Bachelor's Special (4 page)

Chapter Five

Laughter swelled Chet’s chest. He stopped short when he looked into Jill’s upturned face, enjoying the fact he could inspect her so closely and she didn’t know. Blinded by the soup, she was at his mercy.

Thick, yellowish-orange liquid covered her skin, hiding the sprinkle of fine freckles dotting her nose. Black eyelashes spiked from the moisture, and her parted lips revealed the whiteness of her teeth. The apron she wore reminded him of something a housewife would wear on a fifties sitcom. Undeniably cute and damn sexy. All she needed was a set of pearls.

She’d be the type of girl he’d bring home to his mother.

Hold up, Castle! You don’t play the girlfriend game
. His blood raced as her tongue darted out and she licked her lips again. The twinge of his groin reminded him once more that a fling with the lovely Jill would be on his list, but nothing more.

Still holding her wrists, he leaned forward and flicked his tongue out to taste the drop of soup forming on the tip of her chin.

Jill’s body went quiet at his touch. The pulse beating against the soft skin of her inner wrist burst forward at a quick tempo. Her button-down shirt pulled with each quick breath she took.

“Damn, you’re right. Tastes great.” A salty quality mingled with the rich flavor of the soup. A dash of Jill mixed in to add a more potent flavor.

“I told you I’m an awesome cook.” Her husky voice lowered further.

“I particularly like your presentation.” He matched her tone, his heartbeat erratic.

She tried to step back, but her butt connected with the counter. If she took a half step forward she’d be pushed against his chest. Not that he minded.

“Let me loose. I’d like to wipe my eyes.” A giggle slipped past her lips.

“Not yet. I’m not sure you’ve learned your lesson.”

“I guarantee you I have.”

Her struggled swallow caught his attention. “Nervous?”

Jill shook her head as if trying to clear away the thick soup. “Never.”

He laughed. “I’m going to have more soup.”

“Can’t, it’s all on my…” She stiffened in his arms and a soft sigh, almost a whimper, caught in her throat.

His attraction grew tenfold. He lowered his head, brushing her lips with his own before pulling back. His heart pounded against his chest, bongo drums in a heady rhythm. This situation had escalated into a major turn on.

Although he planned a seduction, he didn’t think he’d get this far this soon.

Softly, he touched his lips to hers again. He ran his tongue over her lips, catching her gasp in his mouth. “Delicious.”

At first her lips remained taut, but when he licked the corner of her mouth, then released her wrists to settle his fingers against the nape of her neck, she surrendered.

No other way to describe it. Her breasts pushed into him, and the hardening peaks of her nipples thrust through the thin material of her shirt to press into his own cotton pullover.

A chill shot up his spine. She trembled in his arms and he tugged her closer, crushing her mouth with his, deepening their union. She tasted of savory spices and butter, along with another flavor he recognized as her own unique sweetness.

She felt perfect in his arms, as if she were made to be in them. Made? No. Attracted for sure, but nothing more.

He fanned his hand across her nape, then buried his fingers deep into the silky thickness of her loose hair as it cascaded down her back. Her lips parted, and he took the opportunity to slide his tongue inside. Heat coiled from his center to encompass every individual nerve pulsing through his body.

Her palms found their way to rest against his chest, and she balled them into the material of his shirt. Her body relaxed beneath his touch, and she slid her hands down his front, then moved them around his back to cup his rear. She groaned, pulling him in so close that his arousal pressed into her belly.

Heat circled them, drawing the oxygen from between their bodies. With one arm, he hoisted her onto the stainless-steel workstation. The movement deepened their kiss, and she nibbled his tongue while her fingers pressed firmly up the bunched muscles of his back to dig into his shoulders.

…

Something this good shouldn’t be so wrong. It’d been—forever—since her fingers kneaded the heated flesh of a man. Not just any man, but a very sexual, off-limits man—which made this entire situation potentially dangerous. All the more so because this was her boss.
Damn the rules of society
. She indulged just a bit more. He tasted so good, like…like—
sex.
No other way to describe it. She swirled her tongue against his for a better sample.

Jill licked the outer edge of his lips, and his soft moan spiraled her heart out of control. His clean-cotton smell sent a rush of heat through her body. The tingling sensation that followed torpedoed to the hidden spot between her legs.

No. This wasn’t right. Her actions would only confirm his belief that women were good for only two things—well, three in her case. She’d play right into his hands if she let this kiss grow any more intimate.

Jill pushed aside the hypnotic sensation of his fingers trailing over her highly sensitized skin. With force, she suppressed the wants and needs swirling around the throbbing ache between her thighs.

Oh. Her thighs. She had wrapped them around him, pulling him in tight as he pressed his hips against her, telling her without words how she affected him.

Jill shoved him away, wiping her fingers down her face to clear it of soup. A swipe over the top of her head dislodged a large portion of goop. She discarded the remains in the bar sink, the sloppy wet sound punctuating her decision. She met his heated gaze, orange smeared across his cheeks, mouth, and nose. Soup fingerprints dotted the front of his shirt where she’d grabbed to drag him close. Evidence of her loss of control.

She brushed the clammy skin of her forearm across her lips in an attempt to remove his taste, which she doubted she’d ever be able to do.

“What?” The sex-filled throb of his voice shook her knees.

“This is so not going to happen.” She grabbed the dish towel lying on the counter and cleaned off her face as best she could without a mirror.

“Why? We’re both adults, and from where I stand I’d say we were both enjoying it.”

She ignored his remark. Although he stated the obvious, she wasn’t about to agree. When she flung the towel onto the smooth countertop, he snagged it and wiped it across his face.

The idea that his face touched where hers had been moments ago sent flares of awareness shooting through her veins. She couldn’t tell whether his actions or her own treacherous thoughts turned her on.

“You’re my boss, and this crosses a very fine line.” Her stomach lurched at the thought of the men she’d worked for in the past. They’d tried for weeks, without success, to get her to do what Chet managed in seconds the first time and less than twenty-four hours the second.

He tossed the towel on the counter. “I’m attracted to you, and after that zipper-popping kiss, I’m going to assume the feeling’s mutual.”

“That’s neither here nor there. I don’t mess around with someone I work with and definitely not someone I work
for
.” Jill jumped off the counter and pushed past him. She feared she’d combust from the friction of her heartbeat working against the rush of heated blood in her veins.

“I really don’t fall into either category. We don’t work together, and I’m far from your boss.” His voice held a tinge of humor laced with steel. “This is strictly a business arrangement.”

“That might be worse.”

He moved toward her. “Jill—”

“I’m tired of men assuming because I’m a woman, because of the way I look, that I’m open to a sexual relationship with them to get ahead.”

“What are you talking about? Who said anything about getting ahead?” He brushed his hand through his hair, confusion littering his face.

“Is this the payback you’re expecting? You offer to help me with my catering business, even so far as co-signing for a loan, and all I have to do is lay back, close my eyes, and grit my teeth while you have your way with me?”

A vein hammered along the side of his neck. “I seriously doubt you’ll be gritting your teeth, unless it’s to stop yourself from screaming my name.”

“Oh—” She fought to fill her lungs. “You pig.”

“Hardly. I’m just not sugarcoating it. Don’t act like I’m your first kiss, Jill. With your looks and the way you react to my touch and move against me, you’re no wallflower.”

“What the hell are you implying?”

“Not what you’re thinking, that’s for damn sure.”

Not that she’d tell him, but her reaction wasn’t typical.
He
evoked her heated response, and it scared her. “From your conversation earlier, I’m assuming this is the normal route for you. Wasn’t it you who said women are only good for two things? Your poor housekeeper—”

“Gretchen?”

“I haven’t met her yet, but she probably has to fight you off with her broom and dustpan.”

Chet laughed. Not a soft chuckle, but a sound that came straight from his gut. “I don’t think Gretchen will appreciate that. As for what you overheard? Strictly boys talk. Brother to brother.”

“And that’s an excuse?”

“There’s nothing serious about it, that’s how we let off steam. He’s ribbing me about our mother trying to marry me off now that he’s engaged. When he found out about our business arrangement and you living here, he couldn’t resist a few jabs.”

“Oh.” What more could she say? It sounded logical enough. With all the banter she’d witnessed between Mel’s brothers, it seemed to fit. They’d both teased each other about heading toward the altar to get their mother’s hackles up.

“As for your misguided notion of how I treat women in the workplace, you’re way off base.”

No way could she have gotten this whole thing wrong. She had a better grasp at reading people than that. Well, her senses might have been thrown off by this man’s intense sexual energy that propelled her to him like a magnet.

“By the expression crossing your face, I’m assuming you don’t believe me.”

“Oh, now you’re some kind of psychic?”

“Sure, I do readings on my lunch hour at work.” He rolled his eyes. “Think about it. In this day and age, there are plenty of talented women in the workforce, and several work for me. I’ve passed on promoting men in my organization for more qualified women.”

“I just bet you did.” Sarcasm filled each of her words.

“Not because they looked a certain way, but because they deserved it, worked for it, earned it.”

Although tempted to ask for pictures of the women he’d promoted, she bit her lip instead. Her inner voice, the one she relied on to steer her in the right direction, told her he wasn’t lying.

“What about your two uses for women?”

At least he had the sense to color slightly.

“You’re going to hate this, but remember, guy talk.” He closed his eyes as if unable to meet her glare.

“And?”

“Use number one is a woman making the bed, and the second one is what she can do in it.” He spoke the words through stiff lips, then peeked at her with one eye.

She bit the inside of her cheek. Okay, she could see the humor in it. Mel and she’d had several similar conversations, only referencing men. No law against that.

“Listen, I’m sorry. It’s just a tender subject with me.” Jill understood him now. She’d have to come up with another argument in making him unappealing besides her new mantra of him being her boss and that he had a bad opinion of women. Maybe he’d wear a bag over his head. Hell, more like a suit of armor.

“How so?”

She couldn’t meet his eyes, so she focused on the grain of the wood floor, tracing the pattern with the tip of her sandal. His question required an answer related to their first meeting and all the trouble that had followed. Only her mom and Mel were privy to her rants on the subject.

“Hey, if you don’t want to talk about it, I’m not pushing. But I’m a great listener.”

And that’s all it took. The silky compassion in his voice turned her insides to gelatin. Her inner voice pushed her to trust him.

She regarded him steadily. “Care to guess why I’ve lost so many jobs over the last year?”

…

From the direction of their conversation, Chet had a pretty good idea but didn’t want to assume. “Tell me.”

“I can’t think where to start.”

“The beginning’s good.” He wanted to offer her a comforting gesture, take her hand, give her a hug, but held back. Though he hadn’t known her long, he sensed that wouldn’t be her style. Her proud, independent streak blazed across her like a neon sign.

“Yeah, the beginning’s always a good start.” She smiled, her lower lip trembling.

Hell, he hoped she wouldn’t cry. He’d never known how to handle a crying woman. He’d more than proved that a year ago when he’d grabbed her in the kitchen and kissed her in order to stop her tears—
or was it something more?
Best to keep quiet and let her get her emotions controlled.

“I’m thinking you might not like what you’re about to hear.”

“Try me.”

“After what happened between you and me at Creations, I was let go.”

“Fired?”

She nodded. The pink in her cheeks faded and her eyes brightened with unshed tears. “Please, Chet. Don’t interrupt or I’ll never get this out.”

“Sorry.” But everything inside of him bucked to take her in his arms when a solitary tear rolled down her cheek. He didn’t like how difficult this had become for her.

She wiped her tear away, swallowing repeatedly, drying her fingertips as she twisted the edge of her apron.

“After you left the kitchen that night, Chef Arnaud went ballistic. I couldn’t understand most of what he ranted, but I made out a few choice words. Words like standards, professionalism, unbecoming. He was right. My actions weren’t professional at all, at least not for the profession I’m in.” She chuckled half-heartedly, keeping her focus on the floor.

“I’m sorry, Jill. I didn’t know.” Anger at her previous boss chewed through him. “When I went into the kitchen my only intention was for you to meet my grandmother. She was so impressed with the meal. I never intended…”