Secret Ingredient: Love by Teresa Southwick Read Free Book Online Page B

some interesting, downright mouthwatering things to her bosom beneath that sweater. But his brain cleared slightly and he focused enough to realize that something he’d said had put a kink in her wire whisk.
    “What?” he asked, dropping his hand.
    “You never said anything about family approval.”
    “It’s a family business. I value input from my brothers. The more critical evaluation we can withstand, the better. But I suppose it’s normal to be nervous.”
    “Who said I was nervous?”
    “Afraid then.”
    “I’m not afraid,” she said defensively. “You just never mentioned that the recipes I develop will be subject to a family thumbs-up.”
    “We’re not known as the meddling Marchettis for nothing. And anyone who cooks like you has nothing to worry about.” Her shoulders relaxed. “Then we have a deal?” He held out his hand again.
    She hesitated two beats before reaching across the table to put her small hand in his. “Done,” she said, then resumed eating.
    Alex breathed a sigh of relief. All hurdles successfully cleared. But he couldn’t help wondering why it had been so important for her to know the reason he wasn’t actively dating. His answer had obviously swung her pendulum in the direction of an affirmative answer to his job offer. But his curiosity got the better of him.
    “Tell me, Fran, if I had said I was single, available and eagerly looking for someone, would you still have accepted the job?”
    She chewed thoughtfully for several moments. “My answer would have been the same.”
    “But?” he prompted.
    One corner of her full mouth lifted wryly. “I’m not sure how you knew there was a ‘but,’ but you’re right. I need the job. That’s not a national secret. And thank you very much for the offer. But I would have been on pins and needles.”
    “Why?”
    “Waiting for you to hit on me.” She looked taken aback for a moment, as if she couldn’t believe she’d said that out loud. “Not that you would,” she amended. “You’ve been very professional and I’d expect nothing less. But the possibility could have existed, and I’d have been tense, waiting for the world’s cleverest pickup line.”
    “Like ‘what’s your sign?”’ he asked wryly.
    “That’s ancient history. You really are out of practice.”
    “So what is the current come-on dialogue?”
    She thought for a minute. “I can’t even tell you. It’s been a while for me, too.” Her forehead puckered slightly and her cocoa-colored eyes narrowed, as if she was remembering something unpleasant.
    Why? A woman as attractive, lively and sexy as Fran Carlino should have men waiting in line. Yet not only was that not the case, he wasn’t convinced that she would have taken the job if he’d told her he was available. He had a feeling her wariness was more than just not wanting to follow in her mother’s footsteps with a husband and family. What had happened to make her gun-shy?
    This was none of his business. Their acquaintance had progressed to employment. That didn’t give him the right to her life history. In fact, the less he knew the better. And his parachute had just opened, he realized. Neither he nor Fran was interested in anything personal. There was safety in numbers, or at least in being on the same page in the cookbook.
    “Well, I couldn’t be more delighted that you accepted my offer,” he said, meaning every word. “You’re the right choice for the position. I’m looking forward to seeing what you cook up in the corporate kitchen.”
    “Me, too.” She held up her wineglass. “Here’s to a successful business association.”
    She took a sip of her wine, then tucked a wayward strand of brown hair behind her ear. The glare from the light over her table put a glisten on the moisture clinging to her top lip. He suddenly had an almost overwhelming urge to kiss it away, to know if her mouth was as soft and exciting as it looked.
    “I didn’t know you’d been married,” she said out