“No problem, TS. Mr. Grange.” The young designer gave Nate a wide berth and scuttled out into the main room, leaving the two of them alone. Sort of.
He slid around the still intact prep area and gripped her arm. “Come with me.”
The walk-in refrigerator hadn’t been removed, thank God, and Nate guided her into the room, dropping the broomstick down so that the door wouldn’t close completely. “You and I need to have a little chat.”
The woman looked terrified. “Here? Are you crazy? It’s cold. And cramped. You can talk to me just as well outside.”
Damn, her chin was sexy. Her chin. He shook his head. “I don’t want to be on some damn video on the computer. That’s not what we’re about.”
She lifted her sexy chin. “Really? Then why did Louis seem so excited? Even camera shy Clay is interested in sharing his gift with the world. You’re the only one who doesn’t think this is what you’re about.”
They’d known? He was going to have to have a talk with them too.
“Don’t tell me about Louis and Clay. I’ve known them for years. I know what they want. And it isn’t kitchens without walls, tile samples or interviews with radio stations. And it damn sure isn’t being paraded around like a prized steer, serving my food in g-strings to get noticed. I didn’t hire you to make us into a sideshow attraction.”
She raised one eyebrow. “I, me, my. I suppose the question is, is this restaurant really a partnership or a dictatorship? You don’t seem to care what they think about anything. You argue with every promotional idea I have, shoot down everything we come up with. Why did you hire me? If you just wanted a pool hall to hide from the world in, cooking like some mad scientist for the few stray bikers who wander in, you could have let me know. I told you I don’t let anyone waste my time.”
He stared at her for a long, drawn out moment, noticing the rosy flush in her cheeks and the fire blazing in her eyes…and then he kissed her. He couldn’t help it. She’d made him crazy with the endless phone calls and emails. All her plans. All of the things he’d wanted to talk to her about.
None of it mattered. This was technically the first time he was alone with her, in the fridge no less, and he couldn’t cool down enough to keep from tasting those lips. They’d haunted his dreams for weeks, but the real thing was better. So much better he had to lick her lower lip with his tongue and groan at the flavor. Cherries and lush, warm woman.
He was in so much trouble.
Truly was in shock. Maybe from the rush of frosty air against her back. Maybe from the fact that her butt was pressing against what felt like a quart of ice cream. Or it could just be that this man, the one who’d barely spoken a word to her in several weeks, was suddenly kissing her with a skill and fervor that turned her bones into rubber.
God, he was good. She’d known he would be. Hadn’t she imagined him doing this a thousand times since that first day? Of course, in her daydreams they were in a warm bed, and he’d told her how sorry he was for doubting her before he started kissing her senseless.
This was completely unprofessional. Inappropriate. Insane. Just one more minute, she silently begged her conscience. Just one more minute of his teeth nibbling on her lower lip, his tongue tangling with hers in her mouth, the shiver inducing vibration of his groans against her lips. Then she’d push him away and remember this was a job, and he was way too dangerous for her.
He pulled away first, swearing under his breath, unable to tear his gaze from her tingling, swollen lips. “This is a mistake.”
What? Starting in the first place? Working together? Stopping? She nodded jerkily. “Absolutely.”
He looked down, a muscle in his jaw tightening. She followed the direction of his heated stare and gasped. The ivory blouse, perfectly appropriate only moments before, was now no barrier to her attention seeking nipples. The combination of cool air and hot man had them pressing through her lace bra and thin blouse, begging for attention.
Her hands lifted to cover herself, but Nate had other ideas. He gripped her wrists in one hand, lifting her arms above her head and out of his line of vision.
“Fuck.” He growled out the invective before lowering his mouth to her breast. His teeth closed around one tightly peaked nipple, and his tongue caressed it through the layers of fabric.
“Oh God.” She felt his free hand cup her heavy flesh, lifting it higher, deeper into his mouth, and her body trembled.
She’d always hated her breasts. Joked that she was jealous they knew more than she, since they got into the room a few minutes before she did. It was hard to be taken seriously when no man could look you in the eye. Even when they didn’t like the rest of the package, they sure as hell noticed her girls.
Truly had always worn minimizing bras, jackets, anything to cover up her ample charms at the station. But some wanton part of her was glad she hadn’t today. Glad she could feel each lap of his tongue through the thin silk and lace. His rough bites and tender licks sent vibrations through every part of her body. Her sex.
She squeezed her thighs together and arched into his mouth. She wished she could touch him, wished she could run her fingers through his hair, grip his neck, measure the width of his shoulders. But she couldn’t deny that the mastery of his touch called out to something forbidden inside her. Something more than a little wild and wholly feminine.
Nate lifted his mouth and looked into her eyes, his own blazing and dark. Melting chocolate. He pressed closer, and she could feel his thick erection against the curve of her stomach. The heat of it burned her. She wanted him. She licked her lips, and he closed his eyes, breaking the connection just as a loud crash sounded outside the cold room.
He jumped away from her as if he’d been bitten by a snake. “Shit.”
Not exactly a flattering reaction, but it shook her out of her daze long enough to realize what she’d been doing and where. How could she condemn her ex boss for his behavior when she was guilty of doing the same thing? Business and pleasure simply didn’t mix. Even if her business was made up of three lust-inspiring men in kitchen whites.
Truly took a deep breath and drew Nate’s attention away from the noise outside. He ran his palms over his face. “Ms. Larkin—”
She laughed to cover her embarrassment. “I think it’s safe to call me TS now, Nate, don’t you?”
He blew out a frustr