But at this moment, she worried that her laughter might border on manic or deranged. She was so, so close to getting what she wanted. There was no way she’d let a rogue chef thwart her plans.
“I couldn’t help but overhear that you’re in a bind.”
That whiskey-soaked voice had her shivering and the vivid fantasy she’d tried to push to the back of her mind kept rushing to the front. Wasn’t there some resort rule about lusting after a guest? After all, this was an adults-only resort so he probably wasn’t here alone. A man who looked like that likely never slept alone...while she knew no other way.
Oh, she wasn’t innocent, but she never stayed the night in someone’s bed, and over the past year she’d barely dragged herself into hers. She’d been working her ass off for her father, wanting to gain his approval, wanting...hell, something from him other than disdain.
Getting Mirage running like a dream was her last chance at some type of parental nod.
“I might be able to help,” the stranger added.
Stella crossed her arms and smiled. “Oh, well, that’s not necessary, but thank you.”
“Do you have someone else to cook?” he asked.
Oh, that dark arched brow that accompanied the question had her belly quivering with unwanted arousal. She must be sexually deprived if a brow and a voice turned her on. Well, the whole rough, manly-man exterior also gave a healthy punch of lust.
Maybe she should examine that belt buckle a little closer.
“Are you a chef, Mr...?”
“Michaels. Dane Michaels.” In two strides he was in front of her and offering a half grin that drew her eyes down from his perfect teeth to the dark stubble covering his jawline. “I’m not a professional chef, but I’m a damn good cook. Ask any employee on my ranch.”
His ranch. Of course someone this rugged and mysterious had a ranch. Montana had no shortage of cowboys, but this guy...he was the real deal and no doubt hands-on with his work if those weathered lines on his face were any indication. Likely the emblem on his buckle was that of his ranch.
“Mr. Michaels—”
“Dane,” he corrected and had her toes curling in her boots with that full-fledged smile. “And you are?”
“Stella Garcia. I’m the manager of Mirage.” Soon to be owner...she hoped. “Dane, I can’t ask a guest to come into the kitchen where food is being prepared.”
He propped his hands on his narrow hips and held her gaze. “You didn’t ask and I don’t see that you have many other options right now. Do you?”
Well, no, but that didn’t mean this was a good idea. She couldn’t let a stranger just come in and ride to her rescue. Good heavens, if her father heard of that, she’d definitely be reprimanded.
“Stella.”
She turned to the Mia, the hostess Stella had completely forgotten was even in the room. “Yes?”
“We just got three more reservations and that booked us up for the night. That doesn’t include the fantasy rooms and the room service.” Mia chewed on her lip and stared over Stella’s shoulder to the fantasy man. “I mean, you should at least think about his offer, but do it fast because in forty-five minutes, people will start coming in.”
Stella rubbed her head and tried to remind herself that she wanted this job, that she loved Mirage. So far she’d had one headache after another, but for the most part she’d been cleaning up the mess left by the previous manager. Apparently he’d been a jerk to the employees and now Stella was paying the price of the resulting disloyalty. Loyal employees didn’t leave without giving notice.
But she did want to own Mirage. True, she wanted her father to see her as a valuable businesswoman and a capable daughter...they were all the family each other had. But more so, she wanted this place because she’d heard of the woman who built it. A single mother who branched out to create something spectacular all on her own.
How could Stella not admire that and strive to be as strong as the original owner, Lara Anderson? When her father had acquired the resort, Stella had done her research on the place before her father let her in this position. She did that with each of his acquisitions, but this one had always stuck out to her and she’d had her sights set on it for years.
“I can’t believe I’m considering this,” Stella muttered as she spun back around to Dane.
Had he just been checking out her ass?
Well, well, well.
No. That should not excite her. She’d been in a relationship several years ago with a guy whose eyes, and other body parts, wandered a bit too much.
Stella cleared her throat. “I couldn’t pull you away from your significant other.”
“I’m actually here alone,” he countered.
“Alone?”
“It’s a long story,” he added with another slight grin—this one looked a little pained. “I’ll tell you about it while we prepare dinner. Deal?”
Stella shouldn’t go along with this. The idea of letting a stranger, a guest, into the kitchen was preposterous, but at this point, she wasn’t sure what other option she had. She needed help and she’d be in there the entire time watching to make sure nothing lawsuit-worthy happened, so what could go wrong?
The worst choice would be to do nothing and stand here and have a mental debate with herself. If her father happened to find out what she’d done, she’d be more than happy to defend herself and be proud that she’d pulled this ill-fated night out of despair...so long as this stranger could do all he’d promised.
Stella nodded toward the kitchen. “Follow me, Mr. Michaels.”
“Dane, remember?”
As she led the way through the dining room, she felt very aware of the intriguing stranger following closely at her back. She worked with men every single day. Her father was one of the most powerful men in business and had a slew of minions in suits that worked for and with him. None had her in a fluster like this one.
There was certainly something to be said about a mysterious, attractive man riding to the rescue at the eleventh hour. It was like fate had planted him right in her path.
And the fact he was here alone had her even more intrigued. Stella couldn’t imagine there wasn’t a line of women with lingerie packed and ready for a getaway to a fantasy resort with this guy.
“There should be several starters made up in advance,” Stella began as she pushed on the swinging kitchen door. “Let’s hope that’s the case tonight.”
“Either way, it will all work out,” he told her.
When that velvety voice washed over her, she wanted to believe him, but considering they were coming from two different positions, she wasn’t sure she should be so quick to let her guard down.
“The menu is set up two weeks in advance so we can have enough supplies ordered in—that means we have a direction on where to go.” Stella pointed toward the wooden board hanging outside the walk-in refrigerator. “I know we’ll have everything for tonight’s menu, it’s just putting it all together like it should be that’s the challenge. And well, I’m not known for my kitchen skills.”
Dane stepped around her and placed a hand on her forearm. That warm, rough palm slid over her skin and had her wondering just how those hands would feel over other, more neglected parts of her body.
Now was not the time for her dormant hormones to come rushing back to the surface.
“I promised it would all work out, right?” he asked. Those dark eyes held her in place. “Trust me.”
“That’s a bit difficult since I don’t know you,” she stated as she stared into those midnight eyes framed with heavy black lashes. “But for now, I’m going to have to trust my instincts and roll with this plan.”
His thumb stroked over her arm. “I’ll make sure this all works out. For both of us.”
Suddenly, Stella wondered if he wasn’t just referring to dinner.
Two<
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Dane had originally thought his plan was going to be easy, but getting in the door had taken charm and a little flirting. He was usually so good at getting information he needed.
Both actions painfully outside of his comfort zone these days, but he’d taken a page from his younger, more social brother, Ethan.
For now, Dane would act like he was the most confident, suave man Stella had ever seen. There would be no cause for her to be suspicious. Soon, she’d trust him with all sorts of secrets, and after that, the resort would be his in no time. Finally, after all of these years.
And all he had to do was get close to a striking, sexy woman. Cooking was going to be the easy part, and hopefully this instant foot in the door would give him that extra boost he needed when it came to capturing her trust and attention.
She’d certainly captured his attention with no trouble at all.
That first glimpse of Stella when she’d turned around had nearly rendered him speechless. Thankfully, he’d remembered why he was here and that any distraction, no matter how sexy, could cost him everything.
Just because he was here to get close to her, didn’t mean he could lose sight of the prize.
But then the rest of the kitchen staff started milling in and Stella went to work and took charge. While Dane figured out what the hell he needed to do to create a dinner for one hundred–plus people coming in and out over the next few hours, he also managed to watch Stella in action, knowing that would give him insight as to how to handle his next steps with her.
Damn if she wasn’t even sexier when she focused on her own goal. He knew she wanted this resort for herself, he also knew her father wouldn’t let that happen. The old bastard was stringing her along and had no intention of giving his daughter anything.
While Dane had never met the man in person, watching him from a distance and hiring an investigator to dig up details had shown that Ruiz Garcia was the biggest male chauvinist jerk Dane had ever heard of.
But that was just one more weapon in his arsenal—a point of connection between them he could use to create sympathy and trust. They both had bastard father/stepfathers and they’d both lost their mothers.
Once all was said and done, and he’d secured Mirage, Stella would see that he’d actually done her a favor by getting her out from under the thumb of her controlling father.
Until then, well, Dane would have to do a little more socializing than he’d planned. The pleasure of spending time with a sultry, alluring woman would make up for the comfort zone he’d stepped so far from. She was responding to him nicely so far—he just had to make sure that he kept up the act...and that he didn’t let her expose the ugly, scarred parts of him, whether they were visible or not.
There was one obstacle after another, but that end result...
Several hours and countless dishes of pork roast with mashed potatoes later, Dane worked on the cleanup. The rest of the staff had been dismissed and Stella was out in the dining room straightening everything.
Dane certainly wasn’t a star chef, but being raised by a single mother had given him an edge in household tasks. Lara Anderson had been adamant that her boys do every bit of work deemed for “women” and she swore she’d make them good husband material. His mother wasn’t here to see that neither of her sons had any intention of being a husband, but Dane was still thankful he’d paid attention when she’d shared her special recipes and guided him through basic preparation steps.
Most of the dishes were washed and put away. From the checklist, it looked like all Dane needed to do was prepare a few things for the breakfast crowd. The fruit needed to be cut and placed into separate bowls. The bread was all ready to go, it just had to be put out at room temperature.
The more Dane did, the more he missed his ranch. Being alone and feeding just one was more his speed. His cattle could fend mostly for themselves and the horses were like his best friends. Aside from his ranch hands, those animals were about the extent of anyone or anything he wanted to care for.
Soon, though. Soon he’d be out of here, with the property in his name and then he could figure out how much time to spend at the ranch and how much to spend here. The penthouse he’d gotten for this stay would be a perfect suite for him to keep, but he knew the owner’s suite was even more spectacular. His mother had spared no expense when she had brought her dream to life.
“Well, you saved my ass.”
He’d admired said ass quite a bit since first stepping through the dining room. The sway of her little dress as the hem hit the back of her knees. Those tiny buttons that ran down the middle of the front had teased him all night. He’d stared at the one just between her breasts as if willing it to slide right open.
Dane wondered what she wore beneath and opted to use his own imagination. He figured Stella to be a lace type of lady. Someone like her would want to be all business on the exterior yet all woman beneath.
His body responded instantly to the image of her with the dress stripped away, her dark hair around her shoulders and her breasts bound by lace.
Dane slid the sharp knife through the juicy strawberry, but didn’t glance up at Stella. She came to stand on the other side of the stainless prep area and rested her palms on the flat surface. If Ethan were in his place he would’ve cleared off this island and had her beneath him in seconds.
Dane wasn’t Ethan. Revealing his body by taking Stella to bed wouldn’t seal the deal—it would sour it, once she saw what he was hiding under his clothes. No, there wouldn’t be sex—just flirting. Teasing. Winning her trust slowly and carefully. Well, as slowly as his sanity would allow. He wanted Mirage in his name right now, but he knew he had to be patient.
“Happy I could help,” he finally replied, attempting to get control over his hormones. He needed to pace himself. “I’m just going to get this fruit cut up and set in the fridge. What time should I be here tomorrow?”
“Oh, no,” Stella retorted. “You’ve more than helped. I called in our part-time chef and offered an exorbitant amount of money if she would cover for the next few weeks.”
Dane stopped slicing and set the knife down as he lifted his gaze to hers. “That wasn’t necessary. I would’ve helped while I was here.”
Stella smiled. Not the flirty smile he often got from women when he ventured out, but the type of smile that contained a sense of...pity.
Damn it. He’d seen enough of that from his staff at the ranch when he’d get lost in his war nightmares. He’d let the majority of them go because he did not need sympathy and he didn’t want anyone in his house hearing his cries. He refused to take pity from anybody and he sure as hell couldn’t afford to have it from the woman he was trying to get close to.
But pity from Stella was a bit easier to handle. She didn’t even know the real reason to pity him, so technically her emotions toward him right now were null.
“It’s not like I had anything else to do,” he replied. “Besides, it wasn’t bad and I got to help a beautiful woman.”
Stella pursed her lips, but she didn’t even blush. He’d have to reconsider his verbiage. Clearly she was either used to compliments or she wasn’t interested in them. Either way, he had to tread carefully and keep working to build a connection between them.
“I’m sure you could’ve done just fine on your own,” he amended. “I can’t imagine you would’ve let a rogue chef ruin the night.”
Stella crossed her arms over her chest and cocked her head. “I don’t let anyone ruin my plans once I set them into motion.”
Perhaps they had even more in common than he’d initially thought. Which would make this entire process that much easier...once they got over this initial get-to-know-you phase.
“That attitude is why this place is so successful.” He flashed her a smile and picked up a strawberry, extending it across the island toward her. “You’re an admirable woman.”
Sh
e kept her eyes on his as she took the fruit from his hand. “I’ve already comped your room for the duration of your stay. Flattery isn’t necessary.”
Comped his room? Wasn’t that adorable. He had enough money to buy this entire resort and not put a dent in his finances, but the fact she’d done so just proved she was sincere in her commitment to Mirage...and her father didn’t deserve such loyalty.
“That wasn’t necessary,” he replied.
With a shrug, she bit into the strawberry. The second her lips closed around her fingers to clean away the juices, Dane was pretty damn thankful he had a barrier between his waist and her eyes.
Was she purposely taunting him? She’d been so all-business before, he’d thought he’d have to be the one to initiate all the flirting. Only one of them could take the lead and he’d already signed up for that position. No way was he going to be sidetracked.
On the other hand, if he’d already gotten her curiosity piqued, his work here could be over sooner than he’d planned.
“I believe you owe me a story,” she told him after she finished licking each finger and driving him out of his mind with want. He wanted that mouth on him. “We got so busy you didn’t get a chance to tell me how someone like you is at an adult resort all alone.”
At least this part he’d rehearsed and prepared for. He didn’t know how to hide his actual arousal because that sure as hell wasn’t an act and not planned...at least not standing in the resort kitchen.
“I’m on my honeymoon.”
Stella stared at him a moment before she let out a sharp laugh. “And you left your wife at home?”
“Actually, my fiancée opted to leave me a couple days before the wedding.”
Her smile vanished as her brows shot up. “You’re serious.”
Dane nodded, pushing forward with the lie that rolled easily off his tongue. “Humiliating as this is to admit, yes. Apparently ranch life wasn’t for her and she decided to reconnect with her ex. I thought about canceling the reservations, but I figured I deserved a getaway so here I am. I hope that’s not against any house rules.”
Montana Seduction Page 2