Read Online Chef's Delight (Stories of Serendipity) by Anne Conley - Free Book Online

she couldn’t afford to lose his business. 
    His using her products in his restaurant could be the big break she was looking for.  It had potential to bring in more business for her, and she really needed the business.  Selling a package or two of cheese here and there wasn’t cutting it.  She needed more regular customers like Connor.  And she couldn’t afford to lose him.
    Making up her mind to keep her libido in check, for once, she turned to him with a bright smile when she heard him walking up behind her from the herb garden.
    “Get everything?”  She said brightly.
    “Yeah.  I think so.  Thanks.”  He had a bushel basket full of various herbs, and she chuckled as she noticed a piece of green on his lips.
    “What?”  He asked her.
    “You have a little something…” She tentatively reached up to his face, and rubbed her thumb along his lower lip.  “…here.”   At the contact with his soft, warm lip, a jolt of electricity ran up to her elbow.  Lowering her voice, she said, “Sampling the merchandise?”  His eyes darkened, and she could see his chest rise erratically as his breath hitched at her touch. 
    She left her fingers on his lip, enticing him, even though she had just told herself she wouldn’t do this.   His mouth opened to speak, but nothing came out.  His blue gaze locked on her with the intensity she had just marveled about.  He grasped her hand with his, and lowered it from his face, pulling her to him.  His breath came in ragged gasps, even though she had barely touched him.  His hand stayed on hers, while his other hand went around her waist, pulling Jessie closer, until her breasts touched his chest.  She could feel them getting fuller, and her nipples hardened to peaks under her shirt. 
    Connor looked deeply into her eyes, until she thought he might see down into her soul.  As the hand holding hers came to his lips, Jessie’s breath hitched in anticipation.  He raised her wrist to his mouth and tasted it, like she had imagined he would.  His soft lips grazed the sensitive flesh of her wrist, before he opened his mouth and stroked her pulse point with his tongue.  It was warm and wet, and soft, compared to the stubble on his chin, which raked across the hypersensitive spot.  The whole time, his eyes never left hers.
    Jessie gasped, her knees weakened, and she leaned against him.  She would have reached up and kissed his lips, but what he had just done to her left her breathless, unable to think.  Surprised such a seemingly innocent gesture could elicit such a response, she just looked at him, breathless.
    “Come to dinner at the restaurant tomorrow night.  I want you to taste some things.”  His voice was a rough whisper.  He hadn’t released her from his grip, nor had he stopped staring into her soul.
    “Okay.”  She responded, huskily, suddenly aware of his erection pressing against her hip.  She released herself from his grip, cursing herself for starting something with him.  She stepped back, uncomfortable, crossing her arms over her chest to try to ease the fullness she felt there.
    He ran his fingers through his hair, and looked at his feet.  “Um…I’m sorry…about that.  I guess we need to keep this professional.”  He folded his long body into the cab of his pick up and looked at her.
    “Yeah.  I’m sorry, too.  I feel like I started it.”
    “I meant it, though.  Come out tomorrow.  I want you to try the food I make with your products.  I think you’ll be pleased.”
    “Sure.  Looking forward to it.”  Her gut clenched as she watched him close his door and drive down her driveway.  She felt ridiculous, as she realized she missed him already. 
     
     
     

 
    Chapter 6
     
    The next morning, when she came out of the barn, Jessie’s jaw dropped when she saw flashing lights from the Sheriff’s department car in her driveway.  It wasn’t Chad’s car, thank goodness, but it still couldn’t be good news.
    As she