He's Captured My Heart (Captured Series Book 1) (27 page)

I slowly turn over so I am lying on my front. He pushes both my legs up the couch so that my ass is in the air. How dignified.

“Arms? Take your weight on your arms. Comfortable?”

Comfortable, no, but anticipating what’s about to happen. From past experience I know this will be quick and intense.

Before I can reply, he plunges deep inside me and stills as I cry out.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. You just surprised me. I wasn’t ready,” I mutter.

He grabs my hips as he slowly starts to move. My breathing quickens as he goes deeper with each thrust. The pace picks up, and he continues to slide in and out of me. The desire is burning within, building.

“Libby, I hope you’re close.” He groans.

I can’t answer him. I am so close as the tempo builds. His hips meet mine harder with each thrust, and my body responds the only way it knows how. I shatter around him, and he stills, finally letting go with his own release. He collapses on top of me, and I sink deep into the couch. I am panting, struggling to catch my breath, totally spent. I wish I could find my voice. I need him to move off my back. As if he hears my unspoken thoughts, he quickly rolls onto his side, moving me to face him.

“Hello,” I say.

“Hello, yourself. You okay? That wasn’t too rough, was it?”

“No, I’m fine.” I glance down my side. I have a few small, red finger marks on my waist. His eyes follow my gaze. He places a hand on the marks and massages them softly.

“Sorry. I just got carried away. You seem to have that effect on me.” He’s different, concerned.

I lean towards his face and place a soft, lingering kiss on his lips. He looks surprised.

“So I’m forgiven then?”

“What’s to forgive? We had sex. Intense, amazing sex. I have a couple of red marks, but they’re nothing.
I can’t even feel them,” I say, trying to reassure him, but I’m not sure it’s working.

“Intense, amazing…are you sure?”

“Did I not just tell you that? What’s wrong?”

“It’s just…I never want to hurt you,” he says.

This conversation has gotten way too serious all of a sudden. I sit up and take his hand gently, tugging it.

“Come on—let’s get cleaned up and into bed,” I say with a giggle, hoping to lift his mood.

My giggle seems to have done the trick. There’s a glimmer of light in his eyes that wasn’t there a minute ago. His grin is mischievous. He gets up off the couch in one quick move and pulls me up, and before I know it, he’s picked me up and thrown me over his shoulder.

“Put me down!” I shriek, pounding my fists on his back playfully.

My words fall on deaf ears. He’s laughing at me as he strolls into the bedroom and then into the bathroom, where he finally sets me down on the cold, tiled floor. As I stand brushing my teeth, Alex tosses in my shorts and vest.

“I thought you might like these back.”

“How thoughtful,” I say. “Do I really need them?”

He stands staring, shaking his head as I pull my clothes back on. I notice he has pulled on a pair of pyjama bottoms, ones that hang low on his hips, showing off that toned physique. I walk towards him and stand on my tiptoes to place a very brief kiss on
his lips before walking into the bedroom. I know his eyes have followed me into the room; I can feel them.

In bed I go through the messages on my phone and reply to a few e-mails. It looks like my day tomorrow will be a long one. Kieran has left a message saying that Karl is short staffed in the kitchen tomorrow; two highly experienced staff have walked out, and Kieran thinks we could also do with an extra pair of hands at the function. The joys. I call him.

“Hi, Libby. So you got my message then?”

“Hi, Kieran. A bad night, I take it?”

“Oh, Libby, you’ve no idea, although Karl says he’s seen this coming. He just didn’t think they would walk out on a busy weekend. But I think they had planned together to quit at the same time at a time like this when it would hurt us most. So do you have a plan, honey?”

Alex chooses this moment to climb into bed beside me and snuggle up, making me giggle.

“Libby?”

“Kieran, yes, I have a plan. Of course I do.” Alex is studying me closely. “I presume you’ve already tried to get some agency staff?”

“Yes, before I called you.”

“Okay, then. If you think we need extra to cover waiting at the function, perhaps you could cover that? It’s only for a few hours. I don’t anticipate that there would be any major problems on a Sunday afternoon.”

“Right, fair enough. But what about the kitchen? There is no way Karl can put out lunches
and
a four-course meal for three hundred people, all on his own.”

“He won’t be on his own,” I say quickly.

“Well, spit it out.”

“I’ll be in the kitchen all day.” I look at Alex as I speak. He smiles, shaking his head at me.

“Libby, are you sure? You’re meant to attend the event tomorrow,” Kieran says.

“Of course I’m sure. I’ve worked in that kitchen often enough over the years—and anyway, there is no way I am letting my staff put in extra effort tomorrow while I sit back and do nothing. You know I wouldn’t let that happen. Make sure Karl has the other chefs in early and double-check that all the waiting staff are in, and if anybody has the day off, call them, or I can call them.”

“Right. Okay, honey. That sounds like a plan. I’ll be in extra early in the morning. Let’s meet in the kitchen at six to coordinate with Karl, okay?”

“That sounds perfect. Can you let Karl know tonight for me that I’ll be covering so he doesn’t panic? Starting from breakfast on. And if I have to work all day and night, I will. I’ll let my dad know of the change of plans.”

“Yes, I’ll let Karl know. I think he was
hoping
you’d help, because the other option was me, and you and I both know that I’m hopeless in the kitchen.” Kieran laughs.

“Right. So we’re sorted then. I’ll see you bright and early. Six a.m. Don’t be late.”

“
I
won’t. Now tell lover boy to leave you in peace tonight so you can make it on time. We can’t have you falling asleep in the soup tomorrow.”

Alex has obviously heard Kieran. He playfully shoves my shoulders and pulls me towards him, laughing.

“Good night, Kieran.”

“Good night, honey.”

I flop back in the bed.
God, I hope I can pull this off tomorrow
.

“Libby, are you all right?” The concern is there in Alex’s voice.

“Yes, I’m fine. But now I really have to get some sleep. Please?”

“Why are you asking me?” says Alex. “Were you planning something more? Haven’t you had enough yet?”

“My plans for the rest of the night were just to lie in your arms and talk. I want to learn more about you, Alex. I want to know it all—no stone left unturned.”

“We have plenty of time to talk. There’s loads more I want to know about you as well.” He leans towards me, and our lips meet, not with passion or lust but with what I think is
love
. Maybe I’m just reading too much into this. “Come on then, Miss Stewart. You have a busy day ahead. I’ll miss you tomorrow.”

16

“TWO FULL SCOTTISH
breakfasts and one smoked salmon!” Kieran shouts as he enters the kitchen. “How’re you getting on?”

“We’re good. Aren’t we, Chef?” I answer.

“Libby Stewart, if you call me that once more, I won’t be responsible for my actions,” Karl says, laughing.

I laugh too. For eight in the morning, we are all in good spirits. The hotel is full, so breakfast is extremely busy. Kieran is working the restaurant floor with two members of the waiting staff. He made a few last-minute changes to today’s rota so we would have enough staff between the function and the restaurant later on. In the kitchen this morning, it’s just me, Karl, and a kitchen assistant. Karl is leaving me to do the breakfasts so he can make a start on the lunch meals. I’m so glad
it’s a fixed meal; at least that gives us a fighting chance.

Karl and I are so busy in the kitchen that the morning is flying by. So far, so good. We’re not stressed yet, but it’s still early. At nine thirty Kieran comes into the kitchen, singing away. He’s very cheery considering he’s not a morning person, and he’s already been at work for over three hours.

“Okay, guys, that’s all the breakfast guests. Everyone’s been accounted for between the restaurant and room service,” Kieran says with a huge smile on his face.

Relief sweeps over me. Round one completed. Just the rest of the day to get through, and then we should be laughing.

“Right, Miss Stewart. Are you ready for next round?” Karl asks.

“Of course. So far I’m having fun,” I say. Well, if I’m honest, I’m really enjoying it. I love cooking, and I love the buzz of a fast-paced kitchen. If I hadn’t done management, this is where I would be, deep in the heart of the hotel.

“Libby, I have one guest who wants to complain to the chef. Can you deal with it please?” Kieran is pleading with me, but he looks rather suspicious.

“Libby, I can go if you like,” Karl says. Kieran is shaking his head. He doesn’t think I’ve noticed.

“It’s fine. I’ll go,” I say. I follow Kieran out into the restaurant, and he turns and smiles at me. I know
exactly which table I have to go to before Kieran gets there. Alex and Michael are sitting by the window. “I understand that there’s a problem, gentlemen?”

“No problem with the food. The only problem I had was that when I woke up in your bed, you were already gone.” Alex smiles, holding out his hand to me. I take it even though I am working.

“Alex…”

“Can you two give it a rest for five minutes? Libby, don’t take offence, but I’m kind of glad you’ll be working all day so I don’t have to sit watching all this mushy shit,” Michael says, laughing as he gets up from the table. He walks over to talk with Kieran and give us some privacy.

“I like this on you,” Alex says, motioning at what I’m wearing. It’s just typical chef clothes—black-and-white-checked trousers and black jacket, my hair pulled back in a hairnet. “Can you keep those on later? You look kind of hot right now, and I think I would take great pleasure in helping you out of those.”

I feel myself blush. I knew that was what he was thinking. It’s written all over his face, from the smug grin to the look of desire in those beautiful eyes.

“Right now I want to kiss you,” he whispers, “but I won’t. I’ll try and be patient today, although where you’re concerned, I’m finding that extremely difficult.”

“I’d better get back. It’s just me and Karl right now. The other guys come in about an hour.”

“So you’re really going to work in there all day then? What time do you think you’ll finish?”

“Of course I am going to work all day! I never back down from a challenge,” I reply quickly.

“Do you need a hand?”

“Have you ever worked in a kitchen before?” I ask. He needs to say no; he would be too much of a distraction for me.

“Do you want me to be honest?” I nod. “Well then, no, I haven’t.”

“Sorry, Alex, you would get in the way,” I say. “I’ll try to see you as soon as we’ve finished serving the meals, but we’ll have other lunches to serve here in the restaurant as well. I’m sure my parents will look after you, and Kirsty is coming as well. I’m
positive
Kirsty will keep everyone at the table entertained.”

“Okay. I better let you get to work. If you still have any energy left over later, maybe we could do something tonight…maybe go out to a club or drinks?”

“We’ll see how I feel when I finish—whenever that will be.” I give him a brief kiss before walking away from him for the rest of the day.

The rest of the morning flies by. I work with Karl the whole time, which goes well considering that I’ve never worked alongside him. I have worked in the kitchen before, so I know my way around, and it helps that I can actually cook. When the other chefs arrive, they all set about their tasks. It’s then I realise that the kitchen team are all male. I must make a
point and ask Karl if it’s intentional that the staff in the kitchen are all male. Not today, though. The atmosphere in the kitchen is relaxed, considering we are down two highly experienced chefs. The young guys have proven their worth so far today. I think a bonus could be in order.

My parents pop into the kitchen when they arrive. Dad tells me the hall looks perfect, and he’s proud of me for the way I’ve handled today. I know how much today means to him—the charity event is always well attended, and a lot of money is raised for the kids’ hospital. My parents don’t linger in the kitchen long, though, as they have guests to see to. I am a bit nervous. I know that Jeff is at my father’s table, along with Alex. I told my mum what happened yesterday. She promised to keep an eye on things with them and Kirsty.

“Right, guys, and Miss Stewart. Gather round,” Karl says. He’s about to read the menu for today’s event.

S
TARTERS
Seared Scallops with Black Pudding and a Sweet Chili
Glaze
or
Wild Mushroom Risotto
*

I
NTERMEDIATE
C
OURSE
Pea and Fresh Mint Soup
*

M
AIN
C
OURSE
Fillet of Venison with a Red Wine Jus
or
Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Tart
(Both served with new potatoes and seasonal vegetables)
*

D
ESSERT
Cranachan Cheesecake
Tea and Coffee

He finishes off by telling us what we are all doing for service. Just as I have been so far today, I will be working with Karl. I am plating up at the serve over.

I can hear the MC informing every one of the running order of today’s events as we start plating up. Just on cue the waiting staff, along with Kieran, arrive to start taking the food to the tables. At the same time, the first lunchtime order comes in from the restaurant. Now the fun begins.