Secret Ingredient: Love Read Free Page A

Fran asked. “Because I’m a female chef?”
    “Yes.”
    Alex didn’t miss the defensive note in her voice or the way her gaze narrowed at his response. He’d been around the restaurant business long enough to know that women who decided on this career had a tough time. Attitudes were changing, but males still dominated the kitchens in a lot of four star restaurants.
    He couldn’t resist adding, “If you were a guy, it would have been the single whammy.”
    “Huh?”
    “Chef search. No matchmaking.”
    She nodded slowly as the corners of her mouth curved in a knowing smile. “Okay. But why would your sister try to fix you up?”
    “Because she’s a hopeless romantic.”
    “I wouldn’t think a guy who looks like you would have trouble finding a woman on his own.”
    She offered the observation without embarrassment or evasiveness. A woman on the make wouldn’t be so straightforward. He found her refreshing.
    And more, he thought. Sweat broke out on his forehead as she touched a finger to her full bottom lip. He wondered how it would taste. That thought came out of nowhere. He’d never felt such a strong attraction. Not since Beth, he amended. Guilt hit him hard and fast. Followed by the pain—dull now, but still there, every time he thought about her and what they’d lost. Love like that happened only once in a lifetime. And fate, karma or whatever you wanted to call it had dumped on him in a big way. He’d found the perfect woman, but chance had stolen from him the part where they would grow old together. Fate wouldn’t get another chance to kick him in the teeth.
    “I’m not looking for a woman,” he said. With luck, in addition to being direct, Fran wasn’t inquisitive. This subject was off-limits. There was no point in discussing it.
    Her eyes glittered, as if she wanted to ask more. But all she said was, “Then that’s why Rosie is trying to fix you up. It’s a delicious challenge. I just don’t understand why she would think I was matchmaking material.”
    “There was that cute-as-a-button remark. Rosie said it, not me,” he stated, raising his hands in surrender.
    He had to admit Rosie had been right about that. Funny, he could see buttons as cute, but not sexy. And Fran Carlino had sex appeal in spades. Especially her mouth. Straight white teeth showed to perfection when she smiled, which she did often. She had full soft lips. Kissable lips.
    “I would prefer stunning or drop-dead gorgeous to cute, but at least she didn’t tell you I need to wear a bag over my head in public.”
    He blinked and forced himself to switch his focus from her mouth to the words coming out of it. “Actually, she was right about you. You’re very attractive, Fran.”
    “Be still my heart,” she said, touching a hand to her chest. “Now there’s a line to turn a woman’s head. You really are out of practice. You’re not kidding, are you—about not looking for a woman?”
    “No.” It wasn’t even a matter of looking. He’d had his shot. It hadn’t worked out. End of story.
    “Then if you suspected Rosie was matchmaking, but you’re not interested in participating, why are you here?”
    “She said I couldn’t get you. And if I wanted to know why, I had to ask you myself.”
    “Ah,” Fran said, with one emphatic nod that said she understood completely. “I get it. Brilliant strategy. And it worked like a charm.”
    “What worked?”
    “Reverse psychology.”
    “What happened to no more amateur analyzing?” he asked.
    “I forgot,” she admitted. “But this is too classic, too characteristic of reverse psychology.”
    “How do you figure?”
    “You’re here, aren’t you?”
    “Unless this is the Twilight Zone it would be pointless to deny it. But I refuse to believe strategy played a part.”
    “It’s so obvious.” She shook her head sympathetically. “Guys always want what they can’t have. If anyone knows about this it’s me. With four brothers, I’ve had lots of practice