Read Online Something Different/Pepper's Way by Kay Hooper - Free Book Online Page A

opening into the breakfast nook to the identical glass doors opening into the master bedroom. The deck was enclosed by glass around the Jacuzzi, and houseplants abounded, giving the illusion of a jungle scene.
    Gypsy stared around her for a moment and sought for asafe topic. “I thought you weren’t good with plants,” she managed finally.
    “I’m not. But for some reason, houseplants do well for me. This concludes the nickel tour, ma’am. Now, if you’ll come back to the dining room with me, dinner will be served.”
    She preceded him silently, speaking only when they’d reached the dining room. Gazing at the table laid out formally and intimately for two, she murmured, “Now I know why you wanted the bud vase.”
    Chase seated her ceremoniously and in grand silence, then disappeared into the kitchen.
    Gypsy stared after him for a moment, then looked back at the bud vase. After a moment she reached out and gently touched the single peach blossom it contained. Idly she wondered why he’d chosen that particular flower. Did it have some special meaning? She didn’t know.
    What she
did
know was that, like a person going down for the third time in a deep river, there was little hope of saving her now.
    Gypsy had never in her life had pheasant under glass, vichyssoise, or anything else Chase served her that night. She enjoyed it all, but the picture they must have presented sitting at the formal table wearing jeans and casual tops caused her to giggle from time to time.
    Or maybe the giggles were caused by Chase’s “juice surprise.”
    “What is this?”
    “Juice, I told you. Different kinds.”
    “Chase, there’s more in this than juice.”
    “So I stretched a point a little. So what?”
    “You’re disrupting the habit of a lifetime, that’s so what.”
    “It’s time to broaden your horizons.”
    “You sound like a travel ad.”
    “Sorry.”
    “This is very good, you know.”
    “I’m glad you like it. It’s—”
    “No, don’t tell me what it is,” she warned hastily.
    “Why not?”
    “Because if it’s snails, I don’t want to know about it.”
    “It isn’t snails.”
    “Good. Don’t tell me what it
is.”
    “Whatever madam desires. Would madam like more— uh—juice?”
    “Chase, are you trying to get me drunk?”
    He looked scandalized. “How you could ever suspect—”
    “Easily,” she interrupted, peering at him owlishly
    “A
baby
has more kick than this stuff,” he maintained staunchly.
    “Strong baby. Shall I sit here in royal detachment while you clear the table? I’ll help if you like, but I hope your china’s insured.”
    “You stay put. I’ll clear the table and bring in dessert.” He began to do so efficiently
    “What’s for dessert?”
    “Baked Alaska.”
    “I’ll take a wild guess,” she said drily, “that you’re a gourmet cook.”
    “Something like that.”
    “So tell me, master chef, to what do I owe the honor?”
    “Honor?” He placed a delicious-looking dessert in front of her.
    “Of having you cook for me.”
    “I’m trying to seduce you, of course.”
    Gypsy was vaguely glad that she’d swallowed the first bite before he answered her question. Otherwise, she’d have choked. “I see.” She touched her napkin delicately to her lips— mainly to hide the fact that they were twitching. “The way to a woman’s heart, and all that?”
    Very seriously he responded, “Well, I thought that either the food would get you… or the juice would.”
    She stared at his deadpan expression. How
could
the man look so ridiculously serious? After a moment she began eating again. “I’ll say this for you—the approach is certainly original. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the brutal truth used to such good effect.”
    “Not
brutal
!” he protested, wounded.
    She gave him a look.
    Chase sighed sadly. “It isn’t working, is it?”
    “No.” She didn’t mince words. She also didn’t tell him just how well his strategy was working. His