Delicious (Cooking Up A Storm) by Annie Walker Read Free Book Online Page A

prospective scattering in a million different directions. Since last night, well all he could think about was a repeat performance. More than once. Because once was never going to be enough.
    Apparently, Cara had not felt the same. In fact, she hadn’t had anything close to the same reaction as him. Cara it seemed was full of regrets. Or at least, that’s what she wanted him to think.
    Aiden debated on whether to go straight to the apartment that he’d picked out his last trip here. He could use the time to get settled in, even though the place came fully furnished and he hadn’t exactly added anything, except for a few clothes and basic necessities.
    After listening to the three voicemails on his cell phone, he decided against spending the day settling into the apartment. Two of the three messages were from his second in command, Eric Reynolds. The man who had been forced to fill in for Aiden after the executive, who had run the company into bankruptcy in the first place, absconded to parts unknown with most of the pension plan, not to mention his secretary.
    Things were in absolute chaos at Shelby. And that was just what he needed at the moment. Nothing like a sinking ship to take your mind off one stubborn brunette.
    Aiden chanced another call to Cara, this time bypassing the office and Shelby entirely. He dialed Cara’s cell phone instead and got the expected recording asking him to leave a message. He didn’t. He’d be patient. She couldn’t screen her calls forever.
    He turned off the main interstate and headed downtown. This part of the city was filled with a variety of long standing businesses. Shelby Advertising had been around for almost twenty years when its founder died and the next generation of Shelby’s took control. Alfred Shelby didn’t have the brains God gave a snail. It had taken him only five years to run his daddy’s dream into bankruptcy.
    “Mr. Wilder, good you’re here. I have a dozen or more messages that need your attention.” Lois Brown was Eric’s assistant but she was covering like Eric in lieu of Alfred’s secretary disappearance.
     
    “Good Morning, Lois. Is Eric in?” Eric was definitely in. Apparently, he’d been listening for Aiden’s arrival. He stood in the doorway of his office, looking like a man who had just been rescued from a burning building.
    “Good morning, Eric. Things as bad as you look?” Aiden felt his bad mood grow when the man who looked to be twenty years his senior nodded furiously.
    “They’re that bad all right. This place is one bad decision away from closing its doors entirely and I don’t think Southern’s going to be none to happy with the midyear earnings…or should I say lack of them.”
    “Okay, well, let’s see if we can fix that.” Aiden started for his new office and stopped. Something on Lois’s desk caught his eye. Roses. Bright red roses.
    “Is it your birthday?” he asked the woman.
    “No, my husband sends those to me every month or so. Says he just wants to remind me that he loves me.”
    On an impulse, Aiden turned to the older man. “Eric, I’ll be right there. Why don’t you get the files that are critical together and I’ll meet you in your office in two minutes.”
    Eric didn’t need much coaxing, which only confirmed how bad things really were.
    Aiden turned back to Lois. “Can you do me a favor?”
    “Sure thing, Mr. Wilder. You need me to type something up for you?”
    “No, I need you to send flowers to someone. And I need them to be there by today?”
    “A girlfriend?” Lois smiled gently.
     
    Aiden considered that. Cara wasn’t his girlfriend at all. Not because he hadn’t been considering it and trying to work toward that goal. Or more for that matter. But mostly because she was good at putting obstacles in his way. Namely that damn friendship thing. And then there was Miranda that she’d practically forced on him. And now this whole avoiding him thing.
    “Something like that. But I’m hoping for