Cat Schield - A Taste of Temptation

“So, now what?”

“You have me.”

“I need someone permanent. How long before you take off again?”

Next week, but in her current state of displeasure, he wasn’t going to mention that.

“Not to worry. I have someone I trust who I’ve been training. He arrives tomorrow.”

“Who is it?”

“I met Dae Tan a few months ago. Helped him out of a jam.”

“What sort of a jam?” Her skepticism came through loud and clear.

“He was arrested for something he didn’t do.”

“You’re sure he was innocent.”

“Absolutely. After that, things got a little hot for him. He’s been traveling with me and I’ve been training him.”

“Why didn’t he come with you today?”

“He wanted to see L.A. He has this thing about movie stars.”

Harper regarded him with suspicion. “Where has he worked? Is he capable of handling the pressure of a restaurant like Batouri?”

“It’ll be fine. The kid’s got talent.”

“Kid?” She echoed his description and her irritation grew. “How old is he?”

“Twenty-five. Twenty-six.”

“You can’t be serious.” Harper advanced on him. “You’ve passed on chefs with twenty-five years of experience and now you’re telling me you want to hire someone who’s been in the field a couple years.”

“Months,” Ashton corrected. “He only had the most rudimentary skills when I met him.”

Harper’s eyes closed while she sucked in a deep breath and let it out. When she opened them again, she looked no calmer. “You’re crazy if you think I’ll go for this.”

“You really don’t have a choice.”

“We’ll see about that.” Harper folded her arms across her chest. “You forget we have a contract.” Her tone indicated he’d stretched her goodwill as far as it would go.

“I have a great deal riding on this restaurant, as well,” he reminded her.

“Then act like it.”

The trouble was, he had a great deal riding on every iron he had in the fire. He was determined to leave his mark on the world and that meant going big. Would it have been smarter to not stick his neck out? Sure. He could have played it safe, kept going with the same shows he’d had success with these past eight years, but Ashton liked the rush of conquering new territory, seeing what lay beyond the horizon.

Harper continued, “Go convince Cole to take the job at Batouri.”

“I thought you said he’d gone to the airport.”

“I caught him before he left the hotel and convinced him to fly to Chicago tomorrow. You have reservations next door at Fontaine Chic’s award-winning steakhouse at seven. You might as well sample the competition. Perhaps you will both dislike the food and find some common ground to build a relationship on.”

“And our evening together?”

She shot him a cool smile. “When Cole takes the job, I’ll block out two hours for you.”

“Make it three and you have a deal.”

Three

With the Chef Cole problem handled for the time being and her mother safely ensconced in the day spa, Harper was able to steal a few minutes to herself to take stock of the day. Thank heavens they weren’t all like this.

Unable to imagine what her mother had done to open herself up to blackmail, Harper paced her hotel, trying to find comfort in achievement. The ceilings throughout had been painted to represent different aspects of the sky her hotel was named for. In the lobby, it was a pale midday blue dotted with clouds. Lighting changed from dawn to dusk to match what was happening outside. The casino ceiling was a midnight indigo sparkling with thousands of pinpoint lights configured like the star patterns above Las Vegas.

It was a simple concept, beautifully rendered. She was proud of all she’d accomplished. But today, there was no joy to be found in surveying her domain. Harper glanced at her watch. Two hours to kill. With her ability to concentrate shot and no meetings or crisis pending, she considered returning to her suite and running on her treadmill. Or she could go talk to Scarlett.

Five years ago when her grandfather had come to her with news that she had two half sisters, she’d been angry, miserable and excited. She’d been eleven when she’d first learned her father regularly cheated on his wife, but until five years ago, she’d had no idea his extramarital wandering had messed up more lives than just hers and her mother’s.

A quick walk through the skyways that connected the three Fontaine hotels brought Harper to Fontaine Richesse, Scarlett’s hotel. She sought out her sister in the casino. Spotting Scarlett was easy. She radiated sex appeal and charisma in her emerald-green flapper costume, her long brown hair tucked beneath a twenties-style, shingle bob wig with bangs.

The rest of the casino staff was dressed like something out of a movie from the forties and fifties: men in elegant tuxedos and suits or military uniforms from the Second World War, women in evening gowns or stylish dresses.

Harper had thought the whole idea of a Golden Age of Hollywood night was crazy. But she’d underestimated her sister’s brilliance. The casino was packed. Many of those playing the machines or lining the tables were also dressed in costume. There were prizes awarded for best outfit, and casino cash was given to anyone who guessed what particular movie the dealers or waitresses were dressed from.

Scarlett wore a delighted grin as the man who’d approached her guessed her costume.

“Cyd Charrise, Singin’ In The Rain?”

“That’s right.” She handed him a card he could trade in for money to gamble with. As he walked off, she spotted Harper. “What a surprise.”

“You look amazing,” Harper said, admiring the dress and matching green satin pumps. “Is it new?”

“First time I’ve worn it.” She struck a pose. “I think Laurie outdid herself.” Scarlett had been friends with the Hollywood costume designer for years and used her for every costume in the casino.

“I would agree.”

When she’d first met Scarlett, Harper hadn’t given the former child actress much credit. She couldn’t imagine what her grandfather had been thinking when he’d concocted the contest between his three granddaughters. What could someone with Scarlett’s background know about running a multibillion-dollar hotel much less a corporation the size of Fontaine Hotels and Resorts? Five years later, Harper was a huge fan of Scarlett’s creativity and authenticity. She knew exactly who she was and had played directly to her strengths.

“Do you have time for a drink?” Harper asked, instantly seeing her request had startled Scarlett.

Harper was the family workaholic. Rarely did she sit down in the evenings when the casino was busiest, much less take time out to eat or drink.

“For you, always.” They found a table in a quiet corner of the lobby bar. Scarlett ordered two glasses of cabernet and made small talk until the drinks arrived. “What’s wrong?” she asked as soon as Harper had taken a sip of wine.

“What makes you think...?” She could see Scarlett wasn’t fooled. “I don’t want you to assume that I’m only here because I needed help.”

“I don’t care why you’re here.” Scarlett gave her a lopsided smile. “And I’m glad Violet is out of town with JT. Otherwise, I know you’d have gone to her first.”

“That’s unfair.” But probably true. As much as Harper loved her half sister, she wasn’t always comfortable with Scarlett.

In so many ways, they were opposites. Scarlett was gorgeous, flamboyant and utterly fearless when it came to her relationships. Hadn’t she tackled Logan Wolfe and turned the tetchy security expert into a big purring lion? She’d managed to do the same thing with Harper. Wariness had become loyalty, something Harper gave rarely and not without reservation. But Scarlett had won her over for the most part.