Read Online The Perfect Ingredient (Dare Valley) by Ava Miles - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ava Miles
Tags: Women's Fiction
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Elizabeth’s eardrums shook.
Then he flashed that all-American smile that made him so likable. “Well, except for my mother, who confessed she took down some nasty campaign signs on Main Street.”
People around her chuckled, but Elizabeth did not. The signs had targeted Jane, showing pictures of her as Raven.
“The Hales have deep roots in this town, but never once have we ever held the honorable seat of mayor. Right, Uncle Arthur?”
Elizabeth looked over to see Arthur raise a hand in the air in response.
“My campaign manager tells me I will likely run unopposed for mayor. The other party doesn’t think anyone can beat me, but we’ll see if that holds true. November is a long time away. I’ve told you what I stand for, and I’m not planning to talk your ear off tonight. We’re going to have fun and party and enjoy this moment. I want to thank everyone who believed in me and voted for me, but I especially want to thank my campaign volunteers and election consultant, Rob, who made this happen. Have fun and thank you again!”
Matt and Jane left the stage and were immediately surrounded by well wishers.
Then the hairs on the back of her neck rose, and Elizabeth knew Terrance was staring at her. Her eyes swept across the crowd until she found him, looking so damn sexy in that denim chef jacket he’d worn at the tasting.
Her eyes met his, and in them, she could see the same confusion and lust she felt.
Her whole body tingled in response.
They both wanted, needed this longing to end.
But it wasn’t that simple.
What in the world were they going to do?
Chapter 8
Terrance had never cared for politics, since the system had failed him before he was old enough to vote. Still, Matt Hale seemed to be one of those rare candidates with integrity and a solid vision.
Not that politics could distract him from covertly watching Vixen. Correction. Elizabeth.
Not even coming across the perfect ingredient, something he’d traveled the world to find, could prevent him from staring at her. And that was significant. In Istanbul’s famous Spice Market, he’d once spent ten days going from vendor to vendor in search of it.
He’d set aside his pursuit for the perfect ingredient only once—for the summer he and Vixen had spent together—and he had a sinking feeling she was going to distract him again.
Even though he could purchase saffron at two thousand dollars a pound, nothing satisfied the hollowness at his core, the emptiness that stretched back to his early childhood, spent with a resentful mother and the specter of an absent father. Cooking was more than food to Terrance. It had filled a void in his bones, saving him from God knows what kind of life on the streets, but it hadn’t completed him. The perfect ingredient would do that. He only had to find it.
When Elizabeth left him, he’d redoubled his efforts, traveling to the world’s most illustrious food markets. In Brazil at Kauppatori Market, he’d sampled smoked reindeer. In India at Khari Baoli, he’d bought the most delicate cardamom in existence. And still he’d ventured to China to the Kreta Ayer Wet Market to taste the most innovative curry blend to ever cross his palate.
But none were the perfect ingredient.
Looking at Elizabeth, even without all the sequins and makeup, created an odd warmth in his belly, like the comforting simmer of a fragrant stew on a winter’s day. Her slender right arm was bare in the slinky gold number she’d chosen. All he wanted to do was kiss his way up the inside of her wrist. And then there were her legs… The dress ended a few inches shy of her knees, and well, he wanted to kiss his way up her smooth thighs too. She was a sexy siren tonight, and no woman could compete with her. Not that any ever had in his mind.
His heart warned him to be careful. The Dear John letter she’d given him had left a permanent dagger in that mysterious organ. But he could not stop himself from trying to corner her again.
Then he flashed that all-American smile that made him so likable. “Well, except for my mother, who confessed she took down some nasty campaign signs on Main Street.”
People around her chuckled, but Elizabeth did not. The signs had targeted Jane, showing pictures of her as Raven.
“The Hales have deep roots in this town, but never once have we ever held the honorable seat of mayor. Right, Uncle Arthur?”
Elizabeth looked over to see Arthur raise a hand in the air in response.
“My campaign manager tells me I will likely run unopposed for mayor. The other party doesn’t think anyone can beat me, but we’ll see if that holds true. November is a long time away. I’ve told you what I stand for, and I’m not planning to talk your ear off tonight. We’re going to have fun and party and enjoy this moment. I want to thank everyone who believed in me and voted for me, but I especially want to thank my campaign volunteers and election consultant, Rob, who made this happen. Have fun and thank you again!”
Matt and Jane left the stage and were immediately surrounded by well wishers.
Then the hairs on the back of her neck rose, and Elizabeth knew Terrance was staring at her. Her eyes swept across the crowd until she found him, looking so damn sexy in that denim chef jacket he’d worn at the tasting.
Her eyes met his, and in them, she could see the same confusion and lust she felt.
Her whole body tingled in response.
They both wanted, needed this longing to end.
But it wasn’t that simple.
What in the world were they going to do?
Chapter 8
Terrance had never cared for politics, since the system had failed him before he was old enough to vote. Still, Matt Hale seemed to be one of those rare candidates with integrity and a solid vision.
Not that politics could distract him from covertly watching Vixen. Correction. Elizabeth.
Not even coming across the perfect ingredient, something he’d traveled the world to find, could prevent him from staring at her. And that was significant. In Istanbul’s famous Spice Market, he’d once spent ten days going from vendor to vendor in search of it.
He’d set aside his pursuit for the perfect ingredient only once—for the summer he and Vixen had spent together—and he had a sinking feeling she was going to distract him again.
Even though he could purchase saffron at two thousand dollars a pound, nothing satisfied the hollowness at his core, the emptiness that stretched back to his early childhood, spent with a resentful mother and the specter of an absent father. Cooking was more than food to Terrance. It had filled a void in his bones, saving him from God knows what kind of life on the streets, but it hadn’t completed him. The perfect ingredient would do that. He only had to find it.
When Elizabeth left him, he’d redoubled his efforts, traveling to the world’s most illustrious food markets. In Brazil at Kauppatori Market, he’d sampled smoked reindeer. In India at Khari Baoli, he’d bought the most delicate cardamom in existence. And still he’d ventured to China to the Kreta Ayer Wet Market to taste the most innovative curry blend to ever cross his palate.
But none were the perfect ingredient.
Looking at Elizabeth, even without all the sequins and makeup, created an odd warmth in his belly, like the comforting simmer of a fragrant stew on a winter’s day. Her slender right arm was bare in the slinky gold number she’d chosen. All he wanted to do was kiss his way up the inside of her wrist. And then there were her legs… The dress ended a few inches shy of her knees, and well, he wanted to kiss his way up her smooth thighs too. She was a sexy siren tonight, and no woman could compete with her. Not that any ever had in his mind.
His heart warned him to be careful. The Dear John letter she’d given him had left a permanent dagger in that mysterious organ. But he could not stop himself from trying to corner her again.
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