Read Online Guilty Pleasures by Cathy Yardley - Free Book Online

spike of ice hit her in the chest. “They don’t know what?”
    â€œThat you’re going under. They have no idea how dire the situation is.”
    â€œI haven’t told them.” She felt her own chin go up a notch. “And it’s not as bad as you—”
    â€œWhat would they do, I wonder?” His eyes were fixed on her like a rifle sight. “Quit? Leave, while they still could?”
    â€œNo,” she said instantly, angry. “They care about me. They’re loyal. I’ve known them for years.”
    But they’d worry, she thought, with a slight edge ofpanic. They were the closest thing she had to a family. That was why she hadn’t told them.
    That was yet one more reason she had to turn this whole thing around.
    â€œSo…it wouldn’t hurt to tell them.”
    He let the words linger in the air for a second.
    She realized the gist of what he was saying. “This is blackmail,” she said flatly.
    â€œI prefer to think of it as reasoning with someone who refuses to see reason, but you can call it what you like.” His voice was firm. “I’m not saying hand over the keys, dammit. I’m just saying…let me help you.”
    She nudged him away from her, crossing her arms and standing in the furthest corner away from him—which, in this admittedly tiny walk-in, was not very far. “Help me how?”
    â€œLet me cook for you. For real this time,” he said, when she made a snorting sound of disbelief. “We come up with the right theme, develop the right menu, get the right people to look at it…I could help you save this place, Mari.”
    She closed her eyes.
    What choice did she have, really?
    â€œAll right,” she said. “But it doesn’t get your name on it. I don’t want this to become a celebrity chef thing.”
    He grimaced. “All right. And we work at my place.”
    Her eyes widened. “Why?”
    He turned toward the door. “Because I’m sick of you having home court advantage. So…tonight?”
    She shook her head. “After an eleven-hour shift? My brain’s going to be like tapioca.” She took a deep breath. “And I don’t want to brainstorm in front of the crew. They’ll know something’s wrong if we rework the whole menu in front of them.”
    His eyes glowed. “All right. Then Sunday night again…and Monday morning.”
    Â 
    N ICK’S WORDS WERE STILL echoing in Mari’s head on Thursday. Whenever they had a break, he had something for her to taste, usually with a “close your eyes and try this” while his fingers tickled her lips, distracting her from the taste of the food. He talked with her about possible menu items, but all she could sense was the incredible heat from his eyes.
    Mari Salazar, you are losing your mind.
    The phone rang, and she answered it. “Guilty Pleasures, this is Mari.”
    â€œMari? This is Leon.”
    â€œLeon!” she said. She saw Nick’s eyebrow quirk up, and she smiled at him before disappearing into the back room with the cordless. “I haven’t heard from you in a while. How’s it going?”
    â€œThe usual. At least here I don’t have to teach first year students anymore.” He chuckled. “I don’t have a lot of time to talk, but I was wondering…did Nick Avery get in touch with you?”
    Mari felt a slight blush heat her face. “Um, yes. I meant to call you about him.”
    She heard Leon let out a sigh on the other end of the line. “I hope I didn’t put you too much on the spot,” he said, his voice full of apology, “but if you’ve seen him cook at all, you’ll know how incredibly talented he is.”
    Mari knew how talented he was. And not all of it was his cooking.
    She blushed harder and stammered. “Well, yes…”
    â€œHe was a brilliant student. I can vouch for that.” Now