Sweeter With You Read Free Page A

happening today, but still. She stared blindly at the folders on the table.
    â€œWe, ah, should talk about the cookbook,” she murmured.
    â€œGood idea.”
    While he fanned out pages, she went back to the foyer to get her notebook out of her bag.
    â€œI thought we’d divide the cookbook into seasons,” she told him. “That way people can simply flip to the time of year and buy whatever is fresh and local.”
    Greg’s expression turned smug as he passed her his notes. The first page was a division of the cookbook into seasons.
    â€œWe think alike,” he told her. “Interesting. I thought we should divide each season into everyday recipes and those for special events. Like brunches or parties.”
    â€œCelebrations,” she said.
    â€œRight.” He flipped through her pages. “Like this one. Birthday Party Banana Layer Cake. That’s spring.”
    â€œAnd Celebrations,” she added.
    â€œExactly.” He studied what she’d written. “You have too many salads. I like a salad as much as the next guy—”
    â€œWhich means not at all.”
    He chuckled. “They have their place, but we need more substantial food. Chili or some casseroles. People in town are always bringing each other casseroles.”
    â€œAnd if it were a chili casserole it would be perfect?”
    â€œYou’re reading my mind.”
    â€œYou’re such a guy,” she told him. “I suppose you’re also going to tell me there should be plenty of pies in the book?”
    â€œSure. Who doesn’t love pie?”
    He was less intense than she remembered. The Greg she’d known had been one determined soul. He’d run his bid to be student council president with a focus that would have left a national campaign manager envious. She had wanted to win, too, but she’d also made time for her friends and her family.
    â€œHow many hours a week do you work?” she asked.
    â€œSixty, maybe seventy.”
    â€œNo wonder there’s no girlfriend. Life is more than what we make in the kitchen.”
    â€œYou really believe that?” he asked, leaning back in his chair and picking up his wine.
    â€œSure. Mostly.” She laughed. “Okay, not always, but it’s important to have balance.”
    â€œI’m into balance. I’d like to have someone in my life, but finding the right girl isn’t as easy as it sounds.” He shrugged. “I have very specific wants.”
    She took in the handsome face, the long, lean body. “There have to be plenty of volunteers.”
    â€œSome.”
    â€œMany.”
    â€œI have a type.”
    â€œWhich is?”
    â€œFunny, pretty, creative.” He put down his wine. “Ana Raquel, we have to talk about the elephant in the room.”
    Elephant? There was no elephant. He couldn’t possibly mean... Only, staring at his face, she knew he could and he did. “Prom?” she asked in a whisper.
    â€œProm night,” he correctly gently.

CHAPTER SIX
    A NA R AQUEL ’ S WARM , relaxed feeling faded as heat burned on her cheeks. Was he kidding? There was no way she wanted to talk about that night. She’d been so determined to tell him exactly what she thought of him, only to end up giving him her virginity in a hotel room. Worse, she’d realized that she might have feelings for the one guy who’d made her totally crazy. And not in a good way. That wasn’t the sort of thing she was likely to reminisce fondly about.
    â€œYou okay?” he asked.
    â€œFine.”
    â€œYou seem upset.”
    â€œI’m not.” At least she wouldn’t be when they stopped talking about that night. Because she couldn’t explain what had happened. One second she’d been yelling and then they’d been kissing and then...
    The thing was, she wasn’t that kind of girl. She’d never been serious about a boy in high school. There had been