Seducing His Heart Read Free Page A

shot
up.
    “ That’s how much a good
Italian suit costs. I told you, don’t worry about it.”
    “ You think I don’t have
money to burn? I can afford it. No sweat.”
    “ I didn’t say that. No
reason for you to shell out three grand for a tiny hole made
by…what’s the dog’s name?”
    “ Dumpling.”
    Whit doubled over with laughter. He grabbed
his stomach and laughed until he cried.
    “ It’s not that funny,”
Bess huffed.
    “ Oh, yes it is! She is a little dumpling,
too.”
    “ She can be pretty
ferocious. Don’t underestimate her. Look what she did to your
pants.” Bess pointed.
    “ World’s tiniest hole made
by world’s smallest dog,” he said, gasping for breath.
    Whit knelt down and held out his hand.
Dumpling eyed him suspiciously before she inched closer to sniff
him. He stayed still, waiting for the okay from the pug before he
petted her.
    “ She’s adorable,” he said,
giving her a gentle scratch behind the ears.
    “ I think so.” Bess smiled.
Dumpling licked Whit’s hand, officially declaring him a
friend.
    “ I’ll take these to the
tailor, and, if you want, you can pay to have them re-woven. How’s
that?”
    “ Fine.”
    “ What were you cooking
before? I swear I smelled chocolate and coffee.”
    “ Good sniffer. I made
both.”
    “ Making
chocolate?”
    “ Making some chocolate
desserts…and coffee…combining them. Mocha. But you’re not
interested in the experiments of a lowly baker when you have world
affairs on your mind.” She turned toward the elevator. “And I still
have to walk my dog.”
    He grabbed her arm. “But I am interested. I
find dessert a lot more fascinating than world politics. Do you
ever have tastings or samplings or whatever at your house?”
    She cocked an eyebrow at him. “Are you
wangling an invitation?”
    “ Any time you need a
guinea pig, I’m here.”
    She chuckled. “I’ll
remember that. See ya.” She stepped into the elevator with
Dumpling, and the doors closed. Whit went inside and removed his
pants to examine the hole. It was small. He smirked. Gives me another reason to see her. Talk to her.
Ring her doorbell. Maybe I’ll get some of those desserts she’s
preparing. Worth a try, anyway.
    The next morning, he
donned running gear. As he was about to go for a spin in Central
Park, his phone rang. It was
Elsa.
    “ Friday, Whit?”
    “ Absolutely.” He leaned
against the wall and envisioned the tall, cool blonde naked. His
mouth watered.
    “ Vunderful. See you
then.”
    Whit put his cell away and
made a face. Another vegan meal. Ugh.
What’s so wrong with steak, anyway? Hell, a date’s a date. He shrugged his shoulders and hit the street.
After his run, he headed for the tailor’s before stopping at the
drugstore to refill his supply of condoms. While he didn’t expect
much stimulating conversation from Elsa, he did expect to get
laid.
    I wonder if Bess ever
cooks steak. Her program is about baking. How about the best
dessert with steak? How about inviting me over for a taste? How
about tasting together, naked? He shook
his head. Stop thinking about her. She’s
the wrong kind of girl. Probably wants to find some nice, quiet guy
and settle down. Have two point five kids. House in the ’burbs.
Picket fence. He shuddered. Stay away from her. She’s a potential
disaster.
    His taste buds cried out
for steak. Whit stopped at the deli for the best Philly cheesesteak
in Manhattan. Bet she can’t cook this. No
one makes it like these guys do.
    “ Hey, Mike. Got any bones
back there?”
    The man behind the counter stopped what he
was doing. “Bones?”
    “ Yeah, like for a dog? A
small dog?”

Chapter Two
     
     
    “ What do you mean, sick?
No one gets sick in September,” Bess paced.
    “ Well, I am,” Ned said,
sneezing into the phone.
    “ Hey, keep that to
yourself.”
    “ Thanks for the ton of
sympathy.”
    “ I’m sorry. I’ll make
chicken soup and have it delivered.”
    “ That’s more like it,”