Erin Kern - Along Came Trouble

“Charlene told me you’ve decided to hold off on the article in the magazine. I think that’s a smart choice. We need to highlight whoever our new chef is going to be.”

Brody paced his office and plowed a hand through his hair. “I still wish you would have waited until we’d found somebody new before firing Travis.”

“I know you don’t agree with the way I handled this. But Travis isn’t the first chef I’ve had to fire. I honestly think we’re better off with the sous-chefs in the kitchen than we were with Travis.” Martin paused before continuing. “I wouldn’t have let Travis go if I thought otherwise.”

Brody glanced at his father. “I want you to promise me you’ll let me find a replacement on my own. I don’t want to come in here tomorrow to see someone I haven’t even met before barking out orders in the kitchen.”

The twitch of Martin’s mouth almost looked like a smile. “You have my word. Now I need you to make me a promise.”

“What’s that?”

His father took one step forward. “Before you hire anyone, I want to meet them and taste the food. With the state of this place, I need to be a part of the hiring process.”

Brody gritted his teeth at having to relinquish part of his control. He wasn’t used to, nor was he comfortable with, having his father lurking around. Given the circumstances, however, Brody agreed. “All right. I’ll get started finding someone today.” When Brody had gotten up that morning, he hadn’t imagined his day going like this. Admittedly, he was relieved at having the burden of firing Travis taken off his hands. Only now he had to deal with his father scrutinizing his choice of chef.

“Remember what I said. If the replacement doesn’t work out, you’ll be shown the door along with him,” Martin said ominously.

Brody didn’t reply because there was really no need. They both knew that Martin always made good on his word, even if that meant firing his own son.

Elisa arrived at the Golden Glove ten minutes early. Her early arrival had nothing to do with the fact that she was eager to see Brody. Because she wasn’t. Really. The jitters in her stomach had nothing to do with the man’s hypnotic voice or the way his eyes burned down to her soul. Or the kiss that had knocked her off her feet. Yessiree, the only reason she came was due to Brody’s generous offer to double her fee. That money would go a long way to helping her get by until she landed a contract with a stock agent.

Or, better yet, helping her save for traveling.

Last night after Brody left with Tyler was the most conflicted she’d felt in a long time. Brody was the first guy who’d sparked a real interest in her. Even though she was already fighting her attraction to him, deep down she’d hoped for something more with him. Lazy Sunday afternoons and weeknight dinners at home. No, she couldn’t let herself keep going down that path in her mind. Knowing that he was Kelly’s ex-husband had put a damper on her feelings. Some women were kind of funny about their ex-husbands dating friends of theirs, and others were downright cruel to the woman treading on their territory. Elisa didn’t know Kelly well enough to know for sure how she’d react, and she was never one to risk a friendship for a fling that would likely trickle out soon enough. Plus, watching Brody’s son during the day would make things even stickier. Elisa already knew his parents’ divorce had been hard on him. She didn’t want to add to the child’s confusion by engaging in a relationship with his father, only to have things not work out. No matter how devastating or appealing the father was. No, it was best for all parties involved if Elisa kept her distance from Brody. She would meet with him today, come back and take more pictures, and that would be the end of it.

Today would have to be the end of it, because she was leaving Trouble in several months. Spending five months away in Mongolia was sure to put a damper on whatever relationship they’d develop. As for coming back to Trouble? Elisa always loved it here, but making a career for herself here seemed like less and less of a possibility. If she was serious about being a photojournalist, surely she’d have to travel. Taking pictures of food was okay, but it didn’t fully satisfy her. She could not allow herself to fall for Brody, knowing she was leaving. Her heart couldn’t handle that.

Her attention honed in on the man of her fantasies the second she walked into the restaurant. He stood at the bar next to Charlene, who held a handful of papers. Elisa didn’t so much as spare the other woman a glance. Brody’s spectacularly hard ass, encased in a pair of black slacks, held her attention so well that she damn near tripped over her own sandals. She moved her eyes upward, only so she could place one foot in front of the other like a competent human being. That view didn’t help matters either. Wide shoulders filled out a baby-blue collared shirt, which accented his midnight hair. The strands were clipped short and close to his head, the tips not even reaching his ears. During her modeling days, Elisa had grown an affinity for men with long hair. Something about the roguish way the long strands would fall over a man’s collar like he just didn’t give a damn made Elisa weak. Brody was the antithesis of every man she’d known during her modeling days. This was the first time in her life short, spiky hair took her breath away.

As though he sensed her presence behind him, Brody turned his attention from Charlene to Elisa. His gray eyes met hers from across the room and then swept down her body with slow appraisal. When she’d put on the knee-length skirt that morning, it hadn’t felt too short. Now she had to resist the urge to tug at the hem with the way his eyes lingered on her legs.

He lifted his gaze back to hers and turned from Charlene. His long legs ate the distance between them with purposeful, confident strides. Elisa felt like the prey to his predator. Suddenly, she couldn’t remember the reason for staying away from him.

Oh, yeah. He had the potential to completely shatter her heart.

Brody came to a stop in front of her. “I was kind of thinking you weren’t going to show.”

“Well, you are paying me,” she said with a reluctant smile.

“That’s not the only reason you came.”

She decided to let the comment go, even though he was totally right. How did she manage to give herself away? She cleared her throat and tried to refocus her attention to the reason why she came. “Are you ready for me?”

One of his dark brows crept up his forehead.

A laugh bubbled in her throat when she realized how her words sounded. “With the food,” she spluttered out. “To take pictures, I mean.” Geez, that was articulated like a five-year-old.

“I know what you meant,” he replied. He tilted his head. “Are you sure you know what you meant?”

Well, now she wasn’t. Being around this man took away all ability to think coherently. Did she really need the money from this job that badly? Was it worth screwing with her sanity? The jury was still out on that one.

Okay, steer the conversation back on track. “So, where are we doing this?” Did every word that came out of her mouth have to have a double meaning?

This time Brody’s mouth turned up in a slow melt-your-bones grin. “We’ll go into the kitchen,” he finally said.

Oh, good. They’d be around other people. She wouldn’t be in danger of spontaneously jumping his bones.

BRODY COULDN’T THINK STRAIGHT.

Every time Elisa moved, the dark strands of her hair fell over her shoulder like pieces of silk. Too many times to count he’d had the urge to tunnel his hand into her curtain of hair to see if it really was that soft. Her almond-shaped eyes lit up with delight when they landed on the dishes the sous-chefs had prepared for them. The reaction was equivalent to a person who’d just struck gold.