Yes, Chef (Sizzle & Burn Book 1)

by Linda Verji

  “I’m not afraid.” Greyson glared at his cousin.

  “Sure you are.” Roman sat back in his seat. “You have these impossibly high hurdles that you expect all your girlfriends to be able to jump over. When they can’t, you use that as an excuse to cut and run. Basically, you’ve set them all up for failure.”

  The accusation stung. Greyson snapped, “So I have standards for the women in my life – is that so wrong?”

  “The problem isn’t that you have standards. It’s that they’re too high and you’re too quick to enforce them.” Roman paused briefly. “Tell me, are you in love with Snow?”

  The question was enough to send shock pulsing through Greyson. “What? This isn’t about love.”

  “Just answer the question.”

  “I don’t know. I’ve never thought about it.” Greyson ran a frustrated hand over his hair. “And it’s too early to be talking love anyway.”

  “See that? You even have a schedule for falling in love,” Roman teased with a chuckle.

  “Ha- ha-ha,” Greyson responded sarcastically, not in the least amused.

  “Okay, let me ask it this way.” His dark eyes turning somber, Roman asked, “Are you sure you won’t regret letting her go so easily? If a month from now Charlie’s completely out of her life and she finds a man who trusts her more than you, will you be okay with that?”

  Hell no! He wouldn’t be okay with that.

  Obviously, his answer was clear in his eyes because Roman grinned. “That’s what I thought. Come on, Grey. Be brave for once in your life. Stop looking for the perfect relationship and take what you can get. You’re crazy about the Princess - go with that for now and let the future handle itself.”

  Letting go of his doubts and just jumping in sounded so easy, but that wasn’t Greyson. Looking before leaping was second nature to him. He liked to know what he was getting into, the risks involved and where it was going before fully committing. It was what made him so successful in business. But apparently the same quality was a liability in relationships. He let out a groan of pure frustration. “I don’t know if I can do that.”

  “Try-” Roman started, but before he could add anything else, his phone buzzed. His brow furrowed when he checked the screen. “It’s mom.” A second later, he picked up the call. “Yeah, Ma?” He listened to his mother for a moment then made a face. “Yeesh! Sorry. Hello, Mother. How was your day? Is that a proper enough greeting for you?”

  Greyson chuckled. He didn’t know why Aunt Patty tried taming Roman. The man was wild and determined not to change his ways.

  “Yes, I’m coming for dinner,” Roman answered his mother. A moment later, he locked eyes with Greyson as he spoke into the phone. “Greyson? I’m not sure.”

  Alarm flared inside Greyson. Aunt Patty was probably asking if he was going for Sunday dinner. He couldn’t - not when his mother was still around. He gave his cousin a panicked shake of the head.

  Roman made a face before saying into the phone. “No, I’m not with him.”

  Greyson grinned and gave him a thumbs-up.

  Roman grinned back. “No, Mrs. Teller. I’m not lying.” Amusement glittering in his dark eyes, he clucked disapprovingly. “Don’t you trust your only son?”

  Aunt Patty said something on the phone that had Roman sighing. “Fine. When I see him I’ll tell him that she’s leaving on Tuesday.” After a short pause, he exclaimed, “I swear I’m not with him! You know, I’m starting to get offended by your mistrust.”

  If Greyson wasn’t so surprised by the news that his mother was leaving, he would’ve laughed. Was Lana really leaving? Just like that? Without once seeing him or talking to him? He hated the pang of hurt that streaked through him.

  After a few more minutes of back and forth with his mother, Roman ended the call. He laughed. “I swear she has a spy-cam on me.”

  “Wouldn’t surprise me in the least bit.” Greyson forced a smile as he stood up. “Come on, I need to finish running my errands.”

  What he was really walking away from was a conversation about why he wasn’t going for dinner with his family – and mother. Although Roman never pushed too much, he’d been known to bring up the topic once in a while. Greyson didn’t feel like discussing Lana right now; he had enough problems on his plate. Thankfully, Roman stood up without question and followed him to the escalator.

  An hour later, the cousins left the mall to go their separate ways. Even then, Roman’s words kept ringing in Greyson’s thoughts. He wanted to be the kind of man who could go with the flow – but was he really capable of it? Was Snow worth relaxing some of his relationship rules? What if he did and she ended up choosing Charlie anyway? Could he really handle that much pain?

  By the time he drove into the underground parking lot of his building, he still didn’t have the answers to his concerns. But he did know one thing – he wasn’t ready to let her go. He took the elevator up to his condo. When the elevator doors opened, he stepped out then turned the corner that led to his condo.

  The last person he expected to find leaning against the wall opposite his door was Snow. He blinked once, then twice to clear his vision and make sure that he wasn’t dreaming. Three blinks later, she was still there. His heart jerked in delight.

  “Snow?” he called out. She looked up and on seeing him quickly straightened from the wall. His steps quickened as he closed the distance between them. “What are you doing here?”

  “I wanted to… um.” She worried her bottom lip in that cute way she always did when she was nervous. She pointed at his door with her chin. “Can we talk inside?”

  “Sure. Sure.” He knew that he sounded over-eager but he couldn’t reel it in. It was so good to see her. Tapping in his numerical code into the keypad, he asked, “How long have you been standing out here?”

  “Um… not long,” she said. But the way, she stumbled over her words said she was lying.

  He turned to glance at her only to find her looking everywhere but at him. Exactly how long had she been standing here waiting for him? She’d called him about one and a half hours ago so… No way! She couldn’t possibly have waited for him that long. He would’ve pushed for a more truthful answer, but something told him that that would only embarrass her. And that was the last thing he wanted to do right now.

  “Come on in,” he invited once he had the door open.

  “Thanks.” She went in before him only to stop in the middle of the small hallway that led to his living room. She held out a jacket. “Here!”

  He hadn’t even noticed that she was carrying the jacket, and now that he looked at it he recognized it as his.

  “You gave it to me when we went on the diving trip-” She spoke quickly as she pushed it into his hands. “-and I thought I should return it.”

  Is this why she’d come? Immediate disappointment surged through him. He fingered the jacket’s heavy fabric. “You didn’t have to return it.”

  Snow shrugged and her gaze lowered to her sneakers.

  “Was there something else?” he asked. Please let there be something else.

  “I… I just…” She snatched a glance up at him then let out frustrated sigh. “No, I can’t do this.”

  She spun on her heels as if to leave. Desperation driving him, he caught her wrist before she could. “Hey, come on in for a minute.”

  She hesitated for such a long while that he thought she might leave anyway but finally she exhaled. “Okay.”

  His hand still griping her wrist, he led her into the living room. It was only once she was seated on the couch that he let her go. “Can I get you wine or something?”

  “No, I don’t drink alcohol.” She nervously rubbed at her hands.

  One more thing he didn’t know about her. Strange! He could’ve sworn that the first time he went to her house she’d offered him beer. Then it hit him – those must’ve been for Charlie. The thought of that man’s name was enough to tense Greyson’s muscles. He inhaled deeply to ease that tension before offeri
ng, “Fresh juice then?”

  Snow nodded.

  Getting her the drink was a delaying tactic – a way to keep her here longer. They hadn’t been together for so long that he was willing to steal time from wherever he could find it. He dragged his feet in the kitchen, taking an inordinately long time to pour out the juice. Ten minutes later, he returned to the living room with her drink in hand.

  “Thank you.” She took it from his hand.

  Greyson lowered himself to the couch next to the one she was on and just watched her for a minute. Weren’t people supposed to get thinner and more haggard after a breakup? Why did Snow still look so beautiful? Hadn’t she missed him at all? Maybe it was petty of him, but he would’ve appreciated some dark circles under her eyes like she couldn’t sleep. She’d certainly caused him several sleepless nights.

  Eager for reassurance that he hadn’t been the only one suffering, he broke the awkward silence between them. “Did you really come by just because of the jacket?”

  She looked up at his quickly then lowered her gaze back to her hands. A moment later, she shook her head.

  He scooted across the couch, closer to her, until he could almost touch her if he reached out. He murmured, “Why did you really come?”

  Another long silence.

  “Tell me,” he prompted.

  Without raising her head, she mumbled, “I missed you.”

  The words were so low that he almost thought he’d imagined them. His heart started a wild throb as he repeated carefully, “You missed me?”

  She nodded. His heart squeezed at her uncertain expression when she looked up to meet his gaze. A thin tremble in her voice, she confessed, “I missed you. I know you said you wanted us to take time to think but I couldn’t. I’m sorry.”

  Greyson’s heart raced with a combination of surprise, excitement and gratefulness. What was she really saying? That she wanted them to resume from where they’d left off? Snow had done what he couldn’t bring himself to do… she’d put aside her pride and let her feelings guide her back to him.

  An almost overwhelming urge to pull her into his arms filled him. He barely managed to suppress it and push out an, “You’ve got nothing to be sorry for.”

  “Greyson, I know you don’t believe me when I say that it’s over with Charlie. But it is. It really is.” Now that she’d began talking, it seemed that the floodgates were wide open. Her words came spilling out like a rushing waterfall. “I wish I could make him disappear from our lives – but I can’t. I’m doing the best I can to make him leave though. I don’t want him. I want you.”

  He was so stunned by her words that he couldn’t even speak.

  His non-reaction must have discouraged her because she sighed. “Ah! What am I doing? You probably don’t believe me.” She stood up jerkily. “I should go.”

  He grabbed her wrist to forestall her exit. “Don’t.”

  Her eyes widened as she glanced at his hand on her wrist. “Greyson.”

  “Don’t leave.” He dragged her closer, then pulled her down until she was seated sideways on his lap. He could tell he’d shocked her by the open-mouthed stare she gave him. And he was about to shock her more.

  Roman was right. It was time to be brave.

  “Don’t leave,” he repeated before leaning forward an planting a soft kiss on her lips.

  CHAPTER 21

  Snow was surprised by how much of her feelings she’d revealed but even that couldn’t compare to the shock Greyson’s fast kiss had sent rocketing through her. Even now as she sat stiffly across his thigh, staring at him, she could still feel the hard imprint of his lips on hers. She didn’t know what exactly she’d been expecting when she’d showed up at his doorstep but it certainly wasn’t this easy surrender.

  Or was he lulling her into a sense of comfort before he broke her heart again? She watched him warily, confusion and apprehension pulsing through her in equal measure.

  His gaze solemn, he murmured, “Okay.”

  She swallowed hard. “Okay, what?”

  His mouth curled in a small smile. “Okay, I believe you.”

  Believed her about what? The words had come flying so fast from her lips that she wasn’t sure what she’d said to him.

  “I believe you when you say that it’s over between you and Charlie,” Greyson explained. His blue eyes were tinged with remorse as he said, “I’m sorry for not trusting you before.”

  The stiffness left her body and relief washed over her. Releasing a shaky breath, she said, “I didn’t exactly make it easy for you to trust me. I’m sorry too.”

  His expression grave, he stared at her for a long moment as if trying to engrave her face into his memory. His gaze wandered downwards to her lips lingered there. Slowly, his hand rose between them to cup her cheek then he was moving forward, his face closing in on hers. Her eyes drifted shut just as their lips met.

  The kiss started out soft. His mouth brushed over hers lightly, delicately – as if he had all the time in the world to consume her. Like a moth flirting close to a light, he teased her. Softly, sweetly as if she were spun of delicate glass, he worried her lips. She pushed her face forward to deepen the contact, and he took the hint. He slanted his lips harder against hers before pushing his tongue into her mouth for a deeper taste.

  The taste of him overwhelmed her, unleashed the hunger that had been nipping at her for what felt like forever. Sucking at his lips, she tried to raise her hand to his chest only to discover that he was still gripping her wrist. A groan of displeasure rumbled in her throat. Greyson swallowed that groan with a deep, soothing kiss then turned it into a needy moan. But before she could fall deeper into the kiss, he slowly pulled back.

  His eyes were hooded with loud arousal as they met hers. Voice was husky, he murmured, “I missed you too.”

  Her lips turned at the corners in a reluctant smile. “Then why didn’t you come for me?”

  “Because I’m a fool.” He turned his hand to brush the back of it over her cheek. The tender motion sent tingles skittering over her sensitive skin. “Are you sure that this is really what you want? That you want to be with me?”

  She didn’t have to think over her answer. It was obvious. “Yes.”

  “Are you sure?” He watched her.

  Actions were better than words. This time she was the one who kissed him. She caressed his fleshy bottom lip with her tongue before seeking entry into his mouth. With a deep groan, he parted his lips. There was nothing tender or delicate about this kiss. He shoved his tongue deep into her mouth, lashed it against hers in an erotic duel that left her breathless and starving for more. The feel of his hard thigh flexing beneath her ass only increased the desire scorching its way through her.

  Kiss after hungry kiss he fed her until he had need strumming an urgent tune on her senses. He released her hand so that he could spin his arm around her waist and drag her closer into his body. Unfortunately, her sideways sitting position allowed only limited contact. The best she could do was wrap her arms around his neck and awkwardly turn her body slightly.

  That wasn’t enough for her.

  Desperate for more body contact, she rose from his lap. Without once separating their lips, she changed position so that she was still seated across his thigh but now her legs were between his.

  Ah! That was better. She moaned as she pressed the ultra-sensitive crests of her breasts into his hard chest. That was much better. It would’ve been even better if there was less fabric between them. Then she could feel every inch of his flesh pressed against her. And she wanted that – urgently, desperately.

  Why? Why had she gone so long without him?

  Need throbbed within her, moistened her core until she had no choice but to shift against the hard contours of his thigh. His hand dropped from her waist to her thigh and squeezed. That squeeze sent a sharp pang straight to her pussy. Whimpering, she fisted her hand over his shirt and shifted closer to his body and straight into his erection - his hard, heavy erection. She shiver
ed and trembled with desire, thrilled to discover that she wasn’t the only one burning up.

  She lowered her hand from his muscular chest, down his torso to the waist of his pants. But he caught her hand before she reached her target. Separating their lips, he uttered a gruff, “Wait.”

  For what? She released a shaky breath. Surely he wasn’t planning to stop them from going any further like he always did. No, not again! She was desperate enough to beg. “Please don’t stop.”

  “I won’t,” he reassured her with a fast kiss. “But first I want us to clear all the misunderstanding between us. I want to make sure that we’re on the same page. That if we do this, it’s because we both want it.”

  Her voice husky with desire, she said, “Greyson, I already told you I want you.”

  “I know, sweetheart,” he said. Hearing that endearment fall so easily from his lips was like tasting honey; sweet to the soul. Soothing his hands over her back, he said, “I don’t want things to be the way they were before. This time I want us to be exclusive. Just you and me.”

  She wasn’t exactly sure what he meant but she nodded anyway. Right now, she was so glad to have him back in her life that she would’ve agreed to anything he wanted.

  “No Charlie sleeping over at your place. No hanging out with him. No hiding our relationship,” Greyson said. “I want us to be a real couple– not just two people who are dating on the down low. Is that something you want too?”

  It was. It was everything she wanted. She nodded.

  “I want to hear the words,” he prodded.

  She swallowed hard. “I want that too.”

  He started to lower his head again but she stopped him. Through kiss-bruised lips, she breathed, “I need something from you too.”

  “Anything.”

  “If you’ve got a problem with something I’ve done, don’t keep it to yourself.” She stroked his jaw. “Just let me know straight up so I can fix it. If we’re open with each other, it will be harder to have misunderstandings.”