Lucky 7 Bad Boys Contemporary Romance Boxed Set by Virna DePaul, Tawny Weber, Nina Bruhns, Charity Pineiro, Sophia Knightly, Susan Hatler, Kristin Miller Read Free Book Online Page A

dinner" in David's apartment. They'd had more than twenty for supper. It had been quite a lot of hard work to shop, cook, prep, serve, and clean up afterward with only David's housekeeper for assistance. She knew how important dinners like this were to David for his business, and if their relationship was going to progress, she had to be supportive. She ignored the little voice in her head shouting that he was taking advantage.
    "How many this time?"
    "Just ten," he quickly replied. "Maybe you and Anthony can find the time to go over the plans that night."
    "That sounds good," she answered and smiled at the waiter as he brought over the terra cotta casserole with her cassoulet . It was one of her favorite French bistro style meals, with its robust combination of pork, duck confit, and white beans. Her friend Robert made an exceptionally good cassoulet and she asked the waiter to let him know.
    The waiter nodded and placed David's plate before him. Veal medallions were seared to perfection and resting on a bed of Madeira sauce with morels. Lightly buttered haricot vert complimented the main course, along with some steamed, new red potatoes.
    David thanked the young man and immediately dug into his meal as did Bianca. She savored the blend of meats and beans, the kind of comfort food that invariably made her feel better. She and her partners had chosen their menu based on similar considerations. They had selected meals that would trigger some kind of emotional response from their patrons. Foods reminiscent of the holidays, like roast pork. Or a steaming caldo Gallego , like her grandmother used to make on cold winter days.
    Bianca couldn't wait to try out those recipes on their patrons and see if they brought out the same kind of emotional responses. Like the one she was having to the rich cassoulet that stirred memories of a cold December night in Paris and sitting in a small bistro with some friends from cooking school. They had been enjoying the food, warm crusty bread, and a robust house wine.
    She wondered if David ever felt the same or if the food before him was just a meal and nothing more. Nothing to be experienced and savored, stored away like a treasured memory. Bianca was convinced good food was like that, which was why people liked to eat. Favorite foods, in her mind, were invariably linked to special times in people's lives. And a bad dish could totally wreck a special moment.
    That was why she took her craft so seriously, as did her partners. As did Robert, the chef who was approaching, a broad smile on his face as he realized who was at the table.
    " Cheri , it is zo good to zee you again," he teased in a fake French accent and winked.
    Bianca stood and hugged him, introduced David, and Robert pulled up a chair from an adjacent table and joined them as they continued eating.
    Her friend and she entered into a spirited discussion about her new restaurant for a few minutes until she realized they were excluding David with their shop talk. Bianca turned to David and explained how Robert and she knew one another, and got him talking about his job. In no time at all, David was regaling Robert with tales of his latest stock market conquests.
    Robert listened intently, but when a waiter motioned to him that he was needed in the kitchen, he appeared only too eager to excuse himself and head to the back.
    "He seems like a nice fellow," David said and finished his plate of veal.
    Bianca smiled and nodded. "Robert's one of the best. I was hoping he might want to join us, but -- "
    "He's not willing to take the risk?" David butted in.
    Shrugging, Bianca took a last bite of the duck in her cassoulet before answering. "Any new venture is a risk. You know that from the stock market, David. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy."
    He grunted and laid down his fork. "I'm not much of a risk taker with anything, Bianca."
    Something she knew only too well. David took no risks. Not in business and not with his personal life, except of