Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“We’ve been through this, Ariel. You deserve to be here as much as anyone else.”
“I know. That’s my point. You treat me like one of the others, like I’m no different from them. You let me ask for what I wanted, and you gave it to me. You weren’t concerned that I didn’t know what I was doing, that I was asking for something I wasn’t ready for. You didn’t think I was too immature to have a clue what I want or need. Thank you, Sebastian. You’ll never know how much that means to me.”
I graze her cheek with the back of my fingers. “I had some fun too, you know.”
“I’m glad. Being with you was…” She closes her eyes. “I’m not sure I have the words.”
“Phenomenal?” I offer. “Astounding? Unprecedented? Panty-melting?”
She opens her eyes. “All of that and more.”
I trail my finger around her cut again. “I’m sorry this happened.”
“It was an accident, and I promise I’ll be fine.”
“I know you’ll be fine, but I hate that you got hurt. And…”
“And what?”
I grin. “You may not be able to wrap those luscious legs around me like you did this morning.”
She blushes again. “I think I can risk that.”
“You sure?”
“I mean, I took a pain reliever and all.”
I lean in, brush my lips across hers. They’re as soft and sweet as they were this morning, and I know it’s all in my head, but I swear I can still taste the strawberries.
She opens for me, and we share a gentle kiss.
But it’s enough to get my dick reacting, so I pull back. I’m probably expected back in the kitchen soon to finish our dish.
Though Marc did say those shrimps wouldn’t sauté themselves…
Maybe he’s planning to finish cooking. Will that even be fair?
I don’t rightfully care. The cook-off was Evie’s idea, not mine. She wanted to try to get everyone’s mind off Rachel’s accident yesterday and Sienna leaving this morning. But this is not my decision alone. It’s also Ariel’s. She’s my partner in this thing.
“Can you stand?” I ask.
“Of course. This is hardly anything.”
“Then maybe we should get back so Marc doesn’t finish our shrimp.”
“The coleslaw’s done,” she says. “And he already deveined more shrimp. But we can go back out there if you want to.”
“I didn’t say it’s what I want.” I narrow my gaze.
She smiles. “It was kind of a thrill to learn from a professional chef. I’m not much of a cook, and Mama has always gotten on me about that. ‘Ariel, you’ll never catch a husband if you can’t cook him a decent meal.’” She shakes her head. “And I always want to say, ‘Hell, Mama, you couldn’t keep my daddy around, and you cook the best shrimp and grits this side of the Mississippi.’ But that’s rude.”
Wow. Didn’t expect that. Her mama’s probably thrilled she’s here meeting four billionaires. So much about this little Tweety Bird that I don’t know. And that I’d like to know.
“Besides,” she continues, “I’ve already gotten to spend some quality time with you, so I don’t need to win a contest to get a date with the man I prefer.”
Her words hit me hard, in a good way…and a bad one. She’s sweet as maple syrup and sexy as a siren, and I’m psyched to know she prefers me. But Heather… Heather with that tight-as-fuck body and that sexy viper tattoo…
Damn.
If only I could have that sandwich I was thinking about earlier…
For now, though—
I slide my fingers up Ariel’s firm thigh. “I suppose we should get back.”
“What’s your hurry?” she asks.
I inch farther up, toward that paradise between her legs. “Something else you’d rather be doing?”
“Like I said, I enjoyed the cooking, but…” She covers my hand with her own, guiding it to her panties.
“Damn. You’re wet, Ariel.”
“For you,” she says, closing her eyes.
I let out a groan. “I don’t think anyone will miss us if we’re gone a little longer.”
EPISODE 103
GET IT DONE OR THIS IS DONE
River
As I leave the kitchen, I look over my shoulder. June and Desi seem to be doing fine without me, so no one will miss me for a few minutes. I turn my head and nearly run into Marc, the sous chef who’s working with Ariel and Seb.
“Hey, sorry,” I say, evading a collision. “How’s Ariel?”
“She’ll be just fine. I got her all bandaged up.”
I raise my eyebrows. “You?”
“Yeah. All chefs have first aid training. Kitchen accidents, you know.”
“I didn’t know, but I’m glad that’s the case.”
“Sebastian is with her now,” Marc says.
I twist my lips. “Anyone else with her?”
“Just the two of them when I left.”
Yeah. I know what’s going on. Sebastian is “taking care” of Ariel, and I’m pretty sure I know his methodology.
“I’m going to finish up the appetizers,” Marc continues, “because Evangeline says we’re going to start the meal soon, and the apps will be served first. Where are you off to?”