At Dante's Service by Chantelle Shaw Read Free Book Online

spoken out loud.
    Gaspard looked amused. ‘It is indeed. My restaurant is on the beach. Imagine miles of white sand, turquoise sea and palm trees. How would you like to work in paradise, Rebekah?’
    ‘I don’t know … I mean, it sounds wonderful.’ She pressed her hands to her hot face. ‘It’s just a shock. And I already have a job here in England.’
    The Frenchman shrugged as he pulled a business card from his pocket. ‘The new restaurant will not be ready to open for a few months, so you do not need to make an immediate decision. Think about it and, if you are interested, phone me and we will discuss it further.’
    ‘Yes … yes, I will.’
    ‘Bon.’
Gaspard smiled. ‘And now perhaps I can persuade you to dance with me?’
    Later, Dante fought his way through the crowd on his way to the bar, wondering where Rebekah had disappeared to. He had glimpsed her periodically during the evening, dancing with Gaspard Clavier and then with a couple of other men. Now, as he scanned the ballroom, he caught sight of her partnering a handsome young actor from one of the popular TV soaps. The guy was a notorious womaniser and, from the way he was laughing and
flirting
with Rebekah, it seemed that he had decided to make her his next conquest.
    But perhaps Rebekah had decided to seduce the pretty-boy actor? Dante’s mouth tightened. He had been concerned at the beginning of the party that she might feel shy when she did not know any of the other guests. But he need not have worried. It was not only her appearance that was transformed tonight. His quiet, reservedchef had turned into a confident and self-assured woman who was attracting the attention of every red-blooded male in the room.
    He must have been mad to have brought her out in that dress, he thought grimly, as he changed course and headed towards the dance floor. He should have followed his first instinct and taken her to bed.
    Rebekah was having the time of her life. Gaspard Clavier’s praise of her cooking skills had given her self-confidence a huge boost, and she was seriously considering his job offer. If she moved to the Caribbean, surely she would forget about Dante.
    Although
he
had not been impressed with her dress, she had discovered that plenty of other men were and she’d had no shortage of dance partners. Mind you, her current partner was like an octopus, she thought, as she firmly moved the hand that was sliding up to her breasts back to her waist.
    ‘Come on, baby, let’s get out of here.’ Jonny Vance, who apparently was a famous actor, although Rebekah did not recognize him, stopped dancing and tugged her against him. ‘My car’s parked outside.’
    ‘No!’ she muttered, trying to pull away from him. ‘Will you please let go of me?’
    ‘I’d do as the lady says if I were you,’ a familiar voice said dangerously. Before Rebekah realised what was happening, she was jerked away from Jonny and clamped against a broad, rock-solid chest.
    Her heart lurched as Dante’s arm imprisoned her and she was so surprised by his sudden appearance that her feet stumbled as he spun her round in time with the music. ‘Thanks for rescuing me,’ she said shakily. ‘He was getting a bit over-friendly.’
    ‘What did you expect?’ Dante gave her a derisive look and Rebekah saw that he was furious. ‘You were flirting with him and leading him on. Of course he thought he’d got it made with you.’
    ‘I was not leading him on.’
Outraged by the accusation, she glared at him, stumbled again and would have tripped on her long skirt if it hadn’t been for the fact that her body was practically welded to Dante’s. ‘I was just dancing with him and being friendly.’
    Dante laughed. ‘Do you really have no idea of the effect you were having on him and on every man here tonight?’
    Rebekah was fighting the temptation to sink against Dante and enjoy the heady delight of being in his arms. She had often imagined him holding her close like this, but the