Avon
Featuring: Alexandra WIllan; Cale Valens
384 pages ISBN: 0061894575 EAN: 9780061894572 Kindle: B003V1WVAC Mass Market Paperback / e-Book Add to Wish List
The latest of the Argeneau novels, HUNGRY FOR YOU depicts the tale of how soon-to-be-turned immortal Sam has worked with family and friends of the Argeneau clan to find lifemates for her sisters, so they can all enjoy immortality together.
Although he doubts that her sister Alex is his lifemate, Cale Valens pretends to be an expert chef to meet her. When their instant attraction creates instant sparks, Cale not only has to figure out how to tell Alex the truth about everything, including the fact he hasn't eaten any nutrition but blood for centuries, but also how to stave off this spate of bad luck she's been having while opening her new restaurant.
Steamy and quick-paced, Hungry for You is another fun installment of the Argeneau Novels.
This Vampire has been alone for Far Too Long...
As a chef and restauranteur, Alex Willan had enjoyed so
much success she allowed herself to be talked into opening
a second restaurant. Itโs a decision sheโs come to regret.
Calamity after calamity have slowed the opening and driven
her to the edge of bankruptcy. But things go from bad to
worse when a competitor lures away the chef at her original
restaurant leaving her torn between the choice to keep the
original restaurant running, or getting the second
restaurant going. With so much happening, Alex simply
doesnโt have time for her sister Samโs attempts at
matchmaking, so when Sam calls with yet another man
she โjust has to meetโ Alex tells her that if the man
doesnโt cook, donโt even bother. Imagine her surprise when
Sam says heโs a chef from Europe. He appears to be the
answer to her prayers.
Cale Argeneau was finding himself somewhat world weary and
bored so when his Aunt Marguerite suggested a visit to
Canada to spend some time with his cousins, he thought โwhy
not?โ What he didnโt realize was that the intrepid
Marguerite Argeneau thought she might have a match for him.
Once he finds out, heโs less than excited. Heโs waited
centuries for a life mate and finds it hard to believe this
Alex woman his Aunt keeps going on about could be the one.
It was the shock of his life when he met Alex and found she
was indeed a possible life mate. But that wasnโt nearly as
shocking as the realization that the only way he was going
to get anywhere near the woman was if he claimed to be a
world class chef. Cale couldnโt even boil water, but he was
about to take a crash course in cooking. He was also going
to have to find out who was behind the calamities that were
plaguing this new restaurant endeavor before someone got
hurt. Heโd do that and more to be near the woman who had
reawakened his appetites, because it wasnโt just food he
now found himself hungry for, but also Alex herself and the
life he could have with her.
EXCERPT
Chapter One
Cale was just raising his hand to knock at the door when it
swung open. A tall fellow with short dark hair and a phone
pressed to his ear peered out at him.
โCale Valens?โ
โYes,โ Cale answered, knowing the guards at the front gate
had called up to the house warning of his arrival.
โCome on in.โ The fellow stepped back to make way, pushing
a button to end his call before offering a hand to
Cale. โJustin Bricker. Most people call me Bricker.โ
Cale accepted the hand, shaking it politely as he stomped
his feet on the welcome mat a couple of times to remove the
worst of the snow on his boots. He then stepped inside. โI
was told I should speak to Garrett Mortimer.โ
โYeah, I know. The boys at the gate called the house and
said as much, but Mortimerโs down at the garage with Sam.โ
Bricker shut the door and then turned to face him, waving
the phone vaguely. โI was just calling down there to tell
him you were here, but thereโs no answer. Hopefully that
means theyโre on their way to the house.โ
โHopefully?โ Cale removed his brown leather winter coat.
โYeah, well, they may have been getting busy in one of the
cells,โ Bricker explained wryly as he took the coat and
quickly hung it in a closet beside the door. โTheyโve only
been life mates for eight or nine months and are still
pretty into each other.โ He closed the closet door, swung
back to Cale, and then headed up the hall toward the back
of the house. โCome on. Iโll get you a bag of blood while
we wait.โ
Cale followed, recalling what his uncle Lucian had said
about these men. Mortimer and Bricker used to be partners,
enforcers hunting rogues vampires, but now they ran the
enforcer house together. Bricker was the younger man and
backed up Mortimer, who was now in charge of all the rest
of the enforcers.
โOne bag or two?โ Bricker asked, leading him into a large,
cupboard-lined kitchen with an island in the middle.
โOne is fine,โ Cale murmured.
The younger immortal immediately opened a refrigerator to
reveal a large amount of bagged blood stacked up alongside
various mortal foodstuffs. The sight was a bit startling.
Cale hadnโt eaten mortal food in more than a millennium and
only ever had blood in his own refrigerator. The thought
crossed his mind to wonder if it was really hygienic to
have raw meat and vegetables so close to the blood.
โO positive all right?โ Bricker asked, sorting through the
bags in the fridge.
โFine.โ Hygienic or not, he was hungry.
โHere you go.โ
Cale accepted the bag Bricker held out with a murmured
thanks, waited the few seconds it took for his canines to
descend, and then quickly popped the clear bag of crimson
liquid to his fangs.
โGrab a seat,โ Bricker urged, using his foot to hook one of
the wooden barstools tucked under the island and dragging
it out for himself. He slapped a bag of blood to his own
teeth as he sat on the stool.
Cale pulled a second stool out, but had barely settled on
the high seat when the soft shush of sliding glass doors
opening and closing sounded from the next room. He followed
Brickerโs glance expectantly to the open door across from
them. It led into what was obviously a dining room. The end
of a dark oak table was visible, as well as an end chair,
but the door and whoever had entered were out of sight.
However, their voices reached the two of them easily, and
Cale found himself unintentionally eavesdropping on what he
soon realized was a private conversation.
โAre you sure youโre ready, love?โ a man asked in solemn
tones.
โYes, of course, Iโm sure,โ a woman answered, although she
didnโt sound all that certain in Caleโs opinion. He
wondered who she was and what she was claiming to be ready
for.
Apparently the male speaker had noted the uncertainty as
well. โAre you, Sam? Itโs been eight months and youโโ
โI know,โ the woman interrupted. โAnd Iโm sorry Iโve
dragged my feet about it as I have. It wasnโt because I
donโt love you, Mortimer. I do, butโโ
โBut you didnโt want to leave your sisters,โ the man said
with apparent understanding.
Cale felt his eyebrows rise as he recognized the names.
Mortimer was who he was here to see, but so was Sam. She
apparently had a sister named Alex, and Aunt Marguerite had
a โfeelingโ this Alex might be the woman heโd waited for
his whole life. Cale wasnโt holding out much hope that
Marguerite was right. As old as he was, heโd pretty much
given up hope on ever finding a life mate. Heโd pretty much
resigned himself to being eternally single. But he also
hadnโt wanted to offend the woman, so had agreed to come
meet this Alex.
Curious now to see the couple who were speaking, Cale
shifted slightly on his stool, leaning to the side, but it
was no good. They must have stopped at the door theyโd just
entered. They also obviously thought they were having a
private conversation, and he glanced to Bricker, expecting
him to make some noise to alert them to the fact they
werenโt alone, but the younger immortal almost seemed to be
holding his breath as he waited for what they might say
next.
Cale found himself frowning around the bag in his mouth and
was about to scrape his stool back to warn the couple, but
the womanโs next words made him pause.
โIt wasnโt because of Jo and Alex.โ
Cale stilled curiously, hoping to hear more about this Alex.
โThat was just an excuse, Mortimer. One I even had myself
half convinced of,โ the woman admitted on an apologetic
sigh. โBut Jo said something to me after she met Nicholas
that made me realize it wasnโt the real reason.โ
โWhat was that?โ Mortimer asked quietly.
โShe pointed out that, after you turn me, I would still
have ten years to try to find them life mates. She said I
was just afraid, and I thinkโno, I know now she was right.โ
โAfraid of what, Sam?โ Mortimer asked with quiet
concern. โThe pain of turning?โ
โNo โฆ โฆ Although thatโs scary on its own,โ she admitted on
a wry laugh. Her voice was more serious when she
added, โBut really I was afraid that you would wake up one
day and realize โฆ โฆ well, that Iโm just me,โ she finished
helplessly.
โI donโt understand. I know who you are, Sam. Whatโ?โ
โI know, butโThis is silly, but, while Iโm smart, and
hardworking, and basically nice, Iโm not โฆโ โฆ Samโs voice
was slightly embarrassed as she said, โWell, Iโm just not
some sexy, gorgeous vamp type of gal who can hold the
attention of a guy like you for eternity.โ
โHoney, youโre beautiful. Iโโ
โI look like Olive Oyle, Mortimer.โ The words burst into
the air on a breath of exasperation, as if she thought that
should be obvious.
Cale tore the now-empty bag from his mouth and glanced to
Bricker with confusion, his voice a bare whisper as he
asked, โOlive Oyle?โ
Bricker removed his own bag and explained in a hushed
tone, โPopeyeโs girlfriend.โ When Cale continued to stare
at him blankly, he rolled his eyes. โSheโs a cartoon
character; dark hair, huge eyes, and spindly as a stick
figure. Sam isโโ
โHoney, I have eyes. I know you look like Olive Oyle.โ
Bricker stopped his explanation on a low curse and squeezed
his eyes closed briefly. He then turned his head back
toward the door, muttering with disgust, โYou old guys are
so bloody smooth. Honestly.โ
Cale would have liked to argue the point, but really, even
heโwho hadnโt bothered with women in what seemed like
foreverโknew Mortimerโs words had been the wrong thing to
say. Obviously, Mortimer realized it too because he began
to babble, โI mean, youโre beautiful to me. I love your
smile and the way your eyes twinkle when youโre amused or
teasing andโโ
โBut I still look like Olive Oyle,โ Sam said in tones that
made it obvious she wasnโt impressed with the manโs efforts
to save the situation.
โNot really.โ There was a distinct lack of conviction in
Mortimerโs voice, but it was stronger when he added, โLook,
honey, the point is, I donโt see you through rose-colored
glasses. My love isnโt based on some shallow fantasy image
of you, and Iโm not going to suddenly wake up one day and
notice you have knobby knees.โ
โKnobby knees?โ she cried.
โIโNo,โ he assured her quickly, sounding a bit panicked
now. โNo, of course they arenโt knobby. I just mean I know
exactly how you look. I do see you, and youโre what I want,
not some silly fantasy like Jessica Rabbit was.โ
โJessica Rabbit?โ Sam echoed with disbelief. โYou had
fantasies about Jessica Rabbit? A cartoon rabbit?โ
Caleโs eyebrows rose at that. Heโd been alive a long time
and had fantasized about a lot of things, but never a
cartoon rabbit.
โWell not as a rabbit,โ Mortimer muttered, sounding a bit
chagrined. โAnd not as a cartoon character. I wasnโt reallyโ
I mean, I didnโt want to hook up with her or anything. She
was just a representation of the type of woman I thought I
might end up with.โ
โVoluptuous and sexy,โ Sam suggested.
โExactly,โ Mortimer said, sounding relieved.
Cale didnโt need Brickerโs groan to tell him that was
possibly the stupidest thing the man could say. Dark hair,
huge eyes, and a stick figure didnโt suggest voluptuous and
sexy to him.
โMortimer,โ Sam said, her voice hard, โIโm neither
voluptuous nor sexy. If thatโs what you want, why spend
eternity with me?โ
โHoney, you are sexy. Youโre smart, and brains are really
sexy as hell.โ
โRight,โ Sam snapped, obviously not buying that line.
โGad!โ Bricker barked.
When the younger immortal leapt off his stool and hurried
toward the dining-room door, Cale followed. He entered the
room on the other manโs heels, his eyes moving with
interest over the couple peering toward them with surprise.
Brickerโs description of dark hair, big eyes, and spindly
as a stick figure fit Sam, Cale decided. It was probably
also the most unattractive way to put it. The woman did
have dark hair, but only in that it wasnโt blond. There
were tints of light brown and even red in her hair that
made for a lush, almost auburn. As for her eyes, Cale had
always found large eyes an attractive feature, but they did
tend to dominate this womanโs thin face. He suspected they
would be lovely if she had a little more meat on her to
round her cheeks out a bit. Actually, the woman could have
done with a little more rounding everywhere. Her body was
on the point of being emaciated. It made him wonder if she
didnโt have some ailment of the thyroid or something.
He shifted his gaze to Garrett Mortimer then, but barely
got an impression of fair hair and a muscular body before
Bricker paused before the couple, and snapped, โFor cripes
sake, you two! What are you doing? Sam, you love Mortimer,
and he loves you, and thatโs what heโs trying to tell you,
heโs just too stupid to get it out right. But he loves and
wants you just the way you are.โ He shook his head with
disgust. โYou should be secure in that knowledge by now for
Godโs sake. The two of you have been going at it like a
pair of bunnies for months, with no sign of letting up.โ
โBricker!โ Sam squawked, flushing bright pink as she
glanced from the enforcer to Cale with a mortification he
suspected wouldnโt be nearly as strong had he, a stranger,
not been present.
โOh, right,โ Bricker muttered, glancing back toward him
with a sigh that suggested heโd briefly forgotten Caleโs
presence. โSam, Mortimer, this is Cale Valens. Cale, this
is Garrett Mortimer and Sam Willan.โ
โCale,โ Mortimer said slowly, offering a hand, and then
recognition lit his face. โMartine Argeneauโs son.โ
โYes.โ Cale shook the offered hand politely and then
glanced again to Sam. Much to his surprise, the
embarrassment that had been coloring her face a moment ago
appeared to have slipped away, replaced with an interest
that was sharp and focused.
โAre you single, Mr. Valens?โ Sam asked as she moved
forward to shake his hand as well.
Cale raised an eyebrow at the blunt question, but glanced
to Bricker when he released a short, sharp laugh.
โI see your agreeing to turn hasnโt dampened your
determination to see Alex settled with an immortal, Sam,โ
Bricker commented with amusement, then warned Cale, โLook
out. Sheโll be holding a dinner party and introducing the
two of you by weekโs end.โ
โWell, why not?โ Sam sounded a touch defensive. โYou never
know. They might suit each other.โ
โHoney,โ Mortimer said on a sigh, โthe chances of Alexโs
being a possible life mate for an immortal are pretty slim.
Itโs amazing that Jo turned out to be Nicholasโs life mate.
Itโs very rare to find three mortal sisters who suitโโ
โChances shmances,โ Sam interrupted firmly. โBesides,
thereโs no harm in introducing them and seeing if they
wouldnโt suit. Alex would make a good immortal. Sheโs
smart, successful, and already works nights. Iโll just call
her and see if she can come over for dinner.โ Sam started
to turn away, but Mortimer caught her arm.
โWhy donโt we find out why Cale is here and see if he even
has time to stay for dinner first?โ he suggested quietly.
Sam hesitated, but then glanced to Cale. โCan you stay for
dinner?โ
When he nodded, she grinned and then whirled away again.
โThank you for humoring her,โ Mortimer said on a sigh, as
they watched her cross the room.
Cale shrugged. โI am not humoring her so much as
Marguerite.โ
โMarguerite?โ Sam stopped abruptly in the kitchen doorway
and spun around, her already large eyes appearing even
larger in her startled face.
Caleโs eyebrows lifted. The woman was almost vibrating with
an emotion he couldnโt quite identify. He was about to read
her mind when Mortimer captured his attention by echoing
her exclamation in a deeper, though no less startled, voice.
โMarguerite?โ
Cale glanced to the man, and then to Bricker, both of whom
were now peering at him with intense interest. Grimacing,
he admitted, โMarguerite seems to have a bee in her bonnet
about me meeting Samโs sister, Alex.โ
โShe does?โ Sam breathed, taking several steps toward them.
Cale found himself shifting uncomfortably as he
admitted, โYes. She seems to think we might suit each other
โฆ โฆ I expect sheโs wrong, but it canโt hurt to humor her
and meet your sister to see one way or the other.โ
โIโll have Alex come over at once!โ Sam spun away again,
this time making it out of the room before anyone spoke.
A snort of amusement brought Caleโs glance to Bricker as
the younger immortal asked, โYouโre kidding right?โ
โAbout what?โ Cale asked, scowling. He didnโt like being
laughed at, and the younger man was definitely laughing. He
was also eyeing him with a combination of pity and,
strangely, what appeared to be envy.
โAbout not expecting Marguerite to be right,โ Bricker
explained, and then slapped him on the back. โBuddy, if
Marguerite is having one of her โfeelingsโ that you and
Alex will suit, youโre as good as mated. Itโs what
Marguerite does. She finds life mates for anyone and
everyone she can. Sheโs hooked up every single couple who
have found each other the last few years.โ
โEvery Argeneau couple,โ Mortimer corrected firmly. โShe
was not responsible for Sam and me.โ
โYeah, well I wouldnโt be too sure about that,โ Bricker
said dryly. โShe probably suggested Lucian send us to that
job in cottage country in the hopes that one of us would
suit one of the sisters.โ
Mortimer rolled his eyes at the suggestion. โShe couldnโt
have known about Sam and her sisters. I donโt think sheโs
even been to Deckerโs cottage.โ
โOh, he didnโt tell you?โ Bricker asked with amusement.
โTell me what?โ Mortimer asked, suddenly wary.
โMarguerite helped him find the place. Since he was always
so busy on the job, she vetted the available properties and
suggested the one next to Sam and her sisters was the
nicest.โ
โChrist,โ Mortimer muttered.
Bricker laughed, but Cale simply peered from one man to the
other curiously. โIs she really that good at finding mates
for immortals?โ
โOh yeah,โ Bricker assured him. โSo, if Marguerite thinks
Alex is the one for you, itโs in the bag. It looks like
your bachelor days are done, my friend. Bet you canโt wait.โ
Cale found himself frowning at the suggestion, and said a
bit stiffly, โNot all of us are lonely and in need of a
life mate. Some of us manage to live relatively happy, busy
lives without one.โ
โYeah right,โ Bricker said with disbelief.
Cale scowled, but didnโt argue the point further. Why
bother? It wasnโt really true anyway.
โYou have to be kidding me.โ Alex Willan stared at the man
standing on the other side of her desk. Peter Cunningham,
or Pierre as he preferred to be called, was her head cook.
He was also short, bearded, and had beady little eyes.
Sheโd always thought he resembled a weasel, but never so
much as she did at that moment. โYou canโt quit just like
that. The new restaurant opens in two weeks.โ
โYes I know.โ He gave her a sad little moue. โBut really
Alexandra, he is offering a kingโs ransom for me toโโ
โOf course he is. Heโs trying to ruin me,โ she snapped.
Peter shrugged. โWell, if you were to beat their offer โฆโโฆ
Alexโs eyes narrowed. She couldnโt help noticing that heโd
said โbeatโ rather than โmatchโ or even โcome close.โ The
little creep really was a weasel with no loyalty at all โฆ โฆ
but she needed him.
โHow much?โ she asked sharply, and barely managed to keep
from hyperventilating at the amount he murmured. Dear God
that was three times what she was paying him and twice what
she could afford โฆ โฆ which he knew, of course.
It was a ridiculous sum. No chef earned that, and he wasnโt
worth it. Peter was good, but not that good. It didnโt make
any sense that Jacques Tournier, the owner of Chez Joie,
would offer him that much. But then Alex could suddenly see
what the plan was. Jacques was luring the man away in a
deliberate attempt to leave her high and dry. Heโd keep him
on for two or three weeks, just long enough to cause scads
of trouble for her, then heโd fire him under some pretext
or other.
Alex opened her mouth, prepared to warn Pierre, but the
smug expression on his face stopped her. Peter had always
been an egotistical bastard. It was bad enough when he was
only the sous-chef, but in the short time since sheโd
promoted him to head chef, his ego had grown to ten times
its previous bloated state. No, she thought with a sigh, he
wouldnโt believe her. Heโd think it just sour grapes.
โI know you canโt afford it,โ Peter said pityingly. Then
with something less than sympathy, he added, โJust admit it
so I can stop wasting my time and get out of here.โ
Alexโs mouth tightened. โWell, if you knew, why even bother
suggesting it?โ
โI didnโt want you to think I was totally without loyalty,โ
he admitted with a shrug. โWere you to beat their offer, I
would have stayed.โ
โThanks,โ she said dryly
โDe rien,โ he said, and turned toward the door.
Alex almost let him walk out, but her conscience got the
better of her. Whether heโd believe her or not, she had to
at least try to warn him that he was setting himself up for
a fall. Once Jacques fired himโand she didnโt doubt for a
minute he wouldโPeter would be marked. The entire industry
would know that heโd left her for them, and then lost that
job. Even if people didnโt suspect the truth of what
happened and label him a putrid little weasel, they would
think heโd been fired for something.
Alex had barely begun to speak her thoughts, however,
before Peter was shaking his head. Still, she rushed on
with it, warning him as her conscience dictated. The moment
she fell silent, he sneered at her with derision.
โI knew you would be upset, Alexandra, but making up such a
ridiculous story to get me to stay is just sad. The truth
is, I have been selling myself cheap for some time now.
Iโve built up a reputation as an amazing chef these last
several weeks while cooking in your steadโโ
โTwo weeks,โ Alex corrected impatiently. โItโs only been
two weeks since I promoted you to head chef. And youโre
cooking my recipes, not coming up with brilliant ones of
your own. Surely you can see how ridiculous it is that
someone would pay you that kind of money forโโ
โNo, I do not see it as ridiculous. I am brilliant. Jacques
sees my potential and that I deserve to be paid my value.
But you obviously donโt. You have been trying to keep me
under. Now I will get paid what I deserve and enjoy some of
the profits produced by my skills.โ Mouth tightening, he
added, โAnd youโre not going to trick me into staying here
with such stupid stories.โ
With a little sniff of disgust, Peter turned on his heel
and sailed out of her office with his nose up and a self-
righteous air that made her want to gag.
Alex closed her eyes. At the moment, she wanted nothing
more than to yell a string of obscenities after the man,
and suspected she would enjoy his fall when it came.
Unfortunately, her own fall would come first.
Cursing, she pulled her Rolodex toward her and began to
rifle through the numbers. Perhaps one of her old friends
from culinary school could help for a night or two. Christ,
she was ruined if she didnโt find someone and quickly.
An hour later, Alex reached the Wโs in her Rolodex with no
prospects when the phone rang. Irritated with the
interruption when she was having a crisis, Alex snapped it
up. She barked โhello,โ the fingers of her free hand still
flipping through the cards one after the other in quick
succession.
โI have someone I want you to meet.โ
Alex frowned at the strange greeting, slow to recognize her
sisterโs voice. Once she did, a deep sigh slid from her
lips, and she shook her head wearily. She really didnโt
need this right now. She was heartily sick of the parade of
men Sam had been presenting her with over the last eight
months.
It had been bad enough when she and their younger sister,
Jo, had both been single and available, but now that Jo had
Nicholas, Sam was focusing all of her attention on finding
Alex a man. She supposed it wouldnโt be so bad if even one
of the men Sam had insisted on introducing her to had shown
some mild interest in her, but after barely more than a
moment, and sometimes as little as a few seconds, every
single one had simply ignored her, or in some cases, even
walked away.
It was giving her a complex. Sheโd even started dieting,
something sheโd sworn sheโd never do, and exercising, a
pastime she detested, as well as trying different makeup
and fashion choices in an effort to boost her now-flagging
ego.
This really was the last thing she needed, but Alex knew
Samโs heart was in the right place and forced herself to
hang on to her patience and even managed to keep her tone
to only mildly exasperated.
โSam, honey, my head chef just quit, and I have one hour to
replace him before the dinner set start to arrive. I donโt
have time for your matchmaking right now.โ
โOh, but, Alex, Iโm pretty sure this is the one,โ she
protested.
โRight, well, maybe he is, but if he isnโt a world-class
chef, Iโm not interested,โ Alex said grimly. โIโm hanging
up now.โ
โHe is!โ
Alex paused with the phone halfway back to its cradle and
pulled it back to her ear. โWhat? He is what?โ
โA chef?โ Sam said, but it sounded like a question rather
than an announcement. It was enough to make Alex narrow her
eyes.
โFor real?โ she asked suspiciously.
โYes.โ Sam sounded more certain this time.
โWhere did he last work?โ she asked cautiously.
โIโIโm not sure,โ Sam hedged. โHeโs from Europe.โ
โEurope?โ Alex asked, her interest growing. They had some
fine culinary schools in Europe. Sheโd attended one of them.
โYes,โ Sam assured her. โActually, thatโs why I was sure he
would be the one. Heโs into cooking and fine cuisine like
you.โ
Alex drummed her fingers thoughtfully on the desk. It
seemed like just too much good fortune that her sister
wanted to introduce her to a chef the very day she was in
desperate need of one. On the other hand, sheโd suffered
enough bad luck the last few months that a bit of good luck
was surely in order. Finally, she asked, โWhatโs his name?โ
โCale.โ
โIโve never heard of him,โ Alex murmured, and then realized
how stupid it was to say that. She didnโt know every single
chef in France. In fact, she only knew a few from her days
in culinary school โฆ โฆ and the names of the famous ones of
course.
โLook, heโs a chef, and you need one. What can it hurt to
meet him?โ Sam asked. โI swear you wonโt be sorry. I really
think this will work out. Marguerite is never wrong. You
have to meet him.โ
โMarguerite?โ Alex asked with confusion, recognizing the
name. She was the aunt of one of Mortimerโs band mates,
Decker Argeneau. Alex had never met her, but Sam mentioned
her a lot. However, she had no idea what the woman had to
do with any of this.
โJust meet him,โ Sam pleaded.
Alex sighed, her fingers tapping a rapid tattoo. She could
sense that Sam was lying about something in her
determination to get her to meet the man, and really, she
didnโt have time to waste at the moment. On the other hand,
Sam hadnโt hesitated to say he could cook and had even said
it was why sheโd thought they might hit it off, so Alex
suspected that part of it was at least true. At least she
hoped it was. The fact was, she was desperate. And,
frankly, beggars couldnโt be choosers. If the man could
cook even half decently, she was definitely interested in
him though not the way Sam was obviously hoping she would
be.
โSend him over,โ she barked, and then slammed the phone
back in its cradle before she could change her mind.
Cale was telling Bricker and Mortimer about the wedding
heโd attended in New York for several of his family members
and their life mates when Sam came hurrying back into the
room. โItโs all set,โ she announced excitedly. โYou have to
go to her restaurant right away.โ
Cale frowned. โYou said you would have her come here.โ
โYes, well, there was a change of plans. Alex has a small
crisis at the restaurant and canโt leave,โ Sam announced,
catching his arm and urging him toward the door to the
kitchen. โActually that reminds me. Can you cook?โ
Cale stopped, forcing her to a halt, and announced
stiffly, โI donโt eat.โ
โI didnโt ask you if you eat,โ she pointed out. โCan you
cook?โ
โWhy would I cook if I donโt eat?โ he asked dryly.
โNot doing one doesnโt preclude your doing the other,โ Sam
said impatiently, and then clucked with irritation and
tried to urge him to continue forward as she pointed
out, โMale designers donโt wear womenโs clothing, but they
design it.โ
โHow do you know they donโt wear it?โ Bricker asked
lightly, drawing Caleโs attention to the fact that he and
Mortimer had followed and now stood behind them.
Mortimer chuckled at the words, but Sam didnโt seem to see
the humor. Grinding her teeth together, she tugged at
Caleโs arm again. โCome on. You need to get to the
restaurant before she changes her mind and takes off for
the new place or something.โ
Cale tugged his arm free of her hold. โI do not cook food
and have no desire to visit a place filled with the stench
of it. Youโll just have to arrange a meeting for a
different day. I have no desire to go to her place of
business.โ
© 2003-2026