a stop and hugged him. He was stiff at first, and she should have known better than to show any sign of affection, but she just couldn’t help herself. He might have just sealed the deal for her to win her first Foster Cup.

  The longer she held him tight, the more relaxed his body became. He even swept his arms up and wrapped them around her before settling at her lower back.

  Without releasing her grip, she tipped her head back and looked up at him.

  He gazed down at her with a serious expression and said, “Pennie? Really?”

  She released him and smacked her hand against his stomach. “Shut up, Murphy.”

  He laughed, and in an unusual show of affection, rested his arm over her shoulders, then pulled her into his body. With a laugh, he said, “Watching you squirm for an entire week is going to be entertaining.”

  They walked through the pool area, then across the patio to the beach where her parents and family were waiting. Penn relished the feel of his warm, hard body pressed against hers.

  She’d wanted this man for three years. Even though she knew better, even though wanting him was the best way to erase every inch of professional success she’d gained for herself along the way.

  Shameless flirting had always been her saving grace because she knew deep down he’d never flirt back. But now he was here, and that had to mean something.

  She’d come to this island for some perspective. She had a cup to win and a promotion to clinch. Nothing was going to stand in her way. But then Cole lowered his arm and tightened his grip on her body, his fingers massaging her hip.

  She stifled a whimper.

  Turns out even her best laid plans were no match for Cole Murphy.

  Chapter Two

  How did he get himself into this mess?

  Yesterday, Cole had been in his kitchen at Bistro, doing his executive chef thing, and today he was on a beach in Hawaii, meeting Penn’s entire family. And competing in some bizarre family sporting ritual.

  Thanks to his brothers’ coaxing—more like threats—he was also on vacation. Jack Vaughn, Neil Harrison, and Finn O’Reilly had cornered him in the stock room. They were afraid he was going to snap before the launch of his new project—the Madewood Boys and Girls Club.

  But he had to admit, the moment that little girl had tugged on his arm, he’d been mesmerized. By this totally normal, everyday family.

  Until he was taken in by Vivian, to Cole a family was just the people you were obligated to, the ones who always let you down. Vivian Madewood had given him a real family when he’d least expected it. His adopted family was great—the best. But they were hardly normal.

  Penn walked beside him as they meandered along the winding walkway that outlined three humungous pools. He’d never seen her so complacent. His strong, independent, mouthy Penn. The only recognizable thing about her was the oversized sunglasses perched on her nose. Otherwise, she was almost unrecognizable in a one-piece bathing suit with a plain blue straw bag slung over her shoulder. What happened to her designer clothes and expensive accessories? And where were the high heels? If she was going to wear flip-flops all week, his neck was going to be sore from looking down all the time. And she was completely covering up his favorite asset—her awesome cleavage. Not to mention hiding the cherry blossom tattoo he’d found out about a year ago at Sterling’s bachelorette party, when he’d mistakenly ogled her half-naked boudoir photos.

  He’d never minded her flirting with him. It was just her personality. But seeing those photos had jarred something in him to life, and ever since then, her teasing had almost pushed him over the edge.

  The Penn he’d come to know over the last three years liked to emphasize her cleavage, and seeing her in a skimpy bikini was what he’d started fantasizing about as soon as he’d settled into his seat on the plane.

  Not that her in a bikini was why he’d come here.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” She dropped her gaze to her body. “Is there something wrong with what I’m wearing?”

  “Not at all.” He lifted his hands in defense. “I just… Well, it’s just not the type of bathing suit I pictured you favoring.” When his hand lowered to his side, he grazed her hand, sending a singe of sensation right to his cock.

  “You’ve pictured me in a bathing suit?”

  Shit! Stop talking. Just shut up.

  He needed to change the subject. To anything that wouldn’t lead to him fantasizing about her naked, or in skimpy clothes, or better yet, at all. A sexual tryst was the last thing he wanted in the public domain. Cole had done his best to steer clear of the gossip columns, leaving the spotlight to his brothers, Neil and Jack.

  He cleared his throat. “Is there a reason why you’re hiding your tattoo?”

  This was something he needed to get to the bottom of. It wasn’t just her outfit that had him confused. It was her whole personality. While interacting with her family, she had shrunk into herself. She’d become nervous. The complete opposite of the Penn he knew.

  The Penn who showed up every day to work was confident and competent in sky-high heels and pencil skirts showing off legs he couldn’t help but imagine went all the way up to that spot he’d been dying to sink his—

  “Who said I’m hiding it?” she muttered. She threaded her arm through his as they walked onto the beach. “Let’s just focus on getting my father to agree to let you stay.”

  Penn had been there for him more times than he could count. Which was why he was here, instead of back home, working out the last-minute details for the club.

  It was an initiative born out of anger. And Cole sure as shit had been mad when he’d found out one of the teens in the Cooking For the Future program—the culinary program established by his foster mother, Vivian Madewood—had died. Something inside him had snapped. Admittedly, his initial approach with his brothers might not have been the best idea, or the most professional. He’d shown up half-cocked, guns blazing, with a business plan written on lined paper, his words scrawled across the white space in a serial killer-esque code.

  But that kid’s death had hit too close to home, brought back too many memories from his own tormented childhood for him to waste any time. At that moment, he’d vowed to do whatever it took to keep another kid from ending up with his same sad fate.

  Up ahead, he recognized the men he’d met five minutes earlier. But those men now wore bright yellow T-shirts. Matching T-shirts. Along with the rest of the family.

  Foster Family Fun-Cation

  Christ. Were they for real?

  But the closer they got to the group, the more he realized he was being eyeballed. By an older man who must be her father. He stood with his feet shoulder-width apart and his arms clasped behind his back. Military? He looked way too rigid to be an accountant or a salesman. He stood beside an attractive middle-aged woman—presumably Penn’s mother—who held a tiny baby in her arms.

  Why didn’t Cole know what her father did for a living? Why didn’t he know anything about any of her family? They’d spent so much time together, though most of the time every word that came out of her mouth was arguing with him.

  Cole hadn’t had much experience with the fathers of the women he’d dated. Mostly because he hadn’t dated anyone long enough. This was all new. This was all terrifying.

  He wasn’t the man anyone brought home to meet the parents. He was the son of a prostitute, who held no shame in bringing home her tricks. His father— He had no idea who that might even be. He’d often had to steal just to eat, and the cherry on top of his childhood had been the day he was removed from his dirty, unkempt apartment and placed into foster ca
re.

  They walked up to her parents, and she squeezed his arm. And just like that, with her simple touch, his uneasiness disappeared.

  “Cole, this is my father, Harold Foster. Dad, Cole Murphy.” The older man extended his hand, and Cole grasped the surprisingly solid grip. His salt and pepper hair was cut short, probably with the second highest setting to a shaver. Definitely armed forces.

  “Pleasure to meet you, sir.”

  “This my mother, Margot.” Penn lifted onto her toes and peeked into the pink blanket. “And this is baby Hannah, Dave and Beth’s little one.”

  Cole straightened his shoulders and held out his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Foster.” He hoped no one would notice he’d glossed over the baby. He wasn’t much for the goo-goo, ga-ga. “Great T-shirts, sir. Very creative,” he ventured, casting about for something to say.

  “Not really, guy,” her brother, Dave, said from his left.

  Ian helped Andy pack down some sand into a pail, then flip it over. “Dad, you promised you’d never make us wear these lame T-shirts ever again.”

  “Not after the copycat fiasco of 2009,” Beth put in.

  Cole leaned down and whispered in Penn’s ear. “The copycat fiasco?”

  She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “I’ll tell you later.”

  “Nonsense. How else are guests supposed to know who we are and why we’re here?” her father said.

  Ian didn’t look too pleased about the Brady Bunch routine. “They’re not. That’s the beauty of this world. Not everyone has to know your business.”

  “Beth, dear”—Margot motioned to a pile of bags on the beach—“could you please grab Pennie and Cole a couple of shirts?”

  He couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped at hearing her nickname, but he coughed when her hand flew into his stomach.

  “I hear you want to compete.” The man didn’t beat around the bush.

  Penn tensed at his side. “Yes, Dad. I was wondering if…well, would it be possible if…”

  Who was this woman, and what had she done with Penn Foster?

  “Then you two are dating?” her mother asked.

  The question plunged them into silence. An awkward, tense silence that made it feel like Cole wasn’t the only one waiting for an answer. So was the entire beach.

  “No, Mom.” Penn squirmed beside him. “We’re just friends.”

  He let out a shaky breath, careful not to make his nervousness so visible. He refused to show any signs of weakness.

  “Just friends,” he confirmed, straightening his shoulders and lifting his chin. “From what I gather, your other children have an unfair advantage.” Penn dug her nails into his forearm. He repressed the need to flinch. “I think it’s about time Penn had some equal footing.”

  Her mother wore a pleased little smile and craned her neck to look into her husband’s eyes.

  “This is a historic year for the Foster Cup,” her father boasted. “The twentieth anniversary.”

  Penn deflated beside him. “Yes, sir. I understand.”

  Why was she giving up so easily? He didn’t plan on going so quietly.

  Harold crossed his arms over his chest and eyed Cole. He met his stare with conviction, with every shred of pride he could muster.

  Harold nodded. “Then maybe the rules can be bent, just this once.”

  Penn squeaked beside him and threaded her fingers through his.

  “Dad, no!” Beth spat just as she threw their T-shirts, one of them walloping Penn in the face.

  “Now, Beth.” Harold pulled her into his side and rubbed her bicep with affection. “Mr. Murphy has traveled all this way. I should at least give him a chance to prove if he’s worthy of participating.”

  A smirk curved at the side of Beth’s face. Shit, this wasn’t going to be so easy.

  He looked around at the rest of her family who’d kept themselves occupied during the introduction, but he knew they were watching out of the corner of their eyes.

  “Is that why you summoned us here, Dad?” Cathy asked with a frustrated sigh. “Do you have some kind of challenge set up for us?” Her impatience was a tad annoying, considering she was well beyond her teens. Penn had rarely spoken of her family, but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to peg them all at first glance.

  Cole leaned down and whispered in Penn’s ear, “Is your dad ex-military?”

  She shook her head. “Retired high school gym teacher.”

  He laughed. This all definitely made more sense now.

  Her father walked over to stand in the middle of the group. “Welcome to the Foster Family Fun-cation!” he boomed.

  Penn groaned beside Cole. Despite the insider peek he was about to get into her family dynamic, he felt that groan right between his legs.

  “We are here in this perfect setting to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Foster Cup. As you know,” her father continued, “the annual challenge consists of several challenges. The team with the most wins gets the cup.”

  “We’re ready!” Beth pumped her fist.

  “See what I’m dealing with?” Penn muttered under her breath.

  “Before we get started, we need to figure out if our guest is capable of running with the Fosters.”

  “This is pointless.” Dave sighed. “Penn isn’t going to win anyway.”

  “She just might.” Cole directed his smile at Beth from across the group and winked. “Now that I’m here.”

  Penn looked up; her eyes sparkled with happiness. There. That look was exactly what he’d wanted to see. And surprisingly, exactly what he’d needed to feel.

  The Hawaiian sun beat down on his head and tingled across his arms, legs, and neck. Yet that wasn’t the reason for the warm, tingly feeling that spread through his body, unfamiliar but so welcome.

  He shook it off. He needed to focus on what was important. Namely, winning this trophy for Penn. She’d been by his side the entire time he’d been planning and getting the club off the ground. Showing up here in paradise to show off his athletic skills was the least he could do.

  Her father clapped to get everyone’s attention and waved his arm toward the water. The little kids jumped up and down, screaming, then darted across the beach to where three kayaks lay on the shoreline.

  Why did Cole feel like he was being led toward a firing squad, like he was walking the green mile?

  But when Penn grabbed his hand and squeezed, her hand lingering for only a moment before she pulled it away, something other than nervousness hung in the air. Something more potent, more priceless.

  Since the very first day he’d met Penn, he’d felt an unspoken connection that ebbed and flowed between them, and no matter how hard he’d tried to deny it, that connection could only be described with one word.

  Mine.

  As if it was instinctive—an overwhelming urge to claim her that he’d pushed aside for three long years.

  Maybe that wasn’t in the cards. But he sure as shit could win this challenge.

  It was time for a Murphy to kick some Foster ass.

  Penn’s mother, who still held baby Hannah, had joined the kids by the kayaks but away from the rest of the group.

  Harold stood out from the crowd and addressed the family. “The object of this challenge is a race to the first buoy.” He pointed at the water. “I had originally planned on this being a team challenge, but the situation has changed. Gentlemen will participate, ladies, you will sit this one out. Mr. Murphy?”

  Cole tensed and straightened. Just the sound of Harold’s voice brought him right back to grade school.

  “If you are the first to capture a flag from the buoy, pin it to your T-shirt, then kayak back to the beach, then you can stay and compete as Pennie’s partner.”

  “Is this for real?” Cole looked down at Penn, who was shaking her head.

  “Oh, yeah. My father probably paid a premium to have hotel staff help set up the challenges.”

  “This is a bit extreme.” Harold Foster
was hardcore.

  She rolled her eyes. “You have no idea.”

  Penn squared her body in front of him and reached out to grasp his hands. “Please, Cole. I need this. If you can set the tone and win this challenge, you will have made the last twenty years of humiliation and loss so worth it.”

  Given the chance, he’d gladly spare her from humiliation and loss for as long as she’d let him.

  “Don’t worry, babe.” He winked. “I got this.” He strode to the kayaks where her father stood holding an air horn. Pete had decided to sit this one out. Instead, he sat beside his wife with a wide smile, his hand stroking her baby bump.

  At the starting line, there was no sense of camaraderie. Even at ten years old when he’d first met Finn, he’d known right away they had a special relationship. And five years later, when he’d only been living with Vivian for a few short weeks, he’d known Neil was a true brother. But not these guys. These guys weren’t here to be friends. They were in it to win it.

  “No hard feelings.” Dave leaned over and held out his hand. “But I’m going hard. Beth tends to get a little—”

  “Crazy.” Ian finished his sentence. He pulled down his sunglasses enough to look over the tops. “I’ve never met a more competitive person in my life. She can’t even lose at board games without going bananas.”

  “Well, boys. I’m going hard, too.” Cole turned his head and focused on the water in front of them. “It’s about time Penn had her name on that trophy.” And he wasn’t leaving this island until she did.

  “Come on, baby. You got this,” Beth yelled from behind them.

  “Yeah, Cole,” Penn yelled, her voice cracking. “We’re going to win.”

  He looked over his shoulder, and Penn made a face. They were both so out of their element. If they managed to pull this off, it would be a damn miracle.

  The air horn went off with a wail. Cole darted to the kayak on the right. Without slowing, he pushed it down the beach into the water. When he was thigh deep, he jumped in, balancing himself with the paddle. The buoy was about two hundred feet out. Dave came up beside him, and seconds later, Ian was at his opposite side.

  They all began to paddle at the same time.