Scorch (8 page)

“I know you will, but you have enough to deal with as well.” Cara was back in her own clothes now and threw her arms around Chelsea. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.”

“No need. You know I’m always here for you.” But she caught a glance at her watch when she wrapped her arms around Cara’s shoulders and drew back with a grimace. “Just not right now. I need to get back to make sure that Daniel hasn’t gone on some tangent. Did he tell you about his other little dessert project he’s working on?”

Cara’s eyes lit up. “No. What’s he doing?”

Chelsea’s mouth started watering just thinking about it. “I don’t know, but it’s heaven on the tongue. I’m sure he’ll run it past you when he’s happy with it.”

“I’m jealous that you got to try it and I haven’t. I might have to drop back in later.”

She laughed. Cara was like an overprotective mother when it came to the restaurant. She never stayed away too long. “Like you weren’t already.”

Cara gave her a mischievous grin. “You don’t know.”

“I guess now that we have the heads up, we’ll have to clear out those rats.”

Cara clutched her chest. “You didn’t just joke about rats.”

Chelsea bumped her with her shoulder. “Joke?”

“I’m going to have a mild heart attack now.”

Chapter Eight

Prep must have been done by the time Chelsea got back because the tall, very handsome form of Jason walked out of the kitchen when she reached the door. She knew enough about him to know that he wasn’t one to leave before a job was done.

He greeted her with a dazzling smile and a warm hug. “Hey, Chelsea. How did the dress hunt go?”

“Couldn’t have gone better. You are going to love the dress Cara chose.”

He grinned. “I’d love her in a paper bag.”

Chelsea had no doubt about that. “How’s it going in there?”

“I don’t think Daniel liked me in there that much. But I think we got everything we needed to get done, done.” He smirked, satisfaction clear on his face.

“Great.” Chelsea quickly peeked at the screen on the desk.

“Don’t trust me?”

“Of course I do. I just need to see for myself. Duties as the hostess, you see.”

Pride was written all over his face. It always made her so happy that Cara had managed to find someone who loved her that much—who took gratification in everything she did. She had hoped for the same thing with Rich. But it hadn’t exactly turned out the way she’d wanted. She scanned the screen with a grin. “Fantastic. Thanks for your help. I’ve talked to Cara about hiring a wedding coordinator—” She chuckled when he winced. “Relax. She is actually considering the possibility.”

“You’re kidding.” Jason ran a hand through his hair. “I’m impressed. She didn’t try to maul you for suggesting that she can’t do it all on her own.”

“What can I say? I’m the Cara Whisperer.”

Jason laughed. “I’ll remember that the next time I piss her off.”

“Oh, no. Not a chance. When you screw up, it’s on you to sort it out. I’m not getting involved.”

With a chuckle, he pushed open the door. “I’ll see you later.”

Daniel walked out of the kitchen almost at the same moment, surprising Chelsea. “What are you doing out? Shouldn’t you be harassing the help?”

“I’ll get back to that in a minute.” He took a quick look around the empty restaurant. “Has Jason left?”

Chelsea furrowed her brow. “Yes, why?”

“I don’t like being watched over like an errant child.” He waved her to follow him.

He looked quite serious, so she immediately trailed him. “What’s wrong?”

Daniel didn’t say anything until she joined him into the pantry. Pressing her against the wall, he cupped her cheeks then dropped his mouth to hers. Daniel proceeded to kiss her until her knees started to wobble.

He pulled back just before she collapsed completely. “How did the dress hunt go?”

She had to take a second to gather her scattered brain cells. “Great. We found
the
dress. Cara looks amazing in it.”

“Good.” Daniel was still tight against her and was in no apparent hurry to step back.

And neither was she, but she protested anyway. “Someone is going to see us.”

“Don’t care.” His hands grew purposeful, finding hems and navigating beneath them with ease to glide over her skin. “Do you?”

Nope.
She couldn’t do more than shake her head as he dipped his hand into the waistband of her trousers to delve into the moist heat between her thighs.
Definitely don’t want him to stop.

He hitched her leg around his hip, allowing for better access. “How fast do you think I can make you come?”

Chelsea was close as it was and with Daniel’s expertise of her body, he could have her screaming in a few seconds. She clawed at the back of his head. “Why don’t you find out?” Then she pressed her lips to his sealing in the cries he was about to evoke. She briefly felt him smile against her mouth before the first thrust of his fingers blanked her mind.

As predicted, he knew exactly what he was doing as he teased and coaxed her body, evoking immediate streaks of pleasure. Daniel pumped his fingers, rocking his palm against her clit in a steady rhythm designed to make her climax as quickly as possible.

Chelsea bit his bottom lip in an attempt to keep quiet as the sensations swept through her body like wildfire. The move only served to spur him on more. With a growl, he drove his fingers deeper, faster, until she was caught up in a toe-curling orgasm that blanked her vision. He swallowed her cries with a groan and eased her back to reality just moments before they heard footsteps approaching.

Mortified at what they had just done, Chelsea stepped back and grabbed the first thing she could reach and pretended to read the label as if it held the secrets to the universe.

“Daniel?” One of the chefs stuck his head in. “I’ve been looking all over for you. We need you in the kitchen.”

“I’ll be right there.”

The man retreated.

Daniel turned to her, taking the jar from her hands. “Are you okay?”

She had no idea. One second she’d been shopping for dresses and the next she’d let him get her off in the pantry of a restaurant she was supposed to be running. Didn’t it prove that when it came to him she had no common sense? Anyone could have walked in on them. Something could have gone wrong while she was in there losing her head.

“I’m fine. You’d better get out there and find out what’s going on.”

He didn’t look convinced, but he did as he’d been asked.

Chelsea righted her clothing and ran her hands through her hair until she had no more excuses left to hide out in there. She had to make sure this never happened again.

Thankfully, Daniel was too busy in the kitchen to talk, and she was occupied at the bustling front of the restaurant. Once everything was wrapped up, she hurriedly gathered her things like a coward, hoping to get away before he noticed.

Fat chance of that happening.

She hadn’t even made it to the door when she heard his voice behind her.

“In a hurry?”

Busted, she turned and gave him a wan smile. “I guess I’m just tired. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

* * * *

Chelsea pulled into her parking space then trudged up to her apartment. She opened the door and immediately regretted her decision to come back alone. She dropped her bag onto the laminate flooring and kicked it aside before toeing off her shoes.

Why had she passed up a night of amazing sex again?
Oh yes, dignity. Self-respect. Blah, blah, blah.
She’d rather be naked and orgasming right now than alone in her depressing apartment with her equally dreary thoughts.

Chelsea opened her fridge and sighed. And without food.

Exhausted, frustrated and irritated, Chelsea collapsed onto the couch. And the day had gone so well…

When there was a knock at the door, she groaned.
What now?

“I told you I was tired.” She had expected Daniel to be on the other side, but was disappointed. Sorely.

Richard.

She slammed the door in his ridiculously handsome face.

“Hello to you too, Chelsea.” His lyrical Irish accent came through the door as cultured and calm as ever. “Will you let me in?”

Heart fluttering in her chest like a caged hummingbird, she backed away from the door. What was he doing here? How had he found her? “I have nothing to say to you.”

“Chelsea. Please. Stop being childish.”

“Are you kidding me? You dumped me the night before our wedding in a text!” She fought the urge to kick the door and prove him right. Why did she have to turn Daniel down tonight? It wasn’t as though she needed him to protect her from Richard, but she could use him as a buffer right about now.

“I want to apologize and I’d rather not do it to your entire building.”

Could she accept an apology from him? After what he’d done? “Just go away, Richard. Leave me alone. You’ve done a great job of that.”

“We need to talk, Chelsea. If not now, then another time.”

Chelsea glared at the door. She wasn’t going to let him in.

“I guess I’ll see you later.”

Chelsea couldn’t have felt more relief when she heard his footsteps fade down the hall. So much for never seeing him again.

Chapter Nine

Chelsea strode into the restaurant the next day ready to tear anyone’s head off. With the mood she was in, the first person to piss her off would incur her wrath.

She’d spent most of the night trying to forget that Richard was back then wondering who would have told him how to find her. It wouldn’t have been Cara or Natalie. Jason and Sebastian would have beaten him senseless before telling him anything. The only other person she could think of was her mother. And the last thing she wanted to do was get into yet another argument with her about what had happened.

“Chelsea?” She hadn’t heard Daniel approach. “What’s the matter?”

Of course, he knew there was something wrong. She’d been standing in the doorway of the restaurant just staring into space. “I’m fine.”

“Are you?” He followed her gaze to the wait staff setting the tables. “Want to go out back and talk?”

She shook her head. “Not now.” Thankfully, her phone started ringing, putting a halt to his interrogation. She didn’t recognize the number. Chelsea gave Daniel a pleading look. “Later. I promise.”

He didn’t seem convinced but left her to get his own work sorted.

She swiped the screen. “Hello?”

“Chelsea.” The accent was unmistakable.

White-hot fury blinded her for a moment. “Who gave you my number?”

“Who do you think? The one person who’s looking out for your best interest and you barely ever call her.”

“You have got to be kidding me. You’re calling to guilt me about not calling my mother?”

“Actually, I’m outside. We need to talk. I’d rather not do it in front of your co-workers.”

The last thing she needed was Richard walking in and making a scene—especially in front of Daniel.

“Fine.”

She hung up and checked her watch. If she went now, she would make it back long before dinner service.

It took moments to locate Daniel. She caught him as he came out of the pantry. “I have to run for a little bit. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Daniel jerked his head toward the pantry and followed her in. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

She busied herself with her purse strap. “I shouldn’t be too long.”

Daniel gently closed his hands over her shoulders, prompting her to look up at him. “But are you okay?”

“I can’t talk about it right now.” She leaned in for a kiss and found herself lingering a little longer than she had intended. He felt great, especially after the night she’d had. Chelsea sighed. “I wish we were naked right now.”

He pressed his nose against the skin under her ear, kissing her lightly. “You and me both. I missed you last night.”

She kissed him again before pushing him back. It would be too easy to get carried away. He was like a drug.

Wasn’t she trying to wean herself off him right now? She had to admit that she really needed someone at the moment. Everyone else who she usually relied on wasn’t around. It made sense that she would go to him. Didn’t it?

Why did Richard’s reappearance make her feel so vulnerable? She was a grown woman who didn’t need to fall back on anyone. Least of all the fling she was using to get over him.

“I’ll see you later.” Chelsea straightened her clothes and walked outside.

She stomped over to Richard and dragged him away. “You have some nerve.”

“You didn’t want to talk to me last night, so I thought I’d catch you at…work.” He gave the restaurant doors a look of disdain. “Really, Chel? A restaurant? What are you doing at a place like this?”

That got her hackles rising. “I’ll have you know this is one of the hottest restaurants in the city. And do you really want me to explain why I have a job or why I’m working at a restaurant? I was left in the lurch and had to find a way of supporting myself.” She waved away the explanation. He didn’t deserve one. Chelsea pointed to the gleaming car that could only be his and tried to shove him in its direction. “It’s pointless. Just leave. We have nothing to talk about.”

Richard was immovable. Not too surprising. He might not have been much taller than her, but he worked out religiously. “Not until I’ve said what I need to say.”

She took a step back, crossing her arms. “I’m waiting.”

He looked genuinely surprised at her tone and was at a loss for a few moments. He even appeared saddened when she wouldn’t let him take her hands as he tried to reach for them. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I know that doesn’t make up for everything—”

“Or anything.”

“But I wanted to make sure you were doing well.”

After nearly a year? “Yeah, I’m doing fine. Better than. So if your conscience is clear now, you can go.”

“I was hoping to take you to dinner?”

The little smile he gave her used to make her heart melt, but now it only infuriated her further. “I can’t. There’s this thing I have to do called work.”