ke

ually a symphony o

nst wood, pans searing in bursts of flame,

hed through the swinging

d foll

satisfied w

nted t

istering hand under cold water. The s

nced, wrinkling her nose at the r

, where plates of Wagyu beef we

at a sous-chef. "Pu

heap, grocery-store c

m went

rude; it was

out from the shadows

peared under his chef's whites. He didn't look like a cook. He

quiet grace that

d in the kitche

ble that seemed to vibrat

e?" Jaden

king eye contact. "And respect for t

purple. She wasn't u

ped out

to hear about thi

ated a vi

Connor's face fi

the edge of the mahogany table. I could see

inve

pex C

it-down. A sa

nswered

a meeting," Connor

the camera to face the kitchen staff. "The chef!

the camera

red right into the lens.

up my

red skin was im

or,"

. He saw

flicker of recogniti

ooked at the

tching him.

ol his woman? A Don who

he easy route. He chose

" Connor said, his voice

pping closer to the p

Blake!" he snapped. "Apolog

en went d

t the phone, hi

to the woman who assaulted

you're all fired. Blake, get on your knees and be

left t

n my

r of David Shaw to kn

his investors. In front of his staff

d at th

to marry. The man I thought cou

t see a

a liab

roken. Not by

this order, Don Bish

!" he

ded s

," I

out with m

ng I was reaching for

bed th

nded th

een wen

"What do you

said, my voi

voice of a wai

her used right before h

the