by Kait Gamble
Chelsea couldn’t help the laughter that came from that. “Daniel offered?” The man guarded his private time as if it was the most precious thing in the world to him. At least that’s how it seemed. No one really knew him outside of his being a brilliant chef.
“I just suggested that I could use some help, and he took it from there.”
Probably still trying to make up for the trouble he and Marco had caused Cara when they got into a fight and couldn’t work the following week.
“Anyway, ready to go?”
“Sure.”
“Great. I’ll meet you out front.”
Chelsea smiled at Daniel when she walked into the kitchen to gather her things. “Cara tells me that you and Jason are taking care of the prep for tonight.”
“We are. Try this.” Before she could reply, he stuffed a pinch of something into her mouth. “What do you think?”
“It’s divine.” She let the flavors roll over her tongue for a moment, almost regretting having to swallow. “What was that?”
“Something I’ve been tinkering with for a while.”
“Got any more?”
“I would have, but someone ate my icing.”
She snatched up her coat. “I didn’t take that much. I swear.”
He shrugged. “Heading out?”
“I’m going with Cara to hunt for the perfect wedding dress.”
Daniel’s eyes met hers and, for a second, she wasn’t sure what she was seeing there. Only that the spark was different. Intense.
“Enjoy your hunt.”
“I’m sure we will. See you later.”
But he was already walking away. “Later.”
“Have a few more of your experimental things for me when I get back?” Chelsea was teasing. She wasn’t even sure if he’d heard her. He obviously had more important things going on in his head.
* * * *
The trip to the shop took minutes.
Cara’s eyes widened as she stared at the frothing racks. “Chelsea!” Cara clutched at her arm. “Look at all this. How am I supposed to decide?”
“That’s part of the fun. Come on.” Chelsea looped her arm through Cara’s and dragged her to the nearest one. “Do you have an idea of what you want?”
“Something white?”
“You’re hopeless.” Chelsea stared at Cara for a moment before turning to the rack. Her friend was nearly a head shorter but with fine bone structure and exotic coloring, thanks to her Asian heritage. Everything would look spectacular on her. “I’m glad we have a limited choice of color, or else we’d probably be here for years.”
Cara laughed and ran her fingers over the fluffy chiffon of a skirt. “So I wasn’t one of those girls who cut out pictures of wedding dresses while I was growing up. Sue me.”
“I wasn’t either, but you don’t see me being completely clueless about dresses. You’re as bad as Natalie.”
“Not fair. You have experience…” Cara’s face fell. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“Don’t worry about it.” It was only a matter of time before that topic would come up, especially in their setting. The shop assistant walked in with a trolley carrying the dresses she’d picked out. Chelsea forced a cheery smile. “Your potential dress might be here.”
Again, Cara let the topic drop, but from the furrow of her brow, Chelsea could see that her friend was stewing over her slip.
“Cara, it’s fine. It’s been a year. I’m over it.”
“I sure as hell am not. Changing your mind about getting married is one thing, but to text you the night before? I would have hunted him down. I still would.” She arched an eyebrow at Chelsea. “The offer to still stands, by the way.”
That made her laugh. “You don’t have to hunt Richard down. I told you I’m over it. And don’t you have enough to worry about right now?”
“I’ll always have the few seconds it’ll take to castrate that man.”
Chelsea hugged Cara before spinning her toward the dresses. “Maybe you’ll get the chance one day. But right now, you have bigger things to focus on.”
“Damn straight.” Cara pulled the closest dress off the rack and grinned at Chelsea then the assistant. “I’d like to try this one first.”
* * * *
Three hours and way too much complimentary champagne later, Cara stood in a pristine white strapless gown that might as well have been made for her. She fluffed the skirt and smiled. “This is definitely the one.”
“Absolutely.” Chelsea couldn’t help the welling of tears. Even though they didn’t spill over, they blurred her vision enough that she had to wipe at her eyes to get a good look at her friend. “You look amazing. Jason is going to swallow his tongue.”
“I hope not. I’m partial to that tongue of his.”
“I really didn’t need to hear that.” From the way Cara floated around after time with Jason, Chelsea had no doubt that the man knew how to use his tongue, among other things. The slightest reminder of sex made her want to drag Daniel to the nearest secluded spot and tear his clothes off.
With a happy sigh, she stared at Cara. The dress really was perfect. The satin and chiffon was cinched at the empire waist with an elaborate belt that was thick enough to accentuate her slender build but not so much as to swamp her. The simple column design was perfect for someone like Cara, who didn’t need any embellishments to dazzle.
Chelsea circled her, careful not to step on the little train that swept behind Cara. “I don’t think you’ll need many alterations, if any.”
“Good.” Cara beamed back her. “I should get back to the beach and make sure Marco hasn’t strayed from task. I’ll be so glad once we get everything sorted out. You’re still interested in working with that beachfront restaurant right?”
As usual, her friend’s mind was working at lightning speed. Her reply was reflexive. “Yes, and you don’t need to keep on top of him. You know that without Daniel he’s freaking out and doing his best to impress.”
Cara winked a dark eye. “It doesn’t hurt to have the boss hovering either.”
“No, I’m sure it doesn’t.” Chelsea laughed and let the assistant past to help with the gown. “Have you thought about accessories? Bridesmaids’ gowns? Flower girl dresses? Flowers?” The list was endless from what she remembered.
“Oh, God.” The moan came from somewhere inside the gown as they lifted it over her head.
“I didn’t think so. What happened to the coordinator you were meeting with?” Chelsea hated to suggest it to her control freak best friend, but Cara was going to drive herself crazy with everything unless she got more help. Chelsea alone wasn’t going to be able to provide the assistance she needed, and Cara needed expert guidance.
“I don’t know… You know how I get with things.”
Meaning she got rid of them after an hour or so. Probably after they did something that hadn’t met Cara’s impossible standards. “I still have my list if you want it. Or I can put you in touch with the one I used. They were great. I swear they’ll do nothing but save you time and many panic attacks.”
Cara pouted then shrugged. “I guess I could give it a try.”
“Don’t sound so enthused.” Chelsea knew that Cara liked to take charge, but this was one occasion when her friend shouldn’t spread herself too thinly. She pulled out her phone and forwarded the details of her wedding coordinator. “I’ll help as much as I can, of course, but I’m not an expert, and you deserve to have the wedding of your dreams.”
“I know you will, but you have enough to deal with as well.” Cara was back in her own clothes now and threw her arms around Chelsea. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.”
“No need. You know I’m always here for you.” But she caught a glance at her watch when she wrapped her arms around Cara’s shoulders and drew back with a grimace. “Just not right now. I need to get back to make sure that Daniel hasn’t gone on some tangent. Did he tell you about his other little dessert project he’s work
ing on?”
Cara’s eyes lit up. “No. What’s he doing?”
Chelsea’s mouth started watering just thinking about it. “I don’t know, but it’s heaven on the tongue. I’m sure he’ll run it past you when he’s happy with it.”
“I’m jealous that you got to try it and I haven’t. I might have to drop back in later.”
She laughed. Cara was like an overprotective mother when it came to the restaurant. She never stayed away too long. “Like you weren’t already.”
Cara gave her a mischievous grin. “You don’t know.”
“I guess now that we have the heads up, we’ll have to clear out those rats.”
Cara clutched her chest. “You didn’t just joke about rats.”
Chelsea bumped her with her shoulder. “Joke?”
“I’m going to have a mild heart attack now.”
Chapter Eight
Prep must have been done by the time Chelsea got back because the tall, very handsome form of Jason walked out of the kitchen when she reached the door. She knew enough about him to know that he wasn’t one to leave before a job was done.
He greeted her with a dazzling smile and a warm hug. “Hey, Chelsea. How did the dress hunt go?”
“Couldn’t have gone better. You are going to love the dress Cara chose.”
He grinned. “I’d love her in a paper bag.”
Chelsea had no doubt about that. “How’s it going in there?”
“I don’t think Daniel liked me in there that much. But I think we got everything we needed to get done, done.” He smirked, satisfaction clear on his face.
“Great.” Chelsea quickly peeked at the screen on the desk.
“Don’t trust me?”
“Of course I do. I just need to see for myself. Duties as the hostess, you see.”
Pride was written all over his face. It always made her so happy that Cara had managed to find someone who loved her that much—who took gratification in everything she did. She had hoped for the same thing with Rich. But it hadn’t exactly turned out the way she’d wanted. She scanned the screen with a grin. “Fantastic. Thanks for your help. I’ve talked to Cara about hiring a wedding coordinator—” She chuckled when he winced. “Relax. She is actually considering the possibility.”
“You’re kidding.” Jason ran a hand through his hair. “I’m impressed. She didn’t try to maul you for suggesting that she can’t do it all on her own.”
“What can I say? I’m the Cara Whisperer.”
Jason laughed. “I’ll remember that the next time I piss her off.”
“Oh, no. Not a chance. When you screw up, it’s on you to sort it out. I’m not getting involved.”
With a chuckle, he pushed open the door. “I’ll see you later.”
Daniel walked out of the kitchen almost at the same moment, surprising Chelsea. “What are you doing out? Shouldn’t you be harassing the help?”
“I’ll get back to that in a minute.” He took a quick look around the empty restaurant. “Has Jason left?”
Chelsea furrowed her brow. “Yes, why?”
“I don’t like being watched over like an errant child.” He waved her to follow him.
He looked quite serious, so she immediately trailed him. “What’s wrong?”
Daniel didn’t say anything until she joined him into the pantry. Pressing her against the wall, he cupped her cheeks then dropped his mouth to hers. Daniel proceeded to kiss her until her knees started to wobble.
He pulled back just before she collapsed completely. “How did the dress hunt go?”
She had to take a second to gather her scattered brain cells. “Great. We found the dress. Cara looks amazing in it.”
“Good.” Daniel was still tight against her and was in no apparent hurry to step back.
And neither was she, but she protested anyway. “Someone is going to see us.”
“Don’t care.” His hands grew purposeful, finding hems and navigating beneath them with ease to glide over her skin. “Do you?”
Nope. She couldn’t do more than shake her head as he dipped his hand into the waistband of her trousers to delve into the moist heat between her thighs. Definitely don’t want him to stop.
He hitched her leg around his hip, allowing for better access. “How fast do you think I can make you come?”
Chelsea was close as it was and with Daniel’s expertise of her body, he could have her screaming in a few seconds. She clawed at the back of his head. “Why don’t you find out?” Then she pressed her lips to his sealing in the cries he was about to evoke. She briefly felt him smile against her mouth before the first thrust of his fingers blanked her mind.
As predicted, he knew exactly what he was doing as he teased and coaxed her body, evoking immediate streaks of pleasure. Daniel pumped his fingers, rocking his palm against her clit in a steady rhythm designed to make her climax as quickly as possible.
Chelsea bit his bottom lip in an attempt to keep quiet as the sensations swept through her body like wildfire. The move only served to spur him on more. With a growl, he drove his fingers deeper, faster, until she was caught up in a toe-curling orgasm that blanked her vision. He swallowed her cries with a groan and eased her back to reality just moments before they heard footsteps approaching.
Mortified at what they had just done, Chelsea stepped back and grabbed the first thing she could reach and pretended to read the label as if it held the secrets to the universe.
“Daniel?” One of the chefs stuck his head in. “I’ve been looking all over for you. We need you in the kitchen.”
“I’ll be right there.”
The man retreated.
Daniel turned to her, taking the jar from her hands. “Are you okay?”
She had no idea. One second she’d been shopping for dresses and the next she’d let him get her off in the pantry of a restaurant she was supposed to be running. Didn’t it prove that when it came to him she had no common sense? Anyone could have walked in on them. Something could have gone wrong while she was in there losing her head.
“I’m fine. You’d better get out there and find out what’s going on.”
He didn’t look convinced, but he did as he’d been asked.
Chelsea righted her clothing and ran her hands through her hair until she had no more excuses left to hide out in there. She had to make sure this never happened again.
Thankfully, Daniel was too busy in the kitchen to talk, and she was occupied at the bustling front of the restaurant. Once everything was wrapped up, she hurriedly gathered her things like a coward, hoping to get away before he noticed.
Fat chance of that happening.
She hadn’t even made it to the door when she heard his voice behind her.
“In a hurry?”
Busted, she turned and gave him a wan smile. “I guess I’m just tired. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
* * * *
Chelsea pulled into her parking space then trudged up to her apartment. She opened the door and immediately regretted her decision to come back alone. She dropped her bag onto the laminate flooring and kicked it aside before toeing off her shoes.
Why had she passed up a night of amazing sex again? Oh yes, dignity. Self-respect. Blah, blah, blah. She’d rather be naked and orgasming right now than alone in her depressing apartment with her equally dreary thoughts.
Chelsea opened her fridge and sighed. And without food.
Exhausted, frustrated and irritated, Chelsea collapsed onto the couch. And the day had gone so well…
When there was a knock at the door, she groaned. What now?
“I told you I was tired.” She had expected Daniel to be on the other side, but was disappointed. Sorely.
Richard.
She slammed the door in his ridiculously handsome face.
“Hello to you too, Chelsea.” His lyrical Irish accent came through the door as cultured and calm as ever. “Will you let me in?”
Heart fluttering in her chest like a caged hummingbi
rd, she backed away from the door. What was he doing here? How had he found her? “I have nothing to say to you.”
“Chelsea. Please. Stop being childish.”
“Are you kidding me? You dumped me the night before our wedding in a text!” She fought the urge to kick the door and prove him right. Why did she have to turn Daniel down tonight? It wasn’t as though she needed him to protect her from Richard, but she could use him as a buffer right about now.
“I want to apologize and I’d rather not do it to your entire building.”
Could she accept an apology from him? After what he’d done? “Just go away, Richard. Leave me alone. You’ve done a great job of that.”
“We need to talk, Chelsea. If not now, then another time.”
Chelsea glared at the door. She wasn’t going to let him in.
“I guess I’ll see you later.”
Chelsea couldn’t have felt more relief when she heard his footsteps fade down the hall. So much for never seeing him again.
Chapter Nine
Chelsea strode into the restaurant the next day ready to tear anyone’s head off. With the mood she was in, the first person to piss her off would incur her wrath.
She’d spent most of the night trying to forget that Richard was back then wondering who would have told him how to find her. It wouldn’t have been Cara or Natalie. Jason and Sebastian would have beaten him senseless before telling him anything. The only other person she could think of was her mother. And the last thing she wanted to do was get into yet another argument with her about what had happened.
“Chelsea?” She hadn’t heard Daniel approach. “What’s the matter?”
Of course, he knew there was something wrong. She’d been standing in the doorway of the restaurant just staring into space. “I’m fine.”
“Are you?” He followed her gaze to the wait staff setting the tables. “Want to go out back and talk?”
She shook her head. “Not now.” Thankfully, her phone started ringing, putting a halt to his interrogation. She didn’t recognize the number. Chelsea gave Daniel a pleading look. “Later. I promise.”