Coda Books 04 - Strawberries for Dessert (MM) Read Free Page A

“What do you mean?”
    “I mean, will there ever be a point where you’re happy with what you have and you can sit back and relax?”
    I wasn’t sure how to answer him, but it ended up not mattering because my phone rang. Again. And once again, everybody at the surrounding tables looked my way. I answered as quickly as possible.
    “This is Jonathan.”
    “Jonathan!” It was Marcus Barry again. “I’ve arranged for Lyle to cover Franklin Suites. I want you on a plane to LA Sunday evening.”
    “Of course.”
    “Let’s get this one wrapped up before they drive us both to drink.”
    I couldn’t have agreed more. “I’m sorry,” I said to Cole as I hung up. “It’s a new client, and—” He waved his hand at me dismissively, although it was obvious he found it less amusing the second time. “I don’t think he’ll call again,” I said as our food arrived. I turned my phone to vibrate and put it on the table next to me. We ate in silence for a while. The wine really did complement the lamb chops perfectly. I broke the silence by asking again, “What do you do?”
    He looked up from his plate, tilting his head so that his hair fell into his eyes again. I couldn’t tell if he was annoyed or amused by my question. “Is it so important?”
    “No,” I said, although I found it odd that he seemed unwilling to answer. “I was just curious.”
    “You’re curious, because somehow your image of who I am is all tied up with my profession?”
    “Well…” Wasn’t it? “Yes.”
    “What if I told you that I was a hustler?”
    “I—umm—” I realized I was stammering and stopped short. Was he serious? Had Jared given my number to a hustler? I had no idea how I was supposed to react. “I would tell you that I’m not paying you for anything tonight,” I finally said. On the other hand, it would mean that I could quit trying to make conversation with him. “Are you?” I asked.
    “Of course not,” he said, grinning at me, and I figured it was a good sign that I was relieved to hear it. “But the thought that I might be changed everything, didn’t it?” I had no idea what I was supposed to say. I felt like I was caught in some strange game of twenty questions.
    He laughed at me, and I tried not to be irritated by it. “You’re still dying to know, aren’t you?” he asked as he flipped his hair out of his eyes.
    Of course I was. His reluctance to answer only made me more curious. “Yes. It’s a simple question: what do you do?”
    He seemed to consider for a moment, drinking his wine, and then he said, “I travel.”
    “You travel ?” I asked. I was racking my brain in an effort to figure out what in the world he meant. “I don’t understand.”
    “Is it a word you’re not familiar with?” he asked, and I could see in his eyes how amusing he found it all. I felt like he had been quietly laughing at me ever since we had introduced ourselves, and for better or worse, it was starting to annoy me.

    “Of course I’m familiar with it,” I said, “but don’t see how you can make a career out of it.”
    “I never said that I did, darling.”
    “But you just said—”
    “I like to cook, too.”
    “So, you’re a chef?”
    “I guess you could say that. But I don’t do that for a living either, if that’s what you mean.”
    “ Of course that’s what I mean!” I said, and even I was surprised by how angry I sounded. Several of the people at nearby tables had turned to look at me, and I felt myself blushing again. I closed my eyes and made myself count to five.
    “Have I upset you somehow, darling?”
    “No!” I said, calmer now, although I was still irritated at him.
    “So quick to apologize about the little things,” he said lightly. I finally opened my eyes again and found that he was still smiling at me, although his expression was far less mocking than it had been earlier.
    “How long were you and Zach together?”
    The sudden change of subject completely caught me