Read Online Can't Buy Me Love by Amy Lillard - Free Book Online Page A

them,” Paige said.
    “ You?”
    “ Yes, me. Average girls learn how to cook, Blake.”
    “ Remind me to thank your mother.”
    Her mother didn’t teach her how to cook, but Paige didn’t bother to correct Blake. Instead, she batted her eyes at him in mock innocence. “When we get back from our honeymoon?”
    “ You didn’t look like you wanted to talk to her.”
    “ I didn’t, but that was no cause for you to dismiss her that way. She’s my mother, and you should show her more respect.”
    Momentarily Blake looked taken aback, but he recovered quickly. “Like you did by not mentioning our wedding, darling.”
    “ I told her yesterday,” Paige snapped defensively.
    Blake devoured the rest of his muffin in one bite, then swallowed. “Call the paper today and run an ad for a live-in cook,” he ordered.
    Oh, the arrogance of the man! First he praises her cooking abilities, then he tells her to hire a cook. “Shouldn’t I call the police station instead? Perhaps they have a rapist or a drug lord who can fill in on short notice.”
    Blake reached for another muffin. “Suit yourself.”
    “ Then I’d rather not hire a cook.”
    He looked up, surprise lighting his hazel eyes. “You wouldn’t?”
    “ No, if I hire a cook, and you don’t like him, you’ll be stuck with him after our contract is over.”
    “ Him?” Blake raised one brow in her direction.
    “ Or her,” Paige added. “Besides, I don’t have anything to do other than lie by the pool with Bruno since you resigned me from my job. It might be kind of fun to cook for my husband.” She smiled largely at him.
    Bruno growled announcing Dancy was near, more than likely eavesdropping on the other side of the French doors.
    “Very well.” Blake tossed his napkin on the table beside his cleared plate. He stood and kissed Paige full on the mouth for Dancy’s benefit. Paige hated the tingling that shot through her every time he was near.
    “ I like to eat at six-thirty. I expect dinner to be ready then...darling.”
    ****
    “I made your favorite: lasagna.”
    “ How did you—”Blake shook his head and smiled at Paige down the polished length of the dining room table—which seated twelve—to where she sat at the opposite end. He knew Dancy had seated them so far apart to put as much distance between her beloved and his bride. At least at this distance he had no fear of falling into the depths of Paige’s magnificent, turquoise eyes.
    Bruno growled and as if on cue, Dancy appeared with dinner.
    “I hope you like it,” Paige said.
    Now was the time. He should ask her now. She was vulnerable and totally susceptible to the plan he and Noah had formulated. “I’m sure it’s delicious.” He smiled again, wondering where his courage had gone, but his face froze as Dancy served his plate.
    The pasta dish sort of resembled lasagna. It was square and in layers like lasagna with ripplely-edged noodles and tomato sauce, but it was filled with zucchini and maybe eggplant. And were those shredded carrots? Where was the meat?
    “ Uh, Paige, I know we’ve had trouble with the press, but that doesn’t mean you can’t send Anthony to the store for groceries.”
    Sh e swallowed the bite of whatever it was she had made and cut another piece with the edge of her fork. “We have plenty of food. I went shopping today.”
    Blake sat silently, wishing his dinner would disappear. She cooked this on purpose?
    “ You’re not eating your dinner.” Paige took another bite.
    Blake looked down at his plate. He was no stranger to taking chances. He took chances in the board room every day. He took chances every season with new designs. He had even been known to play the stock market like a mad man. But food was not something to take chances with. He liked it to be a constant in his life. Always the same.
    Bravely , he picked up his fork and took a bite. It tasted worse than it looked. Like a grainy noodle salad gone bad. Should he risk swallowing the bite whole