Undercover Lovers Read Free

“Go
on.”
    “ It’s the herb I can’t
name.” It bugged the snot out of her not to know. She’d had it
before, but the distinct flavor escaped her recollection. “It’s not
one of the common ones…something a little more exotic. Not thyme,
although close, or marjoram. Damn. Give me a hint.”
    “ I’m impressed by your
familiarity with spices. Are you in the business?”
    Her heart fluttered, as if
trapped, trying to escape from a cage. Did he somehow know she was
a critic? She hoped not. Her review needed to be uninfluenced by a
chef trying to impress her with his best dishes.
    Looking into his eyes,
finding only sincere curiosity, she breathed a sigh of relief. He
didn’t know.
    Saffron shook her head.
Journalism was a far cry from cooking. “As much as I love to eat,
I’m afraid I don’t have the talent.”
    “ Ah. Then you at least need
to keep someone around who does.”
    “ Is that an offer?” Sounded
like one.
    He leaned forward. “Do you
want it to be?”
    “ What would you do if I said
yes?”
    “ Make sure it
happened.”
    Well damn.
    “ When?” Her voice
quavered.
    “ Now.”
    Saffron went bug-eyed.
Surely she was reading more into this than he was implying. Her
eyes narrowed into a hard squint. “You’re going to cook for
me?”
    “ Yes.”
    “ And?”
    His beautiful mouth curved
into a mischievous grin. “Is there something else you’re
expecting?”
    “ Well...you kind of made it
seem…like maybe…”
    “ Maybe?” August
asked.
    Okay, was he teasing or was
he serious?
    August graced the covers of
dining magazines and the few times she’d seen a more personal view
of him, there had never been someone standing at his side. She thought she was
cute—thank you very much—but who knew whether he found her the
least bit attractive?
    Then again, she was sure
he’d been flirting earlier.
    Sure of it.
    “ We are talking about your
food, right?” Saffron fished. “What else could you have to
offer?”
    Besides the gorgeous body.
The seductive voice. The amazing skill of his hands, if his food
was any testament.
    “ Lots.” His voice dipped
low, the reverb sending a ripple of awareness up her
spine. 
    Oh yeah. He was still
flirting.
    Saffron feigned
indifference, never mind how her pulse surged. Her fingers toyed
with the tablecloth’s lace border, as if she found it more
interesting than the man in front of her or their conversation. As
if.
    “ Like what?”
    “ I’ll tell you if you tell
me something first.”
    Already her heart raced, her
mouth parting of its own accord. Damp palms testified to nerves
singing their excitement. When August slid out of the booth and
crossed to her side, everything and everyone else in the restaurant
faded away from her consciousness.
    Dropping to a knee beside
her, August slid one warm hand over hers. “Before we go any
further, I should let you know that my staff tells me that you may
be here under false pretenses.”
    It took the power of the
universe to keep from jerking free of his grip. Throat tightening,
she pushed out a reply. “Really?” Smooth . The one-word response came out
in an octave designed to make dogs around the country start
howling.
    “ Really.” He extended his
index finger and a slow, deliberate circling of his skin against
hers brought every ounce of concentration zeroing to that spot.
“Any idea why that might be?”
    She swallowed. “Not a clue.
Wh-what did they say?”
    A riot of goose bumps
traveled up her arm as his finger trailed higher. “Nothing in
particular. A little speculation here and there.” Back and forth.
Teasing. Lines of sensual heat etched into her skin.  “You
said earlier you weren’t in the business.”
    “ I’m n-not.” So hard to
think!
    “ One hundred percent
positive, you’re not?”
    “ Certain.” A
whisper.
    “ Work for a restaurant or a
chef in any capacity?”
    “ N—” The word died when
August lifted her hand to his mouth, allowing his lips to continue
the