“Good afternoon, everyone.” Kimberly took a seat at the head of the table.
There were several rumbles before Kimberly got down to business. After taking care of the usual business, she made it to her favorite topic: special events and the tasting menu.
“The Belleza is in the running for the annual Dunham Foundation gala in a couple of months,” Kimberly began. “Due to a flood at the Beverly Wilshire, they have to make a change and try someplace new.”
“That’s fantastic,” Megan replied.
“Yes, which is why our presentation to Hayley Dunham needs to be the best we’ve ever done. The recognition of having the Dunhams here and the potential referrals would really solidify our position as the venue for special events.”
“When are they coming?” Robyn inquired. “I have some preliminary mock-ups that I’ve begun sketching out this morning that we can go over.”
“That’s great,” Kimberly said, “but we also need Gabrielle’s hand all over this.” She glanced at her best friend. “We have to show them you’re the best executive chef on the West Coast.”
“Even though Sean is gone?” one of the other staff members responded with a snort. “Everyone came to the Belleza because of his reputation.”
“Yeah,” another staffer joined in. “Did you hear he’s opening up his own restaurant?”
There were several whispers among the crowd.
“Settle down.” Kimberly glared at the man who started the conversation; she could see out of the corner of her eye that Gabrielle had been mortally offended by his comment. Kimberly suspected some of the staff had doubts about the kitchen living up to its reputation since her brother had left. But Gabrielle was a skilled chef and Kimberly would not let her be disrespected. “Sean was talented, no doubt, but Gabrielle is our secret weapon. The Belleza will shine with Gabrielle at the helm.”
She smiled at the chef, who offered a fake smile. She knew her friend well enough to know that the comments had struck a nerve. “Gabrielle, why don’t you tell us what’s on tap for this month’s tasting menu?”
The experience was open to only a few select guests who were considered to be the crème de la crème. Gabrielle had designed some creative selections for their sophisticated palates. Now Kimberly was forcing her to face her fears and not let the staff comments get her down.
Gabrielle cleared her throat before speaking. She started off slowly with her initial comments about her starter, but bounced back with a livelier description of her second course, entrée and dessert. By the end, she had everyone at the meeting salivating.
After the meeting ended, her employees began filtering out. Gabrielle tried to make a fast getaway, but Kimberly called out to her. “Can you stay behind for a moment?”
Robyn stayed behind, too, and when it was just the three of them, Kimberly closed the door.
“Kim, do we have to do this now?” Gabrielle asked sharply. Now that the door was closed, all pretense of confidence had gone away.
“Yes, we do.”
“Why can’t you let this rest?”
“When has she ever let anything rest?” Robyn replied. “You know how she gets.”
“I can’t let you go when you’re upset, not without talking about it first.”
“Why talk? It won’t change anything.” Gabrielle’s tone was chilly as she continued, “All those people think I got my job as executive chef out of nepotism. That because you and I are friends, I was chosen to step into the role.”
“But it’s not true,” Robyn said firmly. “You’re a damn good chef, Gabby.”
“I know that!” Gabrielle blurted out. “But they don’t. And I won’t change their opinion anytime soon. I’ll have to earn their respect day by day and I’m fine with that. Do you think this is my first rodeo? It’s not. Do you think it was easy turning my back on medical school and choosing the culinary field? Do you think it was easy when I came back to the States after France and dealt with the old boys’ network in New York? Well, it wasn’t.”
“Of course,” Kimberly said. She knew how hard it had been for Gabrielle to go against her parents’ wishes. Even more so when they’d cut off her trust fund. Thank God for her grandmother’s financial support. It had allowed Gabby to attend culinary school in France, otherwise who knew how long it would have taken for Gabby to realize her dream. “I didn’t mean to imply otherwise.” She patted her chest and inclined her head to Robyn. “We know that it wasn’t an easy road for you, but you have persevered and all I wanted to say is that I have your back.”
“That’s all?”
Kimberly nodded. “That’s it in a nutshell. I wouldn’t have appointed you and my father wouldn’t have backed me if we didn’t think you were and are the chef to keep the Belleza at the top.”
“Thank you, Kim. That means a lot. I guess I just needed to hear it.”
Kimberly patted her hand. “We all do sometimes.” Yesterday, she’d needed the very same thing from her father. “So how about we all look at the mock-ups that Robyn prepared to wow Hayley Dunham and talk menus?”
Over the next hour, she, Robyn and Gabrielle did just that. By the end they’d agreed to present three themes to Hayley Dunham, who was coming in two days. It would give Gabrielle enough time to purchase several items that were critical to the complicated four-course menu that included a dessert using molecular gastronomy.
“Are you sure you haven’t put too much on yourself?” Kimberly asked her. “It’s an elaborate one.”
“It is, but it’ll guarantee us winning the Dunham contract,” Gabrielle replied. “And it’s important to me that we do.”
“You don’t have to prove anything to anyone,” Robyn said. “If anything goes wrong...”
“Nothing will go wrong.” Gabrielle popped up from her chair. “This would be a big coup for us. I can just see my parents’ faces now...” Her voice trailed as she stared out the window.
“What about them?” Kimberly asked.
“They’ve attended the Dunham gala every year,” Gabrielle answered.
“Did you?” Robyn asked.
Kimberly knew Robyn had grown up in the projects. Her friend looked a bit starstruck at the thought of Gabrielle at such a lavish event.
Gabrielle shook her head. “No, it wasn’t really my thing, but my parents always did. Can you imagine how shocked they would be to learn that I am partially behind its success?”
“It would certainly make a statement,” Robyn replied.
“Then it’s no-holds-barred,” Kimberly said. “We go all out.” Gabrielle wasn’t the only one with something to prove. She would show her parents and her brothers that she could make the Belleza an even greater success. There was no doubt in her mind that with her and her friends’ hard work, it would be.
* * *
Instead of going to the pool, which was his usual MO for this time of day, Jaxon stayed in his villa. He wasn’t going to be present in Beverly Hills for the Dunham Foundation Board of Directors’ meeting, but he would call in. Despite how angry he was with his parents, the work he did at the Dunham Foundation was important to him and he wouldn’t shirk it.
How could he when it was founded by his great-grandparents? They’d given a twenty-five-thousand-dollar donation to start the Foundation during a time of great unrest in the country. African-Americans were fighting against injustice and his grandparents had wanted to help those less fortunate during those tough times. The Foundation had come a long way from its humble beginnings.
Today, the Dunham Foundation was a success because they’d harnessed his grandparents’ initial investments into future growth capital, which was part of the work Jaxon oversaw among his other duties as director. In addition to promoting democratic values and reducing injustice, the Foundation gave grants to reduce poverty, foster cultural expression, strengthen
children’s futures with higher education and deepen connections to nature and community around them.
He dialed the Foundation’s number and Pam, the receptionist, answered.
“Jaxon,” she whispered into the phone. “Your parents are fit to be tied that you didn’t return for the meeting.”
“I expected as much, but thanks for the heads-up, Pam. Patch me through to the conference room.”
“Sure thing. Good luck.”
Several seconds later, the connection was made and a feminine voice asked, “Jaxon, is that you?” He didn’t need to be present to know who it was. It was his mother.
“Yes, ma’am. I’m here.”
“The question is why you aren’t here?” his father asked through the line.
“Let’s not get into that right now,” Jaxon responded. “I assume everyone is present. Has roll call been taken?”
“No, we were just about to do it,” his sister, Hayley, replied. She was secretary as well as a director at the Foundation along with his parents, his uncle, Robert, and aunt, Eleanor, and their two sons, Andre and Mason.
“Then let’s get started,” his father replied.
After roll call was taken, his cousin, who was in charge of grants, went through several grantee applications, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.
“Well, I, for one, think we should finally get involved with autism,” Jaxon heard his aunt Eleanor say. “The disorder is becoming more prevalent. This would be a great cause to champion.”
“So are the other candidates,” his father commented. “We have to look at our mission statement and see how they fit with our core values.”
“I agree with Daddy, Auntie,” Hayley said. “As much as that’s a great cause, the local food bank Second Harvest is in desperate need of our support. I think we should consider them for the grant.”
“Why can’t we do both?” Jaxon asked from the other end of the line. “It doesn’t have to be one over the other.” He knew his sister was active in local charities, and wanted to support her.
The conversation raged on for nearly an hour with no decision before his father as president and presiding officer agreed to table the discussion to the next board meeting.
Jaxon was about to hang up when the meeting concluded but his father stopped him. “Stay on the line, son.”
Jaxon was not looking forward to this discussion, but he would listen out of respect for his father. He heard voices dissipating before he said, “Yes?”
“You have your poor mother up in arms.”
“She should be,” Jaxon said. “She and Stephanie concocted this whole ruse to get me down the aisle and it backfired.”
“You know we just want what’s best for you, son.”
“Let’s be real, Dad. You want the next Dunham heir to carry on the family name. But I’m not there yet and you can’t force my hand. Help Mom realize that, because until you do, I’m not coming home.”
Abruptly, Jaxon ended the call. There wasn’t anything left to be said. The only thing he wanted right now was a massage. His family had gotten him all stressed-out when he’d been in such a good place.
He picked up the receiver and quickly arranged for a relaxation massage in ten minutes. The spa had a cancellation and was able to squeeze him in. A massage would be exactly what he needed to let go of the family drama. Tearing off his T-shirt, he changed into some shorts, slipped on his flip-flops and headed out the door.
The massage was peaceful and serene and as he closed his eyes and the masseur’s hands roamed over his shoulders, he let the worries of the day fade. His parents had no idea where he was, so he was free to do as he pleased. Speaking of doing as he pleased... An image of Kimberly popped into his subconscious. Her smooth caramel-colored skin, those long shapely legs that met a curvaceous bottom had him suppressing a groan.
He didn’t want the masseur to think him a pervert, but the woman had invaded his thoughts when he was supposed to be relaxing. Now, instead of feeling relaxed after the massage, he felt more anxious than before. He needed to get back to his room and take a cold shower. Maybe then he could get those sexy images of Kimberly out of his mind.
He was so deep in thought as he rushed back to the villa that he didn’t watch his step and collided with a warm body. His hands instinctively reached out to stop them both from falling. When he did, he felt soft and very supple curves. He glanced down and right into Kimberly’s rich brown eyes.
Chapter 5
“We meet again.”
Kimberly’s breath caught in her chest but unlike when she saw Jack at the gym, this time he was shirtless. Her hands were now splayed across his expansive chest as she’d used him for support to keep from falling. It allowed her to see what his shirts had hidden from her view. Broad shoulders, a smattering of hair on a well-defined chest, six-pack abs... Or would it be eight-pack abs if his shorts dipped lower?
She swallowed.
“Kimberly?”
“Hmm...” She glanced up at him and wished she hadn’t because she saw something in his eyes. Desire. She felt it, too. Had been feeling it since their breakfast encounter a couple of days ago. Fate, it seemed, kept putting them in each other’s path.
Jack’s hands roamed upward from around her waist where he’d lightly planted them to stabilize her. They threaded through her long black hair, which she’d decided on a whim to wear down rather than in her usual sensible, professional bun. He brought her forward into closer contact with his body even though Kimberly couldn’t see how it was possible since they’d collided with each other in a mass of arms and bodies.
She could feel the heat emanating from his chest as she went closer, and then her nipples brushed against him, causing them to pucker underneath her silk shirt. Jack leaned down and pressed his forehead against hers and breathed her in. Kimberly tried to wiggle away, embarrassed by her traitorous body’s response to him. It wasn’t right that he could make her feel this way when she barely knew him.
“Don’t fight it,” he whispered softly.
He was lowering his mouth to hers when a loud crash sounded behind her. Jack instantly spun around, pushing Kimberly behind him.
It was a protective move that Kimberly admired, but it was hardly necessary. The noise was courtesy of Charlene Vincent, the newest hire at The Pearl, who’d just dropped a handful of menus. The girl seemed prone to mishaps.
“Sorry,” the buxom blonde said, picking up the menus before rushing off in her stilettos.
“Can she even walk in those?” Jack murmured aloud.
“Clearly not.” Kimberly pushed away from him and took several steps backward to give herself some distance to breathe, to think.
A smile ruffled his mouth. “What’s wrong? I don’t bite.”
Kimberly sensed the sexual magnetism that made him so self-confident. “Are you sure about that? Because this—” she pointed between the two of them “—is not going to happen. I don’t date guests.”
“We aren’t dating,” Jack responded. “We were, however, about to kiss, which if we hadn’t been interrupted would have been overdue. I know you felt it.”
“Felt what?”
He raised a quirky brow. “The pull. Between you and me.”
“Th-there’s no pull. We just...” Kimberly couldn’t think of a single, plausible reason why she’d ended up in his arms just now. He was right. If they hadn’t been interrupted, they would have no doubt ended their collision with a hot, searing kiss. Her panties were nearly moist just from touching him. The prolonged anticipation was unbearable.
“Kimberly.” Hearing her name on his lips was like a sensual caress washing over her. “You can’t deny what’s happening between us.”
“I can. And I will.”
“Why should you have to?” He quirked a brow. “We are
two adults who are interested in each other. What’s the harm in that?”
“I don’t want to complicate our relationship. I’m in charge of running this hotel and—”
“And you don’t want to let your parents down by taking your eye off the ball?”
How could he know what she was thinking? Feeling? He seemed to know without her verbalizing it. She’d met many attractive men before, but none like him. He wasn’t vain; he was observant, kind and it made him dangerous to her well-being.
“Don’t try to change the subject. I don’t fraternize with guests, especially those I know nothing about.”
She noticed he paused, so she had definitely given him something to chew on.
“True, you don’t know much about me, but that would change if you agreed to spend some time with me.”
Kimberly glanced down at her watch. “I have to go.”
“All right, Kimberly Parker, but this isn’t over between us.”
Kimberly sure hoped it was as she stalked away back to her office. She hoped that Jack would be checking out soon and then things would go back to normal. But when she checked Jack’s reservation, it was open-ended. She had no idea how long he would stay on at the Belleza. And the longer he stayed, the harder it would be to stay away from him. She was afraid her resolve might weaken and she might give in to temptation. And that was exactly what Jack was, all six feet of him.
* * *
A couple of days later, after a three-mile jog and a quick smoothie, Kimberly returned to her condo and dressed carefully for the day’s big event, the Dunham presentation. She’d managed to successfully avoid any further run-ins with Jack Scott because she’d been swamped with hotel business, but it was a matter of time before their paths crossed again.
She took one of the golf carts parked near her condo and rushed toward the Plaza. Located next to the main hotel building, the Plaza housed ballrooms of various sizes, several restaurants and boutique shops for their guests. When she arrived at the Grand Ballroom, Robyn was running around arranging the decor from the floral arrangements to the linens to the crystal chandeliers they’d ordered for the event.
Heat Wave of Desire Page 4