Read Online Coming Back To You by Donya Lynne - Free Book Online Page B

Well, that and her gut had told her Brad really wasn’t her
type.
    But here they were, meeting again. What were
the odds? Maybe it was a sign.
    “No, I’m not sort of involved with someone
anymore.” Saying the words sent an echo of pain through her chest,
and a lump briefly formed in her throat before she washed it down
with a sip of her drink.
    His grin grew bigger, making the skin around
his eyes crinkle. “Well, lucky me then.”
    He was an attractive man with thick, black
hair seasoned with a touch of grey and kind, brown eyes that
appeared a little wary, as if they’d seen their share of heartache.
His forehead was lined with shallow creases, but in an outdoorsy,
weathered kind of way. How old was Brad? He looked older than Mark.
Brad had to be at least thirty-six, if not older. That was quite an
age difference between them. Maybe that was why her gut had shied
away from him last summer.
    “Yes, lucky you,” she said, lifting her
drink.
    Brad glanced toward the kitchen. “So, do you
know how this works?”
    “How what works?”
    “Single Servings?”
    She shook her head. “Not really. Just that
cooking’s involved. Why? Do you?”
    “I’ve been coming to these things for a
while, so yes, you could probably call me an expert.”
    “How long is a while?”
    “About six months.” He sipped from what
looked like a glass of scotch. Mark had been drinking scotch the
night she met him. Brad’s choice of drink felt like a sign,
too.
    The slender, blond hostess chose that moment
to step into the center of the room and tap a spoon on her glass.
“Excuse me, everyone.” She brushed her hair off her shoulder and
waited until the guests quieted. “My name’s Natalie.” Her gaze
swept the room. “I see a lot of familiar faces this evening, as
well as quite a few new ones.” Her bleached smile was so white it
looked fake. “For those new to Single Servings, welcome.” She
briefly raised her glass then proceeded to go around the room for
introductions.
    Karma felt her face heat when it was her turn
to speak. “My name’s Karma Mason.”
    “And what brings you to us, Karma?” Natalie
said.
    She nibbled her bottom lip and glanced toward
the floor. “Um, well…” She didn’t think explaining that her
therapist had suggested she come would make a good impression. “I’m
single and like to cook, so I thought this would be a good way to
meet new people.”
    That was evasive enough.
    “You came to the right place,” Natalie
said.
    Out of the corner of her eye, she could see
Brad watching her.
    The last two guests introduced themselves,
then Natalie explained how things worked. There were eight stations
in the kitchen, plus one for the instructor. The sixteen
guests—eight women and eight men—were to pair up with a member of
the opposite sex and take a station.
    Brad turned to her. “Would you like to be my
partner?”
    He was the obvious choice. At least she knew
Brad. Well, sort of. Could she really count a ten-minute encounter
at the bookstore, where she had royally embarrassed herself by
revealing her stack of sex books, as knowing him? Still, they had
talked, and he seemed genuinely nice. And he was more attractive
than she remembered. Kind of sexy in his maroon sweater and
charcoal grey slacks.
    “Okay, sure.” She followed him into the
kitchen where they claimed a station with the number three painted
on the wall over the stove. A bevy of dessert ingredients lay
neatly on the island facing toward the front of the room.
    “Everyone, put on your aprons.” Natalie
stepped behind the teaching station then tied her apron around her
waist.
    Karma did the same, casting Brad a sideways
glance. He had a nice profile. He caught her eye and smiled. She
quickly looked away.
    “In honor of Valentine’s Day,” Natalie said,
“we’re going to make decadent chocolate truffles .” She
emphasized each word. “In front of you, you have the recipe and all
the ingredients you’ll need.”
    Karma picked