ESCAPE INTO ROMANCE- 4 Book Bundle

by Patrice Wilton

  This contest could be the answer to her temporary problems. She brainstormed ideas with Cindy.

  “I have to make a video, and I’ll need a theme.” Jenna racked her brain, and then it dawned on her. “Hello! Guiltless Gourmet—fighting obesity—low-fat, healthy food that tastes good. Right?”

  Cindy nodded. “That’s so important these days, especially with the focus on overweight children in this country.” She grinned. “Hey, maybe you can get the First Lady to do the video with you. That would get the judges’ attention.”

  “Good thought, but I don’t think so. I’m sure we have scheduling conflicts. Besides, I can do this without her. It’ll be fun.” She squeezed Cindy’s hands. “With your help, of course.”

  If she could win the Top Chef award, or even finish in the top three, the Palm Beachers would be cutting each other’s throats to have her cater their gala affairs. It would be a sweet victory.

  Kelly came home from school and wanted to get involved, so it was agreed that she’d do the filming. She and Jenna left the house to purchase a top-of-the-line video camera. Although it was small and compact, it required practice

  Back at home, Jenna smiled into the lens. “Let’s try just the introduction. Ready?”

  “Hello, food lovers. I’m Jenna Cassali from New York. My background is in sales and marketing, but I’ve always had a passion for good food and a love for cooking.

  I’m starting a catering company called Guiltless Gourmet. I’ll be sharing some of my cooking secrets with you today.”

  Pausing for a breath, she smiled again, and then picked up a spoon and a shot glass filled with tiramisu. She took a bite and licked her lips. “I’m going to show you that it’s possible to watch your weight—but still have your cake and eat it too.”

  Jenna stopped. “How did that turn out? Let me see.” She rewound the tape and watched herself. “What do you think?”

  “It’s good, dear sis, but you’ve got to sizzle,” Cindy answered. “It needs to be about the sizzle and not the steak.”

  Kelly agreed. “Do something wild and crazy with your hair. Get out of that skirt and blouse and put on something funky.”

  Jenna pursed her lips. “Like how funky?”

  “Let’s have a look in my closet,” Cindy said, “and see if we can put an outfit together.”

  The three of them crowded into Cindy’s huge walk-in closet. “How about a South Beach look?” Cindy said. “You could wear a pair of blue jean shorts, high-heeled sandals, and this cute top.” She threw the clothes at Jenna. “Try them on.”

  Jenna was surprised at how—being cautious by nature—at ease she felt. She glanced at herself from all angles. No doubt about it. She looked good.

  “You’re sure about this?” she asked, looking at Kelly and Cindy for confirmation. “I don’t seem foolish?”

  “Heck, no,” Kelly said. “You look hot.” She piled Jenna’s hair under a straw hat, allowing loose strands to fall free. “Perfect.”

  “All right. We’ll go with this and see what happens.”

  Kelly led the way back to the kitchen and picked up the video recorder. “Take two. Shake it, Aunt Jenna.”

  Jenna was perfectly comfortable in front of the camera. It was similar to doing a business presentation, but more relaxed.

  “I recently returned from a cooking vacation in Italy, and as I prepare this grilled calamari and simple salad, I want you to picture the Mediterranean gardens where the fig, kiwi, and orange trees grow.

  “We are surrounded by lush bougainvillea. The garden overlooks the Amalfi coastline and the vivid blue sea.” She closed her eyes and sighed with pleasure. “So beautiful. I believe the secret of enjoying food is to awaken all the senses—sight, smell and taste.”

  She poured a tiny glass of lemon-flavored liquor. “And a good chef always knows the value of lemons.” She tossed it back. “Salute!”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Once the video tape met the three women’s approval, Jenna packaged it for mailing.

  Later, she sat in the kitchen with Cindy discussing how to make Guiltless Gourmet a viable operation. She knew she couldn’t rely on becoming a catering sensation overnight, and she had to make her own luck.

  “Since I seem to be blacklisted in Palm Beach, I thought I could do some local catering.” Jenna turned to her sister. “Could you help me compile a list of golf communities here in West Palm?”

  “That’s a terrific idea. We could start here.” Cindy was already out of her chair, looking in her kitchen drawers for the membership book. “You better have them RSVP, because you may get a couple of hundred people showing up.”

  Jenna grabbed a pad and pencil to make a list of what she might serve and the cost estimates. She was still working on the details when Grant called and said he was leaving the hospital.

  Picking up the previous evening’s dishes had only been an excuse to see him and put things right. Cindy told her not to worry about dinner, but to run off and have fun. She’d get Rob to bring something home from his restaurant.

  Still wearing the shorts and off-the-shoulder top that she’d worn for the video, Jenna drove to Grant’s, feeling foolishly nervous and excited about seeing him again. Could they forget what happened and go right back to where they left off—naked in his bed? It wouldn’t be a half-bad place to start.

  He answered her knock on his door right away. “Come on in.” He stepped aside and allowed her to pass. “This is a different look for you,” he said, eyeing her tight jean shorts.

  She gave her hair a flirtatious toss like she’d seen her mother do. “So, what do you think?”

  His arms were folded in front of his chest, and he had an unreadable expression on his face. “I’m wondering where Jenna is? Who’s this sexy woman standing before me? Not that uptight person who ran from my bed last night.”

  She stepped forward, closing the distance between them. “I’m really so sorry about that.” If she hoped for anything to come of this, she needed to be honest. “Relationships scare me because I always seem to come out on the losing end.”

  “You want to talk about it?”

  She shrugged. “Not really, but you need to know the truth.” She walked into the family room and sat down on the sofa. “My dad left when I was a kid. Just up and left, and didn’t bother to say good-bye. He apparently didn’t love me or Cindy, or he couldn’t have done that. Around that time, Mom started drinking heavily. We’d come home from school and find her passed out. I had to run the household, do the cooking and cleaning, take care of Cindy—everything that needed to be done.”

  “How old were you?”

  “Twelve.” Jenna had been holding her breath, and now she sucked in some air. “That was my life until Cindy left for college. I postponed my own education for two years because I didn’t want to leave her alone with Mom.”

  “Oh, honey.” He put his arms around her, and she bit back the threat of tears. It was one thing to confess her miserable life to him; it was another to have a meltdown over it. “No wonder you chose a career over a family.”

  “That was only the beginning.” Her head came up, and she met his eyes. “The men I met after I left home…well, let’s just say no one loved me enough to stay.”

  He kissed her ever so gently. That one kiss reached deep inside her and touched her in a way no words could have. Tears welled into her eyes and fell onto her cheeks. His lips tasted each one.

  She found herself clinging to him. He held her in his arms, giving her his warmth, his comfort. His soft kisses eased her shame.

  He stood up and touched her bowed head, smiling down at her. “Have a glass of wine with me. It’s time we learned more about each other.”

  “I’d like that.” She watched him open the wine bottle. “I don’t usually tell people about myself.” She bit her lip. “I hold a lot inside…and I have a sneaky feeling that you do too.”

  “Ask me anything you want.” He handed her a glass of chardonnay.

 
; She glanced at him over the rim of her glass. Everything she knew about him only touched the surface. She had never opened up a person to look any deeper.

  She licked her lips, ridiculously nervous. “Grant, I only know that you’re a wonderful doctor, a kind and charming man, and that you once had a wife, the love of your life. Tell me about your family. Where are you from? Are your parents still alive?”

  He answered her questions, saying his parents lived in Phoenix, where he’d grown up. His only brother, a dentist, lived with his wife and two daughters in California.

  Jenna knew there was a deeper layer, but she wasn’t ready to go further. If he exposed himself completely, then she’d have to do the same.

  Perhaps in time, if he stuck around long enough, he’d be able to peel her like an onion and discover all her hidden secrets. Her fears and insecurities would be laid bare. And if he was anything like the other men she knew, he’d walk away too.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Maybe it was true that love is sweeter the second time around, because Rob and Cindy were like a pair of love-birds. He doted on her, and she on him.

  He made her breakfast every morning and brought her tea at night. She would play the piano for him and sing in her strong, clear voice, which he loved to hear.

  After a month of being home, Cindy was now able to get around fine and was taking total care of Amy. Kelly and Nick pretty much took care of themselves. The family didn’t need Jenna anymore.

  Just a couple of weeks after turning down Grant’s invitation, she realized it was time for her to go.

  She had not been able to hold her complimentary cocktail party at her sister’s country club, because they had their own catering chefs and staff. However, Rob offered her the opportunity to present complimentary hors d’oeuvres at his restaurants on Fridays for Happy Hour. This proved to be a very successful venture. Besides the posted signs on the tables, she left a generous supply of her business cards.

  She had some jobs lined up, mostly dinner parties. The money trickled in, but it was not nearly enough to make a substantial living.

  At last she received her severance pay package from Plasmic, but if she didn’t earn some serious money soon, she’d be forced to give up this catering idea and get a real job again.

  She had not been able to lease out her New York apartment. The mortgage payments and condo fees were killing her.

  While she lingered over a last cup of coffee one morning, her cell phone rang. It was the head of Human Resources of America National Plastic, one of Plasmic’s major competitors, offering her a job.

  This would be the answer to her financial worries—a dream job in Chicago. If Grant weren’t in the picture, she might have considered it, but not now. She wasn’t ready to give him up quite yet, or her hopes to be a catering sensation.

  The idea of giving her blood, sweat, and tears to a company, working long days and into the night, held little appeal now. She wanted a life—hobbies, interests and things that made her happy.

  ANP needed an answer by the end of the week. Jenna knew her answer, but she didn’t want to burn her bridges too soon.

  She’d miss Grant terribly if she left. They’d been seeing each other once or twice a week for the past month. He seemed content with that, but now the tables had turned and she wanted more. Her feelings for him were blossoming day by day. The fact he’d stopped pressuring her intrigued her all the more.

  She also needed a place to stay. She couldn’t buy anything unless she sold her New York condo.

  Jenna talked to her sister about moving in with Grant. She wasn’t certain if the offer still stood. “What should I do, Cindy?”

  “Call him. I’ll start packing your bags while you’re on the phone,” she kidded.

  “Oh, Cindy, what if he only said it in the heat of the moment? Or he’s changed his mind?”

  “You won’t know until you ask him, will you? What’s the worst thing that could happen? He’d say no?”

  Jenna was practically squirming. Putting herself on the line like this was extremely unnerving. She liked having the control, and handing it over to Grant scared the crap out of her. “I’m going to feel like such a fool if he wasn’t serious about the offer.”

  “You’d be more of a fool if you let things slide.” Cindy gave Jenna a little push. “Go on. Make the call.”

  Jenna waited until Cindy had left the room and then picked up the house phone. She felt as nervous as a teenage girl—ridiculous. So what if he said no? She would find an apartment to rent. No big deal.

  Grant picked up on the first ring. She drew in a breath and released it slowly. “I needed to ask you something.” She rushed on, “Are we still on for tomorrow night?”

  “Of course. You called to ask me that?”

  She cleared her throat. “No, not really. I’m just stalling.” She blurted, “I’m a chicken-shit about relationships. You know that.”

  “So what’s the problem now? I thought you were happy seeing me a couple of times a week.” His voice turned cool. “Are you saying you want to end things?”

  “No, no. That’s not why I called.” She gave a nervous laugh.

  “Out with it then. I’m not a mind reader, and I don’t bite.” She could hear the relief in his voice, and drew strength from that.

  “You can say ‘no’ if you want to. I won’t mind. Honest.”

  “Jenna? What is it? Why are you so nervous?”

  Her fingers clamped around the phone as her stomach jumped with uncertainty. “I want to move in with you,” she blurted.

  “Say that again.”

  “Grant, don’t make me.”

  He laughed. “It’s just that I don’t think I heard you right.”

  “Okay.” She heaved a big sigh. “Did you mean it when you asked me to come live with you?” She bit her lip and closed her eyes, bracing herself.

  “Jenna. That is not the type of thing you ask a woman lightly.” His voice was subdued and very serious. “I already had you in bed. I didn’t need to lie to get you there.”

  Her heart felt lighter than it had before, and she laughed. “No, of course not.”

  More confident now, she blundered on. “The thing is, Cindy no longer needs me. I could rent a place, but I would prefer to come and stay with you…if the offer is still open.”

  “Are you asking if you can move in because you want to live with me, or because you need a temporary roof over your head?”

  “Both, I guess.” She licked her suddenly dry lips. “Does the reason matter?”

  “Yes. I’m afraid it does.”

  “Oh, Grant.” She sighed deeply. “I would like to say that I’m ready to make a total commitment to you, but I’m not a hundred percent sure that I can. I’ve been independent for most of my life, and I like it. I’m not sure how I would do living with someone, but I’m more than willing to try.” She picked up a pen and tapped it on the counter. “So, you see, my idea is to start off as a temporary live-in partner, with the option of making it permanent. Kind of like a dry run.”

  The tone of his voice told her he didn’t think too much of her plan. “I don’t take in temporary live-ins—whatever the hell that means. I had hoped your feelings for me would make this an easy decision for you. Clearly, that’s not the case.”

  “That’s not true. I care very much about you—too much, if the truth be known.”

  “Uh-huh. And that’s why you’re afraid to commit. Because you care so damned much?”

  “Yes! Yes, that’s it exactly.” She bit her lip.

  Why was this so hard? She wanted to be with him, she really did—but on her terms. Was that so difficult to understand?

  Hell, most guys would find this a very convenient offer. They could have all the fun with only half the risk.

  “I’m sorry, Jenna, but the timing stinks. Catherine’s church mission to Honduras leaves on June eighteenth. They need a doctor to open up a new clinic and I’ve agreed to go.”

  “Why didn’t
you tell me this before—like, as soon as I asked?” She was angry now. “Why did you make me be so frank with you? You know it kills me to be so open.”

  All this time, he’d known he was going away with Catherine. And why the hell did it have to be Catherine Melrose, of all people. The idea of them together, night and day, sickened her stomach.

  “I’m only going for a week to help set things up, and then I’ll be back. We’ll get together when I return, and we can talk about it then.”

  “We could, but I wouldn’t count on it.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I had a phone call from one of my old company’s competitors. They offered me a huge job in Chicago. I don’t have many other options at the moment. I may decide to take it.”

  “This is ridiculous. One minute you’re offering to move in with me, and then the next you’re off to Chicago. You don’t know what the hell you want, do you?”

  A lump rose in her throat, and she swallowed hard. He was right. She didn’t want to relinquish her safety net. In her own insular world, she was competent and comfortable.

  Starting a business venture and committing to a relationship were two giant leaps of faith. Both required a lot of courage. Maybe more than she had.

  “I want to be more than your friend, Grant. But I’m torn. This is an incredible job opportunity and I’d have to be crazy not to take it.” She had planned to turn it down, but that was before she knew about his plans to go to Honduras with Catherine. Nothing was going right—this phone call most of all.

  “Jenna.” His voice softened. “Why don’t you give it a little longer here and see how things go? You can always get a big corporate job again. Right now you have a chance to try something different. If it doesn’t work out, you still have other options.”

  Was he talking about the job or about him? And what did he expect her to say when he was leaving town with another woman—a woman hell-bent on crushing her?

  “I told them I’d let them know in a week. I’ve got a lot to think about.” Her long nails dug into the damp palms of her hands. She closed her eyes, wanting him to say something that would make her stay.