Read Online Ready To Burn (Due South Book 3) by Tracey Alvarez - Free Book Online Page B

the kitchen, carrying a platter. Today, she dressed for work—black pants, black kitchen Crocs, and a white chef’s jacket. Prim and proper, she wore her long brown hair tightly braided. If her plait was pulled any tighter across her scalp, her pretty hazel eyes would start to drag up at the corners. No doubt the whole super-chef outfit was a subtle reminder of her professionalism and a less-than-subtle reminder of his lack of it. He’d rolled out of bed, dragging on the first tee shirt and jeans he found in his suitcase. Clothes he wouldn’t have worn to work in LA if he’d wanted to keep his job.
    “That’s my sister you’re talking about.” Shaye placed the platter on their table.
    Immediately, the delicious aroma of spices and sugar rising from the still-warm cinnamon rolls made his taste buds sit up and beg.
    “Yes, and I love her. But, Shaye, you”—West snatched up a scroll and waved it under his nose—“you, I adore.”
    Shaye cocked her hip, the hand on her waist emphasizing her curvy shape under the boxy jacket. “Yet you never bring me flowers.”
    “Because your big sister’s the possessive sort, and I fear her wrath.” West bit into the scroll, and a blissful expression flittered across his face.
    Shaye turned to Bill. “You can have one .”
    His father’s face crinkled. “I’d rather have bacon and eggs.”
    “No bacon,” she said. “Too much sodium, remember?”
    “Claire’s still making me eat this God-awful cereal with antibiotic yoghurt stuff.” He said the words as if he’d just delivered a dressed-up description of dog turd.
    Shaye placed a scroll on a plate and passed it to Bill. “It’s probiotic yogurt, you poor lamb.”
    The whip of her hazel gaze flicked over to Del. “Help yourself.”
    His mouth continued to water, but Del didn’t move. Food other than fuel hadn’t tempted him for a while—but hell if he’d give her the satisfaction by eating something she’d made.
    “You’re the baker?”
    “I woke up early.” She shrugged. “And West and Bill love my rolls.”
    “Oh, yeah,” West said around a mouthful.
    “Don’t eat them all—I’m going to save one for tomorrow.” Bill broke off a chunk of scroll and popped it into his mouth.
    “I don’t have a sweet tooth, so I’ll pass,” Del said. “I’ll grab a protein shake later.”
    “A protein shake?” Offense grated through Shaye’s words.
    West nudged him with his elbow. “You need more than a shake.”
    “I’m good.” Del shot a glance at Shaye.
    Her outraged expression faded, replaced by narrowed eyes aimed at him.
    “You’ve lost a bit of weight.” All teasing stripped from his tone, West scanned Del with frank appraisal. “I didn’t notice with that bulky sweatshirt you wore yesterday, but I can see it now.”
    Okay, he’d been forced to move up a notch on his belt, but he ate. When he needed to.
    “It’s only a few pounds. I’ve been working hard and for long hours. I could still take you.”
    “Our nineteen-year-old bean-pole of a dish-hand could knock you on your ass,” growled his brother. “Hell, even Shaye could.”
    “Happy to prove him right.” Shaye looked at Del with what he labeled as reluctant pity.
    Her softening gaze made his skin crawl.
    “Drop it, West.” Del kept his hands loose on the table, even though tension crawled over his shoulders and he nearly jerked his arms defensively across his chest.
    “Eat something and he will,” Bill said.
    Refuse to eat now and he’d appear as a candidate for an eating disorder.
    Screw it.
    Del picked up a scroll and bit down. Buttery, cinnamon, orgasmic warmth exploded onto his taste buds. Sweet merciful fuck . Did his eyes just roll up into his head? Pride—the only thing keeping him from stuffing the rest in his mouth.
    He took another nonchalant bite while Shaye sat at the table.
    “So, you’re here to work.” Bill licked his thumb and glared at Del from under bushy eyebrows.
    “If the terms are