'll make sure of it. She should have blocked the number. She should have ignored him. But instead, she f

d Jayden McGrego

the covers. She had an early shift tomorrow, and the last thing she needed was to be

ep neve

morning, Celeste was running on two hours of r

freshly baked pastries filling the air. She pulled

the sous-chefs teas

im a glare. "S

ce of duck in a pan. "Didn't think

wa

plain that her mind had been occupied by a persiste

e've got a packed lunch service today, so I don't want to see anyone

she said au

ffles for the afternoon's risotto special

wasn't the type

new she hadn't see

e loved- the kind she understood. Orders came in rapid succession, dishes flew out just as fa

ered the moment she stepped ou

ooking infuriatingly calm and

abrupt halt, her

ailored dark sweater and designer slacks could be considered c

his

o hers the seco

erate smile c

ard him, ignoring the curious glanc

u doing here?" she hi

rink-whiskey, neat-before

llshit. You don't do casual l

ow. "You know my d

"You're here

lass down and tilted his head. "I told y

to ignore the way her pulse quickened.

her, slow and assessing

You don't believe that? Are you

ted. I know you push yourself harder than anyone else in that kitchen. And I

hated being predictable. Jayden reached into his pocket and

it. "I don't need to

ked. "H

eliberate slowness, she opened it. And froze. Inside was a contra

Jayden McGregor's sharp, pre

full six months

pen her own restaurant. Finally get out from under the thumb of people like Chef Roux, people who thoug

it back into his chest. "I told y

falter. If anyt

"but your hands were shaking

ack, heat rising to h

. "I'll take th

on the bar, and strolled out of the restaurant like he

counter. She hated him. She hated that he was right. And most of all-she hated

he black envelope she had sworn she wouldn't take. It had end

breath and tossed it onto the coffee table. No. She wasn't doing this. A knock

art st

dimly lit hallway, one hand c

at

wine. "You look like

re you insane? How do yo

epped past her, walking into her

ury bubbling to the su

he counter and turned to face

ecision," he said. "If you say no, I'll

wed hard. "And

ips c

tt, you'll belong to