Read Online On the Steamy Side by Louisa Edwards - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Louisa Edwards
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dishes, but she’s been too busy researching her book and packing our bags to take a look at them.”
“Right,” Lilah nodded. “And thank you again, Adam, for the opportunity. I promise, I won’t let you down.” Carefully folding the corners of the oil-soaked paper towels over the still-steaming chicken livers, Lilah scooped up the nasty bundle and said, “Well, I’ll just leave y’all to your little conversation.” Devon watched her go, torn between annoyance and relief. He didn’t like the feeling of uncertainty about Grant’s prior claim on her, even if Lilah clearly thought of herself as free. Devon controlled his breathing carefully. He detested this type of drama.
Although why he should be so worked up, he couldn’t explain. It wasn’t like it was ever going to be more than a onetime thing with Lilah.
Right?
Lilah seethed with a mixture of sparking nerves, jumpy stomach, and righteous indignation. Along with a healthy dose of dread.
Holy cats, what a mess. Everything was all catawampus. Lilah closed her eyes in distress.
She could just about picture Aunt Bertie laying down the law while deftly rolling out a piecrust. “Lolly,” she’d say, up to her elbows in flour, “Lolly-girl, you’ve gotten yourself in a real pickle this time.” The I-told-you-so would be heavily implied.
Well, there was no use having a conniption over it now. What was done was done. Last night, Lilah had the wildest sex of her admittedly somewhat staid life—and this morning, it turned out that her perfect, mysterious, anonymous lover turned out to be her new boss.
Peachy.
And not only that, but he was a jerk! The things he’d said about her food made Lilah’s fists clench even now, minutes later. And she wasn’t the type to hold a grudge.
Oh, mercy, what if he told everyone about last night? Her cheeks burned at the thought of it. Or what if he wanted a repeat performance, and threatened to fire her if she didn’t comply?
Lilah paused. She couldn’t quite believe he was so bad, but then, what did she really know? Yankees were capable of anything, as her Uncle Roy liked to say.
And everything had been going so well up until now! Lilah loved New York, from Grant’s tiny, cramped studio to the crowded 1 train she rode to get from his place in Chelsea to the restaurant on the Upper West Side, to the amazing liberation of following her heart (and her body) and having (supposedly) anonymous sex last night.
Getting dumped by her boyfriend just might be one of the best things that ever happened to her. It had prompted her to move to New York, which was a good choice, she remembered thinking this morning as the subway swayed around a curve and a businessman jostled her arm, spilling coffee on her hand. New York was exactly what she needed. Everything was going to work out perfectly. Lilah Jane Tunkle’s life had finally begun! She was a sophisticated woman now, hip with the times and comfortable with her own sexuality!
And then Devon Sparks had to go and ruin it all by turning up at Market and being a big horse’s ass.
And by looking unconscionably attractive while doing it.
Lilah sighed, loud and gusty, as she clattered down the kitchen stairs toward the narrow hallway that led to the prep kitchen, storage pantries, staff locker room, and the chef’s office. She went over the layout of the restaurant once again in her head, determined not to get lost.
Of course, it still took her several false starts and one detour into a dark, dank room where curing meats wrapped in linen hung from the rafters before she found the office.
Where her oldest friend in the world, Grant Holloway, was sitting at an ancient green metal desk, banging his head with a hollow sound of despair.
“Why me, God?” he moaned. “Have I displeased You in some way? Mercy, please, I beg you.” Lilah rolled her eyes. “Drama queen! Up and at ’em. Tell Lolly what’s the problem.” Grant raised moist cornflower blue
“Right,” Lilah nodded. “And thank you again, Adam, for the opportunity. I promise, I won’t let you down.” Carefully folding the corners of the oil-soaked paper towels over the still-steaming chicken livers, Lilah scooped up the nasty bundle and said, “Well, I’ll just leave y’all to your little conversation.” Devon watched her go, torn between annoyance and relief. He didn’t like the feeling of uncertainty about Grant’s prior claim on her, even if Lilah clearly thought of herself as free. Devon controlled his breathing carefully. He detested this type of drama.
Although why he should be so worked up, he couldn’t explain. It wasn’t like it was ever going to be more than a onetime thing with Lilah.
Right?
Lilah seethed with a mixture of sparking nerves, jumpy stomach, and righteous indignation. Along with a healthy dose of dread.
Holy cats, what a mess. Everything was all catawampus. Lilah closed her eyes in distress.
She could just about picture Aunt Bertie laying down the law while deftly rolling out a piecrust. “Lolly,” she’d say, up to her elbows in flour, “Lolly-girl, you’ve gotten yourself in a real pickle this time.” The I-told-you-so would be heavily implied.
Well, there was no use having a conniption over it now. What was done was done. Last night, Lilah had the wildest sex of her admittedly somewhat staid life—and this morning, it turned out that her perfect, mysterious, anonymous lover turned out to be her new boss.
Peachy.
And not only that, but he was a jerk! The things he’d said about her food made Lilah’s fists clench even now, minutes later. And she wasn’t the type to hold a grudge.
Oh, mercy, what if he told everyone about last night? Her cheeks burned at the thought of it. Or what if he wanted a repeat performance, and threatened to fire her if she didn’t comply?
Lilah paused. She couldn’t quite believe he was so bad, but then, what did she really know? Yankees were capable of anything, as her Uncle Roy liked to say.
And everything had been going so well up until now! Lilah loved New York, from Grant’s tiny, cramped studio to the crowded 1 train she rode to get from his place in Chelsea to the restaurant on the Upper West Side, to the amazing liberation of following her heart (and her body) and having (supposedly) anonymous sex last night.
Getting dumped by her boyfriend just might be one of the best things that ever happened to her. It had prompted her to move to New York, which was a good choice, she remembered thinking this morning as the subway swayed around a curve and a businessman jostled her arm, spilling coffee on her hand. New York was exactly what she needed. Everything was going to work out perfectly. Lilah Jane Tunkle’s life had finally begun! She was a sophisticated woman now, hip with the times and comfortable with her own sexuality!
And then Devon Sparks had to go and ruin it all by turning up at Market and being a big horse’s ass.
And by looking unconscionably attractive while doing it.
Lilah sighed, loud and gusty, as she clattered down the kitchen stairs toward the narrow hallway that led to the prep kitchen, storage pantries, staff locker room, and the chef’s office. She went over the layout of the restaurant once again in her head, determined not to get lost.
Of course, it still took her several false starts and one detour into a dark, dank room where curing meats wrapped in linen hung from the rafters before she found the office.
Where her oldest friend in the world, Grant Holloway, was sitting at an ancient green metal desk, banging his head with a hollow sound of despair.
“Why me, God?” he moaned. “Have I displeased You in some way? Mercy, please, I beg you.” Lilah rolled her eyes. “Drama queen! Up and at ’em. Tell Lolly what’s the problem.” Grant raised moist cornflower blue
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