Hot in Here (22 page)

Jenna flushed. She didn’t want to tell Bryce the truth and spoil this perfect afternoon. So she just

shrugged and said she was busy with another project.

“So Jimmy screwed it up, did he?”

“The long and the short of it is, he took a product that celebrates the beauty of voluptuous women and

draped it over a chair. Needless to say, the passionate Gabriella Giancomo was incensed that her

plus-sized lingerie garnered the attention of a chair and nothing else.”

Bryce winced. “I can see how she wouldn’t like that. It’s like me making a wedding cake, and having

only a picture of the topper make the magazine.”

“I know. It was a dumb move on my part and I’ve been working like crazy to make amends. I came to

Italy to pitch my ideas in person. Gabriella loved them. Now I just have to find the means to execute the

plan.”

“And what is that?”

“A gorgeous plus-sized model and a handsome stud to pose with her.”

Bryce suddenly grinned. “That’s why you were with that guy at the café?”

“Of course. He’s a model, and I’m trying desperately to secure him for the campaign. What did you think

I was doing with him?”

“Doesn’t matter, does it?” Bryce asked as his finger brushed over the ring he’d bought her. “Because

I’ve got you now, Jenna McCabe. It’s committed relationship time. That means no more Italian studs for

you.”

Jenna actually had to quell the giddiness that threatened to erupt inside her.

“Well, Eduardo is the industry’s most sought-after male. He doesn’t come cheap. It’s not going to be

easy, considering the budget we’re working with.”

Bryce appeared startled. “Her father is one of the most successful designers out there. How can the

budget be tight?”

“Because Gabriella wants to do this on her own, without Daddy’s help.”

“I can understand that. I’ve bought two oceanfront properties, one on the East Coast, one on the West.

I’ve gone to the bank for a loan to open the restaurants. It’s not looking good for financing. Basically the

advice I was given was to call on my dad. I’d rather eat glass than do that. So I know where Gabriella is

coming from. She wants to be a success on her own. As do I.”

Bryce had bought properties? Jenna felt her heart sink. Where did he plan on living, then? Either coast

was more than a thousand miles away from her. And what was going to happen to her—to them?

Long-distance romances never worked.

Maybe he was thinking short-term commitment, just until he moved out to the coast.

“Hey, beautiful,” he said, brushing her windblown hair from her cheeks, “what’s the frown about?”

“Nothing,” she said, forcing a smile to her lips. It was best not to dwell on things. Protect her heart, she

kept telling herself, because she knew that Bryce was soon going to break it.

“Come here.” He held his hand out to her and pulled her up so that she was sitting against him. “I want

you to see something.”

He settled her against him. Her head rested beneath his chin and his hands were crossed over her belly.

She tried not to think of the future, of how it would feel when Bryce took off for the coast and a new life.

A life without her.

“What does the view remind you of?” he asked.

She studied the shades of green pasture in the valley below them. Saw the cattle roaming free, grazing

beneath the sun. The perfect rows of grapevines reminded her of the cornfields on her parents’ farm.

“Home,” she said quietly. “It reminds me of Lucan.”

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He squeezed her tight. “I’ve always thought the same thing. I came here my first year of cooking school

to visit with Maria. I fell in love with the place at first sight. It reminded me of Lucan, of the hills and

valleys and the farms and orchards. It reminded me of you, and how much I missed you and the farm.

Ever since, I’ve always thought that Lucan could be Tuscany. I mean, look how much tourism Tuscany

has. Sure, they have architecture and cathedrals, but what most people come for is the markets, the

countryside, the relaxed way of life. Lucan has all that. It just needs to be cultivated.”

“Well, good luck,” Jenna grumbled. “Lucan is going to be the location of the next Bargain City

store—right on my parents’ farm.”

“What?”

Jenna turned in Bryce’s lap. “My parents are in financial trouble, Bryce. There’s a foreclosure on the

farm.”

Bryce paled. “No way.”

“Afraid so. It’s been in the McCabe family for three generations and this will be the last one.”

“They can’t take the farm.”

Jenna sighed. “Yes, they can. The farm has never really made any money. And with this economy, well,

it’s just not feasible anymore.”

“What will your parents do?”

Jenna shrugged. “Dad says he’ll become a snowbird and move down south like everyone else his age,

but I know he’s only saying that so we won’t worry. Truth is, I don’t know what he’ll do if he can’t

farm.”

He hugged her tight. “God, I’m sorry, Jenna. I love that place as much as you do and don’t want to see it

go.”

“It may be a losing battle, but it’s not over yet. There’re a few more avenues to check.” Namely the loan

she’d applied for, which she should be hearing about any day.

“Is there anything I could do to help?”

“No, but thanks for asking. Besides, this helps. Just talking about it and feeling you hold me helps.”

He kissed the top of her head and held on to her tightly. For long minutes they just sat there, listening to

the sounds of nature surround them. It really did remind Jenna of those times on the farm.

A peace stole over her and she could have sworn that Bryce felt the same way.

“It’s so beautiful here,” she murmured. “But then tomorrow, it’ll be back to normal, won’t it?” Jenna

didn’t even want to contemplate that. Today was like a fairy tale. She actually felt as if she and Bryce had

something real.

His hands clasped the sides of her face. He looked into her eyes with such emotion, such intensity, Jenna

felt the urge to shrink away.

“I’ll always treasure the memory of these two days. I think we have something really special.”

Swallowing hard, Jenna nodded. He seemed to be waiting for her to say something, but she couldn’t

speak. A cloud shadowed them, turning everything a little bit darker around them, but not the wonderful

green of Bryce’s eyes as they held her gaze.

“When we get back home, you’re not going to forget me, are you? Or what we’ve found together?” he

asked.

She couldn’t answer him, not truthfully. Because the truth was, these two days with Bryce had made her

fall more in love with him than ever. And that scared her to death.

His gaze seemed to soften as he trailed his fingers down her cheek, along her neck and over her

shoulders, where he slowly untied the straps of her sundress. The thin cotton fell to her waist, baring her

naked breasts. She tried to think of something sexy and risqué to say, but he silenced her with the brush

of his fingertips along her mouth.

“Shh,”he murmured, “it’s OK. You don’t need to say anything, Jenna. I think we’re past words.”

With breathtaking tenderness, Bryce reached for her, bringing his mouth down to hers. His breath was

warm against her lips and she closed her eyes, waiting for his kiss.

His lips came down softly against hers and she sighed, letting her body sway into his chest as she

straddled his thighs. He groaned, deepening the contact, sliding his tongue between her lips, circling her

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tongue with his as he slanted his mouth over hers. Gently he fanned his thumbs along her cheeks, brushing

her skin, caressing her—cherishing her.

He pulled away, his gaze slowly rising from her mouth to her eyes. “Make love to me, Jenna.”

Thirteen

“ hat was such a fabulous meal, Bryce,” Jenna said as she sat back in her chair.

“To the chefs,” he toasted, raising his wineglass. “I hardly did anything.”

“You were my inspiration. Plus, it was highly enjoyable watching you knead the bread.” Jenna saw his

gaze slip down to her breasts. “Although, I’d never let you step foot in the kitchen at Cravings. God only

knows what Mark and the others would do if they saw you handling dough.”

Jenna stuck her tongue out at him and he winked back. “Of course, you may knead anything you want in

my presence. I thoroughly enjoyed the show.”

“You’re a pervert.”

“No, merely charmed by your ample assets.”

Whyhad he suddenly taken an interest in her “assets”?

All evening long she’d been going around in circles, chasing her thoughts, wondering why, after all these

years, Bryce was suddenly hot for her. She’d had this body since she was eighteen, and he was just

admiring it now?

Jenna worried her bottom lip for the millionth time. Part of her wanted answers to her questions; the other

part just wanted to live in blissful ignorance with her sexy chef.

“Want to walk to the gelato shop?” His voice broke into her thoughts.

“Sure. Although the last thing I need is a gelato.”

“Ah, we’ll walk it off.”

Jenna got up from her chair and followed Bryce out of the kitchen. He stopped suddenly, turned back to

her and asked, “I have to ask you something.”

“Sure.”

“Are you regretting this . . . I mean, us?”

“No, why?”Are you? she thought.

“Because every once in a while I see you nibbling your lip. You do that when you’re nervous or not sure

of something. I wanted to make certain it wasn’t me or my commitment you were worrying over.

Because you can trust me, Jenna. I hope you know that.”

The worry she was feeling suddenly lifted from her shoulders. She took his hand, squeezed it and forgot

all about those niggling thoughts that had distracted her earlier.

“Let’s stay in,” she said, draping her arms around his neck.

“I don’t know. I was looking forward to seeing you in something chocolate.”

“You’re the chef extraordinaire,” she said with a smile. “Improvise.”

“Chocolate body sauce,” he said with a wicked grin as he let the velvety brown syrup run in streaming

ribbons from his spoon.

“And just what do you plan to do with that?” Jenna asked.

“Pour it all over you and lick it off.”

He reached for her waist and lifted her up to the kitchen counter. With skilled hands, he undid the tie of

her silk robe and parted it. She was naked beneath, and his hazel eyes seemed to grow more green than

brown in the candlelight that surrounded them as he studied her breasts.

“Do you like what you see?”

He looked up and smiled while he caressed her face. “Oh, yes. I like it. Love it, in fact.”

Jenna curled her fingers into her palms.Love it. Well, that was a start.

“Will you take it off?”

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“And sit on this countertop naked in front of you?” she gasped in mock outrage.

Shimmying out of her robe, she let Bryce pull it out from beneath her and toss it onto a nearby chair. She

was totally naked, her body glowing in the warm yellow candlelight and the silvery radiance of the

moonlight that poured in through the window.

“There’s a treat in that basket for you,” Bryce said. “Why don’t you see what it is?”

Jenna reached into the wicker basket and pulled out the yellow box. “Cherry blossom? God, I love

these.”

“I know.” He smiled wickedly. “And I love watching you eat them. Ever since that night at my restaurant

when you were licking that plastic sword, I’ve had a fantasy of licking cherry syrup off your body.”

“These are awfully messy and sticky. Are you sure you want me to eat this here? You know how the

cherry syrup just runs out of it and dribbles everywhere,” she said suggestively.

“Quit talking and start showing me.”

Jenna unwrapped the foil and took a big bite out of the chocolate. Coconut, chocolate and nuts bathed

her taste buds as the cherry syrup ran down her chin. A pink drop splashed down onto her breast, and

Bryce caught it with his tongue.

“Mmmm, this is sooo good,” she moaned, licking the syrup from her hand.

“Jesus, you’re a picture. You make eating such a seduction. I could cook for you and feed you

forever—you know that?”

She opened her eyes and stared into his beautiful face. “Bryce—”

He wouldn’t let her finish. “Keep eating that cherry blossom. I’m going to start on a treat of my own.”