Read Online The Marriage Recipe by Michele Dunaway - Free Book Online

thing.
    Although, did lawyers invite their clients to dinner?
    â€œRachel, you’re needed in the kitchen. Your timer went off,” Adrienne called. The swinging door closed behind her.
    â€œI’ve got to go,” Rachel said.
    â€œHow about I pick you up at five?” Colin proposed.
    â€œI can meet you,” she replied as Kim put a white carryout sack in front of Colin.
    â€œI’ll pick you up. It’s not a problem. I know where you live,” Colin said. “Kim, put this on my tab, will you?”
    â€œAlready done,” Kim said.
    â€œThanks.” Colin lifted the bag and left, the jingling bell on the door signaling his departure.
    Rachel exhaled the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, something her grandmother immediately noticed.
    â€œHe looks good in a suit, doesn’t he?” Kim mused as she reached for a customer’s ticket.
    â€œHe’s just a friend.”
    â€œUh-huh.” Kim smiled at the elderly gentleman. “Was everything okay?”
    â€œPerfect,” the man said. “Never tried it here before.”
    â€œWell, I hope you come back,” Kim said, taking the money he offered and getting his change.
    â€œI’m sure I will,” the man promised, and Rachel used the moment to escape into the kitchen. Colin Morris had looked superb. Regal, in a sense. Naked or suited, he should be outlawed. Locked away out of her sight and forbidden from being in her fantasies. She reached for a cooling loaf pan and turned out the banana bread onto a wire rack.
    She’d planned on baking tonight and now she was going to dinner, instead. She calmed her heart, told herself she was being silly. Her goal was to get back to New York, so Colin’s legal advice took precedence. She was not going to let him get under her skin.
    Â 
    C OLIN WAS PROMPT . She’d watched him drive up at exactly 5:00 p.m. and met him on the porch steps. “What,” he said, grinning at her as he exited the car. “Don’t even tell me you thought I was going to be late.”
    She arched an eyebrow at him. The Colin of yesterday hadn’t been known for his promptness. He also hadn’t been known for driving anything four-door, and probably would have died before owning the sensible gray Saturn Aura in front of her.
    â€œYes, it’s mine,” he said, reading her mind. “It’s practical—but still sporty.”
    â€œOf course it is” she said. The car screamed, I am now in my thirties and willing to grow up.
    â€œBut not willing to sacrifice,” Colin said, holding the door open. He laughed. “I know that’s exactly what you were thinking. You had me pegged for some low-slung, two-seater sports car. Well, everything I drive has to have four seats and must be able to fit at least two bags of golf clubs.”
    â€œStill playing?”
    â€œAs often as I can, although not as much as I’d like,” Colin said. “Pretty busy with work lately. I figure this is my year to make full partner, especially at the rate I’m going. The latter part of last year wasn’t too shabby.”
    â€œSo you aren’t a full partner yet?” Colin was family; Rachel had expected him to be a shoo-in.
    He shut the door and she leaned back against the leather upholstery. The car wasn’t new, but it still smelled that way.
    Colin climbed in and fired up the engine. “Nope, not yet. Christina was hired as a full partner and that was before Bruce even got his promotion.”
    They drove down the long, tree-lined street, which seemed so much smaller now that they were no longer children racing Big Wheels or bicycles. Now that spring was right around the corner, it was finally starting to make its presence known. They had a couple more weeks before the leaves popped, but winter was definitely on the way out. Daylight savings time would also begin soon. Rachel smiled. Living in New York, she’d