True Perfection [Aspire 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Read Free Page B

“Gordon is waiting for the plumber.”
    Haley smiled at him, not wanting to let any of her confused thoughts slip out. Warren was getting better at reading between the lines, and she really didn’t want to get into any deep discussions with him. He was getting almost too good at reading her, if that was even possible. “I’ll just grab my purse.”
    Warren waited until she stepped out into the hall and then pulled her to him, leaning down to capture her mouth with his. Haley found herself melting into him, her breasts getting heavy, the nipples firming into points that stabbed into his dress shirt. Warren lifted his head and stared down at her, his eyes roiling with lust.
    “I have a few minutes before I need to leave,” he began.
    Haley pushed at him, and he reluctantly let her go, his lips compressing and his eyes narrowing. She felt as bereft as he looked, but there simply wasn’t time. Her sous chef was causing problems, and if she didn’t get to work soon, he would change an item on the menu to better showcase his talent but spoil all the flavours that she had carefully chosen to flow together.
    “ I don’t, Warren,” she said. “I need to get going now.”
    She literally felt his eyes warming her ass as she preceded him down the hall. She would have never chanced refusing the old Warren, and enjoyed the sensation of establishing a boundary, even if she could feel his frustration. He really was trying, and Haley felt another reason to stay fall into place. She was too conflicted. Something had to give. She kissed Gordon good-bye at the bottom of the stairs and let Warren take her arm and escort her to the car. She avoided looking at him as he helped her inside and fastened her seatbelt, his hands lingering on her waist. When he pressed a kiss on the top of her head before withdrawing to shut the door, Haley blinked back tears. She wished she could just agree to what they wanted, and trust that Warren would keep growing and changing, believe that Gordon would balance him out. They truly had her best interests at heart and likely knew what was best for her, especially Gordon. But she wasn’t ready.
    The drive to the restaurant was made in silence, Warren perceptively recognizing her need not to converse. She was grateful for that. He helped her out of the vehicle, mirroring the same courtesy he had shown earlier, and Haley kissed him with her heart at the door. Then she hurried inside, assuming her chef’s persona, and didn’t look back.
     
    * * * *
     
    The end of her shift couldn’t come soon enough. Jeffrey the jerk had lived up to her expectations, and the resulting blow-up had been everything one could hope for. Or not. They weren’t on reality TV for heaven’s sake. In any event, Jeffrey was gone, but not before disrupting the kitchen with hurled invectives and a few pieces of dishware. That meant Haley was without a sous chef and had to press one of the serving staff into service and pick up the slack herself. However, the kitchen staff all pulled together, and with the wait personnel fronting with their usual aplomb, the covers went out without a hitch and the evening finally ground to a halt on a positive note. Haley sat at her desk in the corner where she tried to put the new menus together. She was too tired to think straight after the extra work and the emotional drain of her worry about committing to Warren and Gordon and the hassle with Jeffrey. She put her head in her hands and closed her eyes. A pair of large hands settled on her shoulders and began to massage the tension away. Gordon. Haley jerked her head up and looked at the time.
    “Oh, Gordon, I’m sorry. It’s been insane tonight, and I forgot to call and tell you that I’d be late.”
    Gordon pulled her up and into his arms, where he spoke against her hair. “It’s fine, sweetheart. I just came in to see how you were.”
    Haley looked up at him. He was so damn perceptive. He had picked up on her stiffness with Warren earlier,